Technical Tips > Pre 84
Completed Trailing Arms.
Adam:
Question 1:
As your probably aware the engine is slightly more toward the right of the car to make room for the steering box etc when the steering is on its original side. This makes it even more cramped after conversion.
Im thinking about centering (not even swinging it to the left) the motor- for room and balance. Has anyone done this? Is there enough clearance in the transmission tunnel and will there be a problem with the transmission mount? Im thinking to shave an engine mount (the one off the frame) on one side and cut and weld a spacer to the other one.
Question 2:
These welds suck- my whole suspension gear is off and the welds are horrifiicly messy with splatter and inconsistant seams, and so much seems unfinished. I want to stiffen up the whole front area but have one quesiton: if I stiffen it up, it will put more stress elswhere on the frame- are there any weak points back from the front area to keep an eye on?
Question 3:
Where did you guys get your electric fans? Are they just generic ones or is there a place u got em from and how much were they? Anyone still using their stock radiator?
thanks!:22
Adam
69 DIRTY RAT:
--- Quote ---Originally posted by WHITE RIDER
Question 2:
This frame sux- my whole suspension gear is off and the welds are horrifiicly messy with splatter and inconsistant seams, and so much seems unfinished.
Question 3:
Where did you guys get your electric fans? Are they just generic ones or is there a place u got em from and how much were they? Anyone still using their stock radiator?
thanks!:22
Adam
--- End quote ---
The fact that there is weld splatter and uneven seams doesnt sound right? Even to the uneducated that seems like its had trouble / repaired before?
all I can say is ....GET A BIG BLOCK( ......oops there I go again),but seriously would you look at a new frame possibly? or get someone with frame repair/straightening experience to weld it together properly? OR buy a lightweight strong tubular modern frame that you can slip the body straight back on & that comes with all those modern goodies?
Hot70 (his ad is in the club mag!) can get electric fans (twin) for a reasonable price.they are Italian made. I think they are around oz$400+? they more or less just cable tie through the radiator & fit it fits nice and snuggly. Hook up the sensor & the adjustable switch and your off...its easy.
Adam:
They arnt re-welds, ill post a pic and youll see what I mean. Ive never looked at other corvettes welds b4 so I dunno what to compare it to. It just seems like they had an apprentice on the assembly line that day:ado
or they were saving money/time which seems typical of that era American car. Fair enuff i spose for the affordible sports car.
The frame is sound otherwise- there no twist in it.
jdunne:
--- Quote ---Originally posted by WHITE RIDER
Question 1:
As your probably aware the engine is slightly more toward the right of the car to make room for the steering box etc when the steering is on its original side. This makes it even more cramped after conversion.
Im thinking about centering (not even swinging it to the left) the motor- for room and balance. Has anyone done this? Is there enough clearance in the transmission tunnel and will there be a problem with the transmission mount? Im thinking to shave an engine mount (the one off the frame) on one side and cut and weld a spacer to the other one.
Question 2:
These welds suck- my whole suspension gear is off and the welds are horrifiicly messy with splatter and inconsistant seams, and so much seems unfinished. I want to stiffen up the whole front area but have one quesiton: if I stiffen it up, it will put more stress elswhere on the frame- are there any weak points back from the front area to keep an eye on?
Question 3:
Where did you guys get your electric fans? Are they just generic ones or is there a place u got em from and how much were they? Anyone still using their stock radiator?
thanks!:22
Adam
--- End quote ---
adam,yes i have centered the engine in my 74r and also lowered it slightly,i have a 700r4 box and that just fits in the trans tunnel,if you have a steering box on rhs make sure you reinforce with plate inside the rail before welding where the box attaches as the massive twisting forces will crack the rail behind the bos just where you can't see it...moving the engine isnt all that hard but it takes a lot of careful measuring beforehand...there is plenty of adjustment after you cut the engine mount brackets off the rails,just vary the brackets to suit...if you want to have a look at what i did just ask in nov in canberra in nov...john;26forgot,i have a davies craig single fan,14" 2600 cfm,works brilliantly,but then again i probably have the worlds largest custom rad on a small block..john
Cameron 77C3:
If your centring your engine to give more space where the steering box is, there is another alternative. I was sick and tired of not having access to the driver side of my motor, mirror image 77 RHD, so I opted to put in a rack and pinion system. Not cheap, around $2500 but worth every penny.
Revelation Racing Supplies at Brookvale did the work. Basically bolts in using the original steering box holes on the now passenger side and the now steering box holes on the now driver side.
The only change to engine mounting was that we had to fit 6mm spacers between the engine and engine mount so that the racks rubber boots would clear the sump. I don't have an original sump on the motor with the double step in it. If I did, no spacing would have been required.
The other thing I did was change the floor pan in the foot well to accommodate my big feet. I simply cut out the chamfered section and welded in a new piece so that the now driver side foot well is the same as the passenger side foot well. In this shot you can still see the fibre glass mould, to get the right shape, fitted just behind the left hand extractor/pipe flange. Much more foot room now. [A big thank you to Kym Burns for the idea]
On the welding side of things I'll think you'll find that tidy welding was NOT a thing that was High on Chev's list.
I'm still using my stock radiator re-cored and a flex fan. Won't know how it goes until she is on the road, but the bench test connected to the motor was fine.
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