Totally upgrading the old car

[Joe McCoy]

Well I decided to get crazy with my old car. I am in the process of building a new motor. It should run well enough to over power my chassis as it is so I also plan to back half the car and replace the ladder bars with a 4 link. Lots to do and only 2 months to do it. It should be hectic.......LOL. We'll see how much an old guy can get done and plan to be ready to race in March. Anyone else getting anything done? JM

[Rick Rafferty]

Hey Joe, from some of the examples of your work you have shared with us in the past, I suspect you are as capable as anyone of getting your new build ready.
Good luck with all the upgrades!

All I am considering doing as installing a new set of headers.
My orginal Hedman's are about shot and have gotten bent from getting caught
on my trailer while unloading. Any suggestions on a decent set for a sbc with
Dart Pro 1 Heads to fit a 69 Camaro?

See you soon.

[Joe McCoy]

Thanks Rick, we'll see if the old guy can pull it off......LOL. As for headers you know it's a money game so what are you looking for? Tri Y merge work but ain't cheap and not what I would suggest for a bracket car. If you have been satisfied with what you have just stay the coarse and try and find a tube size and lenght equal to what you have. You probably already know a street header is 14 ga tubes with a flange and drag headers are 16 ga with the flange optional. Stay safe. JM

[kartman]

Hi Joe, I,m glad to hear that someone else will be hacking away for the next several weeks.

As for me I'm still in the torching mode. Cutting away lots of the Vega Wagon.

My 4Link parts just arrived so I quess I stop on the front and get back to the back.

I am looking for front suspension, steering and brakes. So KEEP A EYE out for me.

Later,

Tony

[Joe McCoy]

Well so far I have all the motor parts except the block, pistons and rods which should be here next week. I flow checked my new heads which didn't live up to advertised specs and required some work so spent 2 days working on them. Now I have the car apart and should be using a saw today making adjustments.......LOL. Been talking to several people who have been very helpful and I'll mention in case any of you need parts or advise. Scott Duggins at PAR, Dale Maddox, Ricky Etters and Tom Lukins have all been a great help and source of parts and materials. RM

[Jamey Abercrombie]

Hey Joe!

I look foward to seeing your car. As for me, I am in the process of moving my motor back four inches to help with the nose heavy problem that I have had with my Nova. The mounts are welded in and the firewall is done but I still have some work to do. This weekend I plan on making a new crossmember if time allows. The driveshaft needs to be shortened but I'm not sure who I should have do it. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Jamey Abercrombie

[kartman]

Hey Joe, I noticed in your last post you mentioned Dale Maddox. He and his brother Joel are very good friends of mine. Been knowing them since Highschool. Age wise I was right between them both. After Highschool I married and bought a house in Moonville. So I was their neighor for about 15 years. Then in 1990 I moved to Monroe, NC. Dale does great work.

Small world!!:biggrin:

[Mike Bradley]

Looks like some midnight oil being burnt in shops across the area.

Jamey you might want to give Eddie Horne, Driveline Service 1717 Williams Road Ext # B2 Monroe, NC 28110 (704) 282-0304, a call. He does a lot of work for the guys here in the Monroe area.

Mike

[Joe McCoy]

Jamie, Just a thought but when you shorten the driveshaft you may just want to buy a whole new one with a better tube and better joints. I bought one from Strange made to my specs for about 200 bucks. If you do some research you'll find alot of folks have had driveshaft failures do to the harmonics set up by a stock tube shaft. Driveshaft speed is the problem and we all run high gears in 1/8 mile racing. My old Nova that my brother has blew a shaft into 3 pieces at 135 MPH and destroyed alot of parts. The diameter of the tube and wall thickness can be a real issue. Do what you think is best. Joe

[Jamey Abercrombie]

Joe,

If I can get a new driveshaft for around $200.00 that is what I will do. It was going to cost me about the same thing to have my driveshaft cut. Thanks for the info!

Jamey

[Joe McCoy]

Jamie, Talk to Rickie, he's a Strange dealer I think. Joe

[Joe McCoy]

Here's what came out of the Nova. JM


http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/9353/guttedparts5mj.jpg