Author Topic: F1 Project  (Read 217380 times)

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #200 on: March 09, 2026, 01:15:16 PM »
Thanks guys! Ryan, I didn't even notice that. Very interesting. 

I'm really trying to get as much done on this as possible. I'd live to have it on the road this year but momentum usually slows way down I nce summer hits. It also doesn't help that we might be buying a house across the street... No reason, just don't want someone moving in there.... One of my kids may move in it someday and we might put up a pole barn there (we have 3 large out buildings on our lot already) to put trailers and other projects in. My son has started collecting project vehicles now too.

Anyways, Im just trying to make as much progress as possible right now.

I ordered a new fuel tank and a stock fuel cap which i will weld in place as a dummy so the truck still looks stock. I'm going to have to run the S10 filler into the bed floor somehow.  I did order a mid 90s Silverado filler neck which is pretty straight and I'm hoping I can make that work in thw floor.

More to come....
79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #201 on: March 13, 2026, 03:08:05 PM »
Spent the day working on the dash again. I had to extend the left side down and make a lip to mount the vent plate I made next. Made the vent mount out of one piece.  It has flanges top and bottom. The top one let's me bolt it to the dash so it removable. That just gives me more space to work when I have to cram all the wiring,  wipers and ductwork back there....







79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

76455sd

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #202 on: March 14, 2026, 12:00:40 AM »
That looks really nice. Like it green there. :D
Steve D
'76 LE 455/4speed/solid roof - SOLD
'02 WS6 T/A convertible

ryeguy2006a

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #203 on: March 16, 2026, 08:17:24 AM »
Really nice work!

1976 Trans Am LS1 and much more...SOLD
1968 Camaro LSA, T56 Magnum, and much more...SOLD

Current Project: 1955 Nomad LC9, 4L80e, C5 brakes and etc...

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #204 on: March 20, 2026, 04:29:07 PM »
I know this truck isn't for everybody. The screen here will probably lose some folks. Just doing my best to build something from junk.

I cut the radio delete plate so I could move it where I wanted. Cut and filled the radio hole. Made a place for the new radio. Worked on the door that will hide the push buttons for the 4x4 and made a mounting bracket for the radio.







79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

Re: F1 Project
« Reply #204 on: March 20, 2026, 04:29:07 PM »

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #205 on: March 22, 2026, 05:14:16 PM »
Once I had the radio and things laid out I decided to recess the mounting bracket so I can make a radio faceplate to cover it all up.

I made 2 of these pockets with welded nuts on the back and welded them in.








79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

70_71_78

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #206 on: March 23, 2026, 10:33:58 AM »
Love the dash work!

5th T/A

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #207 on: March 23, 2026, 01:07:20 PM »
Luke, great job on the instrument panel fabrication. Especially the lower section for the AC vents and control panel. Gives it a nice retro/modern look.
1980 T/A with a Pontiac 461

Gone but not forgotten;
1973 T/A 455
1975 T/A 400
1978 T/A W72
1982 T/A cross fire injected

Two wheel toys;
2014 Harley Ultra Classic Limited
2013 Honda CB1100
2010 Yamaha Vmax
1982 Yamaha Seca 750

ryeguy2006a

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #208 on: March 23, 2026, 02:14:59 PM »
Excellent work! How do you get the metal so smooth after welding? DA sander?

1976 Trans Am LS1 and much more...SOLD
1968 Camaro LSA, T56 Magnum, and much more...SOLD

Current Project: 1955 Nomad LC9, 4L80e, C5 brakes and etc...

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #209 on: March 24, 2026, 03:37:20 AM »
The key is constant heat to create constant warp with TIG welding. You can hammer and dolly to stretch the weld area back out to remove the warpage. Then 80 grit disc on a die grinder and 89 grit DA. Also, I can't stress enough, metal fitment. Minimal gaps for TIG equals no filler rod needed or at least minimal and keep the surface flush so when you gring the weld area down it dissappears. TIG welding sheet metal is nice because the weld is so small or nonexistent. 

Now, I mig welded the bottom plate in because it was a long weld and out in the open, meaning no support from and curve, bend or body line. That leads to easy warpage so I wanted to put minimal heat into the pane. With mig I just do a billion really hot spot welds but then hit them with air to cool them really fast. Now if mig welding you want a tiny gap between panels because as the weld cools it pull/shrinks and can cause fitment issues but you still want them level with each other so the wleds will dissappear. The key here is really hot spot welds so they almost melt flush and you don't have a huge lump if wled to grind down. And to cool them really fast so the heat doesn't warp the panel. Also jump around again, to keep the heat down.

Mig welding creates a hard weld that can't we bent easily without cracking, TIG welds and be manipulated pretty much just like the surrounding sheet metal so you can hammer and dolly them, bend, stretch and shrink them.
79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

N PRGRES

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #210 on: March 24, 2026, 07:13:42 AM »
Looks great! 
Dave

81 Trans Am w/73 400.

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #211 on: March 28, 2026, 06:00:41 PM »
So I got to thinking that maybe 3D printing the radio surround may be the easiest.  I plan to epoxy it and sand it smooth and paint it the same as the dash.








« Last Edit: March 28, 2026, 06:07:33 PM by FormTA »
79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

ryeguy2006a

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #212 on: March 30, 2026, 06:54:55 AM »
That looks amazing dude!!

1976 Trans Am LS1 and much more...SOLD
1968 Camaro LSA, T56 Magnum, and much more...SOLD

Current Project: 1955 Nomad LC9, 4L80e, C5 brakes and etc...

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #213 on: March 30, 2026, 06:42:53 PM »
It will look better once it's in one color.
79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #214 on: April 11, 2026, 03:16:37 PM »
Trying to route wiring to see where items like the ECU, ABS pump, battery and fuse box need to go.

These have to go in roughly these locations unless I want to rewire things, which I don't. I got them all mounted by making custom brackets. The stock S10 intake system will not work as it is setup to face the drivers side and there is no easy way to flip it with what I have. I did find that 4.3 silverado's use a pasanger side air intake, so I'm searching for a reasonable priced hat from one of those. 



79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

Re: F1 Project
« Reply #214 on: April 11, 2026, 03:16:37 PM »

5th T/A

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #215 on: April 11, 2026, 03:41:37 PM »
Luke, nice job with the engine compartment layout. All those extras that didn’t exist back in the day.
1980 T/A with a Pontiac 461

Gone but not forgotten;
1973 T/A 455
1975 T/A 400
1978 T/A W72
1982 T/A cross fire injected

Two wheel toys;
2014 Harley Ultra Classic Limited
2013 Honda CB1100
2010 Yamaha Vmax
1982 Yamaha Seca 750

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #216 on: April 11, 2026, 06:04:55 PM »
Thanks! It will all have to come apart now for paint.
79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

ryeguy2006a

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #217 on: April 13, 2026, 08:03:46 AM »
Looks like a solid mock up to me. Looks like plenty of space to service items in the future.

1976 Trans Am LS1 and much more...SOLD
1968 Camaro LSA, T56 Magnum, and much more...SOLD

Current Project: 1955 Nomad LC9, 4L80e, C5 brakes and etc...

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #218 on: April 18, 2026, 03:28:27 PM »
After many days of measuring and cutting, welding and fitting, I finally got the S10 seats in and on the right plane.  Seats are always hard to fit because their feet are never flat, they fit the crazy floor of the car. I made 4 adaptors to fit these.





79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

ryeguy2006a

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #219 on: April 20, 2026, 05:48:51 AM »
Those seats look right at home!

1976 Trans Am LS1 and much more...SOLD
1968 Camaro LSA, T56 Magnum, and much more...SOLD

Current Project: 1955 Nomad LC9, 4L80e, C5 brakes and etc...

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #220 on: April 24, 2026, 12:46:12 PM »


Just plugging away at things. Got the S10 seat belts installed in the cab. Got the S10 door switched installed in the jams. Made a bracket and mounted the daylight sensor in the dash. 







79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

N PRGRES

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #221 on: April 26, 2026, 06:21:18 AM »
Nice
Dave

81 Trans Am w/73 400.

ryeguy2006a

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #222 on: April 27, 2026, 05:58:02 AM »
Looking great! I like how you are adding the whole harness from the S10. Will make it feel much more modern.

1976 Trans Am LS1 and much more...SOLD
1968 Camaro LSA, T56 Magnum, and much more...SOLD

Current Project: 1955 Nomad LC9, 4L80e, C5 brakes and etc...

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #223 on: April 27, 2026, 07:38:49 AM »
And to trouble shoot any problems in thw future. The only pice that isn't going to make it in this truck is the pasanger side airbag. Now my donor S10 was a standard cab so it has the switch to turn off the pasanger side airbag but I don't know what the BCM will think if that bag is not installed. The entire airbag system will be in place other than that. I wonder if I can wire in a resistor or something to trick the module to think the bag is there
79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

ryeguy2006a

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #224 on: April 27, 2026, 08:28:18 AM »
Pull the bulb?

1976 Trans Am LS1 and much more...SOLD
1968 Camaro LSA, T56 Magnum, and much more...SOLD

Current Project: 1955 Nomad LC9, 4L80e, C5 brakes and etc...

Re: F1 Project
« Reply #224 on: April 27, 2026, 08:28:18 AM »

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #225 on: April 28, 2026, 04:14:51 AM »

Today I decided to try to hide the 4x4 switch. I built this door in the dash that looks similar to the original ashtray. Then I made the panel to hold the push buttons. I fine turned the odd hinges I created. The door is sitting off a bit off and I have adjustments built in to fix that, I just ran out of time last night to fine tune it. The plan is to texture paint the back panel. I think it came out fine. It's just to hide some of the out of place things. I think the dash looks good and blends both eras together well. But that's just my opinion, some will hate it....







79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

ryeguy2006a

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #226 on: April 28, 2026, 06:41:41 AM »
I think it looks amazing man! If there are haters, let them hate haha.

1976 Trans Am LS1 and much more...SOLD
1968 Camaro LSA, T56 Magnum, and much more...SOLD

Current Project: 1955 Nomad LC9, 4L80e, C5 brakes and etc...

5th T/A

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #227 on: April 28, 2026, 07:36:27 AM »
Luke, sure is fun watching this F1 project come together. I am impressed and jealous of your fabrication skills. Do you keep track of hours you spend? I have said this before and I will say it again, how is it the guys who have full time jobs and families somehow make time to work on their projects?
1980 T/A with a Pontiac 461

Gone but not forgotten;
1973 T/A 455
1975 T/A 400
1978 T/A W72
1982 T/A cross fire injected

Two wheel toys;
2014 Harley Ultra Classic Limited
2013 Honda CB1100
2010 Yamaha Vmax
1982 Yamaha Seca 750

N PRGRES

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #228 on: April 29, 2026, 04:23:36 AM »
Wow that looks fantastic
Dave

81 Trans Am w/73 400.

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #229 on: April 29, 2026, 06:54:51 AM »
Ah, you guys make it sound like it's amazing.... it's no where near the talent or quality of work I've seen others do but I do my best, see where it takes me and learn along the way. I am realizing that I can't spend crazy time micro focusing on stuff or things will never get done. I walked out to my other building the other day and was thinking, I really should just let my son take a stab at getting the Formula on the road as there are two more projects sitting next to it.... and I'm not getting any younger and I have others fantasy projects brewing in my head....

Oh, and I get up 5am, got to work till 4 or so and then come home, couple days a week, go out to the shop amd work till 8pm. Then dinner,shower bed. I pick the days my wife works long days or is busy doing something with one of my kids (17&19). She also goes to her moms house on Saturdays and works while she watches her mom whi is barely able to live by herself. But once summer gets here my time disappears. I had to mow yesterday and that was 3 1/2 hours... 4 acres and now, I have to do that twice a week with all the rain. That amd we go to the lake pretty much every weekend in the summer... So progress will probably slow to a crawl soon.
« Last Edit: April 29, 2026, 07:06:33 AM by FormTA »
79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

ryeguy2006a

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #230 on: April 30, 2026, 05:59:37 AM »
Luke, that sounds similar to my schedule too. I'll also do small things throughout the week to set myself up for when I can really dig into something. Like get my car on wheel stands one night, then the next night disassemble and etc.

When are you going to give me the 68? I'm picking up a 6.2 shortblock from my buddy and have an LS3 top end and T56 ready to install in something.  :lol:

1976 Trans Am LS1 and much more...SOLD
1968 Camaro LSA, T56 Magnum, and much more...SOLD

Current Project: 1955 Nomad LC9, 4L80e, C5 brakes and etc...

N PRGRES

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #231 on: April 30, 2026, 11:17:57 AM »
Must be nice, I get little time to work on my car any more, wife gets pissy if I do, almost to the point of selling it but not there yet.
Dave

81 Trans Am w/73 400.

FormTA

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #232 on: May 01, 2026, 07:30:39 AM »
Quote
When are you going to give me the 68? I'm picking up a 6.2 shortblock from my buddy and have an LS3 top end and T56 ready to install in something.  :lol:


Ya, um, my wife would kill me is I sold that. I'm that guy, I'm going to do something with it on day".

Maybe I should buy that setup from you.
79 Trans am low buck LS swapped
79 Formula 301 (Work in progress)
67 RS Camaro (waiting it's turn)
69 Dodge charger on late model charger chassis
49 Ford F1 on a 2003 Chevy ZR2 Chassis (current project)
Names, Luke. If I hear anyone telling me they're my father....

ryeguy2006a

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Re: F1 Project
« Reply #233 on: May 04, 2026, 07:33:53 AM »
Just tell her I'm borrowing it, but in a sort of permanent kind of way.  :lol:

1976 Trans Am LS1 and much more...SOLD
1968 Camaro LSA, T56 Magnum, and much more...SOLD

Current Project: 1955 Nomad LC9, 4L80e, C5 brakes and etc...

Re: F1 Project
« Reply #233 on: May 04, 2026, 07:33:53 AM »
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