Project "Scraps" Mast Motorsports Drag Test Car
09-23-2008, 03:16 PM
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Project "Scraps" Mast Motorsports Drag Test Car Overview
First a little back story on our latest drag racing endeavors here at Mast Motorsports because it is quite a funny story. Damon, our shop manger, here is probably the biggest G-Body enthusiast that I personally know. He has owned 4 of the cars and is a true believer of that chassis in a drag racing application. Damon was on his way to work one morning whenever he saw a 1978 Malibu on a trailer, pulling into the local scrap yard. By the time he could get turned around and back to the scrap yard the owner of the car was about to be paid for the scrap value of the car. He quickly eyed the car and offered the owner $350 as opposed to the $300 he was about to be paid. Needless to say the guy took the money and the project that we call “Scraps” was born. We found this as a great opportunity to track test some of our various engine packages and have fun with it, all while TRYING to stay within a budget. The first engine combination in our plan is installing one of our LSX 454 SS crate engines into this chassis. We are trying to get it together quickly in order to bring this car to the LSX Shootout in Memphis, TN on October 10-12. Below are some pictures of the blank canvas.
For those of you who don’t know, the Rusk State Hospital is the State sanitarium. I think we are probably going to need the parking permit after we get done finishing this car on such a short schedule.
First a little back story on our latest drag racing endeavors here at Mast Motorsports because it is quite a funny story. Damon, our shop manger, here is probably the biggest G-Body enthusiast that I personally know. He has owned 4 of the cars and is a true believer of that chassis in a drag racing application. Damon was on his way to work one morning whenever he saw a 1978 Malibu on a trailer, pulling into the local scrap yard. By the time he could get turned around and back to the scrap yard the owner of the car was about to be paid for the scrap value of the car. He quickly eyed the car and offered the owner $350 as opposed to the $300 he was about to be paid. Needless to say the guy took the money and the project that we call “Scraps” was born. We found this as a great opportunity to track test some of our various engine packages and have fun with it, all while TRYING to stay within a budget. The first engine combination in our plan is installing one of our LSX 454 SS crate engines into this chassis. We are trying to get it together quickly in order to bring this car to the LSX Shootout in Memphis, TN on October 10-12. Below are some pictures of the blank canvas.
For those of you who don’t know, the Rusk State Hospital is the State sanitarium. I think we are probably going to need the parking permit after we get done finishing this car on such a short schedule.
09-23-2008, 03:21 PM
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Cool story--one of my friends is a G-Body nut also---he has a black and silver 1980 Malibu with a FACTORY 4-Speed..Burgundy interior and the car is losded..[383 stroker/9-inch..etc..].1 of 200 or around there...he also has a 1983 Hurst-Olds [Hardtop!!!]with the Lightening Rod Shifter and a blue 1979 2-door Cutlass...
09-23-2008, 05:02 PM
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I have to keep my eyes on this one. My first car was a 78 malibu and I just didn't have enough money to make a swap. I eventually want to have a G-body with an LSx swap. This is gonna be one sick Bu!
09-23-2008, 09:52 PM
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That car is in wicked shape to even be considered to scrap! Kudos to Damon for saving that specimen!!
I have a soft spot for 'Bu's....my dad used to have a 79 Malibu....
I have a soft spot for 'Bu's....my dad used to have a 79 Malibu....
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09-23-2008, 11:13 PM
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i also have a sweat spot for those cars.....just got a 79 montel but was really searching for a 77-81 bu two door.
nothing but rust buckets down here that one looks pretty good!,,,,how is the rear of the frame?..nice save something tells me iam goin to love this thread!
nothing but rust buckets down here that one looks pretty good!,,,,how is the rear of the frame?..nice save something tells me iam goin to love this thread!
09-24-2008, 07:42 AM
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Originally Posted by MastMotorsports
We found this as a great opportunity to track test some of our various engine packages and have fun with it, all while TRYING to stay within a budget. The first engine combination in our plan is installing one of our LSX 454 SS crate engines...
Seriously tho, neat car!
09-24-2008, 11:00 AM
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Cage Installation
The first order of business was to make the car safe. In the interest of time we sent this to Dennis Hurst, a local chassis builder here in Nacogdoches, TX. Dennis actually has one of these cars as well, so it was nothing new for him. The cage is a 10 point to be certified to 8.50s. Below are some pictures of the undergoing surgery for the cage installation.
As you can see, Dennis does some top quality fabrication.
Here is the general layout of cage.
Here is a pic of where the cage ties into the engine bay as well as the LS3 mock up block that was used.
Damon got Dennis to make the cage good to 8.50 spec. since we will probably be using this car for developing turbocharged engine packages.
Damon is spending every free minute to try and get this car ready for the LSX Shootout in Memphis. He has T-minus 15 days to get it ready so this thread is going to move fast here for a while.
The first order of business was to make the car safe. In the interest of time we sent this to Dennis Hurst, a local chassis builder here in Nacogdoches, TX. Dennis actually has one of these cars as well, so it was nothing new for him. The cage is a 10 point to be certified to 8.50s. Below are some pictures of the undergoing surgery for the cage installation.
As you can see, Dennis does some top quality fabrication.
Here is the general layout of cage.
Here is a pic of where the cage ties into the engine bay as well as the LS3 mock up block that was used.
Damon got Dennis to make the cage good to 8.50 spec. since we will probably be using this car for developing turbocharged engine packages.
Damon is spending every free minute to try and get this car ready for the LSX Shootout in Memphis. He has T-minus 15 days to get it ready so this thread is going to move fast here for a while.
09-24-2008, 11:03 AM
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09-24-2008, 11:16 AM
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09-29-2008, 03:46 PM
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Diff. Installation
The diff. is a 12 bolt with Strange 33 Spline axles and a spool out of Damon’s big block Malibu. He is mini-tubbing the rear to make room for the Mickey Thompson 28x12.50 ET Streets. It has a Spohn 1-5/16” Pro-Series Drag ARB and QA1 single adjustable coilovers. He is using South Side bars off of the big block car as well.
Pictures of the mini-tub in its early stages.
Diff. Complete and Installed
More Diff. Complete and Installed
Shot of the car on the ground with no engine.
This build is going to continue to move fast to try and make the LSX Shootout.
The diff. is a 12 bolt with Strange 33 Spline axles and a spool out of Damon’s big block Malibu. He is mini-tubbing the rear to make room for the Mickey Thompson 28x12.50 ET Streets. It has a Spohn 1-5/16” Pro-Series Drag ARB and QA1 single adjustable coilovers. He is using South Side bars off of the big block car as well.
Pictures of the mini-tub in its early stages.
Diff. Complete and Installed
More Diff. Complete and Installed
Shot of the car on the ground with no engine.
This build is going to continue to move fast to try and make the LSX Shootout.
09-30-2008, 11:15 AM
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Engine Teaser
Here are some teaser pics of the engine going together. Damon now has the interior in the car and is working on detail work until the engine is done. Our engine builders are working on the engine as I type this and it is scheduled to go onto the dyno on Friday. We are using a Moroso LS Series oil pan on this engine. This pan uses a remote mount filter and seems to be a nice so far. We will see how we like it once we run it.
Shown in the picture below is the windage tray and pickup that you use with the Moroso oil pan.
This is the assembled short block. We are using the same Callies crank, Compstar rods, and Mahle forged pistons as in all of our LSX 454 SS crate engines.
More assembled short block.
Here are some teaser pics of the engine going together. Damon now has the interior in the car and is working on detail work until the engine is done. Our engine builders are working on the engine as I type this and it is scheduled to go onto the dyno on Friday. We are using a Moroso LS Series oil pan on this engine. This pan uses a remote mount filter and seems to be a nice so far. We will see how we like it once we run it.
Shown in the picture below is the windage tray and pickup that you use with the Moroso oil pan.
This is the assembled short block. We are using the same Callies crank, Compstar rods, and Mahle forged pistons as in all of our LSX 454 SS crate engines.
More assembled short block.
