ft tube chassis for a 72 vega gt?

[grumpy d-bone]

ok guys needing advice here, the previous owner cut out the ft 1/2 of the inner fender wells of my car and made a square tubing frame for radiator mount ect, fenders fit like new, is this safe? or do i need a tube ft chassis?

[spyder_xlch]

How about some pics?

[grumpy d-bone]

soon as it warns up alittle darn cold ft blew in last night ill get some posted

[res0o7eb]

This is interesting - a 1/2 front tube 'chassis'. I would like to see pictures, too.

If the section cut out is forward of the A-Arm mounting, then you might be OK.

A solution that others have suggested is to add a bent tube from the top of the forward section of the frame rail near the radiator mounts to firewall just inside of the fender and right below the cowl.

I am wondering if this could be a viable solution for all of my Vegas with rotten frame rails near the battery tray area.

[goquick]

Here is how mine is set up

[NixVegaGT]

Wow the engine placement is fantastic. Geez. Where do you sit? Is that a Pontiac? Cool.

[goquick]

Yes, that is a Pontiac. That was some Series II Wenzler heads used in the mock up for he Pontiac. After owning this car for 7 years, I have to move up chassis cert. wise. I love this Vega and how it runs, very easy driving too. I am hoping to not have to sell it to get the 6.0 cert. chasis car I am looking at. Might even look at putting lights in it and make it a drag radial car, but it works near perfect, it's hard to change it! Currently, I have the 408 Pontiac I built for the enginemasters contest in it, but the next engine for it if I can work it out to keep it is a 301T block based 383 with CV-1 heads, hyd roller cam, and a custom efi'ed intake unlike anything you've ever seen. It too is a pump gas combo. Hope to make 600 hp with it.

[TopNX75]

The entire inner fenderwells were removed from my vega, with exception to the upper c/arm mounts. These mounts and a small section above them were welded directly to the roll bar tubing. I have not seen or experienced any trouble with this arrangement, and I hate to say but she has come down hard a few times... see below for picture of upper arm mounts.

Hope this info helps,

Sean

[res0o7eb]

Yes, that is a Pontiac ... but the next engine for it if I can work it out to keep it is a 301T block based 383 with CV-1 heads, hyd roller cam, and a custom efi'ed intake unlike anything you've ever seen. It too is a pump gas combo. Hope to make 600 hp with it.

Wow. Sounds like you are making a REAL lightweight, short deck, Pontiac V-8 that is just a specification FANTASY on the Pontiac V-8 H-Body thread. http://forums.h-body.org/viewtopic.php?t=195
I did not know that you were using a 301 block.

[goquick]

The 301 turbo block (all 1981 are the same as the turbo blocks, so always check date code) has stronger mainwebs. A 77-mid 80 block that is standard production isn't strong enough.

[NixVegaGT]

Good to know. Tom and I have been back and forth on this idea for a while now. (Peep his thread). Did you use it for the weight savings or the lower deckheight for the applicaiton?

Do you know what the weight difference is on the Turbo vs. regular 301 block?

That's a nice looking solution, Sean. Holy access to the suspension components! It also looks like you welded in a recess for the dist on the firewall? Luckily I don't have this issue with the Buick. I am planning on moving the engine back a couple inches for better weight dist.

[goquick]

I used the turbo block for it's thicker main webbing. The idea was to use a short deck and see how it would be hp and tq wise when it was done.