64 Skylark......."ALPHA LARK"

Discussion in 'Members Rides' started by Steve Reynolds, Oct 22, 2017.

  1. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    I've had a little time to work on the car, but it's all been little stuff that seems to take for ever and not much to look at. I did get the headers all welded up with the exception of the collectors. Those I'll double check on final mock up before welding them tight …… to assure correct positioning and under body clearance. All of the oil and fuel lines are finished as well as the stainless steel coolant lines.
    I did finally pull everything apart and removed the mock up engine, etc. I'll finish welding everything in the engine compartment area and assemble everything for one final mockup before paint. I have high hopes that the Tomahawk will be ready come spring and I can start the final install come summer. Little by little...…………
    Also another picture of the 9" rear end...…….. I like the way it looks!! LOL
     

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  2. offbrand Racing

    offbrand Racing Platinum Level Contributor

    Wow Steve....those headers look sweet! Nice work.
     
    GranSportSedan likes this.
  3. Nice work Steve, very neat project.
     
  4. blacksleeper

    blacksleeper Well-Known Member

    Steve, in the middle of the mini tub of the sedan I’ve decided to call Special “ED”. Originally I was going to re use the coil springs in the rear. But after tearing the rearend out and building the 9 inch. I’ve decided to go coil overs. So now I have no previous measurements for ride height, compression, or extension. What coil overs did you use? Do you have a part number or measurements?
    Thanks
    Mike
     
  5. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    Mike, I'll need to take a look back at the order to get the part numbers. I know they're QA1 double adjustable. I made my own cross bar and mounts for the uppers as well as the lower mounts. The purchased conversion kits would not work with the double bead lock wheels, as they use the factory shock mount locations on the axle.
    I'll look for the number when I have a chance and let you know. I like the "Special ED" name.... I always name my projects, but few of the names stick to the point that I have them anywhere on the car, but I may make a "small" exception with this one.
    Steve
     
  6. B-rock

    B-rock Well-Known Member

    I like those headers a LOT more then my TA stage 2 headers I just purchased.
     
  7. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    though to compare a set of custom fabricated headers quality look and fit to a set designed as mass produced. Steve's work a beyond crazy in quality and beauty.

    I wish I could do half the work some of the ppl here can do
     
    Max Damage and dan zepnick like this.
  8. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    Thanks everyone! None of this happens overnight. Lot's of practice and a LOT of mistakes along the way....that's for sure. I guess the important thing is that you learn from the mistakes and not make the same ones time and time again.
     
    Max Damage likes this.
  9. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    Mike,
    I ordered the QA1 #DD703 Shocks and the #14HT150 Springs. I'm not certain that this size shock will work with the factory mounts and conversion kit. These were ordered to fit my application which included me fabbing up everything from scratch. You may want to look into the GM A-Body kit which would be more of a bolt in. If not for the double beadlocks and clearance issues, I would have gone that direction.
     
  10. blacksleeper

    blacksleeper Well-Known Member

    I actually am making a cross member and mounts for it rather than stock location mounting. CRoss member would be welded to the frame just below the factory mounting area. I guess I was hoping that yours would be real similar in the length I would need
     
  11. Philip66

    Philip66 Well-Known Member

    Steve if you can remove any sexual connotation to this...I really like your rear!
    I could just stare at it!! LOL ;)

    Awesome work!! I've been anxiously waiting for your updates!

    I'm too lazy to go back and re-read the entire build thread, do you mind saying what compression you're at? Just curious with that belt-fed goodness....

    Philip T.
     
  12. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    Haha....... I know you mean the rear in Alpha Lark! Lol
    I believe we decided on somewhere in the high 9's. I was originally shooting for 9.5:1, but it may be a bit higher. I only plan on 10 lbs max of boost. I may need to run some race gas along with premium, but I have a gas station in my neighborhood that has race gas from the pump, so I'm ok with that and a 24 gallon tank.
     
  13. Philip66

    Philip66 Well-Known Member

    Steve are you planning on running any type of water injection to control detonation or is that not really necessary at only 10 lbs. of boost? I guess running around town under low boost and with race gas it would be fine?
     
  14. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    Time will tell...….. I'll need to get it running and do a little testing in increments. I'll add whatever is needed to make it right. At some point I think it would be fun to switch over to EFI, but one step at a time..……… I need to get it running first! LOL
     
  15. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    Well.....… 3rd time install of the engine/drivetrain "mock up" showed some catastrophic "errors" that needed correcting.
    When I built the headers I had the starter in place on the block and a "shell" BOP TH400 trans installed. Well, it all fit alright, but turns out it was impossible get the starter or trans in or out with the headers in the way. I ended up converting the headers to the way I built them on my GSX with 4 individual tubes and flanges,
    (#1, #7, #2 & #8) and each of the 2 center cylinders on one flange, (#3/5 & #4/#6) along with slip on collectors. This way I can install the headers after the engine and trans are in, although it's like a puzzle and without the "instructions" it would be a bear to solve!! LOL​
    I also had to make a new ATI balancer hub, because after making it shorter and turning it to clear the seal, I discovered that it was paper thin in the cross section....not good with a blower pulley. I made a new one from A2 tool steel and shortened up the front counter bore depth and added a second keyway.....should be way stronger than the original. I made solid motor mounts for this application too. I have extra sets if anyone needs some. They have the four holes that would work on a stock block and the two extra holes for the later Tomahawk blocks.
    This build is taking a lot longer than I originally thought, but then I can't "move" as fast as I used to! LOL The engine is no where near completed yet anyway...….so I have some time!
    Hoping a year or two at the longest...depends if I ever get my engine finished...…….
     

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    300sbb_overkill and sriley531 like this.
  16. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    Forgot the picture of the "re-designed" headers. 20190324_181054 (1).jpg 20190303_154238.jpg
     
  17. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

    I think I said it before, but it bears repeating: Beautiful work, Steve. Very impressive.
     
  18. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    Thanks!! I try...………..
     
  19. Steve Reynolds

    Steve Reynolds SRE Inc

    Not a lot to report on as far as progress. I've been working on it some, but most of the labor has been the type that isn't worth posting because there's really nothing to see. Engine and trans out and back in about a half a dozen times!! I finally have the real trans in place. The Reid case does NOT clear where the OEM case does!
    One of the things that is visible is that I have the exhaust all roughed in, which was not an easy task..... getting the 3" pipes past the axle! I actually had to notch them where they meet the trunk floor! (so I lose 25 HP in street trim.....no big deal! LOL) When it comes time to race I have 4" electric cutouts that will dump straight out. The rear bumper will be radiused where the tailpipes come out so there's only about half the thickness of the oval tip below the bumper. The header extensions and tailpipes are steel. I'll have them coated the same as the headers. The intermediate pipes and mufflers are stainless steel. (Borla XS Pro)
    The driveshaft is ordered...… Denney's 4" aluminum, Pro forged ends and Mark Williams yoke. I usually do DynoTech, but after a week or more of trying to place an order I gave up. They're apparently too busy to take an order.

    Brake lines are next and then electrical...… "slow & steady wins the race!" LOL
     

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  20. Gallagher

    Gallagher Founders Club Member

    Beautiful work Steve.
    Funny, I was just thinking about you and wondering about your project earlier today.
     

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