BBR's 83GT - 552 BBF version 3.0 (at least)

[BBR]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

Front suspension is all buttoned up!

Phone pics.





I started painting the a-arms/springs but quickly ran out of paint.

[nesabo]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

Much more room for the BBF to fill up!

[BBR]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

Yes they will stay. That's what the motor has to bolt to since I am not using a motor plate!

[STINEY]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

Rolling, rolling, rolling..... moving right along!

One thing I noticed. Your spring is a lot "straighter" than mine. (now that sounds weird :o )

Mine has a pronounced "arc" to it once installed. They were perfectly straight out of the car, I cut 1 complete coil off of them. ( they were factory v8 GT springs)

I thought nothing of the bend until I saw yours and how straight they look? Are yours seated in the lower pocket with the end of the coil tucked into the groove/stop for it?

[BBR]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

Mine have had 1 coil cut on them also, to compensate for the 1.5" kmember spacers. Stock 83 GT springs. They are not completely seated in the lower spring pocket, but are not far from it. 1/2" maybe? The car is not heavy enough with no motor in it to compress them very much.

It may have to do with the angle of the spring perch. I measured the angle of my stock kmember's spring pocket and made the new one to match. Something like 12 degrees relative to the flat top of the k.

[STINEY]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

That's about the same angle as my perches......

I forgot about the k-member spacers. That would make a difference for sure. I bet you were able to slip that spring in with your bare hands weren't you? Mine wasn't bad, but did require a couple prybars, floorjack, and some creativity.

[BBR]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

I stuck the spring in, put a floor jack under the a-arm, raised it all up and stabbed the strut up through the top mount. Then I had to put my weight on the fender to mash it down enough to slip the washer and nut on top. Good thing I weigh 200lbs. lol

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

Just thought I'd pipe in and say I'm following along, just don't have any advice for ya

[BBR]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

Thanks! ;D

I just about kilt mesef yesterday night getting the roll bar off the wall. I had it hung on the wall and just so you know, if you try to lift it off the wall by the harness bar, it WILL rotate over and punch you in the back. Of course I was standing on a transmission and engine block at the time too...

Oh it's painted nice and black now.... with paint I've had since 1995.



You can also see a small spot I buffed out on the fender. Right over .................................................. .................................................^ ^here^^

[milner351]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

nice work

well - not the almost knocking yourself out falling to the concrete floor with a rollbar on top of you part....


you'll be amazed how some of that old paint can come back with some rubbing and polishing compound and a foam or lambswool wheel.

[BBR]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

Thanks!

With these Maximum Motorsports swing out door bars, at the floor, the bars just curve down and slip into another piece of tubing mounted to the floor plate. There's no mechanical connection between the bar and the floor. Since this is a t-top car,Ii wanted to make them a little more rigid/permanent.



My original plan was to just drill it and pin it, but then I'd have to pull 2 pins every time I wanted to open the bar. So here's that I am thinking now: I found that a 7/8" bolt's head fits snugly inside the down bar so I will weld it in there. Then I'll just use a large washer under the lower plate with a big nylock nut. They would still be removable and would still be able to swing.

[STINEY]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

That'll work. Good idea.

[milner351]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

That looks great - I wish I had access to CAD like that!

I would use a nylock nut, or drill and pin the bolt to capture the nut so it can't fall off.

If possible - tie the plate under the floor to a piece of square tube that runs the length of the rocker butted up against the hem flange to stiffen things up a bit more, basically just a length of 1" or so square tube welded to the inside of the hem flange - you couldn't see it from the side.

-- Kenny Brown used to sell those as an option to his frame connectors which he had cross bars welded to that picked up the seat bolts too.

[BBR]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

That looks great - I wish I had access to CAD like that!

Like that? heh heh that took about 10 minutes and is totally just an eyeballed-not-to-scale-freehand sketch.

[horsewidower]

Re: BBR's big block 83GT

Looking at the K-member, you might want to throw a couple gussets on the engine mount stands. I've bent the things with my little bitty turbo-4 and had to add gussets. Your big block is going to make it groan.