Let the fun and games begin! (1974 garage find)

[Vegas_Nick]

We don't have vehicle inspections here in NV. I have done some research and could not find anything in NRS (Nevada law) that speaks to them directly. There may be some vague Federal laws but I don't think the DOT will be too concerned about my car. 

[Vegas_Nick]

Spent the last few nights working out the fuell cell cage. It is still a work in progress while I fab the pieces to follow the "trunk hump".







I am on house arrest for today. Hopefully she will grant my parole tomorrow and I can get back to it!

[Nacho-RT74]

I know somebody at FBBO searching for 74 gas tank straps! Dunno if already got them

[Vegas_Nick]

Somebody grabbed those quick! Along with the old tank!

[Vegas_Nick]

I'll be so damned glad when these 100+ degree days are gone.

I have the cage and cell in. Hanging by two bolts until probably next weekend when I can go at it again.



The roll cage fabricator is stopping by tomorrow. Time to turn that pile of tube into something!

[RallyeMike]

I like the new direction you are heading in   

22 gal?

[Vegas_Nick]

I just went 20 on this one.

Love that car man!

[Vegas_Nick]

Been a slow week. Took some much needed vacation time from the airline. Contemplating a move to Florida if it's still there next week. But anyway....

Lower Control Arms and ball joints. Screw in ball joints are the work of the devil! Took a four ft cheater bar but I managed to get it loose!

I picked up a set from a forum member so I am stripping them down to drop off for bead blasting. Already found the new pivot pins, bushings, bump stops, and stiffener plates.



The socket was from Amazon. Like $25 for the two.

[Nacho-RT74]

those are 73 LCA! one year production. 74 and laters are press in ball joints

[Vegas_Nick]

Thanks Nacho! Will they work on the 74 as well? Just discovered that he gave me one screw in and one press in! 

[Nacho-RT74]

Yeap... the only diff is the ball joint itself.

I think you can even use a press in ball joint into a 73 LCA... not sure thought. Having both in hands is just about measure the diameter of the opening in both.

I think moog offers problem solver ball joints with +.002 oversize to fit tight

[Vegas_Nick]

Thanks man! I'll order a set of press in ones as well.

[Vegas_Nick]

Yeap... the only diff is the ball joint itself.

I think you can even use a press in ball joint into a 73 LCA... not sure thought. Having both in hands is just about measure the diameter of the opening in both.

I think moog offers problem solver ball joints with +.002 oversize to fit tight

Nacho, the other arm was threaded and someone pressed a ball joint into it! I have them off getting bead blasted now and will see how the threads look when I get them back.

[Vegas_Nick]

I know this may make some heads explode but....
continuing with the entire NASCAR theme, I pulled the dash back out and started working the pattern for the new dash. Keeping the heater and AC so I'll have to make new ducts for them. Also working on servo controls for the air box so I can ditch the factory vacuum ones. Adding a PWM controller for the blower so as to eliminate the resistor. Lots of fun stuff at any rate! I'll move the switches and controls all  to the center console as I fabricate it up.

So for today:




First cut and test fit:



Instrument cluster hitting ebay later as I'll go all Autometer on the new direction.

[70 sublime]

I would keep all the spare bits until you are totally done just in case you needed to look at something or change something around

[Nacho-RT74]

I know this may make some heads explode but....

mine several posts ago LOL

[Vegas_Nick]

So this weekend I have been on lockdown with the boss lady mostly, but I did manage to cut out the Lexan 1/4 windows and get the ready to mount.

Also got the dash fit up started.


Mostly mocked up now while I figure out mounts, and how it will play with the roll cage on the sides. Annndddd.... how to design a center console.

[Vegas_Nick]

Thanks to Bryan for some cool stuff! Did some trading and came out with a roof skin, a heater box and some other goodies.



The roof skin is going to save a TON of work for me!


I got it all fit up, soaked it with the POR 15 rust remover, sanded down and filler primed.


Just going to leave it clecoed in place for a bit while we fit up the roll cage.

Also SUPER happy that I found this little jewel today. This was the last piece to making the AC and heater have full electronic controls. Classic Air had it for about $80!

[Vegas_Nick]

Happy as can be! Bending some tube finally! What a workout!



No fancy hydraulics here. All manual labor.

[Vegas_Nick]

Main hoop fitted up tonight!



Back to work this week so we will see what I can get done next week.

[VegasCharger]

Thanks to Bryan for some cool stuff! Did some trading and came out with a roof skin, a heater box and some other goodies.

Glad I could help. 

Looks like you're moving right along. 

[451-74Charger]

Got it home today. Had to bust open the carb right off. Running off of an electric pump and two gallon gas can so we could get it into the garage. LOTS of work to do for sure. It was just one of those days. It started snowing and sleeting while we were loading it. The driver door locked and now I can;t get it unlocked. I hope it's not a sign of things to come! 

Sounds like Christine had a younger brother...Be careful there

[Vegas_Nick]

Got it home today. Had to bust open the carb right off. Running off of an electric pump and two gallon gas can so we could get it into the garage. LOTS of work to do for sure. It was just one of those days. It started snowing and sleeting while we were loading it. The driver door locked and now I can;t get it unlocked. I hope it's not a sign of things to come! 

Sounds like Christine had a younger brother...Be careful there

If it would just have driven itself into the garage!

[Vegas_Nick]

Very little progress the past few weeks.

Got the main hoop and cross bar ready to weld in. Started fitting the seat and now we're having to pack up for the move to Florida so it's on hold for a while.

[Vegas_Nick]

Loooong intermission! We moved back to Daytona finally and between packing and moving she didn't get much love. NOW, we're settled in and I am back on it. Pretty much the same direction with the build. Trying to keep it legal for Champ Car, so that may entail buying another set of doors to gut and keep the ones with the windows for daily-ish driving.

SO...here's where I am at now.
Loading her up for Daytona:


Finally tearing the K frame and it's associated pieces out. Good news is that the spindles and K frame will be the only parts re-used. Everything else is new. Combination of Moog, Firm Feel, and a few others. I have the K frame off for sand blasting and while I am waiting on that, I am building a set of lower control arms and tidying up more under the hood.