My Vega project

Tell everyone about the progress of your project! Please respect people's threads.

Moderator: Moderators

My Vega project

Postby speedphreake » Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:06 pm

I'm slowly making some progress on my 71 Vega. I bought it in may 07. I've got the motor where I want it now and am working on a tubular K member and radiator support for a 26x19 aluminum radiator.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega


Postby speedphreake » Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:49 pm

I've started on the tubular K member but only have it tacked together for now. Waiting for my new welder to come in so I can weld it right. Its made of 2x3 rectangal tubing for the cross member and 1" square for the 2 front supports. Lots of room for steering clearence now. May put a rack in it some day. Also gives my a nice strong place to jack the car up in the middle.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

Postby spyder_xlch » Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:30 pm

I like pics like those. Gives me ideas. Maybe that's not a good thing. :lol: I like what you are doing though.
User avatar
spyder_xlch
 
Posts: 4693
Joined: Sat Apr 14, 2007 4:14 pm
Location: Northeast PA

1979 Chevrolet Monza 2+2

Postby speedphreake » Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:57 pm

I know. I got the radiator chopping idea from Josh(v8astre). I've got alot more ideas I've seen on here I will be using. Next big one is frame connectors like peterpan did.
Last edited by speedphreake on Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

Postby grumpy d-bone » Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:46 pm

great looking project man... looking forward to pinks in s/a :D
grumpy d-bone
 
Posts: 154
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:19 pm

Postby grumpy d-bone » Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:56 am

jeff ill be getting rid of my original seats ft buckets and rear folder you need them?
where did you get the radiator?
grumpy d-bone
 
Posts: 154
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:19 pm

Postby speedphreake » Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:22 pm

I might be able to use them. Can you bring them with you to the track? The radiator I got off ebay, its a 26x19 double pass. Both inlet and outlet are on the passenger side. I may have a custom Ron Davis made to use AN fittings.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

Postby grumpy d-bone » Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:10 pm

jeff i can bring the rear folder seat ill need the buckets for alittle while longer then we can meet at the races again and ill bring them to you
grumpy d-bone
 
Posts: 154
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:19 pm

Postby speedphreake » Sat Feb 09, 2008 6:10 pm

Cool, I'm in no rush. I don't see the car being ready for seats any time soon.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

Re: My Vega project

Postby speedphreake » Sun Jun 01, 2008 7:39 pm

Finally getting some progress made and have a few updated pics. I've spent the last 2 weeks scraping and cleaning the inside and outside of the floor pans. Inside the previous owner spayed about 3 gallons worth of undercoating, some places as thick as 3/4" thick.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

Re: My Vega project

Postby speedphreake » Sun Jun 01, 2008 7:46 pm

I also added Megavega's rear crossmember and lower control arm reinforcement ideas. I used 1 1/2" X 2" rectangle tubing for the lower control arm mount. This will allow me to mini tub the car down the road fairly easily almost a full 2". I also completely welded the upper mounts and boxed the inside for more strength. By boxing the inside, there was no access to the nut for the control arm bolt. That was easily fixed by drilling through the sheet metal and having an access hole behind the back seat.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

Re: My Vega project

Postby speedphreake » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:41 pm

A few more updates. I go tthe frame connectors done. 1 3/4" round tube run frome the new rear crossmember all teh way up to the front inner fenders. They are welded all the way done the rocker panels on the outside, inside they are welded to teh floors and frame braces, pretty much any where they touched. There was nothing to weld too under the seats, so I took a .090 steel plate and welded it from the seat support to the frame connector.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

Re: My Vega project

Postby speedphreake » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:46 pm

Next up was the transmission tunnel and firewall. I bought a sheetmetal brake from Summit Racing for $50 and used 20 gauge sheetmetal. I have lots of room for the th-400 with a JW Ultrabell and SFI trans shield.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

Re: My Vega project

Postby speedphreake » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:58 pm

I bought an S&W rollcage kit next. I had the custom bend the rear bars to clear the back seat area. It follows the roof line pretty well and all but dissapears when looking at the side of the car. The rear seat clears and still has plenty of room to fold down. The windshield bars don't fit as well as I hoped. I ran them through the dash to hide them as much as I could and keep the dash bar behind the dash. The dash pad will need to be trimmed to fit. I have an old cracked pad I used for mock up the fit pretty good. I think it will look really good when its finished. The front bars tie the front frame to the cage. They are also welded to the a-arm towers.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

Re: My Vega project

Postby speedphreake » Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:03 pm

I've starting working on a new design for my tubular front crossmember. I have a lot more clearence for the oil pan and steering. I mocked it up with a stock oil pan and had plenty of room all around it. No need for the special V8 H-body oil pans, although I already have 2 moroso pans. This will give me more options for my race motor to run a better pan setup. The pics were taken with the steering in the same position so you can see there is lots of room.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
71 Vega hb
11 2500HD duramax
User avatar
speedphreake
 
Posts: 634
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:12 pm
Location: Cape Cod, MA

1971 Chevrolet Vega

Next

Return to Project Journals

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests

cron