Tough As Nails Trans Am

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY ON DETROIT MUSCLE WE PUT A SPRING IN THE STEP OF OUR GIVEAWAY TRIBUTE TRANS AM BY PLUGGING IN SOME UPGRADED REAR SUSPENSION, LEARN THAT THERE'S MORE TO MEASURING FOR A DRIVESHAFT THAN YOU MIGHT THINK, AND COME ALONG WITH US WHILE WE DIG UP A PIECE OF BIG BODY DETROIT TREASURE. PLUS HOW TO FABRICATE YOUR OWN SUBFRAME CONNECTORS.

(JOE)>> WE BOUGHT THIS '78 FIREBIRD FROM A TRANS AM FAN WHO WAS READY TO LET HER RED BIRD FLY THE COOP.

SOON WE WERE MAKING PLANS TO TURN IT INTO AN ICONIC BLACK AND GOLD BANDIT THAT WE COULD GIVEAWAY. THAT IS AFTER SWAPPING ITS WELL WORN 400 INCH VEIGHT FOR A SCREAMING 474 STROKER ENGINE, WITH HELP FROM THE PONTIAC GURUS AT BUTLER PERFORMANCE.

(TOMMY)>> WE MATED IT TO A NEW FOUR SPEED 700 RFOUR

TRANS, DROPPED IT IN, AND LATER TOPPED IT OFF WITH A THROTTLE BODY EFI. WE ALSO GAVE THE T/A A NEW BEEFIER FRONT SUSPENSION AND BRAKE SETUP. THEN WE WENT OUT BACK TO SNATCH OUT THE REAR END, WHICH WE REBUILT WITH A NEW GEAR SET AND A POS UNIT BEFORE SLIDING IN 30 SPLINE AXLES. FINALLY WITH A MIX OF OLD AND NEW PARTS WE CONVERTED

THE REAR DRUM BRAKES TO DISCS.

(JOE)>> TODAY ON DETROIT MUSCLE OUR MAIN MISSION IS TO BEEF UP THE BOTTOM END OF THAT TRANS AM. GONNA GIVE IT A NEW REAR SUSPENSION LIKE WE DID UP FRONT. WE'LL ALSO INSTALL SOME EXHAUST AND HEADERS, AND MEASURE FOR A DRIVESHAFT AMONG OTHER THINGS. OH WE'LL ALSO REINSTALL OUR REAR END THAT WE UPGRADED WITH THOSE MOSIER COMPONENTS. AND IN CASE YOU MIGHT NOTICE SOMETHING MISSING, WE DID REMOVE THE ROTORS TO MAKE THIS THING A LITTLE LIGHTER, EASIER TO LIFT UP.

TOMMY AND I ARE A LITTLE BIT CRAZY SOMETIMES BUT NOT STUPID.

(TOMMY)>> FIRST UP IS THESE LEAF SPRINGS FROM CLASSIC PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS. THE BEAUTY BEHIND THEM, WELL THEY'RE GONNA GIVE US THAT INCH AND A HALF DROP LIKE WHAT WE USED ON THE FRONT. THIS KIT ALLOWS YOU TO UPGRADE SEVERAL COMPONENTS OVER STOCK, KINDA LIKE THIS PUNY LITTLE SWAY BAR. IT'S A FIVEEIGHTHS OF AN INCH. WE'RE GOING WITH AN ONE INCHER THAT'LL MAKE THAT CAR HANDLE LIKE A DREAM. AS FOR THE BUSHINGS THAT COME IN THE KIT, WELL THEY'RE UPGRADED TO THE URETHANE AND THEY COME WITH THIS LITTLE PACKET OF GOO.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE AND INSTALL JUST A DAB OF THIS ON THE INSIDE. NOT ONLY DOES IT LUBRICATE THE LITTLE SLEEVE THAT GOES

IN THERE, BUT IF YOU DON'T DO THIS YOU CAN DEVELOP A SQUEAK. URETHANE BUSHINGS ARE A LITTLE MORE PERFORMANCE ORIENTED THAN YOUR CLASSIC RUBBER STYLE. THEY TEND TO BE A LITTLE MORE STIFF THAN THE RUBBER ONES BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY EASIER TO INSTALL. SOME OF THAT LUBE IS ALSO GOOD TO USE ON THE INSIDE OF THE BUSHING AS WELL. [ hammer tapping ]

(JOE)>> WITH THE SHACKLES IN PLACE UNDER THE CAR, THE BACK SIDE OF THE SPRINGS CAN BE BOLTED INTO PLACE. A NYLON LOCKING NUT COMES WITH THE KIT, BUT EVEN SO YOU'LL STILL WANT TO COME BACK AFTER THE FIRST FEW MILES AND RETIGHTEN YOUR SUSPENSION. WE'LL REUSE THE STOCK HANGER, IT JUST NEEDED TO BE CLEANED UP A BIT.

(TOMMY)>> WITH A LIFT YOU CAN LOWER THE CAR ONTO THE REAR END. IF YOU'RE DOING THIS ON JACK STANDS, A JACK UNDER THE DIFFERENTIAL IS A TRIED AND TRUE METHOD. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GOOD! THREE BOLTS HOLD THE HANGER IN PLACE AND YOU WANT THESE TO BE PRETTY DARN TIGHT.

(JOE)>> THERE'S A RUBBER ISOLATOR THAT GOES BETWEEN THE REAR AND THE SPRING. DON'T FORGET IT! IF YOU DO, EXPECT A REALLY ROUGH RIDE. [ whistling ]

(TOMMY)>> WITH THE NEW KIT THEY DID INCREASE THE DIAMETER OF THE UBOLTS. THAT WAY IT INCREASES THE CLAMPING FORCE. AND BY DOING THAT IT ALSO INCREASES THE STRENGTH OF THE SUSPENSION.

YOU WON'T TIGHTEN THESE UP YET BECAUSE THE SWAY BAR IS NEXT.

(JOE)>> WELL AT THIS POINT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND INSTALL OUR REAR SWAY BAR. YOU KNOW THE EXTRA STIFFNESS OF THIS THING AND THOSE URETHANE BUSHINGS ARE GONNA MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. OH, DON'T FORGET TO PUT SOME OF THIS LUBE ON FROM THE KIT, MAKE STABBING IT IN PLACE A LOT EASIER.

[ air ratchet spinning ]

(JOE)>> THE UPPER HANGERS COME OUT WHILE WE'RE AT IT IN EXCHANGE FOR THE NEW ONES FROM THE KIT.

THESE ARE A LITTLE BIT WIDER AND ALSO STRONGER TO ACCOMMODATE OUR UPGRADED PIECES. ONCE THE CONNECTING ROD IS IN, IT'S SIMPLY A MATTER OF BOLTING THE SWAY BAR UP TO IT AND TIGHTENING THEM DOWN. [ air ratchet spinning ]

(TOMMY)>> REAR SHOCKS ARE PRETTY SIMPLE TO INSTALL.

THE TOP BOLTS CAN BE ZIPPED IN FIRST, THEN THE BOTTOM NUT CAN GO ON ALONG WITH ITS GROMMET AND WASHER. NOW I'M NOT QUITE READY TO TIGHTEN UP MY LOWER SHOCK

MOUNT YET BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL MY OTHER

STUFF IS TIGHTENED UP. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS STILL LOOSE. NOW WHENEVER YOU'RE TIGHTENING UP UBOLTS YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SAME AMOUNT OF THREADS IS STICKING THROUGH THE NUT. IF YOU'VE GOT WAY TOO MUCH ON ONE SIDE VERSUS THE OTHER, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BACK IT UP AND TRY AND TIGHTEN THE OTHER SIDE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> STILL AHEAD WE'LL SHOW YOU THE RIGHT WAY TO MEASURE FOR A NEW DRIVESHAFT. AND THEN IT'S DETROIT TREASURE HUNTING TIME AS WE DECODE A HIGHLY DESIRABLE CHEVY, GET A LOOK AT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR OUR T/A, AND WE'LL REINFORCE ITS BACKBONE WITH SOME SUBFRAME CONNECTORS.

(JOE)>> WELL NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THE REAR END IN PLACE. THERE YOU ARE, YOU GOT SOMETHING TO MEASURE WITH?

(TOMMY)>> UH I CAN FETCH SOMETHING.

(JOE)>> OKAY, WELL WE'RE GONNA MEASURE FOR WHAT GOES BETWEEN THE REAR END AND OUR TRANSMISSION.

YOU KNOW YOUR DRIVESHAFT BUILDS EVERY BIT OF POWER YOUR ENGINE MAKES. FOR EXAMPLE, IN LOW GEAR, THE TORQUE FROM THE ENGINE IS MULTIPLIED MANY TIMES. SO IT'S CRITICAL TO GET ONE THAT CAN DO THE JOB AND TO MAKE CRITICAL MEASUREMENTS. NOW WE'RE GETTING OURS FROM DAN'S DRIVELINE AND THEY PROVIDE THIS FORM THAT WE DOWNLOADED, AND WE NEED TO FILL IT OUT. YOU READY FOR THIS?

(TOMMY)>> YOU GONNA MAKE ME HELP?

(JOE)>> YEP!

(TOMMY)>> WHENEVER YOU'RE MEASURING FOR A DRIVESHAFT, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REAR

AXLE'S AT RIDE HEIGHT. AND IF YOU'RE RUNNING LEAF SPRINGS, WELL ITS NOT GONNA

CHANGE IT A WHOLE LOT. BUT IF YOU'RE RUNNING COILS AND A FOUR LINK, THAT CAN DEFINITELY CHANGE IT A BUNCH. WE'RE GONNA START BY MEASURING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL YOKE TOWARD THE TRANSMISSION TAIL HOUSING. AND YOU ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CLOCK THIS THING IN THIS DIRECTION, NOT RUNNING UP AND DOWN, CAUSE IT'D GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT READING. NOW A COMMON POINT TO PUT THE TAPE IS RIGHT HERE ON THIS EDGE. YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IMAGINARY LINE IS THE CENTER OF YOUR UJOINT CUP.

48 AND THREE QUARTERS.

(JOE)>> OKAY, 48 AND THREE QUARTERS.

(TOMMY)>> AND AN EIGHTH, JUST KIDDING. NOW WE NEED TO MEASURE TO SEE HOW MUCH OF THE OUTPUT SHAFT IS STICKING OUT PAST THE TAIL HOUSING OF THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT NINESIXTEENTHS OF AN INCH.

(JOE)>> THOSE TWO MEASUREMENTS WILL ALLOW THE BUILDER TO DETERMINE THE PROPER LENGTH AND THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF CLEARANCE AND SLIP FOR THE SHAFT. GENERALLY YOU WANT BETWEEN THREE FOURTHS OF AN INCH AND AN INCH OF SLIP. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, WELL YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO INSTALL THE DRIVESHAFT OR YOU'LL BREAK THE TRANSMISSION.

(TOMMY)>> WHENEVER ORDERING A DRIVESHAFT, YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE WHAT YOKE YOU'RE RUNNING. THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT TYPES AND THESE ARE THE TWO MOST POPULAR.

THERE'S ONE THAT'S GOT THE LITTLE BITY TABS THAT HELP RETAIN AND LOCATE THE UJOINT. WHERE AS THERE'S THE OTHER STYLE THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING AND IT USES A LITTLE CCLIP ON THE CUP. WITH THAT DETERMINED, NOW YOU HAVE TO MEASURE FOR THE WIDTH OF THE UJOINT. AND IF YOU'RE RUNNING A TAB STYLE, YOU HAVE TO MEASURE IN BETWEEN THESE TWO LITTLE BITY TABS. IF YOU'RE RUNNING THE NONTAB STYLE YOU HAVE TO

MEASURE IN BETWEEN THIS AND THIS RIGHT HERE. ALSO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE TO MEASURE FROM THIS POINT TO THIS POINT, AND THAT'LL GIVE YOU THE DIAMETER OF THE CUP. AND IF YOU'RE RUNNING AN OLD GREASY PIECE LIKE THIS ONE, BE SURE TO CLEAN IT REAL GOOD. THAT WAY YOU'VE GOT AN ACCURATE MEASUREMENT.

(JOE)>> ALRIGHT, THAT'S IT FOR THE ARITHMETIC, BUT NOT FOR THE FORM OF COURSE. THEY ALSO WANT TO KNOW THINGS LIKE THE TYPE OF TRANSMISSION YOU'RE GONNA USE, HORSEPOWER LEVELS, INTENDED USE OF THE VEHICLE, THE WEIGHT, AND SO FORTH.

(TOMMY)>> YEAH, ALL THIS PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE ON HOW HEFTY THAT DRIVESHAFT NEEDS TO BE BUILT TO MAKER

SURE THAT IT'S A SAFE PIECE TO GET THAT POWER FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR OF THE CAR.

(JOE)>> WELL I GUESS I BETTER GET ONLINE AND GET THIS STUFF IN. YOU CAN DO THE EXHAUST CAN'T YOU?

MY COMPUTER'S A LITTLE SLOW TODAY.

(TOMMY)>> YOU KNOW, AN ETCHASKETCH ISN'T

A COMPUTER RIGHT? OUR BUTLER PERFORMANCE 474 IS GONNA BREATHE THROUGH THIS MAGNAFLOW CAT BACK DIRECT FIT EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE TUBING IS MANDREL BENT TWO AND A HALF INCH STAINLESS STEEL FLOWING THROUGH A PAIR OF THOSE STRAIGHT THROUGH WIDE OPEN MUFFLERS. THIS'LL GIVE THAT T/A A SMOOTH , DEEP TONE. THIS KIT ALSO INCLUDES EVERYTHING YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO HANG IT UP UNDER YOUR RIDE, INCLUDING THE CLAMPS AND THE OEM STYLE EXHAUST HANGERS.

AND MY FAVORITE PART, THE KIT ALSO INCLUDES A PAIR OF THESE ICONIC TRANS AM TIPS POLISHED OUT TO A NICE FINISH. THIS KIT IS BREEZE TO INSTALL, SO WE'RE GONNA SKIP THE STEPS OF SHOWING YOU HOW TO PUT IT IN. AND WHEN WE GET BACK FROM THE BREAK, WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT WE'VE GOT UP OUR SLEEVE TO CONNECT THIS COOL SYSTEM TO THAT ENGINE SO IT CAN SING THAT SWEET SONG!

(ANNOUNCER)>> STICK AROUND AND LEARN HOW TO DETERMINE THE AUTHENTICITY OF A MID-'60'S SUPER SPORT IMPALA AND HOW TO TELL IF YOUR ENGINE IS THE ONE THAT CAME WITH IT. THEN WE'LL SLIP ON OUR FABRICATING BRITCHES AND SHOW YOU HOW YOU CAN KEEP BIG POWER FROM TWISTING YOUR RIDE.

(JOE)>> THERE'S NO DENYING THE CHEVROLET IMPALA'S AN ICON THAT FIRST ROLLED OUT OF DETROIT IN 1958. NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF IMPALAS AND THEY ALL HAVE BEEN VERY POPULAR WITH CONSUMERS.

(TOMMY)>> IN '61 THE IMPALA GOT THE FIRST SUPER SPORT

PACKAGE AND IT WAS A HIT. YOU GOT A BETTER INTERIOR, UPGRADED TRIM, POWER BRAKES, AND OTHER GOODIES FOR AROUND $54 BUCKS.

(JOE)>> TO MOVE ONE OF THESE FULL SIZE WORKS OF ART DOWN THE HIGHWAY YOU COULD GET ANYTHING FROM A LITTLE OLE SIX BANGER TO A FIRE BREATHING BIG BLOCK.

(TOMMY)>> IT WAS A WORD ABOUT A '66 IMPALA SITTING IN A BARN FULL OF OLD CARS THAT LED US TO THIS FARMING COMMUNITY.

WHO KNOWS, IT MIGHT BE A FIELD OF DREAMS, IT MIGHT NOT. WHEN YOU'RE TREASURE HUNTING, YOU'VE GOT TO FOLLOW YOUR LEADS, EVEN INTO A STRANGE COW PASTURE.

(JOE)>> HERE WE ARE.

(TOMMY)>> THAT'S IT.

(JOE)>> YOU KNOW THERE'S ONE THING WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT

THIS DETROIT TREASURE HUNTING IS, WHEN YOU GO TO A NEW TOWN, GO TO A GENERAL STORE AND TALK TO PEOPLE. YOU'D BE SURPRISED WHAT YOU'LL FIND OUT.

(TOMMY)>> YEAH YOU MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PLACE BUT GUESS WHAT, THEY ARE. SO IT DON'T NEVER HURT TO ASK.

(JOE)>> LETS GO SEE THIS BARN.

(TOMMY)>> I'M PRETTY EXCITED. IT'S DEFINITELY A BARN FULL OF DUSTY FULL SIZE RIDES.

(JOE)>> AND HERE'S A SIGN OF WHAT WE WON'T FIND HERE. WELL THE SUPER SPORT.

(TOMMY)>> IT LOOKS LIKE ITS BEEN SITTING THERE FOR

DEFINITELY MORE THAN JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS.

(JOE)>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THESE AS THEIR FIRST CAR, AND I'D BET THEY COULD GET THE DOOR OPEN A LITTLE EASIER THAN ME.

(TOMMY)>> DID YOU BREAK IT?

(JOE)>> I DON'T KNOW, YOU TRY.

(TOMMY)>> YOU WANT ME TO TRY? IT'S ALL IN THE TECHNIQUE.

(JOE)>> OKAY, THERE YOU GO.

(TOMMY)>> WOW, THE INTERIOR'S NOT THE GREATEST.

(JOE)>> YOU THINK WE OUGHTA MAYBE RUN THE CODE ON IT AND SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT?

(TOMMY)>> YEAH WE COULD. I'LL GO GRAB THE BOOKS AND STUFF AND BE RIGHT BACK. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRING ALONG WITH YOU IF YOU'RE COMING TO LOOK AT A CAR, AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IN AN OLD BARN LIKE THIS ONE. AND THAT IS A FLASH LIGHT BECAUSE IT CAN GET A LITTLE DARK. ANOTHER THING IS A PENCIL AND A NOTEBOOK, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT SEVERAL CARS. CAUSE TRUST ME, THESE THINGS START RUNNING TOGETHER AFTER SIX OR EIGHT OF THEM. ANOTHER LITTLE COOL LITTLE THING TO BRING WITH YOU IS ONE OF THESE. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE FLEXIBLE MAGNETS LIKE ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR. YOU CAN USE IT AS A TOOL. NOW YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS BODY AND TELL THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF FILLER ON IT. IF THIS THING DOESN'T STICK, YOU'VE EITHER GOT TOO MUCH OR YOUR GETTING ON THE RAGGED EDGE.

(JOE)>> NOW WE BROUGHT ALONG THIS CATALOG THAT HELPS US DECODE JUST ABOUT ANY AMERICAN CAR FROM THE '60'S, BUT LIKE TOMMY SAID, BRING A NOTEBOOK IN CASE YOU DON'T HAVE IT AND YOU CAN DECODE ONE LATER. EITHER WAY, THIS PLATE RIGHT HERE IS GONNA TELL YOU THE WHOLE STORY OF THE CAR. FOR EXAMPLE, ST STANDS FOR STYLE. WE KNOW IT'S A '66, AND THE 16837 ID'S IT AS A TWO DOOR SS. THESE OTHER TOP LETTERS AND NUMBERS IDENTIFY THE ASSEMBLY PLANT AND PRODUCTION SEQUENCE. DOWN HERE TR 813-B MEANS IT WAS BLACK WITH BUCKET SEATS. CC TELLS US THE UPPER AND LOWER BODY PAINT AT THE FACTORY WAS ERMINE WHITE. FIND ANYTHING INTERESTING?

(TOMMY)>> WELL THE WHEEL TUBS AREN'T IN THE GREATEST SHAPE BUT IT DOES HAVE A 12 BOLT UNDER IT. SO THAT DOES ADD SOME VALUE BACK TO THE CAR.

(JOE)>> YEAH, BUT PARTS CAR AT BEST RIGHT?

(TOMMY)>> YEAH IT'S A ROUGH BUILDER OR A PARTS CAR IS WHAT I'M GONNA SAY.

(JOE)>> LETS CHECK OUT THOSE ENGINES THEY TOLD US ABOUT.

(TOMMY)>> YEAH, THAT'LL WORK.

YOU KNOW JOE, THEY SAY LOCKS ONLY KEEP HONEST PEOPLE HONEST.

(JOE)>> YEAH, YOU CAN KEEP THE LOCK FOR NOW.

(TOMMY)>> THIS OLD DUDE'S BEEN SITTING FOR A MINUTE. WELL IT'S THE OLD STYLE WITH A BREATHER, FOUR BARREL INTAKE, AND IT'S GOT A SET OF DOUBLE HUMP HEADS.

THIS MIGHT BE THE ENGINE OUT OF THAT OLD '66. NOPE, THOSE LAST TWO LETTERS ARE A LITTLE HARD TO READ BUT IT'S KL, AND THAT TELLS US IT'S A '67 327 BACKED BY A 350 TURBO. I HOPE HE DON'T GET MAD THAT WE BROKE UP HIS TARP.

(JOE)>> I THINK NATURE DID MOST OF IT.

(TOMMY)>> WELL JOE WHAT DO YOU THINK BUD?

(JOE)>> WELL I'VE SEEN BETTER, BUT YOU KNOW IT'S KINDA FUN. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE HUNT ANYWAY AND YOU'VE GOT TO GET IN THE GAME BEFORE YOU SCORE A POINT.

(TOMMY)>> YEAH, THAT'S NO LIE. YOU CAN'T STRIKE IT RICH EVERY TIME. LIKE HE JUST SAID, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE THRILL, AND TODAY

WE DIDN'T REALLY FIND MUCH THAT WAS REALLY WORTH

TAKING BACK WITH US.

(JOE)>> WELL I'D BE THRILLED IF WE FOUND SOME LUNCH, COME ON.

(TOMMY)>> YOU GONNA BUY?

(JOE)>> YEAH!

(TOMMY)>> COOL!

(JOE)>> I THINK I STEPPED IN SOMETHING.

(TOMMY)>> YOU KNOW THAT AIN'T MUD RIGHT?

(ANNOUNCER)>> AFTER THE BREAK IT'S REINFORCING YOUR FBODY. SAVE BUCKS BY FABBING UP YOUR OWN SET OF SUBFRAME CONNECTORS AND KEEP YOUR CHASSIS FROM TWISTING UNDER POWER.

(JOE)>> HEY WE'RE BACK, AND OUR CAT BACK EXHAUST SYSTEM'S RIGHT AT HOME UNDER THE T/A. WE ALSO WELDED IN A PAIR OF CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FROM MAGNAFLOW TO MAKE OUR '78 LEGAL FOR THE STREET. WITH THAT HANDLED WE'VE GOT SOMETHING ELSE TO CONSIDER. NOW THAT WE HAVE A STROKER ENGINE AND HIGH PERFORMANCE POWERTRAIN IN THIS T/A, THE CHASSIS' GONNA BE SUBJECTED TO MORE ABUSE THAT IT WAS EVER DESIGNED TO HANDLE. NOW THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT SOME STRUCTURAL ISSUES TO DEAL WITH. OVER TIME A CAR CAN ACTUALLY LOSE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. SO TO STRAIGHTEN AND STIFFEN IT UP YOU NEED TO LEVEL OUT THE SUBFRAME. THEN PREPARE TO REINFORCE THE TWO FRAME ELEMENTS.

ONE POPULAR WAY TO DO THAT IS TO USE SUBFRAME CONNECTORS TO JOIN THEM TOGETHER AS ONE UNIT.

(TOMMY)>> NOW WE COULD HAVE BOUGHT A SET OF PREBUILT SUBFRAME CONNECTORS BUT WE WANTED TO SHOW YOU GUYS HOW TO BUILD THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE SUBFRAME CONNECTORS FOR EVERY MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE OUT THERE. SO WITH SOME EIGHTH INCH TUBING AND A LITTLE BIT OF PLATE WE'LL HAVE US A SET IN A JIFFY.

WITH SUBFRAME CONNECTORS YOU'RE TRYING TO CONNECT THE MEAT OF THE REAR OF THE CAR TO THE MEAT OF THE FRONT RIGHT HERE AT THE END OF THE SUBFRAME. TO GET STARTED WE'VE GOT TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF MEASURING.

(JOE)>> FROM THE REAR OF THE SUBFRAME TO THE POINT WHERE WE'LL JOIN IT TO THE UNIBODY FRAME IS ABOUT 39 INCHES.

(TOMMY)>> THE BRAKE LINE NEEDS TO BE PULLED BACK OUT OF THE WAY FOR NOW, NO BIG DEAL. THEN WE'LL CLEAN UP THE SURFACE AREA THAT WE'RE GONNA WELD WITH A GRINDER. WELL THAT PIECE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE OUT THIS PIECE OF TUBING CAUSE I WANT TO CUT THIS AT A BEVEL SO THAT IT WILL MATCH THIS ANGLE. THE NEXT THING I WANT TO DO IS MAKE A MARK RIGHT HERE. THAT WAY I CAN TAKE IT OFF AND CUT IT CAUSE I WANT TO MOVE THIS UP SO THAT THIS PIECE OF TUBING LINES UP BETTER WITH THE END OF THE SUBFRAME.

(JOE)>> AN EIGHTH INCH PLATE TO WIDEN THE CONNECTOR.

THEN ANOTHER ONE TO ALLOW US TO TIE INTO THE SUBFRAME TO BE TACKED INTO PLACE, THEN BURNED IN. A COUPLE OF HOLES ON EACH SIDE WILL ALLOW US TO BOLT IT TOGETHER. THEN WE'LL TAKE IT DOWN TO FINISH WELDING IT.

(TOMMY)>> WELL I GOT IT FINISH WELDED UP, WELDED IN PLACE TO THE REAR RAIL, AND BOLTED TO THE FRONT SUBFRAME. LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, ALL I HAVE TO DO NOW IS MAKE ANOTHER ONE FOR THE OTHER SIDE.

(JOE)>> WHEN THE TIME COMES TO REPLACE YOUR POINTS STYLE DISTRIBUTOR OR BULKY OLD HEI, WHY NOT GO FOR SOME PROVEN PLUG AND PLAY PERFORMANCE.

THAT'S WHAT THE PERTRONIX FLAME THROWER'S ALL ABOUT. YOU JUST INSTALL IT, CONNECT A COUPLE OF WIRES, FIRE UP THE ENGINE AND GO. THEY HAVE A LOT OF COOL FEATURES LIKE A TEMPERED DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT WITH LOW TORSION DISPLACEMENT FOR

ACCURACY AND LONG LIFE. PLUS THIS HOUSING IS CNC BILLET, LIGHT WEIGHT YET VERY STRONG. SUMMIT RACING HAS THEM FOR MANY APPLICATIONS. EACH ONE MADE TO KEEP YOU FIRED UP FOR A LONG TIME.

(TOMMY)>> FOR YOU MOPAR GUYS BUILDING A SMALL BLOCK FOR YOUR STREET MACHINE, MAKING SURE THE HEADERS ARE TUNED TO THE PROPER LENGTH AND TUBE SIZE CAN MAKE SOME POWER.

WHEN DOUG'S MAKES A SET OF FULL LENGTH HEADERS LIKE THIS, THEY DEVELOP THEM ON THE VEHICLE THEY'RE INTENDED TO FIT. THEY'RE MADE OF 16 GAUGE STEEL WITH INCH AND FIVE EIGHTHS PRIMARIES THAT DUMP INTO A THREE INCH COLLECTOR. YOU CAN GET THEM BARE OR LIKE THIS WITH THAT PRETTY CERAMIC COATING.

(JOE)>> THERE ARE A LOT OF SYNTHETIC MOTOR OILS ON THE MARKET TODAY BUT ONE, THIS JOE GIBBS DRIVEN HOT ROD OIL, IS MADE ESPECIALLY WITH A CHEMISTRY THAT CLASSIC AND MUSCLE CARS NEED. YOU'LL GET PROTECTION FROM DRY START UPS, RUST, AND CORROSION, AND THAT'S EVEN WHEN YOUR CAR'S IN STORAGE. WHAT'S MORE THERE'S A SPECIAL ANTIWEAR ADDITIVE FOR YOUR CAM AND LIFTERS. SIMPLY PUT YOU SHOULDN'T USE OIL DESIGNED FOR MODERN MACHINES IN OLDER STYLE ENGINES. JUST LIKE YOU SHOULDN'T MISS THE NEXT EPISODE OF DETROIT MUSCLE, GOT THAT? SEE YOU THEN!