'66 Project in Texas - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

aggie91 · 03-21-2016, 10:37 AM

Nice work so far. Bracket looks good for the steering box. What are the bodies on the Lotus cars made out of, looks like it could be aluminum or fiberglass?

Chuck Nukem · 03-21-2016, 12:22 PM

Thanks guys!

The cars are pure fiberglass. The shells probably weigh about 150 lbs. Two people can easily pick one up. I am bonding an aluminum honeycomb/ carbon fiber fire wall in to the black car to replace the now disintegrated factory MDF "on fire" wall. Lotus were pioneers in value engineering! It was once said that the founder of Lotus got disqualified from a race for painting a piece of paper with aluminum paint and using it as a "bulkhead" in a race car. I have never driven one of these little things but they are reputed to have gravity defying handling. The frame on them is made form 16ga steel...the same as the door panels on our trucks! I am going to run a ford zetec (original engine was a ford block with a lotus cast head. Ford kept the bellhousing pattern all the way to the first gen focus....used zetec was MUCH cheaper than rebuilding the old engine). Stock power for the original was 105hp. I am going to run yamaha r6 throttle bodies on the new FI engine and ditch the cats so I am expecting to see 140hp or so. Should be plenty quick for 1500 lbs.

On the truck front I am going to get to work on machining up a serpentine belt bracket system to hold the power steering pump and an AC compressor. Does anybody have a part number for a good sized 134a unit they could recommend? I have been digging through rock auto's later chevy selection and found a few possibles, but haven't decided on anything yet.

**clemdaddy** · 03-21-2016, 12:47 PM

love your truck. hope you plan to get back on it soon because you have done a lot of excellent work and it would be a shame to not finish. you know i think you'll need something to tow those little cars around with, when they break.

just saying... love your truck.

Chuck Nukem · 03-21-2016, 12:53 PM

Thanks! Cars are definitely on the back burner and the truck will be done first...It was my first project after all!

Chuck Nukem · 04-04-2016, 09:53 AM

Cab is on! Hoping to get glass and doors in this week....

MOONLIGHT CUSTOMS · 11-12-2016, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Nukem

Finally got the discs fitted and all the suspension restored. My bracket seems to fit just right. I guess we will find out how I did when alignment time comes...

Going to be welding the duals up this weekend. I got some 40 series flowmasters to go on it. Might get the cab on the frame before April at this rate!

I love that steering box bracket

03-21-2016, 10:37 AM	#26
aggie91 I'm just glad to be here! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Longview, TX Posts: 4,788	Re: '66 Project in Texas Nice work so far. Bracket looks good for the steering box. What are the bodies on the Lotus cars made out of, looks like it could be aluminum or fiberglass? __________________ Karl 1965 Chevy Stepside(Grandpa's Old Blue) and (July 2015 Shop Build!)(2020, the Saga Continues) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=372424 The LST Challenge: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post7812257 Korbin's 1st Square: "Sunburn" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=418618 1985 GMC Sierra: "White Trash", Korbin's 2nd now... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=632305 Henry - 1984 Chevrolet, Owen's 1st Square

03-21-2016, 12:22 PM	#27
Chuck Nukem Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denton, Texas Posts: 15	Re: '66 Project in Texas Thanks guys! The cars are pure fiberglass. The shells probably weigh about 150 lbs. Two people can easily pick one up. I am bonding an aluminum honeycomb/ carbon fiber fire wall in to the black car to replace the now disintegrated factory MDF "on fire" wall. Lotus were pioneers in value engineering! It was once said that the founder of Lotus got disqualified from a race for painting a piece of paper with aluminum paint and using it as a "bulkhead" in a race car. I have never driven one of these little things but they are reputed to have gravity defying handling. The frame on them is made form 16ga steel...the same as the door panels on our trucks! I am going to run a ford zetec (original engine was a ford block with a lotus cast head. Ford kept the bellhousing pattern all the way to the first gen focus....used zetec was MUCH cheaper than rebuilding the old engine). Stock power for the original was 105hp. I am going to run yamaha r6 throttle bodies on the new FI engine and ditch the cats so I am expecting to see 140hp or so. Should be plenty quick for 1500 lbs. On the truck front I am going to get to work on machining up a serpentine belt bracket system to hold the power steering pump and an AC compressor. Does anybody have a part number for a good sized 134a unit they could recommend? I have been digging through rock auto's later chevy selection and found a few possibles, but haven't decided on anything yet. Attached Images Last edited by Chuck Nukem; 03-21-2016 at 12:29 PM.

03-21-2016, 12:47 PM	#28
clemdaddy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas Posts: 1,923	Re: '66 Project in Texas love your truck. hope you plan to get back on it soon because you have done a lot of excellent work and it would be a shame to not finish. you know i think you'll need something to tow those little cars around with, when they break. just saying... love your truck.

03-21-2016, 12:53 PM	#29
Chuck Nukem Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denton, Texas Posts: 15	Re: '66 Project in Texas Thanks! Cars are definitely on the back burner and the truck will be done first...It was my first project after all!

04-04-2016, 09:53 AM	#30
Chuck Nukem Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Denton, Texas Posts: 15	Re: '66 Project in Texas Cab is on! Hoping to get glass and doors in this week.... Attached Images



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