1972 Vega Pro Touring Project

[megavega]

yes, 2ft is more then enuff. Mine are only 9.75" long to the face of the dropped crossmember. Where you place your slot will determine your exact length.

[72vega5.3]

Thank you.
I figured you were busy, so I ended up getting 3ft to be safe.

[Brightstar]

Megavega, I have a car with factory air that I would like to keep too. I found a v8 monza car for a donor, but was wondering if you worked the A/C project on your car yet. Where you going with Hotrod Air? If so, which kit? Thanks

[megavega]

I have not yet got to that part, but yes, likely hotrod air system. I kinda have to wait till I get the headers and plumbing all in the front to see if its possible to get a compressor on the engine, not gonna be alot of room with twin t4 turbos and a rat up front.

Look for an updated journal very soon with plenty of pics!

[72vega5.3]

Look for an updated journal very soon with plenty of pics!

If at all possible, We really need to see this car get done before the Jegs car And a full feature in a magazine

[waybad]

Look for an updated journal very soon with plenty of pics! [/quote]


can't wait

[1100kaw]

Megavega
What happened to this project? Absolutely awsome work. I am steeling some ideas fur sure. ( thats flattery) anyway. Hope all is good. shoot us some info eh.
Darrell

[blackbear10]

Great work Don! Any updates?

[megavega]

Hi Guys, Still picking at it in my spare time. I have gotten into a few things with it lately, first off ....I couldnt get the car where I wanted with the ride heigth so I purchased a set of s10 2 inch drop spindles for the front. I was looking for a 1 inch differance between the front and rear of the car so its just slightly raked front to back. Kept the stock uncut 4 cyl with a/c front springs.
As usual, that raised another problem, it then needed more clearance at the front of the fender to tire when turning the wheels. I could have not had too much problem if I would have used a skinny low profile tire in the front, but it just doesnt fit this cars look car in my opinion. I am back to a 235/45/17 in the front on a 17x7 rim with 4 inch backspace. In my opinion, you need 4.5 backspace on a 7 inch rim in the front on a vega, dont make the same mistake I have! Its way more expensive to make the wrong offset/backspace rims work then it is to buy the right one..lol . In my case though, the rims are not available with more then 4 inch backspace unless custom ordered, which was way,way more expensive.
So...I accomplished solving this snag by narrowing the front track width by 1 inch on each side. I was able to easily fab this up on the lower control arms with much the same procedure some have done here already,using a balljoint sleeve and welding it into the lower control arm. Then installed s10 balljoints instead of using the taper adaptors on the vega/monza balljoints. The uppers can also be done by sectioning the control arm and then rewelding it back together... But.... I then saw Justin from Overkill cars was making the new econo style tubular control arms, so I had him make me a set of them 1" narrower then stock but with 2.5 degrees of caster built in.( You did a nice job on them Justin!) Seeing how you can see my upper control arms because I removed the front inner fenders, this was a good choice, they look really clean on the car.

Lastly, I have also gotten the placement of the twin t4 turbos set up, there was alot to consider all the tubing needed to run twins and get it all in a vega engine bay with a big block hogging up the space. Alot of time sitting on a stool and moving them around,mocking them up and seeing if you can fit all the inlet 3" diameter pipe around and still have a hood on the car when done. I am confident I will be able to run 3.5" outlet pipes and run them back and under the car for the exhaust. They will exit down near where the don hardy header tubes go down thru the floor brace to front frame section. I am sure I will need to notch that brace and gusset it up to clear the 3.5 exh. pipes. Where they will exit under the car remains undecided yet. I may use oval tubing to get some kind of ground clearance becasue of how low the car is. Ants may need to duck on the road....LOL!!

I need to get some pics uploaded, sorry I know I have been slacking on that.

[spencerforhire]

I applaud your decision to narrow the track width instead of making compromises with tire size or ride height. Way too many Vegas out there running around the street with skinny front tires or a big fender gap.

[1100kaw]

mega
Thanks for the update. was afraid it got abandoned. Mines going super slow too. No $$$$$. I'm just doing labor stuff thats free, hoping to score a part here or there. I just noticed your in Ohio. Where abouts? I'm in Cincy.
Your car is heading the right direction in my opinion. A lot to stuff in a small package fur sure.
Darrell

[megavega]

Hi Darrell, not so much not any $$ in my case, but more just "my time" to get to work on my own stuff instead of everyone elses. You ended up with little evel right? I bought some fenders from yenkoboy, nice guy. I live up north of youngstown area, right by hubbard. I will keep at this car, its certainly not the pace I would like to finish it off in, drags me down to see everyone else gettin so much more done, I keep sayin, someday......someday......

[HAULIN' IT]

I live up north of youngstown area, right by hubbard.

I didn't realize you were that close to me...I'm just a few miles on the PA side of the line. The guy that does my glass work lives in Hubbard. We'll have to hook up some day. Lorne

[1100kaw]

Yep. Little Evil. thats me. I almost hate to paint it...NOT. And yes. Mark is a super nice guy. just met him on this deal. we have a few comon freinds, just never met til now. Keep pluggin man.
I'll be watch n
Darrell

[megavega]

Here is a couple pics for those who asked me for them, I just did the same thing others have with the balljoint sleeves which I made on a lathe and then just moved the location in 1.200" from stock. You can see the before and after. I just moved it in and then cut a little "V" on each side of the end of the control arm bent in the ends and welded it up. Looks like the stock control arm if you didnt know better, and its now 1 inch narrower so I can run FAT tires in the front and have the car low and over the tire sidewalls with the fender lip.

I will get some pics of the shock towers, I did some minor mods there also. I will also get it back on the ground so I can take some side view shots of the car, it looks BAD to the bone, its raked and low.