81 custom widebody
01-21-12, 02:53 AM
#26
Hmmm, didnt realize the small one, thats nifty, lol. I still get the feeling corvette will be associated with it, bit in the end its all personal preference. Your car is badass, can't wait to see it done
03-12-12, 04:02 PM
#30
front end
Well, it's about time to fire the project back up. Hope to finish it this year. At least be able to drive this year. May never be done! Anyway I need to get the front suspension in order. Somehow, someway I'm putting rack and pinion steering on it. Respeeds kit would be the most logical but I'm not paying for it. I think I'm going to come up with something on my own. (Don't want to pay a grand for it basically!)
I'll keep you guys posted.
I'll keep you guys posted.
03-13-12, 02:59 PM
#32
rack and pinion
Ok, I found a local source for a 2nd gen front suspension. Has everything I need. Subframe, control arms and rack for about 100 bucks. Between that and some shortened struts like the Dude from Canada did, That should take care of my front end quite nicely.
Now I just have to talk my 16 year old into helping me get the stuff out of the 2nd gen!
Now I just have to talk my 16 year old into helping me get the stuff out of the 2nd gen!
03-21-12, 01:55 PM
#33
2nd gen suspension
So, I took a vacation day because it's absolutely beautiful outside and I figured it was a good day to pull the cross member out of a 2nd gen. Wow! what a job. I pulled it from a 90 rx7 at the local u pull and save. Took the better part of the day but I got it home. Now I have to get it cleaned up and installed. I got what you see for less than 200 bucks.
And now for some pics.
And now for some pics.
03-25-12, 06:29 PM
#36
front suspension
Got the front fenders off and stripped the FC crossmember. This thing had been sitting in the dirt for a long time. Bolts are being very hard to get off. Rounded one of the balljoint bolts right off. Can't wait to see how I'm going to get that off. One of the rotors doesn't want to come off the hub. I'm hoping I can press it off with my press. I was using adapters to go from 4 to 5 lug before but this front end is almost 3 inches wider. I'll use longer studs and spacers. Next up is getting the old suspension out. This swap also gives me 11 inch rotors and I'm buying a set of turbo, 4 piston calipers. Should be enough brake for now. I'll post more pics when I start swapping in the FC stuff.
03-25-12, 07:26 PM
#38
brakes
Yea, That was going to be my first choice but the calipers were long gone! I do need to get back out to the pull and pay and get the power steering pump. I found several 4 piston calipers on ebay. I'll probably try the good folks on here first. I have to admit I know next to nothing about 2nd gens.
03-27-12, 06:09 PM
#39
out with the old
Out with the old! Got the suspension out today. One bolt decided to give me a lot of trouble! I have my nice fresh 2nd gen crossmember ready to fit up. I have to cut off the two bolts on either side that held the original cross member in place. There are a couple pins on the new cross member I have to cut off as well so the cross member fits up tight to the underside of the frame rails. I have decided I'm going to weld the crossmember in for additional stiffness and I want to cut the round tube on the front off for unrestricted flow to my new radiator. I also scored a pair of 4 piston calipers off ebay so once I get new rotors I'm set for brakes
03-31-12, 07:06 AM
#40
Damn!!!!!!
just when everything starts coming together my welder breaks. I do have the front crossmember all tacked in now and I feel confident that it's in the correct location. Thanks to the good folks on here and their many good threads about how to locate the cross member.
I already ordered another welder. Cheap one this time. My lincoln lasted about 5 years of hard welding. I really don't have that much more to do so I got a cheap mig off ebay to finish up the car.
I guess this weekend I will clean up parts and paint.
I already ordered another welder. Cheap one this time. My lincoln lasted about 5 years of hard welding. I really don't have that much more to do so I got a cheap mig off ebay to finish up the car.
I guess this weekend I will clean up parts and paint.
04-06-12, 10:13 AM
#44
struts
Got my new 2nd Gen struts yesterday. I did notice my FB strut mounts do not fit on the new strut. It was a good excuse to order some 2nd Gen camber plates. I will modify the holes in the FB strut towers to accept these and all will be well. I got my new welder yesterday as well so this weekend I'm going to finish up the FC subframe install. I'll post some pics later after I get it in.
04-07-12, 05:37 PM
#45
parts
While I was waiting on my new welder I managed to get some of the parts cleaned up. The knuckles were in really bad shape but some time with a dremel and a wire brush and they don't look too bad.
I'll replace the bushings before I put the car on the road but I want to get the rims back on it so I can finish up the bodywork. I still have to clean up the swaybar and rack.
I need to weld sway bar mounts on the bottom of the frame since I removed the original ones with the front end.
Tomorow I'm going to finish up welding the subframe in and I'll post some pics.
I'll replace the bushings before I put the car on the road but I want to get the rims back on it so I can finish up the bodywork. I still have to clean up the swaybar and rack.
I need to weld sway bar mounts on the bottom of the frame since I removed the original ones with the front end.
Tomorow I'm going to finish up welding the subframe in and I'll post some pics.
