My Supercar
 

I'm going to attempt posting a mostly pictorial build of one of my projects. Bear with me as I try and tell the story as it goes along. I've been working on it for about 3yrs. & it is getting closer to being finished.

It started out life as a '74 Vega GT. When I purchased the car it had seen a life of drag racing for many years and several owners.
My idea was to bring it back to the mid-70's as a full on Pro-Stock race car reminicent of something you might see at a local track in the day.
The only additions would be modernizing some of the drive train and updating the safety systems. But for the most part I want it to look somewhat period correct even though there are things about it that are very current.
So please keep that in mind as you view/read and critique.
It has been fun and helps me to understand the trials, all of you Supercar owners go through in completing and restoring your vehicles.

Dicky [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

This is the trailer ride home and to be de-constructed.

More pics tomorrow.
Dicky [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

Cool - can't wait!

Re: My Supercar
 

Me too! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

Oh I enjoy these things, please keep the pictures coming.

Re: My Supercar
 

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

Since this has been such a long endeavor my pictures are not always in the order that meets the chronologic timing of progress.

Re: My Supercar
 

More prior to disassembly. You can see the &quot;quality&quot; of the work, and it had a current Chassis Certificate with this &quot;quality&quot; [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

<span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">CUT THE CRAP</span></span>

Re: My Supercar
 

<span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Wait until you see this ! ! !</span></span>

Re: My Supercar
 

<span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">GET READY HERE IT COMES</span></span>

Re: My Supercar
 

After removing most of the mild steel &amp; bubble gum; Fab Man has had enough!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/no.gif[/img]

More later.

Dicky [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

So you are saying that you would have preferred the beads to be complete AND even? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]


Good stuff Dicky - keep it coming!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

Sam, the story behind that is...

The NHRA chassis inspector was in town doing some inspects.
Even though I had 1yr. left on this certification I paid him to come over to my shop and give me a recurrent insp.
Well the main hoop did not pass the ultra sound by .001&quot;
in one short section.
So he says that he won't recertify it but will leave the current Chassis cert. go for the remaining 12mo. &quot;Because it looks to be a pretty STOUT cage&quot;. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]

Yes I did talk to the folks in Glendora,CA about his action, their reply was &quot;the division Chassis guys make their own calls&quot; [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif[/img]

So.. out comes the sawzall. My opinion -&quot;if its not good for a new 3yr. term it sure as Hell won't do for another season&quot;
Thank God we gutted it.

Dicky [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

Welcome to the &quot;Club&quot;.............And so it begins......We've all been there.....But, you are doing the &quot;Right&quot; thing, Enjoy!!!

Re: My Supercar
 

Let's see, Dicky is a retired aircraft mechanic. Don't we have another one of those dudes around here only alot more grumpy[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img]? This should be a good lesson for all of us on attention-to-detail. Bring it Dicky!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

Looks like they made up for the lack of quality with quantity, lol.

Re: My Supercar
 

I got some grumpy for you boy.. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]
Nice work Dicky, some of those welds look like mine.. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/sick.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

Enjoying it so far Dicky! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

<span style="color: #FF0000">Lets lay some new <span style="font-weight: bold">PIPE</span></span>
Every time I used that term, my Fab guy would come unglued &quot;it's TUBING, and don't forget it&quot; [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/mad.gif[/img]

Dicky [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

Some very nice fish-mouthing there with the close fitting tubing and welds.

Re: My Supercar
 

This is one of those deals where this conversation takes place:

<span style="color: #FF0000">&quot;Well instead of fixing the one small tubing problem; while we</span> <span style="color: #FF0000">are in there we might as well just start over&quot;</span> ok [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img]

<span style="color: #FF0000">&quot;Oh yea, we're going to have to replace all the Aluminum sheet</span> <span style="color: #FF0000">metal, while we're in there&quot;</span> ok [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img]

<span style="color: #FF0000">&quot;and these rear quarters are crap with fiberglass &amp; bondo </span><span style="color: #FF0000">flares, can you find some sheet</span><span style="color: #FF0000"> metal?&quot;</span> ok [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img]

<span style="color: #FF0000">&quot;and as long as we're doing that you might as well get new </span><span style="color: #FF0000">paint&quot;</span> ok [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img]

More later.

OK, Dicky [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

You found a good one that makes pretty welds like my pops. I wish more guys would crank out nice work like that. Walking around the local drag strips here you see alot of what you had cut out of your car.

Re: My Supercar
 

Dicky...........That's &quot;More Gooder&quot;........LOL

Re: My Supercar
 

Sharp Dicky!

Re: My Supercar
 

That must have been an old chassi with some &quot;add-ons&quot;.

Your new stuff looks a lot more classy.

When I used to build racecars (30 years ago) we drilled a small hole in every joint of the tubes. In that way the whole structure were connected for air pressure testing. We welded on an airhose connection, filled her up and listened for leaks. Did that after every race to find any cracks.

Jan

Re: My Supercar
 

Looking GOOD!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] Love those Vega's!!

Keep it coming!

Re: My Supercar
 

Remember those not so nice rear qtr's?
I finally found some <span style="font-weight: bold">new</span> that were suppose to be American sheetmetal. However they were located in Canada...Who knows!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] at this point it really didn't matter, if you've ever tried to find replacement sheet metal for a Ralph Nader Reject [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/laugh.gif[/img]

BTW the marker light holes were filled also.

Dicky [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

Same treatment on R/H side.

DH [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

<span style="font-size: 14pt">Now it's time for new TUBS etc.</span>

They were ultimately lined with 3/16' black lexan to prevent rock damage to the aluminum. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/cool.gif[/img]

DH [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

Holy crap!...very nice work!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Alss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Holy crap!...very nice work!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img] </div></div>



Fast Too!!............

Re: My Supercar
 

Very nice!

Re: My Supercar
 

Fast Too!!............


Yea Ken, this guy can do quite abit of work in one day with me standing over him with a <span style="font-weight: bold">BIG STICK.</span>LOL [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

I'm guessing this is some where after about 3mo's, since he was working on 4 other projects at the same time..He is awsome!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img]

DH [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

<span style="font-size: 14pt">Time for some various sheetmetal replacements.</span>
If at anytime this gets to boring and repetative, someone let me know, and I might consider going direct to the finished product. <span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-size: 8pt">(maybe)</span></span>

Re: My Supercar
 

This is FAB guy again after such <span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">grueling</span></span> work
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

If at any time this picture show gets to boring and repetative, just let me know and I will consider going right to the finished product <span style="font-size: 8pt"><span style="color: #FF0000">(maybe)</span></span>

Re: My Supercar
 

<span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CONTINUED...
</span></span>

Instrument panel

Re: My Supercar
 

I love these kinds of threads! Great work! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: My Supercar
 

I'll finish for now with LAYING some PIPE !!!
Fab Man let me get away with saying <span style="font-weight: bold">PIPE</span> <span style="color: #FF0000">&quot;just this </span><span style="color: #FF0000">once&quot;</span>

DH [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/flag.gif[/img]

p.s. <span style="color: #FF0000">&quot;while were in there lets enlarge those tubes and get them </span><span style="color: #FF0000">off the ground&quot;</span> ok [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif[/img]