been a couple months.... any updates?!

 

yeah, I've been making some small progress. It looks the same as it did in the pics above, but I've change the torque arm mount (again), opened up the trans tunnel so I can squeeze a 3" exhaust pipe past the Viper trans, worked on the fiberglass wheel houses some more, finish welded a bunch of little crap, and built an air intake for the HVAC on the cowl.
I also started working out the windshield wipers, but that's awful boring.

The mother-in-law is in town for few days, but I'll try to get some new pics up ASAP.

 

Ok, here are some quick update pics:

This is the HVAC intake from the cowl to the HVAC unit (I still need to add some water drainage. Probably use the stock Vette drains that were located below the original wiper motor at some point):




Following are some images of the torque arm (at full extension) and the trans cross member I built that holds the trans and the torque arm:






I must be moving pretty slowly as the real parts don't look this rusty! I'm blaming it on the camera.

This one shows the modified trans tunnel so I can run the exhaust past the Viper trans:


And here's one of a turbo I borrowed for mock up:

 

awesome!

 

You have some amazing fabrication skills! This looks like a really fun build.

 

Been following this thread since the beginning, I went back and re-read quickly, but I didnt see if you mentioned whether you had to widen the C5 front end? Today my friend came over and suggested I put a C4 front end on my 91 GTA since I am doing other stuff anyway, but I think the C5 may be a better option. Could you tell me approximately how wide the C5 stuff is from inside rail to inside rail about where the front suspension is attached?

 

The front is 100% stock C5 (from a 2001 Z06). I did remove the transverse leaf and put in our coil overs, however, but I didn't touch the width at all, and it "almost" dropped in like it was made for it. The wheels are a tad wide (have to modify the fenders a bit) but that's the look I was after.

Basically all I did was "pinch" the frame rails mid-car so the 4" (or so) tall C5 frame rail would line up with the shorter 3rd Gen rocker.

I've got some more pics to put up, so I'll try and do that tonight and take some dims for you.

 

Subscribing!

 

I hate computers, had this typed already and it didnt post

This is what I was hoping for but I wouldnt be using the inner fenders and whatnot. I would try to graft the front frame rails into the stock 3rd gen sub.

Looks like the front track width is ~ 62.4, so this may not be a good swap for me as I want to be able to use the R15 wheels I already have. I think this is too wide compared to the 3rd gen front track, would push my wheels out too far. Could you also measure the hub to hub on the front end? I cant find the stock width on a 3rd gen here at all either and my car is all apart

 

You can see in this image the front wheels are pushed out quite a bit (hence the fender changes I was talking about):


Though it's hard to see in this image I also had to cut away a bit of the stock 3rd gen fender support structure to provide clearance when the suspension is at full compression:


Sticking the C5 front in the 3rd gen is a little difficult as the C5 uses a perimeter frame, while the 3rd gen "frame" is closer to the trans tunnel. This is why I decided to just cut out the original and use all the Vette parts. It also allowed me to put in a "real" frame rail using 2x4 steel rails that I tied into the 3rd gens rockers (you see this a lot in older muscle car builds).

 

I am guessing then that the measurement in between these rails are wider then than in the 3rd gen?

 

I didn't record all the dimensions, so I'm going off memory here, but the stock Vette rails fit between the 3rd gen front pretty nicely (within 1/4" IIRC).
You can kind of see it here. The battery tray is of stock dimensions (I cut it loose of the stock "rail", but didn't modify it after that). The Vette rails then lined up right to the radiator support where the stock 3rd gen one sat :

 

Man this is going to be one HELL of a build! Please put an LS9 in there lol

 

Frame rail width, 2001 C5 Z06 = 37" (outside rail to outside rail)
hub-to-hub, 2001 C5 Z06 = roughly 65.75"

 

Update time. . .I've made a little progress.

Wiper motor mounting and assembly (I first drew everything in CAD then cut the parts to fit. The connecting rods are stainless and the end links are our smaller PosiLinks):




I put the heads on the mock-up block and started working on the truck manifolds for the turbo set-up. I'm going to make some steel V-band clamps and weld them to the manifolds:


I also started mocking-up the interior, which requires quite a number of custom panels and whatnot to make it fit. The stock Vette dash had a nice "groove" around it, so I used some 1/4" rod welded to the sheet metal to make it look better:






More to come as I keep making things fit.

 

Based on the views you gave it looks like your gonna have a heck of a time making things comfortable for the driver.

 

Ok, I'm curious. . .how so? Basically everything is stock C5 Z06, which I can tell you was one of the most comfortable cars I've driven.

 

I guess its not really one of those things I can make assumptions on at this point in your project. I just see how far the dash sticks out and its hard to tell if there is much if any difference between the height of it compared to a stock third gen.

 

Does look a bit long. I'm sure its either photo trickery (on second glance it really does look long lol) or if it isn't he has thought that far ahead I'm sure. Turn the camaro into a true 2-seater, put the seats farther back and such.

Everythings lookin great btw

 

Meh... A lot of it is us being used to our super short flat stock 3rd gen dashes. The Vettes have more of a "cockpit" design to them. I think as long as he nails the seat placement, it'll be plenty comfrotable.

If you want to another example, quite extreme i might add, what can be done. Google the "civette". Thats a Civic hatch, converted to RWD, with a vette drivetrain, and interior. He drifts it, drags it, and road races it...and claims its pleny comfy.

And going by the level of marolf101x's other work...this is probably going to turn out to be quite a car!

J.

 

Yeah and moving the seat back will put his weight farther back towards the rear wheels which is where the weight needs to be. Curious to see the weight of the car once it's all done (also F/R weight distribution).

 

You guys are correct, the dash does stick "back" quite a bit further than the stock dash. This is due to the fact that I used the Vette firewall, which pushes everything further into the interior.

The front seat placement will be more toward the rear than stock, but it's 100% Vette layout (floor and all) so it should feel just like the Vette.

The rear seats will be retained, but there won't be much room between the rear of the front seat and the front of the back seat. Not of much concern as you couldn't get much in the stock rear seat anyway. It'll now be only for holding crap I'm carrying.

 

Or for midgets

 

Awesome project!

 

midgets!. . .well, at 5'7" 135lbs I'm not far off, so the midget may be in the front seat!

 

Hahaa i'd say far from it! I've had girls that are 5'5 sit tight in the back so yeah.. lol

But damn 135lbs?! You are 65lbs lighter than me! That alot of weight reduction lmao

 

i wish i was that small, i have to pry myself out of mine and its not even lowered or im not even done growing yet

 

awesome build, the stance with the c6 rims and tires and ride height looks bad*** i cant wait to try something like this one day, and we're about the same size, 5'9" 130lbs. lol

 

Cant wait to see how this turns out

 

Subscribed! i'm interested in that SLA up front! looks beautiful. think there's any slightly easier way to mount the SLA to the 3rd gen instead of having to graft in the whole front end of a vette? only askin because last time i was at the scrap yard they didnt have much for vettes.

 

Sorry for the delay, been at SEMA all week, then the Optima Invitational.

To put an SLA under the front requires a new frame. In stock form the lack of an actual "frame rail" limits what you can do as I don't think it would be strong enough. There are a lot of stock and aftermarket options for grafting in a new front section, I just happen to have a C5 laying around I could cut up, and it fit quite well.

I'll be back on the car this week, so I'll try to get some new pics up ASAP. I got the headers modified so the turbo mock-up is next on the list.

 

Awesome project! subscribing

 

Subscribed! Great fab work!

 

Mad fabrication skills, this is what hot rodding was all about

 

That's pretty sweet! I just found this. good work!

 

 

I see a guy on here doing a front suspension from a c5 and another doing a rear... Just curious, why not the whole frame? I am wanting to do this on mine, complete with cutting out the rear seat area and c5 fuel tanks.

 

I realize this thread is 4 pages long, but if you look closely you'll find the answer to your question in post #10.

 

any updates?

 

Well, I've started mocking-up the turbo location and a few other minor details, but I have to tell everyone, my wife's due date was today, so I'm a little behind schedule. . and as such, I'm sure I'll keep falling behind.

I'll do what I can (and I will get this done, opposed to some on here who think I have too lofty goals). but it may take a little longer than I had originally figured.

 

she had a baby? congrats

 

soooo......is there gonna be a raffle for one lucky winner to take this car off your hands? cuz i'll buy 100 tickets.



this project is awesome, and to think i have a hard time putting 3.73's in my car and am getting all nervous about putting in a 350 tpi in my car cuz i dont know jack about cars and youre cutting two cars in half and making a frankenstein car...nice work!
and congrats on the new addition, dont forget the baby seat when you get this thing on the road!!!!!!!!

 

Well, with my daughter being only 8 days old and family coming and going my garage time has diminished significantly.

However, i was able to start mocking-up the turbo. Currently I have a junk Schwitzer in there that's physically welded to a support rod. For the "real deal" I'll build a bracket that goes from the aluminum Corvette cross member to help hold the turbo in place.

The original idea was to use truck manifolds in keeping with my "i'm too poor to actually buy new parts so I have to use what I have" deal, but we had an old pair of LS headers sitting around the shop that I was able to cut up and reconfigure to make some forward mounting headers (not the greatest, but they were the right price!)

Here are some quick pics:

 

me like

 

Looking good!

 

nice

 

Very, very impressive. Will be interesting to see the finished product.

 

Subscribing.

 

subscribed

 

nice build