Chevy Beretta LS swap and RWD conversion - budget 4.8/5spd 1996 Z26

[woody80z28]

Daily driving the car for a month or so last year made some needs for winter upgrades clear. And drag racing launches required new adjustable shocks so I picked up some Vikings. One of my brake master cylinders was leaking and I needed to adjust the bias bar, so I took out the dash and wired up a 2-step and elec defroster while I was in there. I fixed the friggin POS custom axles from Moser Engineering, and I also still had a little leak in the gas tank, so I took care of that too. This car is ready to daily drive now, and next month I'll be racing my old man's Challenger for bragging rights.

https://youtu.be/q6Xw8XXYN5I?si=1FsZLEe6bY_SMw1y

[woody80z28]

I bought custom Moser axles to fit my 5x100 drag wheels directly without an adapter and give me more fender well room for the slicks. I ordered them with Explorer brake pilot and Beretta wheel pilot and dual 5x100 and 5x115 pattern, so I could eventually fit 5x115 DIY beadlock drag wheels. $600 was a lot for axles on this budget-conscious car considering the entire 8.8 rear was $200, but it would allow me to do what I want.

Imagine my disappointment when I put them in and they vibrated by 45mph, when the junkyard stuff was fine at 80. The brake pilot was cut too small, so the rotor didn't center on the axle. I contacted Moser and they told me they couldn't fix them and they were custom so they couldn't be returned. I came up with my own gameplan to fix them (with minimal rework by Moser) and they still refused. So I fixed them myself on the lathe at work by turning the pilot down and making my own hubcentric ring pressed onto the axle. And I made my own GEARHEAD center cap...cause F Moser. The first test drive at 75mph was smooth sailing. That was more labor than it should have been, but at least the axles aren't $600 scrap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg5nFFoP9cY






And here's the video I made on DIY beadlock wheels for my Blazer SAS project. I'm going to be doing the same kind of thing with my Lumina APV minivan wheels for the Beretta. I think the sawblade beadlock ring looks freakin awesome.

https://youtu.be/RLeUMv4NltU

[ryeguy2006a]

I love having a lathe. I bought one about 2 years ago and was one of the best things I bought.

[woody80z28]

I love having a lathe. I bought one about 2 years ago and was one of the best things I bought.

Yeah, my job doesn't pay as much as I'd like...but it sure is nice to have a halfway decent machine shop at my disposal. Lathe, mill, vertical and horizontal bandsaws, drill presses, belt sander, grinding wheels, CNC router, UV printer...

[woody80z28]

Lots of daily driving. It's running/looking great and I made some more upgrades. Set the sloppy mechanics group on fire with my cut & welded control arms...but they work awesome. Gained me the steering clearance I needed, and added 2* of caster and about a degree of camber. Handles AWESOME now. I also got my rear sway bar frame brackets done and changed my torque arm bushing from a rubber trailer bushing to poly and a bracket. Braced the engine mounts to cut down on flex and I have an appt to get some door locks. haha Can it get much better? Yeah, I've got more plans...

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

[ryeguy2006a]

I love the car man, but long term you may want to build a jig and make some new lower arms out of tubes or other fabrication methods. Still really cool that you were able to gain better caster/camber numbers.