[V8Vairs] Front Suspension Settings...

[Chris Wills]

Doug,

Looking good!  One question for you - is the engine offset, or is the crank 
on the car centerline?

Chris Wills


>From: DEvans@csu.org
>Reply-To: v8vairs@corvair.org
>To: v8vairs@corvair.org
>Subject: Re: [V8Vairs] Front Suspension Settings...
>Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 08:03:14 -0700
>
>A friend of mine has photos of my project on his website.  Google
>'slownrusty' which will lead you to his Picturetrail address.  I'm under
>the Friend's Rides section.  The car is looking a bit different since the
>posted photos were shot.  Have made some progress on exterior body work.
>If you want, direct links are as follows:
>
>
>The Cad has been massaged heavily, and should produce about 500 HP.  I
>expect it to be brutal, but haven't been able to run it yet.  Shouldn't be
>too long.  The engine sits in the car backwards, (serpentine belt to the
>rear) and the transmission is a modified Eldorado THM-425.  I removed the
>differential for the front drive, and installed a tailshaft adapter.  I'm
>using a custom built solid rear end which uses a Ford 8.8 inch diff which
>was originally intended for high-performance Jeep front axle applications.
>  By remounting the diff in the normal position, I wind up with a reverse
>rotation live rear good for up to 700 HP and with the torque applied on
>the drive side of the gear teeth.  The rear wheel well were widened to
>accommodate 12" of rubber.  I suspect that I'll need it.  Amazingly, the
>500/425 drivetrain is only 48" from the front of the transmission chain
>case to the axle centerline.  The offset pinion is actually under the
>alternator as installed.
>
>I divided the interior of the car into front and rear halves by
>constructing a tubular steel bulkhead between me and the engine.  This is
>plated with steel sheet, and is now the firewall.  Since this structural
>bulkhead supports the transmission, and is welded across the car body, is
>provides a tremendous increase in stiffness.  A tubular, trussed
>structural console ties the bulkhead all the way up to the front axle. The
>drivetrain and the bulkhead did eat into drivers space, so I moved the
>floor 8 inches forward for more leg room, and put a fuel cell in the
>former engine compartment.  The ergonomics of this should work out pretty
>well.  The new pedals will be on the same plane as the remnants of the
>floor/wheel well, and I'll be shortening the steering column slightly to
>get a comfortable position.
>
>The entire underside of the car was rusted out, as were the fender
>bottoms.  The floor is now constructed of steel tubing and sheet.  Just
>recently I had the entire underside coated and wheel wells coated  with
>pickup-bed liner.  Now have primer on all interior surfaces after bondo
>smoothing the welds and grinds.  Mounting brackets for the three radiators
>have been installed, as have structural braces for the five-link
>attachments. Inside the rear arch of the integral frame rails, I doubled
>the rails with 1/4" plate to provide greater strength and for welding on
>suspension mounts and engine attachments.   Engine goes in the car again
>this weekend so I can start mocking up the headers and the engine
>cover/air cleaner.  Header construction will be very interesting, as Arte
>Johnson usta say.  No room to the rear past the axle assembly, so will
>probably have to run the collectors forward and put the muffler(s) under
>the front seats, exhausting in front of the rear wheels.
>
>Body mods include elimination of the rear outlet grille, shaved drip
>rails, side scoops, flush S-10 door handles, no trunk key, frenched
>headlight openings using gigantic Mack truck headlights, filled gas door,
>and so on.  The former engine cooling inlet is now reserved for the carb
>fresh air supply.  Unfortunately, my ambition exceeds my talent, so the
>work isn't all that smooth, but it will be with time and practice. I'm a
>first-timer at this, and live a few miles south of Colorado Springs.  I'd
>welcome more experienced builders stopping by to point out my mistakes.
>
>Doug Evans
>'67 Coupe with 500 Cad instead of a back seat.
>(719) 372-6502