Projects Plan II - 62 Chevy II Drag Car

thanks!

The wheels and tires on the car now are just rollers...the real ones will have bias ply tires, and be more skinnier. I'm waiting to buy them until I buy the rest of the big items to build the car itself. Although there's not a lot left....some restoration parts, side and back "glass", transmission parts, and a few engine parts. Gauges and wiring.

 

That make sense. But on this car, the front and rear frames are offset from each other by about 6 inches, and there's not much meat at the back of the front frame rails to attach anything to. It looks like the car was designed around the shape of the floor giving it it's strength.

 

Really impressed with the front clip, Very nice job using the original front end structure. Car is really coming along nice. Some people say the roof buckles right above the post area(on a post car)) from torque of the body without the connectors, but they might not know sh*t ?, Frame connectors would be simple to make for a guy with your talents, Here's the connectors that im using, bolted in then welded.

 

I have lusted over your Chevy II many times is is a good looking car.

 

Yes, Nova subframe connectors still go in a straight line, just angled out in the rear to attach at the wider point, like Smokin Bill's. I've seen the aftermarket ones that bolt in, and they usually don't hug the floor like those that guys custom build. I like them either tight to the floor, or even contoured to the floor so they can be welded into the floor pans and look more "factory".

 

This is how I did a 67 Nova. The car was mini-tubbed and the rear frame rails moved in 3"on each side. I tied the rear of the connectors to the front of the rear spring hangers. I also notched the rear floor wells to bring the connecter up so it would not be below the rocker panel.

 

Hey 31Apickup where did you get the bracket to roll the body like that?

 

The rack to roll the car was basically two 1.5" electrical conduit ells, some straight conduit and the rest some scrap angle and square tube stock. I made two giant ells, then cross braced with the square stock. Aligned each end. I could flip the car 90 degrees by myself. Don't have the rack or car anymore.

 

Working on the roll cage. First I had to get the seat mounted, so I can figure out where I am, so I can figure out where the cage tubes need to be.

 

Your to easy, I can't not do this
"Keep talkin', whoah keep talkin'!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK63eUyk-iM

 

Hate to keep on about the wheels, but Yeah I really like those old steel slots on the back too, you just dont see those everyday anymore.

Had to smile a little at the little poke in the ribs Johnny Gee gave you with the video only because we all can relate.

 

yeah, it's all fun!

The steel wheels are incredibly heavy...I'm not planning to use them. I'm thinking 4-5" wide up front, 7" in back. Aluminum.

 

Admit it, you were makin' Vroom, Vroom sounds sittin' in that seat weren't you...

 

You do some clean work, fast too.

 

Looking good! Is that an Avion or Streamline Camper top in your shop?

 

Avion camper.

Got the main parts of the cage in this morning, with a little help.

 

Got an email from Hot Rod, letting me know that early registration for Drag Week is open to last year's top 3 finishers in each class. I'm registered! So the car has a purpose. That's always good to know...

 

Looks good from here dude! I may do one of those too?

 

Looking cool. I am really liking the progress.

 

nice progress ....

 

Thanks! I've been working on my 55 a little bit, I swiped the blower off it. And I'm building a new TH400 for the 55, because I'm going to swipe the transmission out of it for the Chevy II also.

 

Gonna put the 55 into retirement and let it rest as just a driver/cruiser?

 

It still has an LS-7 in it, just not a blown LS-7. It's a fun car either way

 

I got the 55 running without the blower. I then built another TH400 to put in the 55, and took the "race" transmission out of it, for use in the Chevy II. The trans had 10 years on it, with one overhaul about 4 years ago. The direct clutches finally got kind of burned, the others are still OK, so I'll re use them. These clutches are expensive, the replacement for the direct are about $90 for the set. The torque converter is a 1500/3000 stall switch pitch. It may not have enough stall speed, but it's paid for, so I'll see how it works. I ordered the parts for the overhaul, and also a manual valve body. Getting a vacuum controlled transmission to shift right with a blower is slightly challenging, I got it working OK in the 55. But I want to try a manual shift and see how it works.

And I took the blower apart. I've never done it before. It had about 50,000 miles on it since it's last overhaul, and it has been making noise under boost conditions. Didn't see anything rubbing, but one of the rear bearings was kind of rough, and might have been spinning in the case. The seal were shot, too. I ordered new parts for it, and I'll glass bead blast the case and other aluminum parts to make it look good again. I'm also planning to install an old GMC front cover, to help the looks. And I want to make an older design idler bracket, to replace the modern clamp on arm.

The blower is a couple months older than the car. I like that.

 

Subsribed. Enjoy following the progress.

 

Lookin good squirrel, but I'm still trying to get used to those rear wheel wells! lol

 

I never noticed it til now,but is your shop an old hockey arena?Just saw the scoreboard a few pictures back.


Man,I can hardly believe how good you've got that car looking.
Going back over the initial pictures of a rusted out shell makes me do a double take!
Nice work!
I'm also gonna be following your blower rebuild,as I have a similar project coming up.

Scott


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Very impressive, sir!

Thank you for taking the time to document and narrate the experience for us!

 

Thanks!

Basketball. It was from the local middle school, headed for the trash...now it's "art". Yes, it works.

 

Did some work on the transmission today, got it assembled, since the new parts arrived while I was off at lunch. I also got the gauges, and made a little plate to install them in the radio hole. Oil pressure, water temp, manifold pressure. They're the new Mexican made SW gauges, I hope they work. And I drug the engine out of it's hiding place, and set the blower on it. I'll get to work on the heads tomorrow, I also want to play with the cam timing.

Oh yeah...I also got the parking brake working, and the firewall pad installed, a few days ago.