[Jonsey]

Originally Posted by BILTIT

Is that a stainless tank?

I had my stock tank sumped for $75.

I assume the narrowing will be a couple hundred though.

Yeah, stainless. I'd love to find a place to narrow and sump a stock tank. Where did you have it done? A local radiator shop?

[BILTIT]

Local fab shop. I have not had it narrowed yet though.

[turbo69bird]

Originally Posted by BILTIT

Any concerns with the strength of the narrowed framerail?

I am just getting ready to start my tub/narrow setup next month (still trying to finish the garage!). I have decided on 15x10 5.5BS rims and 28x13.5 MT ET streets.

I was hoping i might not have to narrow the framerail but probably will.

I will narrow the diff as needed once i have the wheels/tires here for measurement purposes.

I have the DSE shackles already, might try and do the tubs myself, will order/make a shock relocation bar mount.

I am mostly concerned with ride height as i dont want stock height, to low for me i think.

I may try the comp engineering relocation pieces, they are supposed to be a bit higher than stock height when done.

When you cut into the frame rail you may want to make a few pieces to weld inside in a cris cros interlocking pattern for strength Thats what I did. also note that the frame rails are galvanized and will not weld well unless etched properly.

I ended up taking 7/8 of an inch out of mine and I arc'd (Shape) the new piece I put in for strength and made it in one piece.

Mine has been running 145 MPh with wheels up launches for quite while now with no flex but I have kickers front and rear that tie the car together from the tail panel to the rad support.

The car is all integrated into the cage and the cage is set on out riggers welded into the frame and floor pans not some lame floor plates.

This is a ebenfit to building the cage well also since you can drop the whole cage down after install and weld the top properly then raise it back up to the headliner after welding is done.
Then you reweld the outriggers to the frame and then finish weld the floors Thats the srongest you can get.

Hope that helps out alittle

[turbo69bird]

Originally Posted by jal

turbo69bird,
This really isn't the thread to sell your Bird. There's multiple areas on the forums to place "For Sale" items.

`joe

Thanks for the help on that one.

we are little more liberal I guess on the forced induction boards I moderate.

Maybe thats why the forum is so successful.LOL

I thought It might help someone out since not everyone reading this may have the skill needed to build one properly but would like to have one.



appologies, to the guy who started the thread dint mean to hijack you.

[BILTIT]

Turbo69bird- Thanks for the tips!

[jal]

turbo69bird,
No offence taken here at all.
I've just seen other threads that start out in a specific direction, get hijacked and, never really return to the original subject. I saw you only had 20 posts so, I was just trying to keep things on track.
Any insight or tips into these types of projects is greatly appreciated.
I've never taken on a project such as this one so, I was trying to share all the ins and outs with other forum members.
When I notched my frame, I used 1/8" thick steel and mig welded to the existing frame. Welded up pretty easily though, that stock frame (really hat section) was thinner than I expected but, it went fairly smooth.

What's the forced induction forum that you moderate?? My son is into all the FI stuff and took a class out in San Diego to tune so, my next build may be a turbo 400ci stroker.

Jonesy,
Yes, the Fuel cell is in the car. Just finishing up fabbing the mounting straps and, the steel underneath to protect the sump. If you want pics, I can post them up?

Those stainless tanks are just toooooo many $'s for me. Seems a bit outrageous but, I guess if people are buying them.......


Anyway, again, I'd love to post up finished pics of this project however, I'm still waitng on my M/T tires. They've been pushed back again on the ship date..........

`joe

[BILTIT]

On the tires, thats why i went with just the ET streets over the radials, too long of a wait.

I hope they will last longer too, my radials are gone in short order driving on the street.

[jal]

BILTIT,
Yea, I know what you mean but, I've had such great luck with them at the track, I don't want to change now.
Last year I went 11.85 with a 1.61 60' on those tires. I can wait a little longer.
The season doesn't really start for a couple more months... LOL

joe

[BILTIT]

Very true.

My best 60 was 1.65. I hope with these changes i will be able to run 1.60's consitently.

I avg 1.75's.

[jal]

I pretty much average 1.61 - 1.65.
That's with a 3500 stall TCI converter and a stock suspension with Caltracs.

[BILTIT]

Ya, i will be adding caltracs too, and restalling to ~4000.

[turbo69bird]

Well I dint want to get off topic again but I moderate the forced induction section at pontiaczone.com

same creen name over there.

i designed and built a budget turbo set up for guys to be able top copy with 6x heads performer intake 2 bolt bloc stock crank etc. very inexpensive. at 11psi I got it to run 9.70 at 145 MPH with a lousy 171 60 ft time.
It was carbed with a blow through 850. I have since bought Gen 7 DFi for it and we'll see where it gies this season.

We also have some S/C guys over there.

I started it in 05 and it has grown like wild fire over there.
Just keeps getting better and better.

I also sell turbochargers and turbo specific camshafts should anyone need one.


As for the mini tub I have seen some cars with galvanized and some with out for rear frame rails.

My other car is a RAIV firebird that I raced for 12 years 15K original miles.

It was dealer sponsored and raced in my town back in 1969 but I have more fun with the minitubbed car to be honest no worries you know.

I want to build a nice vert so I can take my daughter out in the car from time to time. alittle more family oriented these days.

I also notched the front frame on the minitubbed car sio can pull the oil pan at the track . I had a day at epping once where I lost an oil pump and had to jack the engine up and pull the steering out to makefirst round it was nightmare. so after that I decided clearance was good.LOL

I made it to the semifinals that day.
covered in oil from head to toe.
I even strained the oil and put it back in cause I couldnt find any at the track.

what a day.

[jal]

Well,
It looks like I'll FINALLY have my tires this week. No thanks to M/T...(they owe everyone). Found a set privately that were never mounted.
Sooooo, I'm hoping to have them mounted this weekend and, I can finally take some pics and post them up here for everyone.

We just finished the roll bar this past weekend and, should finish the fuel cell this coming weekend. Things are rolling right along. Should have the car back together by the end of March... Yea....

If anyone is interested in any other pics of the stuff done to the car this winter, let me know. I'll post them up.. Even willing to take some heat over my skill.... LOL...

`joe

[Jonsey]

I'm interested in seeing pics of the new tire/wheel combo on the car.

Inspired by your thread (and some other project threads) I started my own mini-tub project last weekend. It's a bigger job than I thought... even with a plasma cutter I only got the driver's side done.

It's definitely nice having 15" of space in the wheel wells. Pontiac should have made them that way from the factory.

Did you find that the DSE offset shackes lowered the backend of your car?

[jal]

A plasma cutter!?!!! SWEET....
I would've saved hours with a freakin plasma cutter.
You need to move closer to me!!

Actually, I found that the car sits a little higher than it did.
I think that may be due to pulling the springs to the inside with the shackles.
I'm going to wait until it's all back together to assess any ride height difference.

Good Luck with the project.
If you run into any snags that I can help you with, give me a shout.
I'll PM my #.

`joe

[Jonsey]

Thanks. We have very similar setups, since we both have caltracs. I'll give you a call if I have any problems.

It was a scary moment when I got the fender well cut out... just a giant hole in my car. Once the new tub is in place it looks close to factory though.

Hoping to get the passenger's side done next weekend (28th-29th).

[hojs69]

Jonsey & Jal, you guys re-installing the rear seat (if it had one prior to the mini-tub)?

[jal]

hojs69,
No back seat here. Haven't had it for a couple years. Now with the roll bar I chose. No chance.

[Jonsey]

Originally Posted by hojs69

Jonsey & Jal, you guys re-installing the rear seat (if it had one prior to the mini-tub)?

I don't have one right now. I'm planning on putting one in though. I don't mind a little fabbing to make things work. My car's not worth much, it's a beater.

[turbo69bird]

I dont have the seay narrowed yet either and I am not sure its worth it. My buddy has one in his car and no one will climb the jungle jim to use it.lol

Yes on the pics Id like to see them.