[Matty B]

hey guys, well the time is coming close for me to do probably the most invasive part of my build and Im a bit nervous. Due to a few things including wide rims, wanting a 3-link rear suspension and the biggest problem; the previous owner actually cut off the stock trailing arm brackets from the frame and rear end and turn a very straight SS into a leaf spring car!! I chose the first two things after determining that finding a frame and swapping it into the car would be only slightly less expensive or time consuming I decided I want to back half the car and tub it. This is a pro touring project not a pro street but Im assuming they share quite a bit of similarities in construction. I have a pretty good handle on putting the rear clip in even though Ive never done one before but I am more than nervous bout how I should go about doing the sheet metal back there. First thing is the wheel well lips were cut out leaving a gap between the outer wheel house and the quarter panel that was patched in with strips of aluminum, rivets and silicone. So more or less the wheel house as of now are not connected to the body at all other than on the floors. I plan on cutting them out completely due to this but heres where I am shaky. There are multiple places that the wheel wells are attatched to other body sections that Im not quite sure how to modify. These are the trunk lid brackets, the seat back bracing, bracing on the back of the wheel tub that attatches to the quarter panel near the back of the car and the tubs are welded to the rear quarter window panels. I want to retain use of my back glass and I dont want a flimsy car. So Im wondering if anyone can give me any advise on what to do about the bracing and most imprtantly the trunk lid brackets. I dont know if it really matters if I cut the bracing off and not reattatch it. I do think the trunk lid bracing will have to be modified but I dunno how to do this considering the wheel wells are gonna be quite a bit wider than they are now and the brackets that normally attach to the tubs will nit even have a chance of mounting to a set of chassisworks steel wheel tubs. So more or less, Im hoping someone has done anything like this and could give me a helping hand so I dont F_ _ K up my car. If you can help please chime in. Thanks

 

[warped]

Are you doing full tubs,mini tub or what?the last thing you should worry about are the trunk hinges.You will prolly lose the torsion bars to get the new tub up deep inside as close to the package tray as you can,this way no matter what size tire you ever want to run the car wont have clearance issues,Start with the ride height wheel tire mockup,it will save much aggravation in the end and also alot of over cutting that happens way to often.
Cut the trunk hinge loose from the stock tub,And just leave it till you start fitting the new one then trim as needed to get a nice flush weld to the top of the new steel tub.
Depending on size of tub the rear seat,quarter glass channels etc may take some thought on which way you want to go.Tub placement and tire size is what determines alot.

 

[Matty B]

Im planning on a full tub due to the sad fact that the old owner cut the lips of the wheel arches which in turn left a big long slot where the wheel tub and the quarter panel used to be welded together. Im gonna be running a 27" tall tire so Im looking to keep these tubs on the smaller side of things. What I am not planning on is running 31" tall slicks with a 3" ride height like a drag car. I do plan to run the car low at ~5.5" ground clearance. I dont think Ill be able to run a back seat but I do wanna retain the windows function (Id hate to lose my abilty to cruise without a b pillar and the windows all down). Im just making sure that I dont get into the middle of this and stand back and go, oh sh it, I dont know how to makes this work anymore. I want to keep as much of the chevelle there do to labor time more than anything else. I think Im following you with how to reattach the trunk brackets though, if Im following you correctly I just trim them up higher and weld the to the top of the tub as opposed to the side like they are stock. So now that is figured out I gotta figure out the best way to fit the tubs back up against the quarter window panel without interfereing with the glass. Thanks for the input, it put a few questions to rest. Im thinking that more or less doing the tin work is alot of trim a little, check the fit, trim a little more... until it fits perfect,. Suppose its just like anything else. BTW Im gonna try to retain the tension rods so I wont be tubbing it that high but I will tub it as high as I can without getting into it. like I said thanks for the advice

 

[zachery calligan]

I would use steel tubs for one but I think in your case I would just mini tub it.I talked to S+W and there ladder bar set up you retain all the floor it costs around $1600.I retained the hinges in my 69 Camaro and it has 31" tall tires on it.I'm posting in my sons name he is 14 and we just got him a 70 Chevelle that we may mini tub and Z notch the frame.Heres my 69 that I put a 4 link in.

 

[rb69]

these guys make deep wheel tubs, but not for the chevelle-yet http://detroitspeed.com/productpages/body.htm

 

[daveseitz]

Check out Mali2ude in the protour section, he has done some nice work on his ride.