Red91
Hi, I'm Red
Posted this up on ITS so I figured I would being it here too. I bought the truck a little over 2.5 yrs ago. She was Stone Stock but super clean and straight especially for a true WI Truck.
Yes that is all GM sheetmetal. I got it with a 2" thick stack of reciepts and various pieces of documentation and I recieved a memo pad that documented every dime the previous owner put into it INCLUDING GAS!!! He is a regular at all the local shows with a small collection of Trans Am's and this was his daily baby. After rocking it stock for awhile I started to get the itch and started collecting parts for a 4/6. Well this summer I put some new 225/70s up front and 255/60s out back.
It took me way longer than it should have but I wanted to do it un assisted.
While I did the front I also did all the standard wearables, Ball joints Tie Rod ends, sleeves, and sway bar end links. I found out the hard way that I have 1.25" brake rotors as well. It could have been easily avoided if I did a little more research but lesson learned. So after I bought the right spindles I put it all back together.
Only one problem...
Enter 454!!!!
After that I flipped her around
The leaf spring bolts were frozen solid in the bushing sleeves. With a little coaxing and some heavy equipment the rear leafs came on out.
I obviously had to do new bushings so a little propane, swazall and ball joint press later.
So I shot the springs with a little satin black krylon
They turned out pretty good. Actually had a tire guy ask me if they were new. So I pulled out a little backwoods engineering and got the new bushings in
After a little assembly some more black Krylon and one "sick" day at work
Like I said it took me way too long, but I could only work on it 2-4 hours at a time. That and I have a dd so it didn't hurt me to have it down for the summer. Either way I learned a few things 1. You can never research enough something will always bite you the first time around. 2. I loath press in ball joints 3. I am never doing spring bushings AGAIN! Either way after all the work, money, and time the first time I drove it made it all worth it!
Well after that I got the rear wheels swapped over too the 454s, then 2 weeks before her first show I got an exhaust leak.... Soooo I said screw it and ordered....
and threw in a new y-pipe. But to add insult to injury the y-pipe didn't seat well so I have a little "Pop" leak when I get into the throttle. Either way I took the hit in stride and showed her anyways. This was my first show as an entrant.
I have absolutely gotten hooked on showing it since I just wish it wasn't so late in the year! I am now "stuck" I feel like I have writers block I can't seem to plan my next move. Suggestions?... Lol
You must be registered for see images attach
Yes that is all GM sheetmetal. I got it with a 2" thick stack of reciepts and various pieces of documentation and I recieved a memo pad that documented every dime the previous owner put into it INCLUDING GAS!!! He is a regular at all the local shows with a small collection of Trans Am's and this was his daily baby. After rocking it stock for awhile I started to get the itch and started collecting parts for a 4/6. Well this summer I put some new 225/70s up front and 255/60s out back.
You must be registered for see images attach
It took me way longer than it should have but I wanted to do it un assisted.
You must be registered for see images attach
While I did the front I also did all the standard wearables, Ball joints Tie Rod ends, sleeves, and sway bar end links. I found out the hard way that I have 1.25" brake rotors as well. It could have been easily avoided if I did a little more research but lesson learned. So after I bought the right spindles I put it all back together.
You must be registered for see images attach
Only one problem...
You must be registered for see images attach
Enter 454!!!!
You must be registered for see images attach
After that I flipped her around
You must be registered for see images attach
The leaf spring bolts were frozen solid in the bushing sleeves. With a little coaxing and some heavy equipment the rear leafs came on out.
You must be registered for see images attach
I obviously had to do new bushings so a little propane, swazall and ball joint press later.
You must be registered for see images attach
So I shot the springs with a little satin black krylon
You must be registered for see images attach
They turned out pretty good. Actually had a tire guy ask me if they were new. So I pulled out a little backwoods engineering and got the new bushings in
You must be registered for see images attach
After a little assembly some more black Krylon and one "sick" day at work
You must be registered for see images attach
Like I said it took me way too long, but I could only work on it 2-4 hours at a time. That and I have a dd so it didn't hurt me to have it down for the summer. Either way I learned a few things 1. You can never research enough something will always bite you the first time around. 2. I loath press in ball joints 3. I am never doing spring bushings AGAIN! Either way after all the work, money, and time the first time I drove it made it all worth it!
You must be registered for see images attach
Well after that I got the rear wheels swapped over too the 454s, then 2 weeks before her first show I got an exhaust leak....
Soooo I said screw it and ordered....
You must be registered for see images attach
and threw in a new y-pipe. But to add insult to injury the y-pipe didn't seat well so I have a little "Pop" leak when I get into the throttle. Either way I took the hit in stride and showed her anyways. This was my first show as an entrant.
You must be registered for see images attach
I have absolutely gotten hooked on showing it since I just wish it wasn't so late in the year! I am now "stuck" I feel like I have writers block I can't seem to plan my next move. Suggestions?... Lol
