Beretta.net

I'm not a big fan of that "gen" Camaro, and you and I have spoken about that, but I have NO DOUBT this will be a very impressive build having seen your attention to detail and the build quality of your Beretta.

Looks like a nice project!

Not too many big fans of the rubbernoses out there. There are a couple on NastyZ28 done well, but I still have yet to see an elite build by one of the pros on a 78-81...there are a ton of 67-73, and I saw one third gen by Rad Rides by Troy. That's one of the reasons I'm doing mine though, I like to be different. Not much respect for Berettas out there either outside our little world either.

Are you going to fill in the circular blower motor hole?

I'll just fill that with a bolted plate, no weld.

I got my Spintechs and I might actually be able to keep the cutouts. The Spintechs are smaller than my old Summit mufflers so it gives me a little more freedom on the layout. I could put them about where they were before and clock them for better ground clearance, or I can install them right off the headers. I don't really think they would hurt anything dumping toward the trans crossmember...

As you can see the driver's side header is a little low. I'm trying to decide whether it's worth cutting a 1/2" out of all the tubes to tuck it closer to the floor. I already bashed the floor boards for the old Hedmans so it would be nice to gain that extra ground clearance.

I also pounded on the trans crossmember and dropped the trans mount pad for some extra room. The BFH makes me feel better after a long week at work...haha

Military spec wiring connection there?

are using those cutouts or going electric. gonna be a bitch crawling under there every time you want to open them

Electronic ones always leak.

I've always had the manual ones under the car. This one and the Beretta...not a problem. At the drag strip I'm always on the ground for something anyway...haha Maybe it will suck being a couple inches lower, but I can tough it out.

Had a better idea on the cutouts...I'm going to cut off the dump leg and put it on the 45* bend for the x-pipe, so the headers dump straight back out the cut outs when open, and 45* to the x-pipe when closed. Tons of room there and it will work much better...not sure why I didnt think of that years ago!

I also did cut up that driver's header. If it was pretty I probably wouldnt have...ok, yeah, I probably would have anyway. Took 3/4" out and it's a hair lower than the pass side, but just barely. Much better fit. I have about 1/2" to the floor board now, so it may need a couple more swings with the BFH where the collector ring is to make sure it doesn't contact under load.

As a whole, the exhaust is tucking up pretty nicely, with only a couple spots barely lower than the subframe or subframe connectors. I'm liking it so far.

Finished up the exhaust today. Only thing missing is the cutout dumps, I just need to get over to a friends house to use his plasma cutter. Everything tucks up really nice. The bottom bolt on the header flanges hang just below the subframe, but that is it, and I rerouted the over the axle pipes for max suspension clearance. Next thing will be the rear Hotchkis bar install and then cutting off & modifying the mount where the SFCs connect to the SF so it's removable for the rotisserie.

Are you using a gas shielded welder or just flux core? Welds are improving but still need a bit more work

Gas. When I can get it out in the open and run a bead it's not too bad. But tacking under the car I still end up with bird crap. haha It is kinda funny to look at my old welds on the x-pipe from '07 vs the new stuff. Big difference.

is it a 110v or 220? I've noticed 110v welders are much harder to get a good tack weld out of but a 220 works pretty good since you have more heat available quickly.

220V. I just don't like welding against gravity. Much harder. Really looking forward to getting the body on the rotisserie so I can weld the floor belly-up.

Installed the rear sway bar via the Hotchkis instructions and don't really like how low it hangs. I may lengthen the endlinks by 3/4" or so.

Getting really close to rotisserie time!