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Cts, awd, 2door conversion insanity

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Old Jul 17, 2017 | 06:50 AM
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Default Cts, awd, 2door conversion insanity

I started this project Jan 2017, and have made pretty good progress. Still needs a ton of work but looking forward to it. I have a regular job so I get to this when I have extra time. This is my vision..

Body:
Base model v6 CTS (going to use everything off V)
Widebody 3-4" all around
2 door conversion (6" extended front door, and whole body shorten for shorter wheelbase ~ 104-108" wheelbase)
1" chop top and maybe windshield slanted down 1/2" for sleeker coupe look
Front windshield will be glass, all other windows will be lexan


Drivetrain: (already got)
Lm4 5.3 aluminum block
T56 transmission
Trailblazer ss transfer case np120
Trailblazer ss front differential
8.8 cobra aluminum irs differential

Suspension:
Some may not approve but I'm going with airbags just because they've been track proven and better for driveability, and of course because everything looks sick! Laying on the ground.

Plans are (hopefully) 1000awhp at ~ 2800-3000lbs


^^ that's the cheap paint rendering I did to give u all an idea of what it'll look like.





















And that's where I'm at today.
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Old Jul 17, 2017 | 09:22 AM
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Oh geez, not another one of those..... Haha! Just kidding! You've got some serious work ahead of you, but from the looks of it you're on the right track. Good luck with it and be sure to keep the thread updated, I'll be following.
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Old Jul 17, 2017 | 09:29 AM
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Ok, gotta be honest reading through the description, I'm thinkin this sounds ******* dumb. But looking at the pics, it looks ******* sick. Especially all laid out with those fatty tires. Keep up the progress, good luck, will def be following this one.
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Old Jul 17, 2017 | 09:50 AM
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Originally Posted by ls1nova71
Oh geez, not another one of those..... Haha! Just kidding! You've got some serious work ahead of you, but from the looks of it you're on the right track. Good luck with it and be sure to keep the thread updated, I'll be following.
Another one? No way, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one doing this lol.

Originally Posted by 71ANTICARB
Ok, gotta be honest reading through the description, I'm thinkin this sounds ******* dumb. But looking at the pics, it looks ******* sick. Especially all laid out with those fatty tires. Keep up the progress, good luck, will def be following this one.
Why did it sound dumb? Doesn't everyone like an awd build?... thanks though, but yea all 4 corners will have 315/35 20's, so it'll be wide.
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Old Jul 17, 2017 | 07:47 PM
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man that motor is way up under there. that should be interesting... well along with everything else. subbed.
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Old Jul 17, 2017 | 08:05 PM
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Are you going to build the front suspension from scratch or use something that already has AWD?
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Old Jul 17, 2017 | 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by scj
man that motor is way up under there. that should be interesting... well along with everything else. subbed.
Yea it's about 6-7" higher than where it sits in a stock Cts-V. It has to be that way since my whole drivetrain is bolted up together including the rear diff, so I can't have the diff sitting too low because it'll be to much of an angle on the axles. Plus, I need the height to clear the front diff and driveshaft.

Originally Posted by EastTnZ28
Are you going to build the front suspension from scratch or use something that already has AWD?
Everything minus the spindles (c5 vette spindles) will be built from scratch. Including the control arms. All tubular. Will also have a pushrod inboard suspension, with air struts.
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Old Jul 17, 2017 | 10:22 PM
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Was thinking more 4 to 2 door conversion part. Always sounds like a good idea, but usually ends up looking like that Lincoln on that episode of Roadkill. This however looks bad ***. Hope to see it finished. And yeah I'm def a fan of the AWD.
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Old Jul 17, 2017 | 11:36 PM
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I am suddenly at peace with what I have going on.
Very cool, ready for any updates even if there small.
That body stich is incredible, I'm running same tires on my rears, couldn't imagine stuffing them up front! Where in fl are you?
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Old Jul 18, 2017 | 07:30 AM
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well so far the body lines look great! is the tire going to sit that far out of the rear wells?
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Old Jul 18, 2017 | 08:16 AM
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Awesome. Looking forward to watching this one. I am not a fan of four door cars, so this is of particular interest to me.
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Old Jul 18, 2017 | 08:18 AM
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Apparently you aren't afraid of a saw and welder. This should be entertaining...
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Old Jul 18, 2017 | 08:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Nali6.2
well so far the body lines look great! is the tire going to sit that far out of the rear wells?
Thanks! Yes the wheels will be sticking out 3-4" but ill be building fender flares, it's going to be widebody.

Originally Posted by Spamfritter
Awesome. Looking forward to watching this one. I am not a fan of four door cars, so this is of particular interest to me.
I'm not either, and since they never made this body style 2 door, I figured I'd make my own and be one of a kind.
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Old Jul 18, 2017 | 09:02 AM
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Wow lots of progression already, look great!
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Old Jul 18, 2017 | 10:49 AM
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So, what's your day job, just curious? Looks great!!! Can't wait for the updates.

Stampede.
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Old Jul 18, 2017 | 11:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Stampede4ever
So, what's your day job, just curious? Looks great!!! Can't wait for the updates.

Stampede.
I'm a fireman. My dad was a mechanic for 30 years and taught me all he knows. Together we work on classic car restorations mostly as side jobs.

This project is all me though, old man isnt interested in building race cars lol
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Old Jul 18, 2017 | 06:30 PM
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What wheels will you be running?
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Old Jul 18, 2017 | 08:07 PM
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Love this idea can't wait to see it come together!
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Old Jul 18, 2017 | 10:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Below Average Joe
What wheels will you be running?
Don't know yet. I plan on 20x12 deep dish, but I don't want to spend 2-3k per rim...

Anyone know any good companies that make 20x12 decently priced?

Last edited by RecklessV; Jul 19, 2017 at 12:15 AM.
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Old Jul 18, 2017 | 11:17 PM
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Wow, that was the last thing I expected to see happening to a CTS. This should be good.
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