GatorDog72 Posted May 4, 2016 Author Posted May 4, 2016 Here it is, all caged up! It's a 12 point cage with chromoly steel tubing and will be certified to 8.50 at NHRA tracks. I still have to paint it and make some seat mounts to get the seats bolted in. There's loads of other work to do before I will be able to drive it. I will keep updating as I go. Getting there, looking good. Hurry up the nationals are less than 90 days away You're right Steve, the race is on! Would love to have it there. Quote
monte70car Posted May 5, 2016 Posted May 5, 2016 Ryan nice work, I know you said its a 12 point cage but I'm only counting 10 points (2 in engine bay, 2 at the dash, 4 behind the front seat and the 2 in the trunk) did I miss 2 points? Quote
502ci Posted May 5, 2016 Posted May 5, 2016 Ryan nice work, I know you said its a 12 point cage but I'm only counting 10 points (2 in engine bay, 2 at the dash, 4 behind the front seat and the 2 in the trunk) did I miss 2 points? I am pretty sure the the ones at the front of the door each qualify as two points. Quote
502ci Posted May 5, 2016 Posted May 5, 2016 Ohhh, I forgot to mention that is one awesome cage, looks very professional. 1 Quote
GatorDog72 Posted May 6, 2016 Author Posted May 6, 2016 Thanks guys! Ryan nice work, I know you said its a 12 point cage but I'm only counting 10 points (2 in engine bay, 2 at the dash, 4 behind the front seat and the 2 in the trunk) did I miss 2 points? I was wondering the same exact thing. I only counted ten, but when I google searched "12 point cage" the same cage comes up. I think like Bill said, the door bars count as an extra 2 points. Not sure though. As long as it's safe in the event of a really bad crash, that's all that matters. Quote
72MC Posted May 10, 2016 Posted May 10, 2016 Nice work on the cage Ryan. Looks like she is coming along nicely. - Dave Quote
GatorDog72 Posted June 29, 2016 Author Posted June 29, 2016 I think I might see a little light coming from the end of the tunnel. You can actually tell it's a Monte Carlo now! It's not done yet but its getting closer... Right now I'm in the process of rewiring everything in the car. Most of it is already done, I had wired in the essentials last fall to fire the engine, but I pulled it all back out to get the cage welded. I didn't want the wires to get all burned up and ruin a brand new harness. I'm also chopping up my factory dash to re-use. I had to cut some pieces out to get it to fit around the bars, mostly just notching stuff to make room. My dad is helping me fit up a new Racepak digital display. We just cut the plastic out from between the original gauges and made a bracket that attaches to the mounting points that were used for the stock cluster. We made a template from construction paper that will be cut out in aluminum to finish the face of the dash. I found a different rack and pinion setup thats manual and the input shaft is at a different angle so it looks like it might work. I talked to the tech on the phone and he said it will fit, so I'm gonna give the r&p another try. Here's some more pics Quote
7tonemonte Posted June 29, 2016 Posted June 29, 2016 Looking good Ryan! Someday soon you'll be bringing that thing up to Carlisle to show it off I hope 1 Quote
dbreese Posted June 30, 2016 Posted June 30, 2016 Man Ryan ya got some serious fabrication skills. Looking really good. It is always good when you can see a little light at the end of the tunnel and know it ain't the train coming. LOL Keep us posted. David 1 Quote
GatorDog72 Posted July 4, 2016 Author Posted July 4, 2016 Heres the dash, about 90%. I still have to add a few switches and lights, but its pretty much done. I might polish the face, or put some kind of design in it later. I have a new top pad to put on it too, I wanted to cut up my old ragged one first in case I made a mistake, which I did. I cut the slots a bit too wide and it looks like crap around the bars, but now I can make a template for that and cut it nicely on the new pad. Quote
420ponies Posted July 10, 2016 Posted July 10, 2016 This lookin' sweet!! I may need you to come down and help with my '65 Chevelle. Like that cage work. nice and tight to the body. Gonna be one mean Monte!! I like that it is a '72. Quote
GatorDog72 Posted August 15, 2016 Author Posted August 15, 2016 Got some more stuff done, It steers, stops, and shifts but not quite running yet. It's almost done, I promise. The new manual rack worked out nicely. I had to fabricate the steering shaft again but this time it looks and works much better. The kit came with new steering arms too, so I had to take a bunch of stuff apart again to get those on. Got a different master cylinder for a manual set-up and stripped out my proportioning valve trying to install it like an idiot. Also had to re-string a few lines that were now too short after moving the master. After fighting with the stupid brakes for a long time, I finally won and got it bled out. At least the new driveshaft fit without issue. Everything is ready to rock and roll, just need to get it fired up again. Quote
GatorDog72 Posted August 27, 2016 Author Posted August 27, 2016 ITS ALIVE! Should be going for a test drive tomorrow Quote
cny first gen 71 Posted August 27, 2016 Posted August 27, 2016 Woo Hoo sounds great, even got plates on it too gonna test drive it leagally. Gool luck buddy. Quote
GatorDog72 Posted August 30, 2016 Author Posted August 30, 2016 Took this thing for a test drive a couple days ago to the gas station and holy crap it's fast. I was definitely not prepared for that amount of power. It really scared the life out of me. Everything went well, didn't crash or break anything. The alignment needs work. It didn't go very straight. Its all gravy from here though, just some adjustments. I forgot to turn on the rev limiter and found valve float pretty quick. I wasn't looking at the tach, but I bet it was over 8 grand. Needs better mufflers too, I put the largest 3" cherry bomb glasspacks that they make on it and it was still like they were not even on there. Stupid loud. Got a couple decent videos of the car, but I had trouble uploading them to the site. If you want to check them out on Youtube, here's the links- choppy idle test drive 1 Quote
dbreese Posted September 3, 2016 Posted September 3, 2016 That car is a beast!!!! Great work Ryan. Thanks for sharing! 1 Quote
72MC Posted September 4, 2016 Posted September 4, 2016 Looks and sounds killer. Keep enjoying the process. Soon you'll be having fun with the finished product. - Dave 1 Quote
420ponies Posted November 27, 2016 Posted November 27, 2016 Awesome!! thing sounds great!! What's the H.P.? Can't wait to see it at Carlisle. 1 Quote
GatorDog72 Posted December 10, 2016 Author Posted December 10, 2016 Awesome!! thing sounds great!! What's the H.P.? Can't wait to see it at Carlisle. Thanks! I wish I knew the numbers for sure, but according to my desktop dyno it should make between 650-720 flywheel hp on motor with 91 pump gas. I built it a little conservative because I plan on slamming this thing with tons of nitrous. I have to get it dialed in on motor first but I would love to get it to 1000 rwhp on nitrous. I should have it at Carlisle this year, I cant wait! Quote
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