MONTE CARLO "COPO" Monte Carlo SS - Turbosaurus Build (Swinging Dick Racing's c*ck got bent... she bounced a little too high & hard, & came down awkwardly)

[motorheadmike]

Does the body being bolted to the frame help you here in holding stuff in place or do you need to reinforce before cutting?

Probably. There is far less potential for distortion with things bolted together. But, it is going to get braced/pre-built just to be on the safe side before the plasma axe comes out to make all the space.

Today I emptied and dropped the gas tank (and filled Natasha's Camaro); got a fuel bath for my efforts. Sway bar, muffler, e-brake cables, shocks, etc are all out too. Just need to pull the differential and control arms once I am convinced I know what I am doing (LOL). Sized everything up and have a plan in my noodle on how to approach the build out of the new frame rails and how to reinforce all the effected areas. Including fully welding parts the factory glanced over.

Next step is degrime everything and get to welding.

 

[motorheadmike]

This is not for the faint of heart. Here's what I started with:

4.5 hours later here's what I was left with (both sides look the same):

What was once on the car was now on the floor:

Pile one of two. A couple pounds each. Gross.

Cut along the dotted line...

Still have to clean the underside... but, that is next weekend's problem.

 

[Supercharged111]

No fair your frame rails are in 1 piece.

 

[fleming442]

If you're scared, say you're scared.

 

[motorheadmike]

If you're scared, say you're scared.

I am too stupid to know I am supposed to be scared. It has served me well in my career.

 

[motorheadmike]

No fair your frame rails are in 1 piece.

This car is in pretty good condition for being 30-something years old and living its life in the rust belt.

 

[Rktpwrd]

(Spies intently, gathering intel)

 

[motorheadmike]

I made a doodle while listening to a presentation on the employment Special Forces (which will never be me because I cannot swim - despite meeting all of the other requirements (other than now being too old (bad knees and back) and unable to grow a kick-*ss beard)... maybe there is more working against me than I originally thought?). Moving on.



There is an order that this work has to occur: build (green) before cutting (red). The idea behind the parallel bars between the frame rails and the adjoining uprights is to build structure back in (the boxed section of the frame is rather strong) and to support the load of the suspension which other approaches using a series of parallel bars in the horizontal plane (above the spring perches) does not necessarily do. The final design may be a "bolt in".

But, that is where my head currently at (other than employing SOF on operations). The raw materials should be delivered later this week.

 

[Tony1968]

Those bars will be in the way of stock tank. Assuming you have a cell. My memory is not that great

 

[motorheadmike]

Those bars will be in the way of stock tank. Assuming you have a cell. My memory is not that great

Nope and nope. Watch and see. 😉