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Here is my build. What was supposed to be the purchase of a cheap FD, fix some electrical gremlins, paint it and drive, has turned into far more.
Purchased this...
Only then two days later to also come across a small front end fire burnt C5 corvette, so I bought that too...
Getting new front accessories and doing a conversion to the transmission to an f-body style.
So I pulled the rotary. This will be easy, rotary out, get subframe kit, LS in...
But, I decided, since I'm here and I'm painting the whole car, why not remove more and paint engine bay...
While I'm here might as well order fender braces, and if I'm going to do fender braces, why not just seam weld the whole car, so out comes everything...
Apart from what's seen above I did the trunk surround areas, windshield, door areas, firewall areas and under car like rear subrame mounted areas, wheel well areas F&R, etc. Everything was then treated with Ospho and primered so it can wait until I'm ready to paint.
While under the car I thought, this is ugly, I'll sort that out too...
Now the body itself is sitting until a body man comes and fixes some rust on rear fender between wheel and bumper, I will also have him seal off all the antennae hole in fender, all trunk holes for wing (not going back on so that will be for sale), rear wiper arm and nozzle spray holes also, then he will prepare the entire exterior to the point that all I need to do is apply paint.
I also will spray lizard skin in the interior.
Began wiring work to remove wires I will no longer need, and just to clean up the bulk, make it all neat and will replace new expandable braided wire sleeving on entire harness once everything is test fitted and cars starts and everything functions.
That's where I'm currently at. I have lots of parts accumulated but still have lots more to gather.
LMK (us know?) how difficult it is to work with lizard skin. That is what I am planning on using when I get to the bodywork of my FD. However, I was planning on undercoating it too.
Good luck with the build. Not a fan of v8s, but I enjoy your attention to detail (ugliness is not acceptable :p).
Ok, I have not been doing updates often, but here's what has been going on.
Accumulated parts:
From Samberg Performance:
Mounting kit has been powdercoated after received.
From forum member "Alex Rodriguez"
From Ebay:
From Improved Racing:
Forum member "Juan" J-Auto:
I also got some Chevy OEM things; new accessory kit for the LS motor (alternator, AC, Power steering, etc), miscellaneous parts to convert the C5 corvette T56 to F-body type. I have a transmission guy doing the conversion, thought I would have had it back to install this weekend, but he called me to come to the shop to show me chipped teeth on the 5th gear, so I need to order one of those.
I painted the engine bay and mounted the LS.
Cleaned all the suspension bits and rear subframe and diff and then painted everything.
Suspension bits before:
After cleaning and new bushings and pillowballs pressed in:
Painted:
I have also reinstalled the rear subframe, diff and all suspension. I haven't taken pics of that because I'm waiting for new axle boots to replace and then paint my axles, and I need to get new coilovers. I did reinstall the axles, old shocks and springs, hubs, etc, because I am going to roll the fenders before I do the bodywork and paint.
OK, slacked off on the updates but the build has been progressing.
More goodies piled up….
Quick Time bell housing
Random Stuff….
Transmission in. This was the C5 corvette trans that I converted to a fbody
Shifter in
Cut out trunk for new gas tank
Fuel tank in
New trunk floor and fuel lid, this whole new fuel tank and lid setup worked out 15lbs lighter than the stock floor and tank.
Lizard skin sprayed down, sound control and ceramic insulation, used 2 gallons of each, also did the inner roof. I weighed the containers full and they were about 42lbs total, I weighed them after to get an idea of how much weight was sprayed in, so I figured about 34lbs of material.
Cleaned down to bare metal to block off filler hole, forgot to take a pic after welded up
Mocking up the wilwood pedal box and C5 DBW pedal
Speedhut gauges mocked up
Trimmed the back ring for the tach gauge to fit. (Basically I just put all gauges through the front and screw the back locking ring on, it worked out good)
Took off OEM gauges from board, and you can see the trimmed side for the warning lights to have a clean fit back up, also had to trim some of the plastic “tubes” that stick up around the oil, water and fuel area
Calipers before, I am rebuilding them and painting them, will show after when completed
Mocking up my Sureflo exhaust (from Greg Stevenson in Australia), it comes with flanges, pre-bent piping, merge collectors. It’s done this way so it can then be tailored as setups can vary (different subframes etc). Still need to finish final welding, will post after pics.
Doors, fenders, trunk and hood were painted, here’s the doors
Rest of car heading to the paint booth
At the booth, should be back home this weekend, then the rest of the fun can begin putting together the fuel system, brake lines, engine accessories, radiator, and then wiring (which I am not exited about the wiring)
That’s about it for now, will update once more progress is made.
how hard was it to make that cut in the rear tub? i just got my car painted and i'm looking to replace my fuel tank with a fuel cell, but i want to make sure i can cut the tub without too much paint damage
Cut out in the rear tub was not hard, I just used a drill to make a pre hole then I used a sawzall mainly and a cut off wheel on a grinder in a few tight space, especially right against the rear frame. You should be fine to not damage any paint.
If you are a bit worried just cover the rear panels and bumper with some cardboard stuck on with painter tape.
