1981 Camaro - C-Prepared Build

A teaser update before a big one, hopefully happening this Friday.

Made another trip up to Larry's shop. Since we last mounted the seat, I ordered a better sized one. While I was working up the seat mounts for that, Larry kept welding on the chassis.

He made this really nice gusset for the lower control arm mounts.

And added this bit to add some strength to where the third link mounts (and Larry provided his commentary).

After that works was done, we worked on mounting up the seat. When I first sat in it with the new 17", we tweaked the angle and suddenly I felt like I was sitting too high. A few cuts and welds later, and Larry lowered the Corbeau bracket.

That put the seat in a much better spot.

And, of course, I had to see how I fit.

I'm quite happy with it, and Kate was there too and was able to find a good seating position.

So one more thing I've been messing with, and could use a hand with if anyone out there knows about them: tire bleeders.

The wheels I have now have tire bleeders installed, but the problem is they are incomplete and leak. Here is a picture of the bleeder up close. Can anyone identify the brand, or at least which parts I'm missing? I need to order a new set of rear wheels, but I'd like to keep this set for rains, but they obviously are no good if they don't hold air.

Anyone know about these suckers?

Dont know any more than you, but this might be what you are looking for http://www.longacreracing.com/technical-articles.aspx?item=8174

http://www.longacreracing.com/products.aspx?itemid=0&prodid=7366&pagetitle=Pro+TIRELIEF%E2%84%A2+Kit+with+Setting+Tool

So the rub is I think I have half a bleeder in there. I can push on the center of it with a pick and it will let air out. I don't know what make/model it is, and I can't seem to find just the "other half" sold separately.

Honestly, I'd love to just get rid of these all together, but I don't know how.

In reply to Gimp:

(Honestly just messing with Gimpy, if someone knows something, please speak up)

I think these might work, but I'm just not sure.

http://www.longacreracing.com/products.aspx?itemid=0&prodid=7369&pagetitle=TIRELIEF™+Quick+change+adapter+(set+of+4)

We used them on a Sprint car years ago. "I hope they have improved!"

They sell blanks or plugs to use when you don't want a bleeder.

bentwrench wrote: We used them on a Sprint car years ago. "I hope they have improved!" They sell blanks or plugs to use when you don't want a bleeder.

I found "car wash plugs"

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TQ2VPE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I ordered those, but they don't fit inside. They hit that center valve part.

Could you screw in a second set of valve stems or is the hole too big?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cll-l2900/overview/

Wall-e wrote: Could you screw in a second set of valve stems or is the hole too big? https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cll-l2900/overview/

You're a genius. I mean that totally honestly. I was too focused on the problem and never stepped back to see a broader solution. Thank you!

Wall-e wrote: Could you screw in a second set of valve stems or is the hole too big? https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cll-l2900/overview/

that's exactly where i was going to go with this. good call.

I left a perfectly good header at Larry's place, and then he posts this to Facebook last night.

In reply to Gimp:

That's what I keep telling my wife.

Gimp wrote: I left a perfectly good header at Larry's place, and then he posts this to Facebook last night.

So Larry has been busting his ass and wrapped up the mods to the passenger side header.

I wish we had taken a before to show how much lower the passenger side header hung, but they are both dead even with each other now. Technically, they still are the lowest part on the car, but only by a fraction of an inch. Larry did an amazing job.

Looking awesome!

Is the low point right up by the wheels or is it much further back? I would say its worth some effort (floorpan massage/etc) to not reduce the ride height any more than absolutely needed near the center of the car so that getting it on a trailer can be a little less headachy.

Build a sandcastle on Larry's Cobra yet?

Apexcarver wrote: Looking awesome! Is the low point right up by the wheels or is it much further back? I would say its worth some effort (floorpan massage/etc) to not reduce the ride height any more than absolutely needed near the center of the car so that getting it on a trailer can be a little less headachy. Build a sandcastle on Larry's Cobra yet?

The lowest point is where the headers come together into the collector, which is near the wheels (but still behind them).

The floor will be relieved for clearance on the rest of the exhaust, which will all be above the frame.

Looking good. My car rubbed near the end of the subframe, right about where the transmission crossmember is, when loading it into the trailer.

You should be okay with your exhaust. Of course you could try oval exhaust pipes for a bit more room if needed. Unfortunately they cost a bit more than round ones. Probably better to just clearance the floor.

Now if there was something we could legally do for CP about the center crossmember under the engine, its the lowest point on the entire car.

81cpcamaro wrote: Looking good. My car rubbed near the end of the subframe, right about where the transmission crossmember is, when loading it into the trailer. You should be okay with your exhaust. Of course you could try oval exhaust pipes for a bit more room if needed. Unfortunately they cost a bit more than round ones. Probably better to just clearance the floor. Now if there was something we could legally do for CP about the center crossmember under the engine, its the lowest point on the entire car.

I am looking into the oval pipes, at least to get past the trans crossmember.

As far as the center crossmember, is it legal if a bunch of it just grinds off from rubbing on the ground?

Probably, but watch out for high spots on course, could do some serious damage coming to an abrupt stop or smashing off it.

In reply to 81cpcamaro:

At least it would make some cool sparks first.

We used to weld a few sacrificial bits where our stock cars bottomed out to keep from wearing through the frame rails.

So I've had a few big updates lately, but this might be the biggest one.

That isn't my friend's shop in Western, MD. That isn't my buddy's garage in PA. That isn't Larry's house.

That's mine.

This is my third home, but first garage. The Camaro should move in next week.

We closed Friday, and to start getting things ready I recoated the floor over the weekend. It had an older epoxy floor. I rented a sander and roughed things up, and then I power washed the floor. When I started power washing, major sections of the old coating came up. It took almost the entire day just to get all the loose paint up and out of there. Then I did the acid etch, let things dry, and put down a fresh coat of Rust-Oleum garage epoxy. I kept the chips out of it so I can see when I drop things.

I need to run some more power outlets and get a compressor wired in (and work on the actual house attached to the garage), but I'm unbelievably excited.

Your own garage, so awesome!

Noice!!!

Excellent!!!! When's the house warming party?

81cpcamaro wrote: Excellent!!!! When's the house warming party?

As soon as the "painting and moving E36 M3 in" party is over.