Beretta.net

Pretty nice, aside from the GM Peel-O-Matic paint. Same thing is happening to my '89 GTU. Dirty or primer -my two only options. Maybe someday I'll stop adding new hobbies and projects, and actually paint it and the GTA together... I want both in 'correct' GM white, so... But the GTU will need fresh decals. I have the files you sent me last eon for the "3.8 Supercharged" to replace the stock "2.8 Multiport Fuel Injection", and a design I made to incorporate the L36 and L67 engine heritage it houses, along with a symbolic reference to the boosted "6" emblem used on the GNX in the '80s... Not a bad start, but no where near the finish-line either.

That sounds pretty cool. I like modifying the old artwork to be "period-correct" looking but designate the new technology. My ZF6 and Z69 decals always get a lot of attention, and I plan on making an LS in the "baywatch" type font that the 91-93 GTs had on their door decals. Those are all on my list of youtube channel tshirts to sell online, but I ran into a snag on my first "suck squeeze bang blow" shirt from the vendor. I thought they might have flagged it for vulgarity, but they said I couldn't put my GEARHEADdezign logo on it, because the term "gear head" was trademarked back in the 70s by some welding helmet company. So I've gotta figure a way around that...

I have been making progress on the Beretta. But more of that will have to wait until I get more videos done. Here's the next installment...

The internet can't agree what the center section of the Ford 8.8 is, but after some testing and one good source...I determined it's nodular iron. Also found a way to MIG it successfully with stainless wire. That means I can build my torque arm mount and weld it up. I also gotta weld the tubes to the center section. Don't want to end up spinning the tubes like my Camaro (quick 2008 clip of that faulire too). haha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOl56x9C-EY

Eeee... I tried welding some of Ford's crap-tastic parts, a cast lower control-arm from a late '90s/early 2000s F-150, and it was HORRIBLE. Wouldn't puddle, wouldn't take a bead... I hope whoever made the rear diff for them for the year you have didn't go with similar metallurgy... Sounds like they didn't though... I know I wasn't trying stainless wire, maybe that would have been the trick...

I went ahead and welded the tubes. Doesn't look beautiful, because stainless wire is kinda splattery (at least with my shielding gas) but it will certainly be enough to keep the tubes from spinning like my Camaro.
I did some pre-heat and post-heat, and had zero cracking anywhere. I didn't think I would, since my worst-case-scenario test didn't crack either...but being the first time welding cast it still had me a little nervous.


Now I just gotta cut off all the explorer stuff and weld on my lower control arm mounts and coilover mounts. I thought I'd have that done already, but there's so much time pissed away at xmas. Bah humbug. What an ass ache. I did get some tools I'll never use and other worthless junk. I'm a grinch for a reason.
https://youtu.be/ZIK0b0AwUH0

More rear axle progress! Got the lower control arm mounts trimmed, drilled and welded up. I also lathed my tube ends down to match the .120 tube I'm using for the LCAs and torque arm. Cut all the explorer brackets off and tried to see if I could reuse the shock brackets for coilovers, but that wasn't gonna happen. I need the coilovers a fair amount below the axle centerline. So I found an adjustable mount for cheap! $25 straight from China I'm sure, but it looks like they'll work decent. I'm gonna weld them pretty close to the LCA brackets and weld a brace to span the gap. I picked up "shock mounts" for the panhard bar also. I think that will work out nice. Seems to be coming together, and still looking good on the budget. Probably have it driving for 1/3 the sale price of the ol' SS. haha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nckaWK5oAgo

You know there's a video coming soon...but I'm too excited not to post these pics. The axle is done! Ready to install under the car. Mounts for the lower control arms, torque arm, panhard bar and coilovers are all done. They're all adjustable so I can dial them in perfect in the car. The 3.73s and LSD are back in and my Motorsports Tech custom order Explorer 5x4.5 to Beretta 5x100 hubcentric and wheelcentric spacers are on. I also tested my 15" slicks and they clear the Ford brakes by a mile.

Ooooo, pretty! Buuut, you need more colors in there -not quite a bag-o-Skittles yet! Hahaha.

My old Plymouth is "Limelight Green" (AKA "SubLime Green"), the engine-block is Mopar Orange, the air-cleaner decal with the funny-sounding bird on it is red, the model's "signature" horn is purple, at one point I had a "Blue Streak" blue distributor cap and yellow Accel ignition-wires... Always made me think it was a bit 'clownish'... I never got around to buying the Lime Green Taylor-Cable wires I wanted for it -just a little too pricey.

But that axle is looking good -very nice on all the brackets. With the slick on there, it looks pretty serious too.

90s baby!

Got the first half of the video done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGvRswSSICc
Measuring for the the adapters and making them work on the axle. That whole axle was pretty rusty too, so I blasted and rebuilt the calipers for $4 a side. And I picked up some more truck parts for it!


Just finished the lower control arms tonight but forgot to get a pic. Adjustability will be sweet.

Actually got the car in my old man's garage finally and did the FWD delete. Got his lift functional a few weeks ago. Heat will be done this week. Sucks working in the cold when I'm used to my heated garage, but that lift is awesome already. I appreciate the room too, cause my garage is pretty full with the Camaro.

Time to start cutting and get all this stuff in there. I'd love to have it done by May 21...that's the day I sold the last one. But Auhust 29 (when I bought the new one) is probably a more realistic goal. haha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sZUbO6Qe38






Byyeeeeeeee

https://youtu.be/WuDwUnhwPAk

Got the rest of the video up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzDmbUo-s9Q



And a little taste of the next one...

That shot of the rear axle under the car has me feeling all sorts of ways.

Axle is in now, but it still needs the panhard bar..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZvg9NwLvu0

Less progress this weekend. Tore everything but the dash out to get ready for floor removal. Made a modification to my panhard bar mount and picked up all the steel I need. Keep plugging along.

Panhard bar and rear axle are finalized. Figuring out the rear ride height.
https://youtu.be/Du1pdVQISFE


But this is the part that has me really excited!