Need some direction from the Pro's
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 339
From:
RE: Need some direction from the Pro's
ORIGINAL: Stevetra
I know your statement was directed toward Soaring, but I do agree with you.
Street worthy yes, but not to todays standards, without saying.
I have a 15 and 17 year old, and all I hear is what color racing stripes they want me to put on it.
I want to make this car safer to drive.
My kids will end up driving this car one day, and I am not about to put them in something that isnt as safe as it can be.
For me this means disk brakes, new gas tank, sheet metal on the trunkside of the back seat, Monti carlo bar setup, colapsable steering column, and 3 point belts.
The steering column and belts have yet to be investigated.
I dont like the look of the belt hanging fron the roof, so I am thinking of a high back seat that will put the belt in the right location. there seems to be alot more meat in the floor of the car for mounting also.
I know your statement was directed toward Soaring, but I do agree with you.
Street worthy yes, but not to todays standards, without saying.
I have a 15 and 17 year old, and all I hear is what color racing stripes they want me to put on it.
I want to make this car safer to drive.
My kids will end up driving this car one day, and I am not about to put them in something that isnt as safe as it can be.
For me this means disk brakes, new gas tank, sheet metal on the trunkside of the back seat, Monti carlo bar setup, colapsable steering column, and 3 point belts.
The steering column and belts have yet to be investigated.
I dont like the look of the belt hanging fron the roof, so I am thinking of a high back seat that will put the belt in the right location. there seems to be alot more meat in the floor of the car for mounting also.
if you're really interested in safety then go ahead and swap out the seats and get something with a good head rests. It's amazing how many people get back/neck injuries (whiplash)from minor hits because they didn't have a good head rest. Another way to get a 3 point belt in it to put in a roll bar...but unlike the other things you mentioned, that is not an easy thing to switch back if you choose to go back to stock.
If you're worried about the fuel tank, look into bolting it in. I've heard that one of the problems with them exploding was that the little sheet metal screws that were used can be easily ripped out, which allows the tank to be crushed even more than it would have otherwise. I've heard that bolting the tank in can make a bigger difference than putting the sheet metal in behind the rear seat.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 490
From:
RE: Need some direction from the Pro's
As long as the "brakes are good and the tires are fair" (from a CW song). I would suggest that you drive the car for a good while and compile a wish list of what you want to do to the car. Fix little things as needed, e.g. the PS leak (have you seen http://www.stangerssite.com/). Your driving style and use of the car will tell you what is important to you (seat belts, betterbrakes, more power, airconditioning, snazzy paint.....) It appears you have good mechanical ability and a very reasonable bugdet to have a first class car over time.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,635
From: state of confusion
RE: Need some direction from the Pro's
Trying to guess a bit . . .
Mountain driving suggests better brakes and a mild suspension upgrade along road-racing lines as eventual mods. Maybe 225/xx-15 tires on 7" wheels.
Highway driving suggests an overdrive transmission of some sort, so you don't have to sacrifice peppy performance for relaxed cruising (or vice-versa, or have to settle for an axle ratio that's in between and not all that great at either). That also fits well with a mild to moderate engine build (just enough for some "sparkle"). A vacuum secondary carb'ed 302/5.0 set up for 2500 - 5500 rpm should be sufficient for most of the driving and be only slightly less reliable than an anvil. I'd give some thought toward a small hydraulic roller cam, given the weaker extreme pressure additive packages in most of the commonly available automotive motor oils these days and the somewhat greater amount of lift you can get with any given duration vs a flat tappet cam.
Norm
Mountain driving suggests better brakes and a mild suspension upgrade along road-racing lines as eventual mods. Maybe 225/xx-15 tires on 7" wheels.
Highway driving suggests an overdrive transmission of some sort, so you don't have to sacrifice peppy performance for relaxed cruising (or vice-versa, or have to settle for an axle ratio that's in between and not all that great at either). That also fits well with a mild to moderate engine build (just enough for some "sparkle"). A vacuum secondary carb'ed 302/5.0 set up for 2500 - 5500 rpm should be sufficient for most of the driving and be only slightly less reliable than an anvil. I'd give some thought toward a small hydraulic roller cam, given the weaker extreme pressure additive packages in most of the commonly available automotive motor oils these days and the somewhat greater amount of lift you can get with any given duration vs a flat tappet cam.
Norm
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jwog666
Pipes, Boost & Juice
11
Dec 27, 2021 08:09 PM