Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

A little 283 with a 6spd? :metal::metal::metal:

Or maybe a twim turbo Suby WRX engine? :metal::metal::metal:

The suspense is killing me!!!!

I know the suspense has only been for, like 2 minutes, but it's still killing me.....

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Since you asked... It's getting an S2000 engine (F20C) and 6sp:

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

just when I thought you couldn't get any cooler! :lol: That will be a sweet set up... Any turbo plans?

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

240hp factory (plus some after tuning and removing cats/egr, and cold air intake, etc...) will be "enough" for now in that 2100lb car. I chose the F20C for it's light weight so the car will still handle. I just want a nice driver/sleeper. The stock engine could barely make it up a slight grade and was starting to make some low-end noise. Who knows what'll happen down the line... The brakes/susp will get upgraded before a turbo ever goes in though (has small factory discs up front).

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Very nice choice!:metal:!:metal:!

Now if you can just get the car balaced and set up to handle as well as an
S2000. Those cars handle awesome.

Brake upgrades will definitely be needed though.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

:chevy: WOW! I have been away for about a year & just finished checking out all the progress on your Tahoe. Awesome work. You really do have the skills to pay the bills. Looks like the rear lift-gate hinge idea turned out well too!
Please keep us posted. Brad

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Well, now I have to keep checking back not only for updates on the Tahoe, but for pics of the Sunbeam2000 as well. :phat:

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Ya know, you are like a drug dealer. You give us all this stuff free, then you hold out and make us want it even more. I need my fix man. Don't hold out on me...

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

You will have to take that to the Porsche club autocross at PIR like you did with the Burb.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Sorry man. Don't take my ADD personally :lol:
That's the plan! :D

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Your new personalized plates: REVS29K

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

:phat:

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Same problem here, but get that swap done quick so you can get back on the 'hoe!

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

wow, i just sold a s2000 engine and trans from a car i bought, cool, i wanted to put mine in a 57 s-100, way to go.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

frizzle,

you are awesome. caught your project in the mag, so i had to join to see the build pics.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Awesome project man! I've always wanted to do a Tahoe like that. You're doing a great job at this one! I love the way you're doing the rear doors! Awesome job, can't wait to see it done!

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Hey thanks Jvsapp. You get mags in the middle of the pacific?
Given your workmanship that's quite a compliment. Thanks! Are you from the Napa area? I was born/raised in Sonoma. Next time I'm in town I'd love to stop by your shop and check out some metal sculpting.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Yea, I was born and raised here in Napa. The shop is in American Canyon just between Napa on Vallejo, we're right on HWY 29. Stop in whenever your in town, I'd be happy to show you around a bit...

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

yup frizzle, just takes a couple weeks longer to get here. only thing i wish was there was more vintage tin out here in better condition. my 63 nova is almost done with. it has taken me 8 years and i had to get body parts shipped in from reno and vegas. the shipping kills us. but i guess its the price you pay to live in paradise.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Man, I JUST joined this site (this is my first post!) and have been lurking around the past few days, trying to learn about these trucks...as I've always been a huge fan! And all I have to say is that your build is absolutely amazing! I just spent the last 4 hours reading through all 44 pages, taking it all in. It just keeps getting better too! After getting over the initial shock of the Tahoe conversion, the one piece rear hatch blew me away (along with everything else of course), especially with the hidden hinges :metal:

And an F20 in a Hillman......jeeeez :lol: That will be rediculous!

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that you and your build have completely inspired me to build Tubby a brother. I've already started looking for the earlier rear hatch hinges and I don't even have a Suburban yet...

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Any pic of the clown car with the race engine in it? I know your holding back. ;)

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Welcome to the board Smalls. Maple Valley, not too far. Tubby does need a brother :lol: Thanks for the good words :) It's probably a good idea to look for those hinges first if you plan to do the mod because they are a lot harder to find than a 67-72 Burb... Post a WTB (gotta subscribe first) on the 60-66 parts board if/when you are serious about finding them. Hope to see another Tahoe build thread soon!

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Hah, actually I bought the drivetrain on eBay and it's been hell getting the guy to ship it... It's on a truck now :waah:

but here's a couple of cell phone teasers for ya...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1228725865

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1228725865

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1228725865

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y23...g?t=1228725865

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

OOOOHHHHHHH teaser :D

like the power rack conversion. what did you use?

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Actually that's the rack I bought for Tubby to go with the dropmember. So it's a MII but it's just sitting in there to check for clearances/positioning. I may use it, or go with a manual rack. Haven't decided yet. Either way I'll have to buy another rack to do both vehicles.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

cool that works. i've heard about some guys using a Tbird rack from a 80's something tbird... never looked it up though.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Mike is the car's pivot points the same as a DropMember? Looks to be a bit narrower from the pic, now would that not cause bump steer and what not? So did you just get the motor and trans or the rear end set up as well from the S2000?

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Width has an effect on bump steer, but can be somewhat addressed via rack placement. Obviously the effect is exponential as the selected rack moves away from "perfect" width/tie rod length. Width also has an effect on ackerman angle as does fore/aft rack placement. Edit: Rack height effects bump toe. I'm also looking at a smaller/lighter manual rack out of a Midget. There's a local British auto shop that rebuilds them.

I just got the eng/trans for now. The car was painfully slow and could barely make it up a slight grade on the freeway when loaded with 5 people. Still, I was OK with keeping the factory drivetrain until I started hearing some lower-end knock. Combine that with its desire to die at stoplights, the anemic automatic trans, and I was shopping for something else to motivate it. The intention is not to go full retard on it, just to make it more reliable and fun to drive. I researched a few options including the all aluminum 3.6L 60 degree V6 from the Caddy CTS (which will also be used in the six cylinder 2010 Camaro). But I ended up going this route to minimize weight and sheet metal cutting. So for now I'm just doing the engine/trans and possibly converting the brakes from a single to double circuit system (safety). By the way, the S2000 weighs 33% more than the Minx :devil:

I'll see how long the stock rear holds up and go from there. IRS is not off the table for a future upgrade :)

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Any more rack & pinion tech you can share? I always thought ackerman angle pertained to the line drawn from the tie rod hole in the knuckle, through the "center" of the ball joints, and where both of these lines intersected in relationship to the rear axle....

I believe this link is similar to what rokcrln was asking about:

http://www.heidts.com/pdf/Understanding_IFS.pdf

Thanks!

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

That's a good link, thanks. Here's a quote I liked "the exact length and location of the inner pivot of the tie rod must be very carefully selected so the outer ends of the rod, which are attached to the spindles, swing in a radius which matches the spindle radius exactly." This means the rack width should be selected to achieve the desired tie rod length which is dermined by the spindle arc.

Here's an explanation of Ackerman angle (R/C site): http://www.rc-truckncar-tuning.com/ackerman.html You can see why moving the rack fore/aft would have an effect on it.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

i see i'm not the only one that has a background in RC car racing ;)

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Alright, back to Tubby... No I don't have an update, but I do have this to share: http://www.sporttruck.com/featuredve...ban/index.html

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Congrats mike! So do you get totally excited everytime you read about your tahoe? I can only wait and hope that when my truck is finished i get some magazine coverage like your bad a$$ tahoe! Now stop reading this thread get back to work cause we want to see this thing finished!!!;):metal::metal:

Josh

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

wanted to wish u and tubby happy new year :D

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

That's cool man. Thank you and back at ya! I'm really trying to hurry up with the side project so I can get back on this one. I miss it...

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

feel free to post them side pix, especially if its the minx. that'll be a cool ride once done.

BTW any chance you will make the hot rod power tour this hear? i'm supposed to ride along with my bro in june and it'd be cool to see tubby in person.

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

Frizz, about your one piece hatch,How does it lock? Or does it?

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

The power tour is in the mid west isn't it? Wish they'd do it on the west coast one year.

The hatch latches and locks with the stock tailgate latches. Too simple huh? :lol:

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

OK. I thought that the upper lid closed over the lower gate and only the upper gate locked originally. That's what I get for thinking. :lol:

Re: Joined the Short Wheelbase Club *69 Tahoe Project*
 

mike, you got a blog or a forum for your minx doing the swap?