440 with Engine Plate

[wedge5]

Sorry for the delay in answering your ? I have 650-675ish hp.The car is mostly a drag car with VERY limited street use. I can use pump gas but just not very street friendly. I am not using a mid plate. I didn't know any better when I put my tabs in. I wished I would have put them on the backside because I have had to remove the motor once and it was a pain. The other way would have been alot easier. I may redo it in a couple years when I remove the motor to freshen it up. I never do it right the first time so I end up doing it over in the long run. Oh well that is how others learn.

 

[Gospel Runner]

67 B-Body My students echo your sentiments. They think I should paint my whole car that color. Blue is my favorite color, but I think the orange is shocking and different. Cars nowadays don't use color schemes like that anymore. It is different and bold! I won't have to make that choice for a while at my present rate. Thanks and no thanks; I have plans for that pump keeping this beast cool while I am hot!

 

[Gospel Runner]

Here are some pics of the tranny and torque converter going in with the flex plate. The one shot of me getting ready to prime the engine through the oil pump.

 

[Gospel Runner]

Now I need your help again. I know some of you have put aftermarket radiators in. I am trying to do the same thing, but I have no place to to bolt it in. There is a 1/8" flange that is not big enough to put a bolt through. I am thinking about using some channel stock to hold it in place. I do not have the means to weld aluminum. If you can give me some input I would love to hear from you. As you know a picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks in advance for your help! I am posting some pics of the radiator in question.

 

[Gospel Runner]

I was waiting for some parts to arrive and they are here. The transmission dip stick and header gaskets. I ordered TTI gaskets from Mancini and they were taking forever getting here, so I switched up. Also pictured is my Chetah shifter I bought a few years back, which I hope to install soon.

 

[Gospel Runner]

This is my solution to the radiator fabrication issue. I want to thank John for giving me this idea. I bought a 3' piece of 1/8" angle iron from Lowes and cut it in half, then welded it together to make a U-channel. It had a zinc coating on it so I took that off with the wire wheel and grinder. Then I used these 3" bolts with hooks on one end to secure the U-channel to come brackets I fabbed from some square stock I had laying around. I love working with that plasma cutter. It makes life so much easier. I took some old fuel hose and placed the bolts through it so the radiator can rest on it and take up some of the vibration. I used those same bolt hooks to secure the top of the radiator. I am using some plastic donuts I fabbed from plastic tubes and I am sandwiching them between rubber washers to finish this off.

 

[Gospel Runner]

A few more...

 

[Gospel Runner]

Has anyone used the aluminum driveshaft in a dragcar? How do they hold up?

 

[Gospel Runner]

Help!!!

I need your help again ladies and gentlemen. As you can see from the pics above I have the Cheatah Turbo action shifter with reverse valve body and the console that goes with it. I tried to put this unit together today and found that the console has a manufactured split in the end. My question is do I have to cut the console around the rails that protrude out of the end or do I have the wrong console? I don't mind cutting it, I just don't want to ruin it if there is a mistake and it must be sent back. If anyone is running the Cheatah shifter and you have a pic of how you did it, I would appreciate you sharing that. Again I thank you in advance for your help!!!

 

[Gospel Runner]

OK I took the plunge after considering my options with the limited knowledge I have. I am going to try and marry the old school console with the new Cheetah shifter. I removed the panel and cut a hole the size of the shifter base. Now I have to find a way to secure it. I am going to fabricate some brackets that will help to hold this baby together. I tried using some sheet metal but it was too thin, so I went out and picked up some 1/8" steel 1" wide. I will layout the lines for the bends I need to make and the holes I need to drill. Here are a few pics I have taken of what I have gotted done so far. I do want you to know that I have considered the cost of cutting an original shifter, but that is why I bought it in the first place!

 

[Gospel Runner]

The small green brackets are the sheet metal ones that I am throwing away. The large rubber pipe connecter I am using as a filler material for the gap between the edge of the shifter base and the console panel. The shifter will not sit flat on the console plate because it is curved. I could cut the base of the shifter to fit the curve of the console plate, but I thought the rubber would be equally effective and a whole lot easier. Why the round rubber pipe sleeve? I could not find a flat piece of rubber anywhere, so I will cut this to fit and see how it works. The scratch awl is pointing to the gap between the shifter and the console plate. I started cutting the holes in the steel flat stock. Enjoy!

 

[Gospel Runner]

I gave the camera to my students today and they went crazy taking pics of the console mod I have going on and the floor replacement on the driverside. I will start with the brackets and console stuff.

 

[Gospel Runner]

The pics are mixed up. Forgive me but this is the order they were taken in.

 

[Gospel Runner]

I have some pics of the new floor being chiseled out. First I had my students make a pattern by taping paper to the bottom of the new floor pan. Then we put the floor pan in place and they traced the outline of the floor cut out from the bottom of the car with a sharpie. I then cut away the excess paper from the pattern with a two inch overhang. Then I cut with the plasma cutter. I put it in place and saw where I could trim a little more away until I had an exact fit. Then with the floor panel in place there was an area where the manuel shifter hump removal left an odd shaped hole. I had my students put a piece of paper over the hole from under the car, while another student traced the shape from inside the car. I will cut that shape out tomorrow and see how it fits. I will also add two inches for the lap weld.

 

[Gospel Runner]

More of the same!

 

[Gospel Runner]

More!

 

[Gospel Runner]

I was painting the brackets and letting them dry while I cut off a piece of rubber to fill in the gap between the shifter base and the console panel.

 

[Gospel Runner]

A few more!

 

[Gospel Runner]

As you may have noticed there is an odd shaped hole on the transmission tunnel not covered by the floor. I had my students make this template and I just added an inch all around and cut it out.

 

[Gospel Runner]

I finally have the shifter married to the console.