the "endless bummer"...

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

Moderator: Moderators

the "endless bummer"...

Postby thefatguy » Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:27 pm

theres some pics here -----http://s811.photobucket.com/albums/zz35/fatguyzinc/---- its a 1975 pontiac astre, we got it no motor or trans and we built a 327 and th350 and dropped it in over the christmas holiday weekend , total so far is -- car, $1500 with mounts,headers,etc..., paint $500.00, motor and trans $1800.00 in parts and machine work-we do all assembly here ourselves, you gotta love a girl who says forget the ring lets build me a hotrod ! various other things still need to be done-electric fans,mufflers and exhaust,etc... but i think we can pull it off running and driving for around $6000.00 total. and that motor is BUILT, dont let the "glowing cerise" a.k.a. bright vivid flippin a$$ pink paint color fool you ! it has 10.75 comp, geardriven 280/485/108 isky cam, 2.02 camelback heads, torker2 intake, roller top end,600 edelbrock carb, etc... i guess 360hp or so. and theres a 2500 converter and 3.73 posi rear,and the car scaled at 2533 with her and 3/4 tank gas in it . so look out 11's , here she comes ! ( if she can ever get it hooked up and keep it straight going ' w.f.o.' down the track. ) i will post more pics as we go along, wish us luck ! this is supposed to be her daily driver ( nudge nudge, wink wink..) when we are done. boy did i get lucky with this girl, shes the BOMB. and super beautifull to boot, to bad shes so camera shy. i might hafta sneak a few photos when shes not paying attention or something.
Last edited by thefatguy on Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:19 am, edited 2 times in total.
thefatguy
 
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:15 pm

1975 Pontiac Astre


Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby rocketride » Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:45 pm

He who dies with the most toys.......is still dead.
User avatar
rocketride
 
Posts: 1550
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:56 am
Location: Duncan, Oklahoma

1980 Oldsmobile Starfire SX

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby rocketride » Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:47 pm

It looks like it'll be a fun ride. :th:
Here's your link.

http://s811.photobucket.com/albums/zz35/fatguyzinc/

Jon
He who dies with the most toys.......is still dead.
User avatar
rocketride
 
Posts: 1550
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:56 am
Location: Duncan, Oklahoma

1980 Oldsmobile Starfire SX

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby meangreen73vega » Sun Jan 09, 2011 6:08 pm

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!! :th: :th: :th:
Drive, break, repair...repeat!

72 Vega, 350 ZZ4, patriot heads, air gap intake, 750 dbl pump...power glide...
meangreen73vega
 
Posts: 288
Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:15 pm
Location: New Westminster BC Canada

1973 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby thefatguy » Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:58 am

:bang: :cuss: :censored: :bang: :censored: :censored: :censored: so, we are in the process of trying to swap the 6.5 rear for the 7.5 from the cosworth vega we stripped for parts ( it was #0067...), since its stronger, has the 3 link / torque arm style suspension, AND has a 3:73 posi set...HOWEVER, the 6.5 has all new shoes/springs/hardware/parking brake cables/wheel cylinders/drums/etc... so my solution ( DOH ! of course it was wrong, says paz...) was to unbolt the backing plates and swap just the housing,thereby eliminating all the 'shuffling' of assorted brake stuff between the 2 axles. 3hours later, after 2 attempts to weld a bigger nut to the head of 1 of the backing plate retaining bolts ( completely stripped. how i have no idea. and the nuts were FROZEN beyond belief...) and just twisting it off both times, and twisting off the solid 3/8 steel bar cut into a 8 inch section, bent 90 degrees and welded on as well, ( hey- im 6 foot 2 and 300lbs, if i pull on something its GONNA come off--or break! ) we drilled all the way thru the bolt/nut assembly, then 'peeled' the head off with a cold chisel and a BFH...whew, thats 1 side...only 4 more bolts to go on the other side hah hah hah...hah ? :shock:
thefatguy
 
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:15 pm

1975 Pontiac Astre

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby thefatguy » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:44 am

:th: ok, the old "p.o.s." 6.5 incher is out ! holy macaroni that SUCKED, all 8 bolts that hold the backing plates on were FUBAR. i had to break 5 of em off, and drill / peel the other 3... FARK !!! so tomorrow im prepping the 7.5 cosworth 3:73 posi rear to go in-need to go pick up the axle seals and such, then cram that guy in there and tack the new upper mounts in ( while trying not to doink the pinion angle ) then pull it back out again to finish weld it...whee, this is fun. no, really....on the other hand, like most of you--i rather do it myself. ( plus, i cant afford to pay someone else even if i wanted too, hah hah...) oh well, back to the garage....wonder how long i can wrench on it before the cops show up ? ( apparently its not "normal" to be working on a car at 11pm...) :shock:
thefatguy
 
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:15 pm

1975 Pontiac Astre

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby HI WINDING MONZA » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:44 pm

Good work, I noticed that 500 Caddy motor in one of your pics..........................Whats that in?

Doug in Az 8)
My Old Monza now lives in Arizona with its newest owner.

The 90's just keep rollin' along........
1990 Chevrolet Silverado Regular Cab Long Bed 350 TBI V8 700R4 118K miles
1992 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe 2.0 OHC MPFI I4 TH125C 157k miles
User avatar
HI WINDING MONZA
 
Posts: 3196
Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:37 pm
Location: Salinas, Puerto Rico

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby thefatguy » Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:12 pm

the 500 cad was in the 53 pickup and running, but we sold it less motor and trans so now its just sitting on a stand--i tried selling it ( i got over $6800.00 in parts and machine work alone in it and went down to $2800.00 delivered anywhere on oahu--and no one bit...it was started and cam run in but never driven, just pulled back out. ) but in this economy good luck. anyone wanna trade ? i need some stuff like a bbc crossram, hah hah hah......or another 'normal' car for paz to drive while we finish the astre for her ( its taking longer and much more $$$ than she thought...yeah, i knew it would but did she believe me ? NO-O-O-O-O-OOO.....) :rolleyes: problem is since im in hawaii shipping will KILL yah... to send to oakland by boat ( taking 30-90 days , yikes ! ) they wanted $700.00 plus..... they really got us by the nards here, theres only 2 companies that ship in or out so whacha gonna do, you gotta pay what there asking. those ba$tardos......... :cry:
thefatguy
 
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:15 pm

1975 Pontiac Astre

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby thefatguy » Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:48 pm

ok, for the first time in 2 months the car is back on the ground, on all 4 tires ! wheee !!! ( we had to swap rear ends, finish weld in frame connectors, re-enforce rear control arms,modify trans crossmember,etc...) looks killer, cant wait to fire it up--we are supposed to tow it down for exhaust saturday ( i own and operate my own towtruck ), if all goes as planned we can fire it up sunday or monday and break in the cam ! ( yes i want to run in the cam with open headers...but just because you can, doesnt mean you should ! trying not to be a butthole towards my neighbors. im pretty sure the sound of a 10.75 to 1 compression, 327 with a isky 280/485/106 and gear drive thru open headers @ 2000rpm for 15 minutes isnt everyones idea of cool...unfortunately ! ) wish me luck guys, its been a long,hard,EXPENSIVE six month project ! ( you know how it goes--anytime you cram a V8 where it dont belong, you are going to run into a lot of little irritating problems that requires parts, more parts, and even MORE parts to overcome obstacles. i can make a lot of stuff, but some stuff you just gotta break down and buy. like, i need another shifter cause the 'Z-gate" is too long to fit, handle hits dash/rear hits e-brake handle....cr@p.... ) now if i can just find the time to switch gas tanks before saturday...( of course it leaks....) hopefully all goes well, but i aint counting on it ! :th: paz is so excited, hope i dont have to disappoint her...AGAIN.... oh well she should be used to that by now hah hah hah.....
thefatguy
 
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:15 pm

1975 Pontiac Astre

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby BadBowtie » Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:39 pm

Sounds like a project that everyone can relate too! You're a lot nicer to the neighbors than we are, but then again they are used to open header and race cars around our place (cops came by when my fathers Z28 backfired open header years ago, thought someone got shot!). :mrgreen: Hope everything else goes well!
James

1975 Vega GT sbc, Microsquirt w/Edelbrock MPFI, M21 4-speed and Ford 9"
User avatar
BadBowtie
 
Posts: 846
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:20 am

1975 Chevrolet Vega GT

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby speedphreake » Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:25 am

How close is the shifter to not fitting? Years ago I took the e-brake handle out, removed the button, shortened the handle and button rod and put it all back together. I think I took about an inch out of it and was still functional.
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 future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby thefatguy » Thu Jun 09, 2011 4:14 am

its hitting by about a foot, hah hah...its the b&M 'z-gate', its just way to long ( like my ding dong.... :shock: sorry, had to bust the rhyme there. ) it wont go past halfway between drive and neutral before the handle is into the dashboard. oh well, just gonna hafta get a shorter/ smaller shifter, like the prostick or pro ratchet or something similar. bummer, more $$$$$..........
thefatguy
 
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:15 pm

1975 Pontiac Astre

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby HotfootGT » Thu Jun 09, 2011 6:06 am

Looking Good
Image
Howdy from Hotlanta
73 Kammback "Little Buddy"
62 Skylark 215 CI Aluminum V8
71 Dodge D-100 Sweptline
User avatar
HotfootGT
 
Posts: 1146
Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:48 pm
Location: Hotlanta

1973 Chevrolet Vega Kammback

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby thefatguy » Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:13 am

well, you all know how this goes--"the best laid plans of mice and men"..... didnt get to take car down for exhaust, had the boys all weekend and was too busy running around doing the family thing. oh well, maybe next weekend. wait, my brother in law is flying in and i gotta run him and his son around...ok, maybe the weekend after that...i hope....please ?......( im doing the "oh god please" dance....) :hob:
thefatguy
 
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:15 pm

1975 Pontiac Astre

Re: my future wifes new ride--still under $4500.00 total !

Postby thefatguy » Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:43 pm

AAAAAAAAAAAARGH !!!! 3 weeks and i STILL havent gotten one dang thing done--life keeps getting in the way, im sure everyone here knows what i mean.... and im so freaking close ! i need to : install exhaust. install shifter. hook up transcooler. install newly shortened ( again...went from 6.5 to 7.5, after we shortened it once before....@#45!!!!!!!!!!!....) driveshaft. change leaky gas tank.wire the fans and 3 gauges, hook up a battery,drop oil and gas in it, and shes ready to rumble ! oh MAN i am flipping out, im so close...so close !!!!!!!!! if i could just find another 2 hours in the day for about a week...... :bang:
thefatguy
 
Posts: 121
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:15 pm

1975 Pontiac Astre

Next

Return to Project Journals

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests

cron