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Project: Almost There... 66.

8K views 43 replies 14 participants last post by  Dan65ss 
#1 ·
Well. The time has come to put together a build thread. After many years of gathering info from others, hopefully I can return the favor. I've owned my 66 since 1995, and over the years have built the car up with "pro-touring" being the goal well before "pro-touring" existed. Back in those days I pulled parts from junk yards to do B body spindles swaps, big Caprice brakes swaps, 1 1/4 F body sway bars, and anything else that looked like a good idea. I've no doubt spent way more time building the car than actually driving it over the last 19 years, but I hope to change that next year as I near the completion of yet another round of modifications including a LS swap, new wheels, trans, gauges, and some suspension tweaks.

All builds threads are helpful, but I'd like to give a special thanks to Andrew B, Tom F, and Aaron O. Their cars and how they use their cars are an inspiration. These guys are hard to keep up with!

Anyway. Here are some pictures of the car over the years with a brief description of what the car was running at the time.


This is how it looked in 95. 283, powerglide, 10 bolt. Basically stock.


Now sporting IROC wheels and maybe some small suspension mods like Eibach springs, Global west UCA, B spindle.


About 2001. New paint to go back to original Aztec Bronze (it's close, but not quite factory). Also went to a 454/turbo 350 combo at this time.


About 2009. Rushforth 18" and 20" wheels. Z06 brakes from KORE3, Sparco seats, AFX spindles and SPC control arms.



2014. Forgeline 18's, 275 Rivals all around. DSE coilovers in the front and rear now. LS and 4L80 are installed and in the process of tuning. It's full on winter here now, so my testing may have to wait until March now. If we do get some dry roads before then, I hope to get some shakedown runs in before spring.

That's about it for now. I will document the LS swap in my next post with a parts list and my opinions on all of that! Any questions please ask. That's what it's all about.

Tyler
 
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#35 ·
Looking good Tyler.

I received my rear coil over set up and started moch up. I really wasn't happy with the top bar that was in the kit I got, so I ordered the ABC performance bar like your running. I also got their boxing plates for the rear frame rails.

My body is at the body shop so I can't double check clearance. Do you think you could give me measurements from the body mounts the the bar and how far it sits above the frame rail? I have some measurements from the factory shock tower but it would be nice to have something to compare it to.

Thanks for any help you can give.
Troy
 
#36 ·
Hey Troy,

Sure I can do that. I'm out of town until Tuesday. Can have a look then. Which body mounts are you looking for? I'm guessing the ones on top of the arch just above the ABC dimple die gusset.
 
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#38 ·
Yes the body mounts that are left after cutting the spring perch's out. Center of the hole to center line of cross bar.

My ABC cross bar is scheduled for delivery Tuesday, so no problems. I'm leaving for Hot August Nights on Thursday.

Thanks for your help.
 
#39 ·
Thanks! Mostly excited to drive it with the T56, as it's never had a standard before. I've driven it with the LS, and good suspension, so not expecting much difference there.
 
#43 ·
With the engine placed where it is, the 4L80 I had before, and a stock trans tunnel, I couldn't achieve the desired driveline angles. Andrewb70 has written a lot about this subject over the years. He used this driveshaft to solve vibration issues with his GTO around about 2012. It has worked well. I sent it back to the Driveshaft Shop last year to be resized for the new transmission.

The tires are currently 275 square. That's the old setup. Eventually I'll send the wheels to Forgeline to be resized, but I'm not sure when I'll do that. Leaning toward getting the car running and driving again and save that part for end. Leaning toward 315 square, but the allure of the 335 rear is hard to resist after all the work to make the space.
 
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