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Old 10-16-2021, 09:09 AM   #1
Todd Geisler
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Default 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.
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Old 10-16-2021, 09:40 AM   #2
Keith 944
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Default 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!
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Old 10-16-2021, 11:22 AM   #3
Todd Geisler
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Default Re: 8.50 index build

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Originally Posted by Keith 944 View Post
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
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Old 10-16-2021, 11:30 AM   #4
Todd Geisler
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Default 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.



















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Old 10-16-2021, 11:37 AM   #5
Todd Geisler
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Default 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.



























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Old 10-16-2021, 12:01 PM   #6
Todd Geisler
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Default 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.
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Old 10-16-2021, 02:09 PM   #7
FireSale
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Default 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?
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Old 10-16-2021, 02:14 PM   #8
Todd Geisler
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Default Re: 8.50 index build

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Originally Posted by FireSale View Post
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

Last edited by Todd Geisler; 10-16-2021 at 02:18 PM.
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Old 10-16-2021, 04:24 PM   #9
Jeff Stout
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Default Re: 8.50 index build

Excellant workmanship. Glad you got back on the horse after having a bad crash.
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Old 10-16-2021, 04:28 PM   #10
Todd Geisler
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Default Re: 8.50 index build

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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.
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