Time for an update on Henny496's project

[67HEAVEN]

Tom (henny496) sent these photos today. He's been plenty busy with body and chassis work.

He'll add some description later. This project is really taking shape, Tom.

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[henny496]

Hello
Thanks 67 for posting the pics. It is much appreciated
The frame is almost finished with all of the brkts tabs and doo dads
I took the rear end out this morning and sent it to get the gears set up. The front suspension is already apart again and the next time this all goes together is for final assembly after it is painted
The body is getting close and I am going to spray a truck bed lining under the car and wheel tubs
I wanted to spray some paint on the interior for the photos, but I am first going to do the whole inside with Lizard Skin. I thought I could skip it for this year, but Rich Lagasse told me not to if I want to go on a long cruise of any type
I will have the outside in a special primer that I got from Robert Pelland when I was out to see him a few months back
The tunnel in the car has been raised and moved over in the foot area to clear my motor and drivetrain alterations
All of the original dash, gauges, glove compt and even a 63 console will go into it
The floor has to be glued in permanently when the body goes on. The floor has to go in the frame , to clear the cage, then attached
The rear storage compt will still be there and all of the drag race rear suspension will fit under the body as it is now
It would of been much easier to use an aluminum floor, but I really wanted to use the corvette one
I am getting much closer and although I will have it running this year, I have lots of work to do yet
I have some friends helping me now, so I can make the deadline
take care
Tom

 

[IH2LOSE]

Man I feel sorry for the poor itchy guy who had to do all that Glass work to the tunnel and the rear tubs.

looking good ,

What size was the motor again it looks enormous

 

[studiog]

Great progress. Looks like it is all starting to come together.
That 63 body looks so pretty and the chassis looks so viscious.

 

[henny496]

Hello
Thanks very much for the comments. The motor is a BBC, but that is just a dummy block. The motor is at the machine shop. It is my old drag car 427 and it has a real mean lump to it
It is not so bad grinding the filler, but the fiberglass is wild. My arms sting for days and all of my clothes have it in them for a few washings.
You have no idea how much work went into that tunnel.....ouch
I think the only thing itchier than the fiberglass on my arms is my inner itch to get this thing finished......been a long time coming
I got my tranny back on Tues from getting freshened up and my basement is crammed with lots of parts
I also bought a new wiring harness from Painless due to reccomendations from Robert Pelland, so I have that to do as well
I am not great at wiring at all, so look for some dumb questions on my part
take care
Tom

 

[henny496]

Hello Gary
Your Kevlar is going to come in handy with me sitting beside the tranny. I am a little nervous about that, so it gives me a bit more confidence in dropping the clutch
A lot of the cage is hidden from view once the body is on. You will see how much in future pics
take care
Tom

 

[IH2LOSE]

Tom

I can see the work that went into the tunnels and the tubs ,

You dont have to be good at wiring to do it, You just have to have paitence. I can tell you from exsperiance

Read the manual front to back prior to starting. Put a big red X on the diagrams in the book your not using . example Chrysler alternator,ford alternator.What ever your not using just put a red X on it so you dont keep reading it in the book.

mount the fuse block and then start lacing the wires to the areas they have to go Example -head lamps,front blinkers,front markers,fan trigger, Thru the fire wall and then to the front radiator support area. When you first install the harness it looks like a big giant mess and its gets confusing, But one you start send ing the wires to the differant areas it not so overwhelming.

Use the black wire ties to hold every thing together, Dont try and make it look perfect just try and rough in the wires,

Give me a call after you read the manual and the day before your starting and I will give you some more tid bits

If your using aftermaket gauges definately order the gauge wiringing harness
and do that way before you wire up the car. I was luckey my gauge package was one of the first things I did on my car and I pre wired the entire cluster months in advance so when it came time to wire up the car it was simply a plug in operation

Again looks great

 

[firstgear]

all I know is that when you give it the gas, your skin on your face is going to peel back!!!!

looking GREAT!

 

[Fuelie]

The car looks great Tom. You have been making real progress. Keep those pics coming.

Take care,
Brian

 

[67HEAVEN]

Tom sent along some more photos this morning.

Hi All,

I have had a busy week and just wanted to show how things look on the car as of now.

I set the engine (mock up) in last night and will set up the tranny
/shifter /pedals etc over the course of the next week.

Then I lift the body off, paint the frame with POR15 and undercoat/rock
guard the body. I have Lizard Skin to spray on the interior, but I have to wait until the floor is sealed up for good.

Another busy day ahead.

Thanks,
Tom
henny496

 

[67HEAVEN]

Wow, Dude. Things are really taking shape. I can't wait to see it together and running.

 

[firstgear]

tom, what deadline are you working to?

 

[firstgear]

also, what wheels and tires are you putting on this beast? type and sizes?

 

[Fuelie]

Wow Tom, that is really starting to come together. Which motor are you going to run in it first? The Tunnel Ram or the full Blower setup?

What colour will it be?

You are making us all drool on our keyboards.......can't wait to see it in real life!

Take care,
Brian

 

[henny496]

Hello
Thank you 67 for posting the pics. I do really appreciate your help.....I see the pic on your avatar.....either you have have a pic on your bodybuilding calves,,,,or it kinda' looks like you may of got bitten by a hot side pipe???
Herb, I am hoping to set the body on for good by the first of July. I want to start to assemble it then and I am hoping for a month of assembly, but since I have so much to put on, I would not be surprised it I encounter a set back or two. The tires are Mickey Thompsons and are 27x 5 x 15 on the front and 19.5 x 33's on the back......this is not going to be a high speed cornering car .......LOL
The 19.5 x 33's are the same size as a 14 x 32 inch slick. The street tires are just measured over the bulgiest part to make them sound bigger
I am using my 427 from my drag car at first. I have a single four system that was on the race car and I am going to start off with that. Once it is certified and on the road for a bit, I will put on the tunnel ram and see how that works out
I am going to send the blower motor to the machine shop in the fall. I still would like to get the carbs lower, or do something for the ht......I just don't know what yet. I would like to get down to Haugens in it at least once this year, and if so, I hope I can meet you there Fuelie
It will be in primer although, but once it is sorted out I have a rather nice paint job planned. I would like to take it out to the track before I paint it
I am going to get ahold of the wiring guy at MAD next week to order relays and hopefully get that part sorted out
I have been really busy this week with the body and frame
take care
Tom
I will have more pics once I paint the frame and I will ask 67 if he can post them for me......it is going to be a busy couple of months

 

[firstgear]

Tom, what make of wheels are you going to have? Given the width, they must be bloody EXPENSIVE!

 

[henny496]

rims

Hello Herb
The rear rims are 15 x 15 Weld racing wheels. The front and back rims are the Pro Star design
The fronts are not too expensive, while I bought the rear set of a site called racingjunk.com There are lots of parts on that site....everything you could think of and then some (race cars and performance)
I had a great idea that I different type of front rim from Weld Racing would help with my front track width, to bring it in narrower
They are called Alumastars and I got a new pair........not cheap at all
The idea was that the hub was much thinner( stronger also) so the rim would come in further. I was even told this by a well known chassis guy
guess what.......exact same offset as the rims I already have
That is when I bought narrower control arms.....I will know for sure if it is enough when I set up the front suspension tomorrow.....wish me luck
take care
Tom

 

[richscorvettes]

Tom,

Your car is not only going to be great looking and unique but safe as well. Great job with the fabrication. Since I've seen the machine work you've done for our project first hand I can attest to how well you do things.

Best of luck with the rest of the project.

Rich Lagasse