Winter has not officially started but thanks to the guys at Tangerine Racing Products we’ve already got a great start on our winter project list.
The car is going to be much stronger, safer and competitive than it was… we’ll need to make sure our skills behind the wheel stay as sharp as the car.
Here is what we’ve done so far and why… you can check out some pictures of the progress HERE:
The entire cage has been removed. Our main purpose for doing this was to accommodate a second seat for both Autocross instruction and track use. Upon further investigation, the 1978 cage was in need of significant improvements. One, there was no front hoop and the ties to the front end were not placed correctly. Two, the tubing used was large diameter water pipe that weighed a ton. The entire new cage will weigh less than the old main hoop. Three, the underside of every joint was not welded 100% and many had .25″ to .5″ gaps between the bars.
The new cage will maintain the low front hoop retaining the open windshield look. All the chassis connection points will be done to maintain adherence to Vintage Racing regulations while meeting SCCA/PCA as well. We’ll be much safer in the new cage that’s for sure.
The rear suspension was extremely stiff, we though the trailing arm bushings were the culprit. It turns out the pivot shafts were seized to the bushing causing the entire shaft to rotate with the bushing and trailing arm… not good. We now have Tangerine Racing solid trailing arm brackets eliminating flex and improving toe adjustment along with their solid pivot shafts and Delrin bushings. It should be a marked improvement in handling. We’ll have to put the front A-Arms on the list to check.
All the holes in the floor pans from years of installing pieces and moving seats, etc… have been filled and it looks great. The longs had some holes that were not visible until the old cage was removed, those have all been fixed. The Hell Hole, the firewall and the rest of the longs look great no additional work there needed.
The list continues…
Conversion to 5 Lug
New brakes lines
New main fuel line
Finish interior (paint, seat and harness installation, rework dash configuration, etc..)
Replace A-Arm bushings
Turbo tie-rods
Front sway bar
Etc….
Stay Tuned!!