65 Fairlane pro-touring build

[mongocanfly]

Very nice fab..!!!

[SCOTI]

I like your start/direction of the trans x-member mounting.

What manufacturers aftermarket trans x-member/s were you looking at? I figured someone (pro-touring type of vendor) made something decent for the early Ford stuff that might work/adapt across multiple platforms.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Very nice fab..!!!

Thanks, Greg.

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I like your start/direction of the trans x-member mounting.

What manufacturers aftermarket trans x-member/s were you looking at? I figured someone (pro-touring type of vendor) made something decent for the early Ford stuff that might work/adapt across multiple platforms.

Thanks, hopefully it will come together like I envision. I was originally thinking about the Chassisworks universal x-member because I liked the machined ends. But the drop was just too much for the space it goes in. I could have cut it up and maybe made it work, but the end style wasn't really worth it. So, I went out on Summit's site and searched for transmission crossmembers and came up empty when looking at the design/materials/cost for most all of them.

Part of my dilemma is that I want to use the subframe connectors as the mounting points and not the rocker panels or the floor. That said, the floor will play a small role in all this. When I mocked up the fab'd extension on the passenger side, it hit the underside of the floor. Not a lot, but enough to be a problem. For several weeks now, I've been unhappy with the front floors. They look like a patchwork quilt and not in a good way. The interference with the trans extension was enough to send me over the edge. So today I made another trip to Metal by the Foot and picked up some 16ga panels and when I got home, I cut the offending area out of the driver side. I'll build clean panels from scratch and kill two birds with one stone. It will give me the clearance I need and scratch my OCD itch.

[SCOTI]

Gotcha.

I didn't know if your intent was to follow the Sled Alley arrangement like they used on several of Stielow's Camaros (that utilize the DSE front/rear suspension set-ups). Def allows getting the x-member where you want it vs being a low point under the car.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Gotcha.

I didn't know if your intent was to follow the Sled Alley arrangement like they used on several of Stielow's Camaros (that utilize the DSE front/rear suspension set-ups). Def allows getting the x-member where you want it vs being a low point under the car.

I was more or less constrained by the Total Cost Involved IFS. I ordered it with mounts for the Coyote engine, but they didn't supply any corresponding trans mount. After I got the Tin Man subframe connectors welded in they looked like they'd be perfect to build off of for the x-member. ...Then I ran into the problem with the floors. However, I've made some decent progress on the replacement pans. I'll get back on the x-member this coming week.

Yesterday, Kathy and I went to a Van Der Brink auction close to the house. The owner of the place was selling about 80 classic / muscle cars. One of them was a 69 Dodge Coronet with a transplanted 440 and 4 speed. It went for $5500 which was probably a fair price. If I had a place to store it, I would have bid on it, but I took a pass on it instead. It was a fun outing though.

[Vic1947]

So, here's the trans x-member mocked up. Had to do a little fine tuning to get it lined up like I wanted but that's to be expected. Once it's all welded out, I can put the floors and tunnel back in and move to the back of the car.

[Ol Blue K20]

Nice! Keep going......

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Nice! Keep going......

Thanks, Dale, I haven't thrown in the towel yet.

Here's the welded x-member. Shot some primer on it and covered it up with the floor pans. Outta sight, outta mind.

[Vic1947]

Still tunneling...

Cut out the old tunnel back to where the forward edge of the rear seat sits. I then mocked up a straight length of 5/8 tubing along the projected centerline of the trans. It's going to be a tight fit, but I think the driveshaft will clear with a few degrees of down angle. The intermediate tunnel is pretty close to where it needs to be but I'll have to scab some sheetmetal onto it to reach the floor like I did on the front section. Cut cut, fit fit, weld weld, hammer hammer, grind grind, cuss cuss, repeat.

[boonedogs72]

Nice work!!!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by boonedogs72

Nice work!!!

Thanks! Slowly filling in the gaps.
.

[Ol Blue K20]

Looking great!

[IIGW]

does this have a build over on pro-touring dot com?

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by IIGW

does this have a build over on pro-touring dot com?

Dude, you've got a sharp eye! My buddy Andrew Borodin is big on that site, and he suggested posting a build thread there. I posted one time and haven't posted since. I'm also on a Ford forum but only one person ever comments, so I've tapered off there as well. I've been posting on the Chevy/GMC forum for a long time, and I get the most feedback here. Not sure if anyone other than Andrew would follow on pro-touring.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

Dude, you've got a sharp eye! My buddy Andrew Borodin is big on that site, and he suggested posting a build thread there. I posted one time and haven't posted since. I'm also on a Ford forum but only one person ever comments, so I've tapered off there as well. I've been posting on the Chevy/GMC forum for a long time, and I get the most feedback here. Not sure if anyone other than Andrew would follow on pro-touring.

I was on PT.com initially but switched over to Lat-g. I like the disposition of the members @ Lat-g better vs some of the BS that was happening @ PT. Been a member here before both of those. I've known Andrew (well, via the www) since those early PT.com days & even spoke w/him about possibly buying his Richmond 6spd @ one point when the GTO was morphing to the LS era.

The PT.com vs Lat-g is similar to my g-body forum experience. I used to be on MalibuRacing but stepped away because of the characters & BS. Now on the 'g-body forum' & it's similar to being on here so I like the easier generally more respectful flow of comments/assistance/members.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I was on PT.com initially but switched over to Lat-g. I like the disposition of the members @ Lat-g better vs some of the BS that was happening @ PT. Been a member here before both of those. I've known Andrew (well, via the www) since those early PT.com days & even spoke w/him about possibly buying his Richmond 6spd @ one point when the GTO was morphing to the LS era.

The PT.com vs Lat-g is similar to my g-body forum experience. I used to be on MalibuRacing but stepped away because of the characters & BS. Now on the 'g-body forum' & it's similar to being on here so I like the easier generally more respectful flow of comments/assistance/members.

When I acquired my 87 Buick GN from a friend, I joined the Turbo Buick forum. Pretty good group of guys. I've posted a couple of questions and gotten decent responses. If I live long enough, I may tear into the GN for some much-needed maintenance and if I do, I may start a build thread there.

Andrew and I go back to when I built the 57 wagon. He advised me to get a Holley ECU for it and he tuned it for me. One thing led to another and next thing I knew, I was plumbing a turbo on his GTO and helping him drop a supercharger on his Cougar. We have lunch at least once a week at Chicken & Pickle. He's a wing fanatic.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Vic1947

When I acquired my 87 Buick GN from a friend, I joined the Turbo Buick forum. Pretty good group of guys. I've posted a couple of questions and gotten decent responses. If I live long enough, I may tear into the GN for some much-needed maintenance and if I do, I may start a build thread there.

Andrew and I go back to when I built the 57 wagon. He advised me to get a Holley ECU for it and he tuned it for me. One thing led to another and next thing I knew, I was plumbing a turbo on his GTO and helping him drop a supercharger on his Cougar. We have lunch at least once a week at Chicken & Pickle. He's a wing fanatic.

I followed his stuff & even recommended him to a couple guys on here for tuning. Sounds like you two are a good working duo.

[IIGW]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Lat-g

is lat-g this https://lateral-g.net/forums/ ?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by IIGW

is lat-g this https://lateral-g.net/forums/ ?

Correct.

[joesscamaro]

Always look forward to and enjoy your updates!

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by joesscamaro

Always look forward to and enjoy your updates!

Thanks! Here comes another one...

I've migrated to the rear of the car just for a change of scenery. The subframes are completely rotted out around the rear leaf spring mounting point. I cut away the (equally rotted) floor above the passenger (worst) side to expose the sub. The replacement pieces need to be 1/2" taller at the front to match the frame at that point. So I bent up some material and scabbed it onto the new sub. It was only tacked, so I had to weld it anyway, so the extra piece wasn't much work. I have the driver side piece tacked but not welded out yet. Some new material will be required on the rear panel. I plan to raise the level of the trunk about 2" to allow more room for the 87 Blazer EFI tank.

The inner wheel wells I'd forgotten to order arrived today. They match the outers I already have. They're for a 66-67 Fairlane, so I'm sure they'll require a healthy dose of modification. That's the problem with orphan models, parts are hard to come by. In order to fit them in, I'll need to cut away a lot more sheet metal. However, before that, I need to replace what I've already removed to restore the structural integrity.

[62c30]

That looks about the same as my 64 frame rails before I replaced them.

[SCOTI]

Nicely formed/built rail sections.

[Vic1947]

Originally Posted by 62c30

That looks about the same as my 64 frame rails before I replaced them.

Dang! However, it is comforting to know we have plenty of company when it comes to the dreaded tinworm.

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Nicely formed/built rail sections.

They were pretty nice. Got them from a company up in Canada. They're close enough to be worth the price. A few modifications here and there and they'll be like new.

The surgery continues. I decided to replace the entire rear panel the subframes attach to rather than piece them together like I started to do. It will be a much cleaner approach.

Here's a shot of the Z06 Corvette fan and radiator I plan to run. It fits in the available space pretty well. I'll have to extend the shroud where the stock air extractor duct sat since it won't fit my application.

.

[Vic1947]

Got the passenger side subframe mocked up after a bit of slicing and dicing. It's not a super tight fit - more like a saddle on a sow, but it will weld up okay.

.