8.50 index build

Todd Geisler · 10-16-2021, 09:09 AM

Hello all, long time member, just never had a class car.

One year ago I had a bad top end wreck with my 8.50 index Malibu that I built, owned and raced for 27+ years. Car made a hard left past the finish line, put me into the wall which then caused the car to barrel roll as many as 7 times I'm told. I don't remember any of the accident, so no apparent cause was found.

A couple weeks after the crash I was able to source a body to begin building again. My dream car was gone so the new car would simply be a purpose built race car, chosen for ease of parts availability, low purchase cost and light weight.

I have many, many pics of the build in detail, not sure how much interest there would be to see this project.

Keith 944 · 10-16-2021, 09:40 AM

The first car looked very nice, i'm sure this one will be too. I am always interested in any build!
Keep up the good work and keep posting please!

Todd Geisler · 10-16-2021, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith 944

The first car looked very nice, i'm sure this one will be too. I am always interested in any build!
Keep up the good work and keep posting please!

Will do, gonna be alot of pictures to post. lol

Todd Geisler · 10-16-2021, 11:30 AM

Found alot more rust than I was hoping for. One area I really didn't want to get into was the front frame rails which have a reputation for rusting out under the master cylinder and combination valve.

I tried ordering a replacement frame rail kit but didn't like how it was going to install, plus I found an issue with the factory placement of the passenger rail, so I decided to make my own. Drew them up on CAD at work and cut them out on the cnc plasma.

Todd Geisler · 10-16-2021, 11:37 AM

So many holes to weld up in the shock towers...

Body back from media blasting...

In the mean time parts were ordered and slowly starting to come in.

Todd Geisler · 10-16-2021, 12:01 PM

At this point the front end was rebuilt as far as I could go for the time being. I was ready to start the tube work but was waiting for a bay to open up at work to get started.

So in the mean time I worked on building the rear housing. First was a mockup and measurements of the rear wheel/tire combination.

Then the rear could begin with welding on the 4 link doubler plates.

Housing and 4 link brackets being fixtured up.

Once all the welding was done the housing ends could be fit which is a very time consuming/tedious process to get them perfectly square to the axle centerline.

A fixture was then made to hold the housing to the chassis table.

About the time I was completing the work on the rear, a bay opened up at work so I transferred the car to its new home.

...and now tube work could begin.

FireSale · 10-16-2021, 02:09 PM

I believe they call that rust trap you replaced a torque box.
Really amazing quality work. Might I ask what your line of work is?

Todd Geisler · 10-16-2021, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireSale

I believe they call that rust trap you replaced a torque box.
Really amazing quality work. Might I ask what your line of work is?

I pretend I’m a chassis builder at work. Lol

Rocker/torque box was just one of several areas with rust. I kept cutting till there was no more rust. Lol

Jeff Stout · 10-16-2021, 04:24 PM

Excellant workmanship. Glad you got back on the horse after having a bad crash.

Todd Geisler · 10-16-2021, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Stout

Excellant workmanship. Glad you got back on the horse after having a bad crash.

Thanks you. Doing my best to get this done in a timely manner, but still takes time. For the next few months it will be out of my hands waiting for body/paint, plus waiting to get the engine back.

10-16-2021, 09:09 AM	#1
Todd Geisler Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 328 Likes: 64 Liked 345 Times in 149 Posts	8.50 index build Hello all, long time member, just never had a class car. One year ago I had a bad top end wreck with my 8.50 index Malibu that I built, owned and raced for 27+ years. Car made a hard left past the finish line, put me into the wall which then caused the car to barrel roll as many as 7 times I'm told. I don't remember any of the accident, so no apparent cause was found. A couple weeks after the crash I was able to source a body to begin building again. My dream car was gone so the new car would simply be a purpose built race car, chosen for ease of parts availability, low purchase cost and light weight. I have many, many pics of the build in detail, not sure how much interest there would be to see this project.

10-16-2021, 09:40 AM	#2
Keith 944 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dela-where? Posts: 2,165 Likes: 1,090 Liked 1,779 Times in 558 Posts	Re: 8.50 index build The first car looked very nice, i'm sure this one will be too. I am always interested in any build! Keep up the good work and keep posting please! __________________ KEITH MAYERS 2 X somebody many X nobody

10-16-2021, 11:30 AM	#4
Todd Geisler Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 328 Likes: 64 Liked 345 Times in 149 Posts	Re: 8.50 index build Found alot more rust than I was hoping for. One area I really didn't want to get into was the front frame rails which have a reputation for rusting out under the master cylinder and combination valve. I tried ordering a replacement frame rail kit but didn't like how it was going to install, plus I found an issue with the factory placement of the passenger rail, so I decided to make my own. Drew them up on CAD at work and cut them out on the cnc plasma.

10-16-2021, 11:37 AM	#5
Todd Geisler Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 328 Likes: 64 Liked 345 Times in 149 Posts	Re: 8.50 index build So many holes to weld up in the shock towers... Body back from media blasting... In the mean time parts were ordered and slowly starting to come in.

10-16-2021, 12:01 PM	#6
Todd Geisler Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 328 Likes: 64 Liked 345 Times in 149 Posts	Re: 8.50 index build At this point the front end was rebuilt as far as I could go for the time being. I was ready to start the tube work but was waiting for a bay to open up at work to get started. So in the mean time I worked on building the rear housing. First was a mockup and measurements of the rear wheel/tire combination. Then the rear could begin with welding on the 4 link doubler plates. Housing and 4 link brackets being fixtured up. Once all the welding was done the housing ends could be fit which is a very time consuming/tedious process to get them perfectly square to the axle centerline. A fixture was then made to hold the housing to the chassis table. About the time I was completing the work on the rear, a bay opened up at work so I transferred the car to its new home. ...and now tube work could begin. Last edited by Todd Geisler; 10-16-2021 at 12:05 PM.

10-16-2021, 02:09 PM	#7
FireSale VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Lakewood Washington Posts: 1,407 Likes: 29 Liked 237 Times in 127 Posts	Re: 8.50 index build I believe they call that rust trap you replaced a torque box. Really amazing quality work. Might I ask what your line of work is? __________________ Dale Shearon 68 Mustang 6394

10-16-2021, 04:24 PM	#9
Jeff Stout VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: phoenix Posts: 1,466 Likes: 59 Liked 703 Times in 280 Posts	Re: 8.50 index build Excellant workmanship. Glad you got back on the horse after having a bad crash.