Driveshaft/half shaft loops, rollbars, wheels...

[Ken]

The engine has been in for a few months now (don't ask--too long :L) and the Be Cool radiator was one of the best things I could have done for the engine. There is a noticible difference immediately apparent in size alone.

 

[Burnnrubber]

I like mine also, for radiators big is always better! I did so many mods at once I don't know exactly what the temp drop was. Mine was a real PITA to install though, but no more high temps at the track so I'm real happy. Gotta get, take care Ken...

 

[Ken]

IT'S ROLL BAR TIME!

Well, it goes into the fab shop Tuesday for the roll bar installation. Hopefully this part will go smoothly and I'll have it back in a day or two after. Wish me luck. :eyerole

_ken

 

[Ken]

I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

_ken

 

[Ken]

The car's still on the trailer, so I haven't grabbed any shots of the roll bar install yet, but I came across this picture of two guys from the PSCA racing organization, Gordon and Mike (Mike was one of the guys the built my bar) in action at Speedworld in Phoenix, Arizona.

Hot Vettes!

_ken

 

[Ken]

Well, I finally got around to snapping some pictures of the latest addition to this project--the rollbar.

It's mounted to the rear frame rail's crossmember, I hope it's legal. :eek I'll have to have the cut-outs glassed back in someday soon too.

Solidly mounted here.

To be addressed.

Time to start putting it all back together again. :eyerole

It's actually easier than it looks, to get in and out of that is. Certainly easier on the driver seat! :L

Wearin' its "work boots".

_ken

Oh, and I settled for 225/45/17 for the fronts (the rears are ET Streets, 26/10.5/16); see this thread: Launching and rollout... for more insight on how a shorter tire affects one's reaction times.

 

[-=Jeff=-]

Ken,

What exhaust is on there now? I thought you had side effects

 

[Ken]

Couldn't get the Side Effects exhaust system quiet enough, even after I threw everything in the Lawrence-Keech arsenal at 'em in an attempt to tone it down a bit.

My biggest complaint was the raspy racecar-like backfiring and popping when decelerating. Sorta reminded me of the old "Smitty" glasspacks after you blew 'em out. :L

The system on there now is three-inch from the collectors on back to the Flowmaster Series 40 mufflers. Not something you'd want for a daily commute; the interior resonance at around two grand is almost unbearable--it feels like the windows are going to blow out, like in that stereo commercial with the car going down the street shattering glass with its sound system. :L

I saved quite a bit of weight also by removing the side exhaust system. I never realized how heavy it was because I didn't actually perform the install. It definitely breathes easier now too.

_ken

 

[scorp508]

The loop part is easy. You just have to get 1/2 a kit and then measure your torque arm so that the loop is within NHRA spec from the very rear of the transmission.

As far as halfshaft loops, I don't know. Some people have gone with steel halfshafts as a preventative measure against that.

 

[Ken]

The loop part is easy.

:duh That problem has been addressed Scorp, my main concerns now are the half-shaft loops.

_ken

 

[Ken]

I can't figure out how you guys fit it (the loop) in there...

Today we did this:

Nothing goes easy for me; I had to modify the arrangement of the loop because for some reason my driveshaft was closer to the bolts and nuts on the inside of the torque arm than the driveshaft of Jeff's and Jim's.

Initially I had it on the inside of both sides of the arm, this way the top is still inside but the bottom is on the outside of the arm to clear the driveshaft.

This is what I want to hear! Soon baby, soon! :J

_ken