Let me know what u guys think about my build. I have a 1987 cutlass im building to do a restomod on. have the body off the frame, have a 468 bb with nitrous to go in when its done, planning on black frame black body and maroon interior. Have some work done just have to get the frame painted and bodywork done. Six point roll cage with fuel cell in the trunk and deleting the spare tire well. Not plannin on it bein a strip only car. Full show car with some strip time when its nice. Autometer gages the works. Work like hiding the wiring in the engine bay and running the AN style fuel lines will be last. Also gonna run a suspencion that can handle drag racing with tube everything lowering springs for a good stance, not much lower maybe only an inch. Gn rear. Gonna run the five star weld rims with et drag slicks. Let me know what u guys think!!!!! any imput is great good or bad and will only help me build the car as im only one mind and cant think of it all. Only got one shot at doin this car right
Sounds like you know what you want and that you have a good handle on what its going to take to do it. But I do have some perspective that might make you think. Kind of an over time perspective, as you have said you have one shot at this, which because of life, familys, work, most of us do only ever get to completely build one car. Some guys do many but its a rare guy that gets to do his car(s) completely as he wants more than once. I know lots of guys who have done a similar build with objectives like yours including "show car with some strip time." Nothing wrong with it not knocking it at all just some food for thought. Some of the guys I know after a period of years have come to the realization that their car sits in the garage a lot more than intended they get to less shows than they thought the drag strip even less since they are not competing and loading it up and trailering it is more work and expense than they were thinking about when they started on the car. I am not trying to be a downer, honest, just a realist & perspective. I don't know about all your plans specifically so these are not directed at you just as I said food for thought.
Most wish they were not as worried about their high dollar flawless paintjob. That fuel wasn't so high that they could afford to drive it more or that it was set up so that it got better mileage that they could do more cruiseing listening to tunes & pipes than sitting in a lawn chair listening to somebody tell their buddy how this or that was wrong about their car. That they could take her out of town or up on the highway without screaming rpms & worrying about a rebuild or keeping up with traffic. That they had current tags & insurance that it did not overheat in traffic or need more than pump gas. They wish that for a number of small reasons that their pride n joy did not hide in the garage 26 days a month. All I am saying is think about how you really want to use the car when you are making your build choices and don't be afraid to think outside the box. Don't put a part on because you were following the herd.
I like the term restomod. Its not concors restoration especially of a garden variety car and its not race or show only car. Its a built for me how I can enjoy the car most & put my personality into it. Just think about how you want to use the car and what would be the best route to do that. I am not saying build a pro tour driver I am just saying everybody thinks 4.88s are cool for a minute. Maybe a gear drive is cool but do you want to live with it? I am not saying you have to slow it down with a mild cam & highway gears. I am saying think about ways to have your cake and eat it to. Its about fun challenge & enjoyment. Hope this helps.
Input is very much appreciated and like u said food for thought. Yeah i think the only way id be happy with it is if i could on occasion drive it. that being said im gonna build a car that is unique and as such usage is gonna be on the low side. Eerything is going to be done by me so this car is somewhat of a prove myself to the world kinda car. Every aspect will have to be right for me to be happy with it and show what i can do. The car will run 3:73 rear gears so when i do take er out the bb wont run to hard but will still be a screamer down the track. How often do u see a show car worthy paint job on a car running slicks and a full interior will a six point cage and a bb chevy with nitrous running the ocasional town drive and hangin at shows? Hardly ever around here. actually never. So unique here will stand out and everyone around here will know the car when im done.
Good example. Like you I used a 3.73 in my big block 442 for the best quarter mile. Only my big block is a 509ci Cadillac which because of the larger bearings likes rpms considerably less than the the big chevy. The only thing that made that a have your cake and eat it to possible is that I had 200-4R built up to handle it instead of using a less expensive 3 speed. The .67 overdrive made the final drive ratio 2.49! On that particular part choice you get a two for one as your saved engine rpm speed also saves fuel consumption by about a 1/3. I followed a buddy on an out of state interstate trip who drove 70 to 75 mph. I was pleased when I calculated my mileage and had gotten 17 mpg instead of the 12 I probably would have gotten with a 3 speed & no lock up converter. Part of that mileage probably also came from the fact that I used a moderate cam and had the benefit of the small primarys in a Q-jet instead of a spread bore. Regardless I thought for a big block 11 second capable car to get that mileage was respectable. In fact it was better than my buddys truck got towing his car.
Well said dogshit. I have built many cars for my self and for others. From frame off's to race cars,street strip cars. I was a trained bodyman and I think show paint is a waste! You want nice paint but $10,000 show paint is just stupid. Black with the weld pro stars very nice, dark red int very nice as well. I would build the car to be reliable and fun to drive more of a strret set up than drag with good braking. I find if you go to far over your budget it stops being fun. Good luck with your build. I find it is a better build and cheeper if you start with a good dry car.
Well in my case "dry" was impossible since it was a flood car but im happy to give it new life other then the exsistance only in a crusher that others would have. I have in mind to have it street tuned but a suspencion that will handle a hard landing if need be. lol. They will think "show car" when i lift the wheel at the track.
How much rust does the car have if you have a lot of rust you might be better to start with a dry car. A couple of patches is fine it is just when you build more of the body on the shop floor than the factory. I have done a few for people like this and allways thought it was such a waste. Costs more in the long run I find.
Rust was actually minimal for what it was, of course because of the fact of being 15 foot underwater made some places start to get very fine surface rust that shouldnt have any at all. Other than that a patch in front of each rear tire and a wire wheel should do it. one spot on the roof to.
After years of my build thread being dead ive been working hard on my car, different car than what started the tread but same principal. So far ive gotten the 455, and 8.5. Still need to wrangle up he 5 or 6 speed to go behind it. I bought the car a few years ago off the forum and have the doghouse off and will pull the body soon enough
Nose is off, frame is painted for now, had to move it out of the garage until i can get a bay back when the purestock car is done. The 455 will be going on the engine stand very soon. Ive been looking at umi performance parts for control arms and i like how they are built so i will probably go with them after the frame gets back from powdercoat, which might be a while. What im hoping is that the powdercoat will hold up under the car and maintain its shine, anyone ever delt with it? Also if i can find a 4 speed bellhousing for a gbody will a 5 or 6 speed trans bolt to it or will i have to buy one of the bop bellhousing in summit or jegs? Hoping to get some pictures up soon!
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