El Camino project car

[Rupert]

On the other hand, that does just appear to be foil and tape, so you could cut that off and then redo it next winter.

[CaminoRacer]

True. Or just pay $1500 and get A/C.

[CaminoRacer]

I'll have to make a decision this spring - A/C or sticky tires (+another set of wheels probably). Touring car or race car. Tough choice.

[Rupert]

Race car sounds like you would need a second car. I say race car, but aren't you still a student?

[CaminoRacer]

I'd just have a set of sticky 200 TW autox tires for summer fun and then my current tires for the rest of the year. If I got new wheels, I could get another inch of tire up front and have 275s all around.

[CaminoRacer]

After looking at other cars with Vintage Air, it seems like too much work and effort installing it. Too many hoses and wires and crap. Tires it is.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Tires are way better.

[CaminoRacer]

What wheels should I get?

I want to fit 275/35-18s on all corners, on a 9.5" wheel. Either BFG Rival S or Bridgestone RE-71R. Both are sticky as hell, but SCCA nats seemed to strongly favor the RE-71R

Light, good looking, and cheap are the goals.

Other option is to keep the current wheels and swap the tires on. It'd be a staggered 245/275 setup, though.

[Eye of the Tiger]

What wheels should I get?

I want to fit 275/35-18s on all corners, on a 9.5" wheel.

Light, good looking, and cheap are the goals.

What about strong? You need strong wheels for heavy car. Forged.

[CaminoRacer]

I haven't found any wheels that are within my budget, so the tire plan might be killed too. Frees up some money for a motorcycle, at least.

I've got an exhaust leak at the header collector that I can't get rid of. Might be a good idea to buy a ball/socket conversion and weld it on.

http://www.amazon.com/HEDMAN-HEDDERS-21151-Collector-Conversion/dp/B00J9KMZN2

[Eye of the Tiger]

I haven't found any wheels that are within my budget, so the tire plan might be killed too. Frees up some money for a motorcycle, at least.

I've got an exhaust leak at the header collector that I can't get rid of. Might be a good idea to buy a ball/socket conversion and weld it on.

http://www.amazon.com/HEDMAN-HEDDERS-21151-Collector-Conversion/dp/B00J9KMZN2

Sure, why not? Or you can fix the collector flange. Or just bolt turn downs on the ends and not worry about exhaust leaks. Or you can put OEM manifolds back on because tuned tubular headers don't add power, they are just for looks or something. But srsly, you might need to adjust your exhaust hangers or something.

[CaminoRacer]

I think the header flange is warped a bit, so it's not getting enough pressure all the way around the gasket (dead soft aluminum). I'll try beating on it to flatten it out, but if that doesn't work the ball and socket collector is pretty guaranteed to work.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I think the header flange is warped a bit, so it's not getting enough pressure all the way around the gasket (dead soft aluminum). I'll try beating on it to flatten it out, but if that doesn't work the ball and socket collector is pretty guaranteed to work.

Are you going to beat it on the car, or put it on an anvil? A nice angle grinder might work better. You can brush an even coat of some Prussian Blue on one side of the flange, bolt it together without a gasket, then take it apart and identify the high spots.

[CaminoRacer]

Adjustable upper rear trailing arms. I'm planning on taking the whole axle out of the car this spring, so I can take it to a shop and get a limited slip, clean it up, paint it, replace the bushings, and install the new trailing arms.

I'll probably buy UMI lower arms, but I have a few months to decide.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Is it an open differential right now?

[CaminoRacer]

Yep.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

LOL......Hahahahahahahahaha.....




Sorry man.

[CaminoRacer]

It's still nice to drive and can drift pretty well so I've been putting it off. But it's time.

[MX793]

Posi trac or are you going to go with something like a Torsen for auto-x?

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Detroit Locker,  or weld your open.

[CaminoRacer]

Detroit Truetracs are the go-to for a lot of guys racing similar cars, but I don't think they make them for GM 8.2 axles. I know I can get an OEM style Eaton Posi.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Detroit Locker,  or weld your open.

Weld it.
Welding is best for Doritos.

[CaminoRacer]

I've decided to change the gears while I'm at it. I think it's got 3.36 right now, so a 3.73 sounds good.

Then I'll have good motivation to find a 5 speed swap.

[CaminoRacer]

The 5 speed swap I like the best is the TKO500, which has a 3.27 first gear. If I do that, I won't need to change the rear end gears.

[CaminoRacer]

I think that's the plan. Beginning of summer will be rear end overhaul, middle-end of summer will be TKO install. Then I'll have better acceleration and better freeway rpms, plus a stronger transmission that doesn't leak. I can also switch to a hydraulic clutch and/or heavier pressure plate while I'm at it.

And that means no motorcycle, but racecar takes priority.

[CaminoRacer]

[CaminoRacer]

Did a quick browse of hydraulic clutch options. Price wise they all seem similar, just need to find the one that's easiest to install and won't require much maintenance (like adjusting the hydraulic bearing). The instructions for one kit rambled on about possibly needing to shim the bellhousing.

[CaminoRacer]

http://www.dragzine.com/news/transmission-upgrades-the-mcleod-muscle-car-5-manual-transmission/

Looks like this would be less work to install than a TKO. Only worry would be potential lack of replacement parts compared to the Tremec.

[280Z Turbo]

^This is relevant to my interests^

[Eye of the Tiger]

So, can you pick ur own ratios, synchros, and needle bearings, or what? Why not just stick with a 4-speed since gas is so cheap? What is your top speed currently? And if you just add more power, you won't need more gears. That is, until you add so much power that you do need more gears.