Front Nose Support

[henny496]

Hello
I was curious if anyone could give their opinion/advice on support of the front nose? If the car is to get a little more abuse ,should extra support be made for the front nose to hopefully prevent cracking.
My car will eventually get a slick on it and it will pull the front wheels. I have seen a mid year that was at the track and was split around the headlights quite badly, but he had replaced the rad support for a lighter piece.
I will have headlight motors and had even thought of making shear plates to help out for support. I thought I read of someone on this site who had drag raced their vette at one time. I would like to sort out as much of this now, when it is easier to do the mods in the building stage.
thanks
Tom

 

[67HEAVEN]

All midyears suffer from a weak area around the headlight doors, especially on the upper outboard corner. Many develop crow's feet. If you're planning on pounding it that hard, I'd reinforce it now rather than later.

Fuelie has some insight into the problem. PM him if he doesn't see this thread.

 

[Fuelie]

Hello
I was curious if anyone could give their opinion/advice on support of the front nose? If the car is to get a little more abuse ,should extra support be made for the front nose to hopefully prevent cracking.
My car will eventually get a slick on it and it will pull the front wheels. I have seen a mid year that was at the track and was split around the headlights quite badly, but he had replaced the rad support for a lighter piece.
I will have headlight motors and had even thought of making shear plates to help out for support. I thought I read of someone on this site who had drag raced their vette at one time. I would like to sort out as much of this now, when it is easier to do the mods in the building stage.
thanks
Tom

Hi Tom,

Are you using the original front fiberglass that came on the car or is it a replacement one piece or press molded replacement?

What is the basic condition of the 'glass?

How often do you plan to have the front wheels off the ground Will you be seriously campaigning this car with a lot of track time?

Bob is right, these cars do not have a lot of support around the headlight area. It would depend on the vibration / shock that you will be giving this area, along with it's present condition, as to how much it will be affected.

If all the components in the front are very secure and there is no play in the hinges to allow vibration to transfer, then your only issue might be coming down hard after a wheels up launch. At that point the only thing supporting the front brace / headlamps assy's weight, is the integrity of the front f'glass and the small strut rods attached between the header bar and the bottom of the rad support.

What sort of shear plates were you thinking of adding?

I can't wait to see more if this car, it sounds like a real neat ride

Take care,
Brian

 

[henny496]

Hello
The front end on the car is a one piece front end which is glued on with all of the factory parts..header bar, support rods, inner fenders etc. I have heard of them coming down(wheels) and even blowing off at the bottom of the front fenders where the headers exit. I will rivet/bolt that part on and it will be hidden by the rockers I bought. I was going to rivet the inner fenders to the lower valance panel, which is at the botom of the front end
When the guy brought back my car from the bodyshop it was on a dolly and his big concern was that he should of had the car facing the other end of the trailer(nose was at back of trailer) in case of road bounce that may cause a crack at the headlights....that had me concerned since I know he has never seen a drag car leave the line. Once the car is sorted out, 2nd gear is usually done with the wheels still in the air.
I have a blower motor in which I am building also, but it may break my Doug Nash, so I may have to use an automatic. The first engine I have will be a little more peaky and I will have to keep the revs up, so it will be a violent launching car(1st 427 I have)
I don't imagine I will be at the track a lot with it, maybe just once or twice a year.
I picked uo two more nose pieces today(one from another 63 even) The headlight area on mine is the only spot I am not happy with as it was a little broken around them but just glassed and repaired.
I can take the pieces I have and graft them on after the body is supported on the frame again(this summer or fall) The motor is mounted by engine /mid mount plates, so all of the BIG cam shaking will go right into the car. I had thought of making an aluminum plate(s) which could go from the rad cradle to the pork chops on the front end.
I just don't know what is too much or not enough for support. I don't want to have to do this again after painting. I can appreciate normal chips and such, but a major problem is what I would like to avoid
any advice would be welcome
Tom

 

[67HEAVEN]

Fuelie,

Sounds like a roadtrip is called for, no?

 

[Fuelie]

Fuelie,

Sounds like a roadtrip is called for, no?

Absolutely

How about it Tom....want some visitors to come and meet you and look at your cool ride?
Bob and I would love to burn some gas going north for a while

Take care,
Brian

 

[67HEAVEN]

Fuelie,

Sounds like a roadtrip is called for, no?

ROADTRIP

 

[henny496]

Hi 67 and Fuelie
I will be putting the body down on the frame again in the next month or so. If you two want to come see my project you could come around that time. That way you would get to see something that would be(hopefully) worth your while for your trip.
My little workshop is on the opposite end of the spectrum from Rich Lagrasse's. I won't have anything decent to work in until I get this project out of the way.(build a shop or move to another house with a big one)
I will take a picture of some parts this week and send them to 67, so you guys know I am not full of BS
take care
Tom

 

[Fuelie]

Hi 67 and Fuelie
I will be putting the body down on the frame again in the next month or so. If you two want to come see my project you could come around that time. That way you would get to see something that would be(hopefully) worth your while for your trip.
My little workshop is on the opposite end of the spectrum from Rich Lagrasse's. I won't have anything decent to work in until I get this project out of the way.(build a shop or move to another house with a big one)
I will take a picture of some parts this week and send them to 67, so you guys know I am not full of BS
take care
Tom

Tom,

Thanks for the gracious invitation to visit your shop. We would love to see it, whenever it is convenient for you. The size and or calibre of the shop has nothing to do with anything, they all have an aura of the corvette mystique.

We can rell by the pics that you have provided, that this is a very serious car you are building. This takes talent and ingenuety (sp?) and you have demonstrated both.

We hope to offer you some support and encouragement with our visit.

Take care,
Brian

 

[67HEAVEN]

Ditto.

 

[henny496]

I look forward to having you both come over. I will wait until the car is going back down on the frame for two reasons.
1/ My frame and fabrication (metal) is more of my strong point, so I think you will like how the frame is being done
2/ This gives me a bit more time to sort out some of my pieces for the Corvette end of my project(body and interior) so I can ask your advice on it's assembly and what else I need to buy(I will make a list)
I will send 67 a picture of some of the pieces I have been aquiring(go fast stuff)
take care
Tom

 

[IH2LOSE]

Once the car is sorted out, 2nd gear is usually done with the wheels still in the air



Thats my kinda vette,As a 66 owner I would think you might want to glass in a plate or 2 up by the front headlamp header bar and drop a support to the frame.

I think your main problems may be "tortional twist" even with the stout frame your building.

 

[Fuelie]

I look forward to having you both come over. I will wait until the car is going back down on the frame for two reasons.
1/ My frame and fabrication (metal) is more of my strong point, so I think you will like how the frame is being done
2/ This gives me a bit more time to sort out some of my pieces for the Corvette end of my project(body and interior) so I can ask your advice on it's assembly and what else I need to buy(I will make a list)
I will send 67 a picture of some of the pieces I have been aquiring(go fast stuff)
take care
Tom

Hi Tom,

I am like all vettes and have a soft spot for drag cars. I cannot wait to see your creation

Are you going to install a full cage in the car?

Take care,
Brian

 

[67HEAVEN]

Tom sent along this photo of some of the parts.

 

[Fuelie]

Tom sent along this photo of some of the parts.

OOOOOHHHH, now I am getting excited......a blower and injection......this is my kind of ride

Keep up the pics Tom.

Take care,
Brian

 

[Mac]

A bit too far for me...

-Mac

 

[henny496]

Hello
I have a cage for the car. A lot of cars(drag) have the firewall area stiffened up a lot as it takes a great deal of load. My car does not have as much power as a full out race car, but it will implement something to that effect. I also talked with Mike Baker who is the tech director in the IHRA and they will allow to me use a removable side x brace system which makes it so you don't have to climb over the cage for the street.
The injector hat in the picture is an Enderle mechanical one which is no good for the street. It can be modified for EFI, but I may make my own hat which will be lower and much narrower(vision) The EFI part is not cheap and I have to work with BDS for a custom system when the time comes. Carbs just make the motor too high.
The blower motor will actually be no higher that my tunnel ram engine, maybe 1/2 inch lower and the blower motor will be more streetable with more power.
Blower motors make gobs of torque right from the word go, and you don't have to spin them high...6,000 tops( EFI makes better mileage also)
The one thing it will not have is the traditional bump, cough and good old lump da' lump, as a hot rod with a big cam sounds. That is my first 427
The cage for the car was custom made from Bears and is very close to the outside of the body, so it really won't stand out. The next while will show what I mean with new pics
take care
Tom

 

[Fuelie]

Hello
I have a cage for the car. A lot of cars(drag) have the firewall area stiffened up a lot as it takes a great deal of load. My car does not have as much power as a full out race car, but it will implement something to that effect. I also talked with Mike Baker who is the tech director in the IHRA and they will allow to me use a removable side x brace system which makes it so you don't have to climb over the cage for the street.
The injector hat in the picture is an Enderle mechanical one which is no good for the street. It can be modified for EFI, but I may make my own hat which will be lower and much narrower(vision) The EFI part is not cheap and I have to work with BDS for a custom system when the time comes. Carbs just make the motor too high.
The blower motor will actually be no higher that my tunnel ram engine, maybe 1/2 inch lower and the blower motor will be more streetable with more power.
Blower motors make gobs of torque right from the word go, and you don't have to spin them high...6,000 tops( EFI makes better mileage also)
The one thing it will not have is the traditional bump, cough and good old lump da' lump, as a hot rod with a big cam sounds. That is my first 427
The cage for the car was custom made from Bears and is very close to the outside of the body, so it really won't stand out. The next while will show what I mean with new pics
take care
Tom

Tom,

That is great that the IHRA will let you run with a removable side "X" member. That will make everyday life easier.

I think the converted injector setup to EFI is the best idea. I would love to know how this all plays out with BDS as time goes on.

Blower motors are great for the street. Back in the early '80s I had a body off '56 Belair that I ran on the street with a 468 BB / 6-71 blower / 2 x 600 cfm Holleys in front of a 4 speed.....what a blast

Keep those pics coming....this is great stuff!

Take care,
Brian

 

[67HEAVEN]

Canada...........where the Corvette hot-rodders hang out.