Diablo6.0 Build Diary by 01Lambiero

[01Lambiero]

Now we will move to the front suspension and the work to install the Wide Track Held Suspension and the C-4 brakes.
Upper Coilover bracket area cut and trimmed for new bracket.  No, that is NOT RUST.  It's Michigan GOLD.  I had a lot of cleaning up to do and then "Rust Stop" was applied before I sprayed it with epoxy gloss black.

Pic #2:  Upper coil-over shock mount
Pic #3:  Upper coil-over shock mount
Pic #4:  LF suspension installed
Pic #5:  Front rotor cut down
Pic #6:  Caliper Adapter installed; dust cover to be replaced later
Pic #7:  Mods to spindle before caliper adapter was installed
Pic #8:  Rotor and Caliper trial fit

[01Lambiero]

Pic #1     I installed my bare block and trans for placement and clearances.
Pic #2     I started cleaning up my struts and building necessary components.  Mustang Coil over parts fit nicely.
Pic #3     Here are my home made strut tower caps for the Cadillac struts.
Pic #4     This view show my little jig to position the struts at the proper angles to weld the caps to the framework tubing.  The strut is positioned at mid-travel for this operation.
Pic #5     You can see the additional bracing that has been welded into the rear tubing for strength.  Additional pieces will be added later as I see the need.  The top of the firewall has had rectangular tubing welded all the way laterally to the right side.

[01Lambiero]

1)  I made the floorpan support bracing from 1x3 rectangular tubing and welded it to the floorpan.
2)  "X" bracing installed.  Why didn't I clean and paint the floorpan prior???  Aaaah, hindsight is sooooo gooood.
3)  I welded the cross bar to connect the firewall supports.  You can see the rear section tubing on the "X" bracing at the bottom.  You can also see my centerline wire and plumb bob.  Just trying to keep it going in one direction.
4)  In this pic you can see that I connected the chassis to the jig at the Fiero cradle mounts.  I positioned my '99 Cadillac engine cradle to achieve the wheelbase and centered.  It is also spaced off of the floor to the ride height needed.
5)  I welded in the 2nd piece of cross tubing on the rear of the firewall.  It also connects to the vertical side tubing.
6)  I welded an additional 2x3 tubing on each rocker to brace the previously installed vertical piece.  My lower tubing hoop is installed and the pads for the cradle mounts have been welded in.

[01Lambiero]

1)2) My Diablo body is suspended overhead, held up via nylon rope and a boat winch.
3)4) I cut off the outer rockers and clamped 2x3 rectangular tubing to be welded.
5)  Vertical support tubing for the firewall is added to the rocker tubing

[01Lambiero]

Man, it's been ages since I started this so I'm going to have to hunt up the pics.  Here goes.
1)  First I picked out a loser Fiero to cut up.
2)  I stripped off the body exterior panels and removed the doors.  Rear view of stripped body.
3)  Fiero cab braced with tubing to prevent sagging.  Roof was cut off.
4)  Rear chassis is cut off behind firewall and removed.
5)  Alignment jig on floor.  Once the jig is fastened on the floor, the chassis will be centered and anchored in place to the jig.