Jarhead's 1965 F85 with LS3 swap
05-18-2018, 08:25 AM
#62
I admit the stock 65 tail lights are nice looking, However I have always liked customs so I will modify mine some and see how it works out.
My main complaint about a stock F85 deluxe is all of the chrome trim, in my opinion a bit much. Look how nice Rocky's car turned out with the extra chrome gone. BTW the Corvette lights are not set in stone, but slicking up the rear (and the front) is definite. I am even toying with the idea of frenched 59 caddy tail lights ala 58 Impala style. The round caddy lights closely matching in size the exhaust coming out of the backup light holes in the bumper. But that is down the road,
Jarhead
My main complaint about a stock F85 deluxe is all of the chrome trim, in my opinion a bit much. Look how nice Rocky's car turned out with the extra chrome gone. BTW the Corvette lights are not set in stone, but slicking up the rear (and the front) is definite. I am even toying with the idea of frenched 59 caddy tail lights ala 58 Impala style. The round caddy lights closely matching in size the exhaust coming out of the backup light holes in the bumper. But that is down the road,
Jarhead
05-20-2018, 09:04 AM
#65
Things are looking good! Cant wait to see how your car turns out. I'm in the process of swapping out my Terminator throttle body for a Weiand LS1 intake. And I have got to get me a dash insert from Rocky Topper!
Have a great summer
Have a great summer
05-20-2018, 10:33 AM
#67
TECH Senior Member
05-20-2018, 08:58 PM
#68
05-22-2018, 06:08 PM
#71
Another picture of my car when we first started back on it. I am saddened to report that Rocky Topper passed away unexpectedly last year. I bought my dash insert from him about 7 years ago but we never met in person. His F85 was featured in PHR and possibly other publications. For Scotty and anyone else wanting a dash insert I will happily make you a pattern of it when I get back to Texas this fall. I believe that Rocky made a few more F85 parts but I am not sure how you would get some now.
Jarhead
Jarhead
05-23-2018, 10:03 AM
#72
I am saddened to report that Rocky Topper passed away unexpectedly last year. I bought my dash insert from him about 7 years ago but we never met in person. His F85 was featured in PHR and possibly other publications. For Scotty and anyone else wanting a dash insert I will happily make you a pattern of it when I get back to Texas this fall. I believe that Rocky made a few more F85 parts but I am not sure how you would get some now.
Jarhead
Jarhead
05-23-2018, 11:09 AM
#73
I was wondering why he hasn't been around as of lately. So sorry to hear. Best wishes to his family.
05-23-2018, 06:53 PM
#75
Happy to do it for you in November when we return to Texas. I wonder if anyone else bought the dash insert from Rocky. I will make several good copies and anyone who wants one can have one and make their own and carry on Rocky's great work.
Jarhead
Jarhead
05-23-2018, 08:06 PM
#76
Sounds good. and I hope we see more of your car as time goes by...
06-08-2018, 08:29 AM
#80
This is the rear end. It's a 9 inch Moser housing narrowed 1.5 inches from stock to 58.5" and had drum brakes with Torino ends. I bought Moser axles with the correct 2.75" offset for 1998 up Camaro rear discs. That is .25 inches more offset than the stock Torino offset. I also bought the billet Chevy ends from Moser for those Camaro brakes. But because the rear was narrowed, cutting off the old Moser ends and putting on the new ones was going to be a chore because the ends touched the mounting brackets. Rick and Sky at the shop used hotrod smarts and since both ends used the same bearing, they modified the bolt pattern on the brake mounts to Torino pattern and they bored the backing plated for the larger bearing size(compared to stock Chevy rear). If you want to use stock off set Torino axels, put a .25 spacer between the bearing and the axle, but you will see an increase in width of .25 inches per side. Mine is now 59 which is still one inch narrower than stock 64-67.
Jarhead
Jarhead