Colossus - the 1970 Concours frame replacement project

Just read through the whole thread, very interesting, love all the pics detailing the work/progress. Its awesome your son is interested and learning with you. A dear friend's mom had severe alzheimers for years so I know what you guys went through, God bless you all. for repair/restore post category pic rating. Keep us posted!

 

Update,

Took Monday and Tuesday off to get some stuff done, rained on Monday (grrr) but found a really nice wagon roofrack for sale, yippee, and did get some other things done while it was wet out. Tuesday got the rear axle blasted and repainted. Pulled the cover and shafts last night to further clean it up this week in the evenings. Hope to be able to hang it this weekend. Pics in a few days.

Tom

 

well, thought I had pics of the diff after blasting, but, nooo. So here it is just prior:



Free 8.2 2.73 10 bolt that will replace the 2.56 unit that the car came with. Came out of a buddy's car, was quiet and good. I have a 12 bolt that will eventually get put under, but for now, this is it.

Bunch of cleaned brake parts and backing plates, which have had the grooves from the leading brake shoes welded in, and hardware to put it all together...


Backing plates preassembled and ready to hang on the diff:




Backing plates and brakes hung:


Project '71 LS5 Vette lurking in the background. Wonders when it's turn will come up...


Rear axle shafts installed, cover on, ready to hang on the rear arms:




Just need to continue moving forward...

Best,
Tom

 

That car is going to be brand new when you are done, CG!

 

Thanks for taking time to and post your progress.....very interesting reading.

 

SIlverfox,
Dunno about brand new, I'll settle for running at this point.

MotoMike,
Glad to post, gives me incentive seeing where I've been on this.

HAving said that, last night got the diff hung and plumbed. Working with clean parts is really nice. Just like assembling a nice Monogram model.







Currently working on the rear snubber brackets, they have been cleaned and base coated, need a coat of gloss black and they go on, and the rear is just about done. Pack the front bearings, hang the rotors, finish the steering, and it's a roller again.

Thanx,
Tom

 

Man, that looks first class! And your son is continuing to help/learn?

 

Joey has been helping when he can, but not as much as during last Summer. He is finishing up the season running distance in Track, as well as his final month of his Junior year. He may have more time to be involved this Summer, especially as we get to body drop and motor/trans install.

My daughter wants to be outside or in the garage all the time when Daddy is working. So this Summer should be fun.

Tom

 

Your building this car from the ground up will give your kids great memories for their entire lives. I think what you are doing is a wonderful experience for them and will always bring back memories of dad in years to come.

 

Yeah, like "Mommy, why does Daddy smell like <paint, burned metal, brake fluid>?" or "Daddy, why are your hands always cut up?"

Tom

 

LOL, I know the feeling!

 

I couldn't imagine running track out there in the IE during the summer. Might be worse than here in GA??

 

Mike,

Actually, rugged as it is out here in the summer, Joeys team and the other teams local to us usually do very well against the teams from the more temperate climates. Kids here can run in 100*+ weather all day, and do well when the invitational events are in Orange County were the weather is mild.

Tom

 

OK, not a parts getting bolted on update, but news just the same.

Found a guy selling a complete wagon roof rack, decent price, looked good in the pics, so called him up to see if was still available. It was, so drove over to see it. Found a really clean 72 base wagon that was going to be used for another purpose...

demo-derby

The owner was adamant about going through with the project, but was willing to work a deal with me on trim (decent wheelhouse and rocker moldings, A, B, and C pillar trim) and a whole bunch of stuff I am missing or need nicer examples of for my ride.

Most importantly, if I supplied a serviceable tailgate and bumper + a few bucks, I could get his mostly straight, rust-free gate and nicer-than-mine bumper. So I have just extended my project.





Anyone interested in a "How I hung my gate" thread?

Also, why hasn't anyone ever mentioned how freakin heavy these tailgates are? Heaviest peice of removable sheet metal I have ever encountered!

Oh, yeah, bearings are packed and rotors are ready to hang.

Best,
Tom

 

OK, back at it.

I got most everything off of the derby car that was not sheet metal, suspension/brakes, or drivetrain. So I am now tripping over almost everything else from the car. Some I will use (trim, interior bits) and some I will send on down the line. This was 3-4 weekends of Sundays at the guys house carefully taking apart the car, which distracted from my productive time at home. Lord what a pile of stuff!

I have gotten some more done on the Concours, frame is almost ready to roll (need to clean rear springs but may use 4x4's!). Rotors and calipers have been hung.




Pads are junk, so willl let them scrape the overspray off of the rotors.

Steering box has been cleaned, painted and installed. Didn't get too insane with this as I would like to put a JGC box on it, so it will have to come off again. This is good enuff!







For all intents and purposed, the frame is done and ready to roll, so onto other fun...

More up next,
Tom