[Mad Max]

Hellwig = $$$$
But nice product.
Good move.

 

[Bennsb]

These should keep me busy today. Ordered a dual 2.5” exhaust to run off the truck manifolds.

 

[Bennsb]

The joy of hot rodding, fix one problem to create another. I can lift up the motor 3/4” hopefully that will give me room for the steering box fitting. Got one upper arm in, the old ball joints didn’t want to budge and ate up a ton of time. Oh well, progress is progress.

 

[Bennsb]

Watched the Chrysler Master Tech - 1960 Volume 13-2 and learned quite a bit about my a body suspension. (I installed the adjustment cams backwards, locking nut goes to the outer.)

Interesting all the stock settings called for, especially negative caster on manual steering cars.

They were designed with a “steering axis inclination” built in that worked extremely well with the 0 offset 13x5 rims and biased ply tires.

All that is out the window with my offset 17x8’s and radials. Going to do a string alignment and set 4 degrees of positive caster (2.5 is about max with stock control arm), 1/8” toe in, and -0.5 degrees of camber to start.

 

[Mad Max]

Interesting...

 

[Bennsb]

Passenger side went much quicker. Clearanced the front mount for the set nut in the control arm. The tie rods were fun to break loose. Surprised I got them to move by hand eventually. Passenger side looks good, will have to adjust driver side later.

The ‘67 exhaust is going to work perfectly. I have a cross over ordered and thinking I’ll use some ‘70 Super Bee exhaust tips since they look closest to the square tip Formula S HiPo resonator.

 

[Bennsb]

Do I tackle this now, or wait until Monday morning…

31.75mm, it’s bigger than my S-10’s ZQ8 front sway bar.

 

[Bennsb]

That took a lot longer than expected. Both fenders dip down when I push down on either now. Wouldn’t want to install another one by myself, surprised I’m still pretty flexible in my mid forties.

 

[Bennsb]

My midnight wrenching doesn’t look too bad in the daylight.

 

[Mad Max]

Good looking install...

 

[Bennsb]

Got my motor mounts squared away. Managed to get 1/2” between sliding the passenger mount over, raising the driver side up ~1/2” and clocking the Borgeson box counterclockwise then torquing it down. Looks like I’ll have just enough room for the high pressure line fitting now. I’m going to grind away a little on the manifold. Steering knuckle isn’t touching anymore, but I’m going to grind a little there too. Now to fidget with the exhaust connector pipes.

 

[IhaveNoPantsOn]

Looking good.

 

[Mad Max]

Man, that is close quarters!
At least the engine will torque towards the passenger side if it moves on the mounts.

 

[Bennsb]

As luck would have it, the stock 1998 Ram 2500 Y-pipe fits the 1966 A-body if you cut it and swap driver and passenger pipes. It clears the torsion bars, brake lines, and starter, dumping out by the transmission pan where a set of headers would. I can weld a 2” to 2.5” reducer to the down pipe and connect it to the 2.5” exhaust in a manner that will allow me to connect it to a headers if I want to go that route later. The mandrel bent exhaust system was made by the same company that made my S-10 exhaust, Heartthrob.

Mocking up the exhaust pieces, looks like everything is going to clear and line up. I bought a 2.5” X-pipe that I should be able to install under the transmission tail shaft.

 

[Mostizzle]

Nice!

 

[Bennsb]

My neighbor called me and said Code Enforcement was taking pictures in my driveway of my Barracuda on jack stands, he came out and gave him the stink eye. I thought it was funny, I told him we called the city to close out the permit and update our roof as replaced in 2019 (homeowner’s insurance was trying to say 2004).

He was mad at the thought someone would call in on my car, haha! I told him I thought I was making progress, couldn’t imagine why somebody would call on it.

Got $400 back from insurance with roof date updated, and no notice on the car.

I dig the angle of the back pipes in the pic, but they are going to be level after I install the hangers at the muffler outlets. Should have the exhaust all hung and bolted on by Sunday.

 

[Mostizzle]

Getting excited.

 

[Bennsb]

So an eagle eye Mopar owner spotted my forward mount caliper job, guess the ‘73-76 a-bodies were meant for a rear mount position. (I’ll check the numbers to see which caliper has an even part number (right) and which is odd (left) to verify.) Either way, mounting calipers to the rear will eliminate sway bar mount clearance issues and the hard brake lines are routed to the back of the a-arms. The ‘69 Camaro braided brake lines look like they’ll be better suited for a rear mount position as well.

Got new lower 1962,1973-76 Dart ball joints on the way, I’ll swap the spindles and calipers when I install those.

Massaged the radiator support and got the larger 22” B-body radiator to fit. I have minimal clearance from the electric fan to the water pump nipple mount for the clutch fan. I might cut/grind off 1/8” for clearance. Once the radiator’s bolted in place I can connect the trans cooler lines.

I need to make a list of all these small things so I can cross them off. I’m hoping to get it moving under its own power soon.

On a positive note, my son just turned 14 and is finally off his Toyota Corolla kick. He mentioned driving the Firebird to High School to impress the ladies. I told him he could take the S-10, and he told me, “No offense Dad, but your truck is not going to impress anyone.” I said, “Exactly, which is why I might let you drive the S-10 to prom.”

 

[manbearpig]

He mentioned driving the Firebird to High School to impress the ladies.

Tell him to watch Billy Madison, it didn't work out for him lol.

 

[Bennsb]

Got the passenger side exhaust hung. Still have to tweak the pipes for final clamping, but everything is going to clear. I used the Ram collector and the 2” pipe clears the transmission and torsion bar. I welded a 2” union to it, then welded a 2” to 2.5” reducer on. I had extra 2.5” exhaust tubing lying around from my S-10 and welded a small section of it to my new down pipe. This way later on if I go with headers I can unclamp it and install a header collector. I’m okay with how it turned out, much better than the cheap flex tube pipe I’ve seen people run.