what should i fab up first?! i donno where to begin... ever since i got this job at this kickbutt machine/racing chassis shop, my mind has been racing a mile a min.... i cant wait to start on my car... but i have so many ideas, i dont know where to begin.. heck im awake at 3am just thinking about it...

ideas of stuff:

custom make some SFCs
make my STB and wonderbar
cnc some caliper brackets so i can do the 98+ front brake swap
start on my intake manifold (multiport EFI manifold)

or my most ambitious project idea... make a tubular strut tower mount that welds to the front subframe and holds the top of the strut.. then i could take out the "fender"(by fender i mean the inner wheel well).

this would be stiffer, could be designed lighter, look friggen cool, and most importantly, i could get to the engine from the fender too.... combine it with a custom removeable STB made to clear my intake and i would have one stiff, light badass front end...


also, since i have a few CNC machines at my disposal(after hours of course), im thinking about getting some nice blank alum valve covers..... and CNCing some script into them..... and so i can put them on my centerbolt heads, i can make a small adapter plate... that would also let me have standard height valve covers... but give them enough room for my aftermarket valvetrain (yea i know you can BUY them, but making stuff is coool)

i just have so many ideas of what i want to do, my head feels like its going to explode..... i cant wait for monday after hours so i can start on SOMTHING....

 

I think you're heading in the right direction...do the brackets for the new brake upgrades and work on suspension mods, relo brackets and stuff...and send me a set for being a good guy..

About that strut mount idea: your strut may need to move during an alignment so I don't know if the solid welded bracket idea will fly.

Have fun!!

Ed

 

start with the simple stuff.

to remove the inner fenders may seem neat , but if you drive your car at all I wouldn't do it. Just imagine going through a puddle of mud and what your engine would look like afterwards (I'm guessing the plastic inner wheel wells would have to go as well so there would be a big gaping hole that might look cool , but that's about it). rocks would be flying into your engine bay as well , I just can imagine the mayhem , lol , but I'm a pessimist by nature so maybe I'm full of it.

PS: make the 98+ brackets so I can buy a set from you , LOL (seriously though , if you do , PM me )

 

Another thing you may way to investigate are those gauge trim rings. I wish I had a link but I think they were posted in the appearance or body forum a while back. some guy from sweden (I think) took a chunk of aluminum and machined trim rings for his stock TA gauges. Looked absolutely amazing , you could do something similar to the camaro gauges too.

 

yea, thoes looked awsome, but i have a 91, so there are no round gauges....



as for the strut mount fender idea.... i would have a tubular replica of the fender... so the stock movable mounting plate would still be there with full adjustment.. and we have a sheet metal break, and other sheetmetal stuff that i donno how to work yet....

so im sure i can make a 1/4" turn fasener attached inner fender...


after thinking about it more, i think im going to make my STB tomarrow, and then the wonderbar... unless i can get the plans for that 98+ brake swap first

 

Easy there, Mario, I think you'll find out how hard it is to actually design an build stuff. I would start small, such as fab up an adjustable panhard bar, then go to the SFC's , tower braces and sort of work your way up. Do yourself a favor, once you build something, say a set of tower braces, and get them to fit real good. Take the unit and build a jig for them so next time you don't have to "cut and paste" the next set, plus, if you decide to sell them, they're easily repeatable. Just make sure the jig is substantial, because the heat from welding will try to move it around.
Congrats on the new job.

 

hehe, i know im getting ahead of myself, but its like a whole new world is FINALLY open to me... i can now do the stuff ive been wanting to do for years....


and to be honest, the strut mount wasnt my idea... one of the chassis guys saw that design, and i told him about how i use a STB to stiffen it, ect.. and he suggested how to build one.... hes a great guy, and he loves what he does... you should see some of the stuff hes built. last friday, i go over to the local speed shop and i see a custom tubular k member on a C5.... he did that... along with a few of the tube chassis cars, the jr dragster and a few fullsize dragsters there, amoung other things...

when i left on friday, he was doing a custom roll bar for a C5 vert...

 

Well looks like you got a job at the ultimate car guy shop.

If they are willing to teach you, stay late and help them for free. (I don't mean do your job for free) But stay after hours and put your own time in learning new things. They will recognize your efforts and if you listen to what they say, you could learn a lot from them.

The old saying is true, "The more you know, the further you go".

 

yea, i feel like i died and went to heaven...

one, they are willing to teach(and im more then willing to shutup and learn)

and two, the only thing they really want in return for helping me with my car is me helping them with theirs.... (im really getting the better end of THAT deal lol)

so not only do i get to work on my car, but i get to help with all of these other race cars... most are all out tube frame deals...


i feel like my head is going to explode just thinking about it...

so much i want to know, learn and DO.... sensory overload.....

 

There was this kid that worked at a shop I was at and he asked me about this stuff once. I told him to take a bus to Charlotte or Indianapolis, find a shop and work there for room and board. Sweep the floors, whatever, and keep your mind open. Some of these fabricators are just unbelievable. I designed and built my own racing kart chassis, 99% of the people out think it's no big deal. Fact is after all of the testing and redesign (several times), including the material (combination of chromoly and or mild steel). It was a huge undertaking. At least they turned out to be a winner. But something that simple was just a giant undertaking, there is so much we take for granted when we can just go buy a fabbed up part, and then whine about the price.

 

i dont expect it to be easy... matter of fact, i want it to be a lil hard.. im mostly doing this to learn from.... if i want SFCs i can buy some macs for $89... but i want to learn how to do it myself.... thats where the coolness somes in..

and as for custom chassis design, you should see this jr dragster setup one of the guys just finished... its just amazing... he designed it for just the right amount of vertical flex, while keeping the chassis stiff otherwise....


im pretty much in awe of most of these guys... its great to be around people that not only know so much more then me, but are willing to show and teach me it.... hehe, i cant sleep im just waiting for tomarrow can come so i can goto work..


AND I GET PAID TO DO THIS!

the past year and a half of **** jobs and low pay are finally paying off......