I know.. I know.. Im nuts!

[Dion Hildebrandt]

Update - The roll bar is starting to take shape...the original plan was to get a friend of mine to custom bend and weld up the remainder of the tubes, as there was fitment issues. Well a week before this was to happen his shops tube bender was inop with no immediate plans for repair. Awesome! so plan b was started, I had another fabricator friend bend some pipe for me after plenty of careful measurement (wing and a prayer as car was offsite). At this point I have all bars in place and all plates bent and formed.....just waiting on space to get it all burned in.
- Car runs, needs to be tuned.
- Radiator and fans are in place ,wired, and plumbed
- All Engine bay wiring is complete, soldered, heat shrinked and restrained

Once the roll bar is welded it will be time to figure out fuel cell, fuel pump, weight box location and mounting.....Then we can paint all that tubing.

[Dion Hildebrandt]

-Update
-The roll bar is in and fit, just needs to be final welded in place. I think plan c or d is where we are at this point as my go to guy can no longer be gone too. Most times when an outside source is relied upon there is an element of let down...so I will weld it up myself. Only a couple of hurdles here, there is snow on the ground so my bodyshop is BUSY...I don't have a smaller enclosed trailer anymore...our 46 foot trailer is in getting hail repaired as we speak...starting in January...So I will complete all other fabrication first
-first photo is the main hoop and the rear trailing bar
-this is the front drivers side bar
-the front lower side bar mount off the frame connector
-the main hoop mount also off the frame connector
I went this route for the bar mounts rather than the sandwhiched plates for more structural integrity (stiffer car) ,plus I figured in a serious event this will endure more torture.
-in the last photo my "screw up" is visible and that was that I had originally placed the main hoop too far back, this caused a number of problems most of which being the arm rests were totally in the way and the side bars were too short.

[Dion Hildebrandt]

-And more
-I had been struggling with the fuel cell, weight box, fuel pump and fuel filter mount.and there isn't a lot of photographic examples around for comparision....so what does a guy do?
-I studied the rule books of both sanctioning bodies and came up with what I think is an acceptable solution.....we will eventually find out. The tubing is 3/4 inch with a good wall thickness, where any bolt goes through it is sleeved, I have some gusseting left to do yet
-The fuel filter will be moved as it seemed a good place while mocking up the unit, upon completion I don't like it at all. 90degree turns and short runs of plumbing spell It Is Going To Be Changed!!
-The unit mounts to the roll bar plate area ,that uses 1/2 inch bolts which is overkill according to the rules. The bolts run through the rear frame rail and are sleeved to prevent crushing of the frame and plated where the bolts run through the floor pan only.

[HandOverFist]

Looking at that driver-side door tube I hope you are contemplating a quick disconnect steering wheel...one of the first things I added to the Camaro and it sure made it a lot easier on my old bones.

[Dion Hildebrandt]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

Looking at that driver-side door tube I hope you are contemplating a quick disconnect steering wheel...one of the first things I added to the Camaro and it sure made it a lot easier on my old bones.

The photo is deceiving, it is actually easy to get in. I am 6'3" 185 and it is no problem for me, my dear old dad is a senior at 5'11" 210 and he has no problem. The previous door bars were more difficult to negotiate, they were longer and located higher.

[Dion Hildebrandt]

I think an update is in order...work has progressed, I have completed all the fab work, and we will be moving on to the suspension and brakes.

However it is that time of year to pull out the chevelle stocker and get it ready for the upcoming season......that's right momma has given the green light for another season of popping wheelies

The stocker is getting a gear change, header updates, all ready had some carb work done, some new slicks and a whole lot of lovin that it has been lacking over the last year.

The Acadian will still have progress it is just that I have run out of parts and need to do some more gathering, So I have been doing some research and have talked to some very informative sources.

[Glenn Hayes]

What gear ratio are you changing to?