01/10/2007: So far this week, we have been working on getting the frame in
primer, since it was stripped to bare metal (until we ran out of what primer
there was in the cabinet!) Also gathering miscellaneous parts - like jacking
bolts - to try and figure out if it would be easier to get some of that sort of stuff
ready to go before the body goes back on. It's just easier when you don't have
to do everything on a creeper.
The project of the night was to set the rear end under the frame, to try and
determine what the frame height will need to be at to gain the correct angles
for the stock rear suspension. The rules state 6" frame height; time will tell if
we can achieve 6" without screwing up the pinion angle (which will in turn,
screw up everything else if it isn't right!). We didn't finish with it tonight; the
frame is set to the rule on jackstands and blocks with the rear end under it so
that we can experiment some more tomorrow night and see what happens when
we raise or lower the frame. There's a lot to it if you really sit down and try to
figure it out, even if it isn't a pro stock ;o) but the basic principles remain the
same. The hardest part for us is that we have never really done a whole lot with
stock metric chassis; "back in the day" Camaros used to be the hotrods that we
had good luck with ;o)
Our goal is to have the car ready for a rollcage by Saturday morning; and with
any luck the weather won't be miserable when we haul it up to Brownie's Speed
in Enfield, NH to have it installed. There are about 52 hours into this project at
this point. We will keep updating as we go. . .check back often!
primer, since it was stripped to bare metal (until we ran out of what primer
there was in the cabinet!) Also gathering miscellaneous parts - like jacking
bolts - to try and figure out if it would be easier to get some of that sort of stuff
ready to go before the body goes back on. It's just easier when you don't have
to do everything on a creeper.
The project of the night was to set the rear end under the frame, to try and
determine what the frame height will need to be at to gain the correct angles
for the stock rear suspension. The rules state 6" frame height; time will tell if
we can achieve 6" without screwing up the pinion angle (which will in turn,
screw up everything else if it isn't right!). We didn't finish with it tonight; the
frame is set to the rule on jackstands and blocks with the rear end under it so
that we can experiment some more tomorrow night and see what happens when
we raise or lower the frame. There's a lot to it if you really sit down and try to
figure it out, even if it isn't a pro stock ;o) but the basic principles remain the
same. The hardest part for us is that we have never really done a whole lot with
stock metric chassis; "back in the day" Camaros used to be the hotrods that we
had good luck with ;o)
Our goal is to have the car ready for a rollcage by Saturday morning; and with
any luck the weather won't be miserable when we haul it up to Brownie's Speed
in Enfield, NH to have it installed. There are about 52 hours into this project at
this point. We will keep updating as we go. . .check back often!
01/13/2007: It's been a couple of days since this has
been updated. . .but here's the scoop: We had been
looking over the rear end area, trying to figure out
how we could get this car to the height in the rules.
We finally decided that we would just set it at stock
height, since as far as we can see there is no way to
get it down to 6" properly without cutting or moving
anything. I guess since GM has the engineers, they
probably aren't too far off at stock height, so that
will be where the car will sit unless we learn
something new.
In the meantime, the week was winding to a close,
and we needed to get busy to meet our goal of
having it ready to go to Brownie's Speed on
Saturday. That being said, we spent the last couple
of days finishing up things that we had put off for
last, or overlooked along the way. TSS head tech
Gary Baker finally stopped by and looked everything
over; he said it all looked good to him, and clarified
a few questions we had for him.
Today we put the body back onto the frame, and
loaded the car up to go to Enfield. Wally Brown will
be putting the rollcage in the car at his shop; check
out his website at www.browniesauto.com
While the car is there, we will be trying to figure out
our drivetrain. The car didn't have an engine or
tranny in it when we got it, so that's the next project
to get in the works, and we need to do our
homework on that end.
With approximately 60 hours into this so far, it's
time for a few days off !
I will keep updating as we go, but it will be a few
days before there's anything new to tell ya about.
Big thanks to Brian Riendeau - aka "Homer" -
you've been a ton of help and we appreciate it!
been updated. . .but here's the scoop: We had been
looking over the rear end area, trying to figure out
how we could get this car to the height in the rules.
We finally decided that we would just set it at stock
height, since as far as we can see there is no way to
get it down to 6" properly without cutting or moving
anything. I guess since GM has the engineers, they
probably aren't too far off at stock height, so that
will be where the car will sit unless we learn
something new.
In the meantime, the week was winding to a close,
and we needed to get busy to meet our goal of
having it ready to go to Brownie's Speed on
Saturday. That being said, we spent the last couple
of days finishing up things that we had put off for
last, or overlooked along the way. TSS head tech
Gary Baker finally stopped by and looked everything
over; he said it all looked good to him, and clarified
a few questions we had for him.
Today we put the body back onto the frame, and
loaded the car up to go to Enfield. Wally Brown will
be putting the rollcage in the car at his shop; check
out his website at www.browniesauto.com
While the car is there, we will be trying to figure out
our drivetrain. The car didn't have an engine or
tranny in it when we got it, so that's the next project
to get in the works, and we need to do our
homework on that end.
With approximately 60 hours into this so far, it's
time for a few days off !
I will keep updating as we go, but it will be a few
days before there's anything new to tell ya about.
Big thanks to Brian Riendeau - aka "Homer" -
you've been a ton of help and we appreciate it!
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