Resurrecting Project Triple Threat Trans Am

[Doug1]

I decided to start a new thread to cover the Triple Threat Trans Am build since it has gone through multiple builders and is more or less starting over at this point. The car is a unique project that has had it's twists and turn. Since the 2nd builder was the OP of the build thread, I thought it would be best to start a new thread as the new builder.

For anyone interested the link to the orginal thread is located here...
http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=27798


To summarize, the car is going to be a full frame 2nd Gen, with power to spare and lots of fabrication. We are going to tie the Art Morrison 5-link rear clip and their front clip together to form a full frame car with a removable body. Every single part of the fabrication will be revisited and revised.

We're 75% or more there in the way of parts acquistions since we have the frame in hand, the motor, the tranmission the rear end and all the body pieces, the front brakes, radiator, fuel cell and pump, Year One fiberglass front end, flares and rear bumper, the Hydyne Motorsports wheel centers are cut and the manufacturer is waiting on backspacing measurements from us to complete.

The big parts we have yet to purchase are a carbon fiber hood and deck lid, seats (long story), rear brakes, master cylinders for clutch and brakes along with the steering column.

[DETON8R]

Sounds like an awesome build. :thumbsup:

Personally, I like late 70's styling of the F-bodies better than the earlier versions of the 2nd gen body style. Since the project will have a custom front end, which year will you run for the front end? Or is it going to be full custom and not identifiable to a specific year?

LS power or will you be running an older GM engine? Vintage Pontiac maybe.... ;)

AME puts together some SICK stuff. When you mention a 5-link, do you mean the same rear clip that is both a 3-link with a watts and a 4-link for drag racing? Like the rear that was set up for Project Unfair?

Can't wait to see the photos. :lateral:

[coolwelder62]

I wish Good luck too you,on trying to keep moving forward.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:I would cut out all of the hand made stuff.move the motor back to local AME started w/ then install a repo firewall & floor pan.Order up set of DSE sub frame conector's & soild body mount's.You dont need that kind of motor set back to make a 2nd gen handle well.Just work slow and think about every step you need to do.You can do it yourself.

[WSSix]

Detonator, the car in his avatar is the car in question. There's a full size picture of the rendering in the other thread.

Good luck Doug. It's going to be worth it in the end. All the drama that's occurred just makes for a more interesting story at car shows and cruise-ins.

Also, what ever happened to your other 79? The dark blue one that had a stroked 400 I think it was? I swear you had a second car that was at the driving stage. Maybe I'm making stuff up again though.

[Ron in SoCal]

Doug you probably have a good handle on this from your advisors, but if you're truly going back to body on frame, why not put a floor in it, put some DSE or AME subframe connectors in it to tie the front/rear and be done with the complicated stuff?

[Matt@BOS]

I agree with what Ron said. What is in the car now might not be pretty, but it does appear to be functional, and once the floor goes back in, along with the connectors, and rocker tie ins, I bet there will be more than enough strength. Engineering a full frame and fabricating floors to fit everything and make it all removable will be very time consuming and expensive. I would just spend the money on a set of good shocks that can be set up for how you want the car to ride, and focus on putting it together. I know you mentioned that you liked the idea of having Dan Hollohan possibly build you a car one day, and if that's the case, I would start setting aside money for that project. Then you could have a solid, nice car (this one) while you build something crazy.

Matt

[ccm399]

Can't wait to see more progress! I would echo the thoughts here though... Re-do the sub-frame connectors, put a floor in it, move the engine back to a more normal position and move on.

Chris

[FETorino]

Doug

I like the Poncho power. :wow: I hope you stick with it this could be a great car. Sorry to see the previous builder created as much of the project as he accomplished.:(

How about just posting the highlights of the current plan on this thread so we don't have to dig around in the old thread.

If you want a slam dunk solution to connecting your frame and building your floors I'd say take it to RS.:_paranoid

:cheers:

[Doug1]

Detonator, the car in his avatar is the car in question. There's a full size picture of the rendering in the other thread.

Good luck Doug. It's going to be worth it in the end. All the drama that's occurred just makes for a more interesting story at car shows and cruise-ins.

Also, what ever happened to your other 79? The dark blue one that had a stroked 400 I think it was? I swear you had a second car that was at the driving stage. Maybe I'm making stuff up again though.

You have a good memory. That car started showing some rust and after getting after it, found more damage than i expected. It is now a rotisserie stripped down to bare metal. I just installed a new full floor in it and am getting ready to mini-tub it and put in DSE subframe connectors.

[Frankenstine]

Are there any pictures of this build on this wesite:question: :question:

[WSSix]

You have a good memory. That car started showing some rust and after getting after it, found more damage than i expected. It is now a rotisserie stripped down to bare metal. I just installed a new full floor in it and am getting ready to mini-tub it and put in DSE subframe connectors.

Awesome! Sorry for the thread jack. It's just that I like to keep track of the late 2nd gen builds. That and what can I say, there's just something about a dark blue TA that I like :D

[Doug1]

Going to backtrack with a few posts from the previous thread.

726 hp 535 Pontiac IA2 block
American Powertrain T56 Magnum
Art Morrison built 9" housing with Moser aluminum "through bolt" center section, with 35 spline Wave-Trac, 1350 series aluminum yoke, and aluminum pinion support. Moser 35 spline axles.


The rendering....
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/round3.jpg

[Doug1]

A few more I just got from AME as they were building the clips.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_6832.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_6894.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_6906.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_6914.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_6951.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_6955.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_6954.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_6957.jpg

Front and rear clip ready to ship!
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_6968.jpg

[Doug1]

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/TripleThreatrearsuspensioninstallation2.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/TripleThreatrearsuspensioninstallation1.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/TripleThreatrearsuspensioninstallation3.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/TripleThreatfrontsuspensioninstallation1.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/TripleThreatfrontsuspensioninstallation3.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/TripleThreatfrontsuspensioninstallation2.jpg

[Doug1]

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/custombuildracefuelcell1.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/custombuildracefuelcell.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/custombuildracefuelcell2.jpg

[Doug1]

Hydyne Motorsports is custom making a set of one off wheels. Here are the centers fresh from cutting. They will be polished and then anodized a dark grey.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/TripleThreatWheelcenters.jpg

Here is a link to their website
http://www.hydynemotorsport.com/

[Doug1]

Engine and transmission finally getting fitted to the car. It looks like the engine will need to go back into the firewall several inches so it can drop in back of the rack and pinion. More work but it should help with the handling a bit. The transmission crossmember is going to have to move back a few inches as well.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/897.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/94.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/95.jpg
[IMG]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/784

[Doug1]

Well, as with all such projects, this one is taking a long and winding road to get to completion. The car is back at my home now as Chad was unable to finish the car. Took it to Dan Holohan for an assessment and he gave me the unvarnished truth. Basically, I have a lot of really cool parts and a lot of problems to solve.

So at first I decided to just sell it off for parts and start over but since then I have had a change of heart and decided to do this as a general contractor type job. I'll sub out the stuff I don't feel comfortable doing and do the rest myself.

Here are some "as it sits" photos...
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_0862.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_0880.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_0873.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_0872.jpg


One of Dan's suggestions that I liked was to make this a full frame car so the body can be removed in order to powdercoat the chassis. I'll get rid of the round tube stuff that was added in which I highlighted in the large blue oval and tie the front and back chassis together with the same tubing used by AME. The tie in within the small blue oval will be left though I prefer to use something other than round tubing since it just doesn't fit well visually with rest of the frame.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_0865-1.jpg

Then we'll cut the frame loose from the body in the only other point it is welded in, which is where the cross member hits the rockers. See area highlighted in red.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_0868a.jpg
I'll put plates on the ends of the frame crossmember and matching plates in the rockers and have it bolt in there.

Then we'll cut the fuel cell "cage" that was fabricated loose and move it forward a few inches in order to trim the rear frame rails to the proper length and move the cross rail back so it can sit behind the tail panel without interfering with the bumper mounts as it does now.
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_0881.jpghttp://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_0882.jpg

Once these are located properly, I'll put end plates in place with bolt holes that will allow the endplates, body and bumper supports to all be held together with the same 4 bolts on each side.

[Doug1]

After meeting with multiple local fabricators now a clearer plan is beginning to form. After so many people have advised, I am considering moving the engine forward closer to the stock position, but still have not decided on that. I want to go back and look over the data available before finalizing that decision. I'm not really worried about foot room as I have a Tilton floor mount 3 piece pedal setup going in that will leave more than enough room.

I'm definitely going to make the car a solid frame with a bolt on body. I'll contact Art Morrison Enterprises and see if they have any suggestions to do this a different way other than what I have planned. Currently we have 4 bolt on areas planned for each side and will build an structural cage welded to the inside of the body shell. Since there will be numerous places in the top from which the car could be lifted using the cage, I am going to look for some sort of inserts that can be popped out and then have eye hooks that screw into permanently welded in attachement points. Just need to figure out how to make that look good.

So the tenative date to start fabrication will be in February, if the fabricator finishes up his current work by then. We have a few other interesting things planned for the interior metal fabrication including a removable rear panel than will allow access to the 4 link area which will have a matching panel with a lexan insert to use for shows.

While I am waiting on the fabricator to get to the frame changes and interior sheetmetal, I will now go in search of a body guy capable of stretching the fenders to allow room for the big tires to sit more flush with the sides.

[Payton King]

Unless you remove the rear seat and change your seating position, by the photos, you will not have enough foot room. I would mock up a seat, headers and your pedals before committing to that engine placement.

Not saying that it cannot be done, but you will need to relocate your seat further back.

[OLDFLM]

Doug,

I keep thinking this over and have to agree with the others who have suggested moving the engine forward to the factory location.

AGR has a billet pump and box that's 12:1... you could sell the rack to recoup what the new firewall will cost.

http://www.agrperformance.com/Chevrolet-Car-AGR-Performance-MB-Motorsports.htm

You could always go with an aluminum Poncho block to save weight up front. That combined with a full CF front clip and AutoRad core support and radiator and you'd still be plenty light!

MityMounts may work too even for your big HP combo... their motor mounts interlock so they won't pull apart.

http://www.mitymounts.com/howtheywork.htm

HTH! Looking forward to project updates! :thumbsup:

V/R,
Ty

[Doug1]

Unless you remove the rear seat and change your seating position, by the photos, you will not have enough foot room. I would mock up a seat, headers and your pedals before committing to that engine placement.

Not saying that it cannot be done, but you will need to relocate your seat further back.


Your advice is right on the money. I haven't done a great job of stating the plan. To help clarify, it won't have a rear seat at all, but will have an access panel that opens up to allow access to the 4 link from the top. At shows, the panel will be replaced with another panel that has a clear lexan insert to allow viewing the suspension from up top. A Trans Am with an AME frame and a huge engine setback has already been done before so I'm not reinventing the wheel thank goodness. The peal setup is a Tilton floor mount 3 pedal setup. Here is a pic to a build that has already been completed with the engine set back 1/2" further than mine.

This first picture is of my current setup. Compare the position of othe factory break pedal to that of the factory break pedal in the Radical Rides build. You'll see they are pretty close. I may move the engine forward a bit depending on mockup. It's not going back anywhere close to the factory location though. I'm already in this far, so I just want to fix the problem areas and start fabricating the interior.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/IMG_0866.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/EXAMPLES%20for%20Triple%20Threat%20Build/IMG_2298.jpg

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/EXAMPLES%20for%20Triple%20Threat%20Build/ban5.jpg

[Doug1]

We will be replacing the subframe connectors with a setup similar to AME's maxG chassis. The area circled in blue to get a mental picture. I have been in contact AME to get the materials needed. They sell a similar center section in pieces that I think we will be able to use.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc231/dcamburn/1979%20Trans%20Am%20-%20Black/EXAMPLES%20for%20Triple%20Threat%20Build/DSC02187markedup.jpg