Camaro SS, track trips, build pics etc.

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

PG01

Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2016
Posts
14,731
Reaction score
17,784
Location
Up here to the right
Its like our own little hotrod show...as a matter of fact, quit your job steve and post everyday so i have something to read....:)
 
OP
OP
0

01ssreda4

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2014
Posts
1,124
Reaction score
485
Im actually on a small layoff from work which is why im getting stuff done. Ive started on the tubular front end, basically disassembled everything from the turbo forward and chopped two feet off the front of the car. I have plates for the frame rails but havent selected my tubing yet. Next update is gonna be a good one.
 
OP
OP
0

01ssreda4

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2014
Posts
1,124
Reaction score
485
Well here's what Im going for.:

https://rock-solid-motorsports.com/products/93-02-4th-gen-fbody-universal-tubular-front-end

Me and the owner of the company couldnt strike a deal on his kit so I decided to build my own. There is a certain amount of pride when you can say its made by you, instead of ordered off a website. First thing is first, strip the front.

20180515_152953_zpsx37kx3mi.jpg

I chose to leave the hotside on for now (hoping I had enough room for the cuts) and since about 75% of the kit is uninstalled, and about 50% of it will likely need to be rerouted, it is listed locally for sale. If it sells I will build a t6 kit from scratch, if it doesnt, i wont modify the pipes in this kit just replace certain parts and keep the others intact to sell it later as a complete kit. Cliff notes: t6 turbo coming, but not sure when.

Made the initial cut, just to get the bulk of the metal out of my way. Fun fact: I removed the inner plastic front fender liners, and in like 11/12 years of owning this car are one of the few pieces that have never been off the car. I threw them in the bushes.

20180515_170725_zpszwic8y1p.jpg

Here's where we ended up. This was a rough cut and frame rails need to be smoothed out and all that. The plan now is, I have steel plate to cap off the rails and fender area. I need to select pipe, buy it, bend it, and get to welding.

20180515_174355_zpsrkvqusgg.jpg

20180515_174413_zpsqub95fpa.jpg

The look on my kid's face was priceless when they walked around and thought daddy WTF did you do to your car?? I'm pretty sure no one in the house thinks it will ever run again.
 

PoPoPPV

Full Access Member
Joined
May 17, 2018
Posts
133
Reaction score
153
Location
Lubbock, TX
Absolutely love this thread, sub'd on sight! I am an open road racer, here's a few pics of my last race car! The first pic is the car on the showroom floor at Lou Fusz Chevrolet in St. Louis. The next are after a 6pt roll bar and harness upgrade for the class I ran and a car show pic after the last race. I ran it dropped 2 inches with a bump steer kit on 245/45 Nitto nt555's. I ran Super Sport at the Big Ben Open road Race in Ft. Stockton, Texas.

02-1.jpg Harness.JPG Carshow2.jpg
 

HiHoeSilver

Away!
Joined
Feb 28, 2017
Posts
10,919
Reaction score
14,571
Location
Chicago
Absolutely love this thread, sub'd on sight! I am an open road racer, here's a few pics of my last race car! The first pic is the car on the showroom floor at Lou Fusz Chevrolet in St. Louis. The next are after a 6pt roll bar and harness upgrade for the class I ran and a car show pic after the last race. I ran it dropped 2 inches with a bump steer kit on 245/45 Nitto nt555's. I ran Super Sport at the Big Ben Open road Race in Ft. Stockton, Texas.

View attachment 199679 View attachment 199680 View attachment 199681

Always loved that anniversary paint job. Red hot, bud.
 
OP
OP
0

01ssreda4

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2014
Posts
1,124
Reaction score
485
Me too. Nice ride.

Ive got 4 plates at the 4 corners tacked on, and 2 successful bends under my belt. This is gonna turn out nice.
 
OP
OP
0

01ssreda4

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2014
Posts
1,124
Reaction score
485
Made some progress with the pipe bender. I selected a 1 5/8" 16 gauge steel. This is easy to crush when bending it so you have to take your time and bend some, then move down the pipe and bend some more. That's why the bends look more rounded. Got a few pieces tacked on just to see how it all went together.
1909302942415170_9143420971531632640_n_zps8uci1fp1.jpg
1909303212415143_2521266843520335872_n_zpsuezgx9a8.jpg
The front of the car sits way up with all this stuff removed as an FYI. Long time F-body buddy Hilton let me borrow his welding 75/25 bottle. I swapped my machine over from flux to gas and started to finish the welding portion. Once done, through careful engineering calculations I determined my design, material selection, and welding procedure WOULD be strong enough for this application. My calculations consisted of......jumping/bouncing on the pipe. Success!!
20180522_185239_zpsrevqjc2d.jpg
I started adding gussets and cleaning up welds while waiting for the front hoop bends to arrive (bought two 90 degree mandrel bends) and got delayed, so more to come this weekend. I'm also debating on color for the front pipes? Black? Red? Silver/graphite?
 

04Huck

"I'd rather be lucky than good"
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
522
Reaction score
742
Location
Buford, Ga
Just read through the whole thread on my lunch break and free time over the last few days. Car is coming along awesome man!
 
Top