Had an hour last night so I started working on the short shifter. Yes, I realize this looks like the long shifter, but its not. So far so good, just need to drill a few holes and it should be set.
Compared to stock
Dan
Finished up the shifter bracket; holes drilled and I re-welded and smoothed out the shaft/bracket joint. Also a sneak peak of the new linkages Im starting.
Routed the fuel lines. The soft lines will connect to hard lines just above floor level near the firewall. I will probably nutsert the body for the hold downs vs just the screws I was using for the mockup.
Welded -8 fittings to the oil cooler adapter and got the lines made.
Dan
Always look forward to your updates.
Looking great! What type of management are you using? I might have missed it.
Megasquirt.
Dan
Finally got a start on the strut tower brace. I didnt like anything prefabed so why not make my own.
I machined the vertical pieces at the ends out of 7/8" bar stock. The bottom side is tapped so I can bolt it in from the bottom vs using hollow tubing and bolts on top. Naturally I had to press the studs out of the strut bearings.
The tubes are 3/4" mild steel that I put a slight bend in with a friends tubing roller and notched with my pos HF notcher.
Im planning on making a dimple die’d sheet steel web to go between the two tubes. Likely get to that sunday night.
Also started on a shift weight and got all the parts in for the upgraded shift linkages.
Dan
Bend is a nice touch. How is the HF notcher?
The bend was also necessary to clear the charge pipe, but it also happens to look nicer.
It “works” but its a pile of shit. However, Ive definitely gotten my $50 or whatever out of it. I would DEF NOT use it if I was going to build a cage.
Dan
FWIW, I bought the eastwood notcher and have been pretty happy with it. the hole saws that came with it haven’t held up the best…cut maybe 12-15 notches and they are missing 3 or 4 teeth each saw (.120 wall tube)…but I just went to HD and got some dewalt hole saws to replace the worn out ones and I assume they should hold up much better.
When you guys are drilling do you lube the tip or go in dry?
Always lube the tip, always. I like Tap Magic myself.
Dan
Tap Magic FTW
Made a bit more progress on the strut bar. Got the sheet metal cut out, drilled, dimpled, and welded in. What a total pain that was. I had to move a pile of clamps 26 times, once for each weld. Took almost 2 hours. I just need to finish weld the mounting ends on tomorrow night then I can take it for coating.
Also finished up the new shift linkage rods including a shift weight that I made on the lathe at work. Ive seen some people just use threaded rod, but I think it looks stupid, so I bought and threaded some 8mm rod instead. The ball ends are 13mm to mate with the OEM ball mounts. Obviously I need to add two for the shift weight rod as it just used bushings in holes originally.
I think thats just about all the fab I need to do before I can start stripping the whole car down to finish any welding and start stripping undercoating etc.
Dan
You are nuts in the best way possible. :tup:
haha thanks. :tup:
Dan
So good!
Thanks!
Last thrusday I decided I was close enough to pull the motor and trans back out. Also removed the doors. Probably get back to the engine bay work in a week.
I dropped the strut tower brace off for powder monday.
Accidentally ruined the radiator cover trying to shear 1/8" off the edge (forgot about the damn feet on the shear that holds the metal). Anyway thought Id try my hand at forming a radius bend at the corner of it vs having it square. Not bad for a first attempt. Rev 2 will feature this.
Bronze bushings showed up monday. Had to turn the larger ones down a little on the lathe to fit in the selector bracket. Just need to come up with a couple spacers. So now the whole shifter mechanism is rubber bushing / grommet free.
Got tired of having a whole car spread out on various benches, the floor etc so I whipped up this rolling rack last night. I just happen to have 12 2x4s, 2 sheets of plywood and a spare set of casters off my one HF tool box laying around. SO much better. (Yes, I really need to organize my scrap metal )
Dan
I just have to ask, do you work on this till wee hours of the morning or something? I know you work, so when the hell do you have time to do all this stuff? No kids?
Keep up the great work man :tup:
I have one busy 10yr old daughter.
Typically I work sunday, tues and thrusday nights from 9:30pm-1am (sometimes 1:30). Tuesdays I get a couple extra hours (6-8) while my daughter is at Irish dance.
If we arent super busy on the weekend Ill try to put in a couple hours here or there.
Basically I never just sit down and relax, Im basically going wide open any time Im awake and vertical.
Dan
