'90 Competition Package Shadow - Drag Week Build

[ScottD]

It's ok.

It isn't like you made cupholders or anything though.

[black86glhs]

It looks OK, I guess.











HEHEHE!

[Reaper1]

Speaking of mad welding skills...today's project!

I wanted to run the IC pipes under the core support so I can run a full size radiator and condensor since I want to put AC back in it. The Shadows have a lip of flat sheet metal that drops down about 1.75" where the two halves of the core support are spot welded together. Running the pipes under that lip dropped the pipes way lower than I wanted to go...they were too low and were very visible, which I do not want.

What I decided to do was to go through the lip. Using a 2.5" holesaw, I cut a half circle in the lip and ground to fit the outer diameter of a piece of 2.5" exhaust pipe. Once fitted, I cut the pipe down, welded lips to them, then welded them to the half circle cut outs I made in the core support lip. What this did was pick the pipes up more than 1.5" higher, which gave me the ground clearance and the stealth look I was looking for while still being able to run the full size rad and condensor. By welding them to the core support, it also reinforced whatever structure the lip may have added to the core support.

They won't be visible unless someone is looking for them (especially when painted) and if I did want to restore the car back to 100% stock, I could cut them out and replace the sheet metal lip in no time. The roof on the other hand may take a little bit longer to do...

Pics attached.

That's shocking how close that is to the suggestion I was going to make...drilling holes through the core support and passing the pipes through the holes. The only reason I didn't post it up was because I figured you wouldn't want to cut into the core support! LOL Great minds think alike?

[Pat]

That's shocking how close that is to the suggestion I was going to make...drilling holes through the core support and passing the pipes through the holes. The only reason I didn't post it up was because I figured you wouldn't want to cut into the core support! LOL Great minds think alike?

Apparently! I considered going directly through the entire core support, but I wasn't really gaining much in doing it and honestly, it made me a bit nervous not knowing if there was any internal bracing inside the support that I wouldn't be able to weld without cutting more of the outer skin off. Where these cuts are not into the meat of the core support at all. It literally is just a straight lip of sheet metal with a few spot welds on it, so I had no concerns there and it gave me as much clearance as I needed. Plus, as I mentioned before, I can easily remove them down the road if I wanted.

[Reaper1]

Apparently! I considered going directly through the entire core support, but I wasn't really gaining much in doing it and honestly, it made me a bit nervous not knowing if there was any internal bracing inside the support that I wouldn't be able to weld without cutting more of the outer skin off. Where these cuts are not into the meat of the core support at all. It literally is just a straight lip of sheet metal with a few spot welds on it, so I had no concerns there and it gave me as much clearance as I needed. Plus, as I mentioned before, I can easily remove them down the road if I wanted.

Come to think of it, there might be an internal structure to the core support. I remember routing my battery wires through the support on my '89 'Baron when I mounted a tractor battery in the right front wheel well. I know my wire snake got caught on something a couple of times, but I don't remember what it was. Since Brian Slowe has obvioulsy cut a few of these up, maybe he has a definate answer?

[rx2mazda]

Is it running yet?

[Pat]

Is it running yet?

It ran a 12.1@ 117 about 2 hrs ago.

[Reaper1]

Video or it didn't happen!

[168glhs1986]

It ran a 12.1@ 117 about 2 hrs ago.

In the snow uphill....that's impressive.

[ScottD]

Is it running yet?

I think Pat told me when it is first running he's going to do a burnout with it on a piece of paper with a certain TM member's name on it ...

[Reaper1]

i think pat told me when it is first running he's going to do a burnout with it on a piece of paper with a certain tm member's name on it ...

bbbwwwwaahahahahahahahaaaahahaha!!!

[85boostbox]

I wonder what t-m member that would be ...

[Directconnection]

As I sit with my fingers in my azz... you do in a matter of months what I was going to do. Hey, now I can totally copy you if I come across any stumbles!

VNT is cool.... but HP/fun-factor is what these cars are really all about, and I know a 14 second ride ain't gonna float yer boat these days, so kudos to you!

[Directconnection]

Not to start an argument, but why would you do this to such a rare car?

I started the same transformation a couple years ago before I got heavily distracted into the music scene I am currently in.

I figured it like this: It's a car I have had and went through a lot with, so it's very sentimental to me (to the point, I sold my rust free VNT ES Shadow in order to keep this one) and like Pat said, everything can be reversible. But, sadly... most of us know these TMs will never amount to much like the cars of the muscle car era. I mean, they are already 25+ years old.

Back on topic: what are you using for a radiator Pat? I tracked down and bought a nice aftermarket aluminum rad online for a nice price. I just have to modify the filler neck.

Lastly... come and pick my car up and do your magic with it. I'm too lazy!

[Pat]

I started the same transformation a couple years ago before I got heavily distracted into the music scene I am currently in.

I figured it like this: It's a car I have had and went through a lot with, so it's very sentimental to me (to the point, I sold my rust free VNT ES Shadow in order to keep this one) and like Pat said, everything can be reversible. But, sadly... most of us know these TMs will never amount to much like the cars of the muscle car era. I mean, they are already 25+ years old.

Back on topic: what are you using for a radiator Pat? I tracked down and bought a nice aftermarket aluminum rad online for a nice price. I just have to modify the filler neck.

Lastly... come and pick my car up and do your magic with it. I'm too lazy!

Ha ha..thanks. I get pretty enthused when I start a new project. :-)

I am going to try to run a full size T1 radiator with a slimmer fan. I want to keep it as generic/bolt in as possible for the long drag week drive in case something breaks. Fewer custom parts, the better.

[Vigo]

Congrats on the nice runs!

[Pat]

I was just messing woth Carroll...it's not running. Yet.

[turboshad]

Do I need to spark up the website again so you guys can have another race?

[Vigo]

I was just messing woth Carroll...it's not running. Yet.

Oh you. Well your history of rapid accomplishments and good results set me up to think that was perfectly plausible in your case.

[SilverFleet]

Cool project Pat!!! I'll be watching this one closely and taking notes.