BUILD-OFF CHALLENGE: Tygaboy's '75 LS3, It seemed a good idea at the time... Options

[Andyrew]

Down 100%!

There has been a couple of events like that through the years.

Im SURE we can get lots of people interested.


THANKS!!!

[tygaboy]

Shocking news! Nearly impossible to believe: I changed my mind about the way I'm going to tie the cross bar into the suspension towers. I was going to construct a box around the whole area but upon reflection (and thinking about the earlier points about weight and complexity), I'm opting for something simple:

A tidy little gusset between the tower and cross bar, right in line with the main load path into the bar that runs to the fire wall.

I'm almost done with the fabrication and fitting of all the pieces needed for the chassis stiffening. Then it'll be a full day (or more) of welding to complete the install.

Much as I enjoy the roll bar fab stuff, I'm ready to move on a different area of the build.

[Andyrew]

I like it! That area really doesnt move near as much as some people think.

The lower trailing arm pickup moves significantly more.

[tygaboy]

Final fitting of the passenger side door bar. I welded in the inside plate as I need to firmly fix the bar so I can get a repeatable location as I fit the verticals.

[tygaboy]

Fore and aft verticals are trimmed to final size.

You can see that the mid vertical is sitting back, out of positon (the pad is positioned properly). I'm leaving the mid vertical trimming until the door bar is welded in. Why?
Having only two verticals will allow the bar to set into position and if the there's any welding distortion on the door bar (and I'd expect there to be some) I can tweak the mid vertical for the best possible fit.

We'll see how it goes as the welding actually commences.

[tygaboy]

More pre-welding prep leads to the Pop Quiz of the day:

What's missing in this picture?

Well, OK, a whole bunch of stuff! So maybe not so fair a question.
Let's make it a bit easier:

I removed the mounts for the trunk lid springs! I won't be using them. And they're already hard enough to get to so I REALLY wanted them out before the rear chassis stiffening bars go in.

And no promises, but I have an idea that may require / allow for removal of the rear trunk hinges, too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

Either way, I want as clean a look as I can get.

[Krieger]

Looking good Chris! If you want to see a different way to open tour rear trunk check out my build thread under my signature. There are three photos on page 1. Total access. You could incorporate the engine lid and trunk lid as one piece...

[Krieger]

Or come over and check it out.

[tygaboy]

Looking good Chris! If you want to see a different way to open tour rear trunk check out my build thread under my signature. There are three photos on page 1. Total access. You could incorporate the engine lid and trunk lid as one piece...

Andy - I noticed your trunk approach when I first read your build. I would like to come up and see it in person. I'll PM you to coordinate a visit.
That said, I'm noodling on at a different solution. But it sure would be nice to have something that results in a totally open drive line area. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)
Talk soon.

[tygaboy]

Bill B Racing (BBR Filers) filters showed up today. Recommended by Borla and apparently minimal HP loss. They certainly look the business and fit perfectly.

Not as cool looking sitting on my office floor vs on the engine, but I want to keep the delicate stuff safe while all the fab work is going on.

[Cracker]

They look good but nothing looks better them naked...I thought you were building a "special" box for those. Change your mind?

T

[tygaboy]

They look good but nothing looks better them naked...I thought you were building a "special" box for those. Change your mind?

T

Not so much change my mind as change my timing. I think Rand was on target with his earlier comment.

I find myself wanting to focus on things that get the car on the road. I can always come back and "improve" on particular areas, the air box being one. The zippiddy do-da exhaust idea is another.

I reserve the right to change my mind but for now, if there's a workable, simple solution and the "cool" fab thing can wait, I'll likely take the shortest route to get it running.

Plus, that means I can work on it even more going forward!

[tygaboy]

I'm taking Friday, 9/1 off work to complete welding on the chassis stiffening bars! It'll be a full day but the goal is to get all that done! Fingers crossed.

And with that done, I'm nearing the point where I need to pick a color... and that gets me thinking about the overall look. While I love the RSR Fuchs look, this car is clearly not a 914/6 GT tribute so...

I'm toying with these 52 Outlaw wheels against the mid 2000s Subaru WRX blue. I think these wheels fit quite nicely with my overall "RaceRod" design.

But wheel see... (see what I did there?) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

And, the blue/gold is the same combo I used on a custom SV650 I built about 12 years ago. It got a 4 page spread in Cycle World. I was pretty proud of that... plus, I went to Berkeley (Go Bears!) so blue and gold are part of my life...

Anyway, decisions, decisions. Until then, I'll be running a set of 7 and 9 x 17 Euromeisters.

[914forme]

Bill B Racing (BBR Filers) filters showed up today. Recommended by Borla and apparently minimal HP loss. They certainly look the business and fit perfectly.

Not as cool looking sitting on my office floor vs on the engine, but I want to keep the delicate stuff safe while all the fab work is going on.

I like (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

[Morph914]

I'm taking Friday, 9/1 off work to complete welding on the chassis stiffening bars! It'll be a full day but the goal is to get all that done! Fingers crossed.

And with that done, I'm nearing the point where I need to pick a color... and that gets me thinking about the overall look. While I love the RSR Fuchs look, this car is clearly not a 914/6 GT tribute so...

I'm toying with these 52 Outlaw wheels against the mid 2000s Subaru WRX blue. I think these wheels fit quite nicely with my overall "RaceRod" design.

But wheel see... (see what I did there?) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

And, the blue/gold is the same combo I used on a custom SV650 I built about 12 years ago. It got a 4 page spread in Cycle World. I was pretty proud of that... plus, I went to Berkeley (Go Bears!) so blue and gold are part of my life...

Anyway, decisions, decisions. Until then, I'll be running a set of 7 and 9 x 17 Euromeisters.

Love the wheels and the bike! I thought you retired...

[Andyrew]

I'm taking Friday, 9/1 off work to complete welding on the chassis stiffening bars! It'll be a full day but the goal is to get all that done! Fingers crossed.

And with that done, I'm nearing the point where I need to pick a color... and that gets me thinking about the overall look. While I love the RSR Fuchs look, this car is clearly not a 914/6 GT tribute so...

I'm toying with these 52 Outlaw wheels against the mid 2000s Subaru WRX blue. I think these wheels fit quite nicely with my overall "RaceRod" design.

But wheel see... (see what I did there?) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

And, the blue/gold is the same combo I used on a custom SV650 I built about 12 years ago. It got a 4 page spread in Cycle World. I was pretty proud of that... plus, I went to Berkeley (Go Bears!) so blue and gold are part of my life...

Anyway, decisions, decisions. Until then, I'll be running a set of 7 and 9 x 17 Euromeisters.

I like the color combo! 52 Outlaws are some serious coin!

[tygaboy]

Well, as usual, things take longer than I imagine they will. I'd hoped to get the chassis stiffening done today. Didn't quite make it but made BIG progress.
Final fit all but the front hoop-to-front suspension tubes, all tubes tacked in and a couple items final welded.

MAJOR MILESTONE! I'm feeling really good as it comes together.

It would be all but impossible to get all the way around some of these tubes. So after dry fitting the rear suspension-to-firewall bars and support plate, the bar/support plate were tack welded while everything was in position.

[tygaboy]

Then the bar/support plate is welded on the bench.

Beautiful! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[tygaboy]

And then back in it goes and things are tacked in place.
Here's the passenger side, awaiting rosette welding.

Final, final welding of all joints is going to happen after the car is back on the rotisserie as that will make it WAY easier to get at all the nooks and crannies.

[tygaboy]

Then it was on to fitting and tacking the door bars.
First, all measurements were triple checked then the vertical's support pads were rosette welded to the longs.

I got to use my new-to-me South Bend lathe to final fit and square up the verticals.