THE "Firechicken"

[bottledbird68]

My biggest problem right now is figuring out how much higher it sits without a motor in it. I'm planning on keeping the vette cradle along with the factory vette mounts so I can't exactly mock up a motor while it's all in pieces.
After I know about how much an aluminum headed 6.0 will make the nose drop my calibrated eyeball can set ride height from there.

[bottledbird68]

Ok, got sidetracked putting a transmission in my truck but getting back at it now.
More goodies came in
My 9" third member, nodular housing, hd pinion support, billet bearing caps, Detroit locker, 3.82 gears. Used NASCAR take out with about 500 miles on it:



Got my tires in and mounted up too. 275/40/17 sumitomo's up front and 295/45/18 nitto 555's in the rear. Basically wanted to keep the tires about the same height as my old ones just with bigger rims. Side by side it worked out perfectly.


Now that I have my tires mounted up I can mock everything up and build the car to fit them
Started cutting my factory subframe yesterday but the plasma cutter decided to give me a hard time so I didn't get very far. Gonna try and make some progress tomorrow.

[KLAB]

Don't you love the wheels!!!? I have the chrome versions. Looks good man! Keep up the progress.

[*LS1* Queen]

nice....git r done!!!

[Formula413]

Have it ready for May so you can take 2 F buckets on the cruise!!!

[irockidz28]

love those wheels!!!!!

[bottledbird68]

Originally Posted by KLAB

Don't you love the wheels!!!? I have the chrome versions. Looks good man! Keep up the progress.

Yeah, the more I look at them the more I'm liking them. Gonna change the whole look of the car. Something I think it's been needing for a while.
Hell, it's had the same wheels on it for the last 15 years lol.

Half ass mocked everything up today and I'm very happy with the choice.

[bottledbird68]

Originally Posted by *LS1* Queen

nice....git r done!!!

Originally Posted by Formula413

Have it ready for May so you can take 2 F buckets on the cruise!!!

I'm working on it
Alex, I'd love to have it ready for the quabbin cruise but financially that may be a stretch. We'll see though. I was contemplating that today

Anyhow, passed the point of no return today. Here's the first rough cut:



Loosely bolted the fender on to guesstimate where the wheel had to sit in the opening. Loving the look. Can't wait to see it all together where it belongs:

And from the inside. Had a bit more trimming to do. I'd rather cut a few times than cut too much:


And here's where I wound up. Just lopped out the whole center section. If I tried to keep what was there I would have had a thin strip left around the vette upper control arm mounts. Decided it would look better this way.

Had to cut out the rear support bar for the front subframe support too. Unfortunately where the vette engine cradle bolts drop through the frame was the same location where that bar was. Oh well, I have more tube. I may end up redoing the whole front of the cage cause the front cradle bolt may have the same issue with what's there. Left it for now though to keep my frame lined up .
Here's where I left off for today. More to come soon:

[ls6monte]

Looking good Matt!

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

i say wen shes done shes fast but drives sideways like them old ford pick em up trucks.......