Fire Wall

[BruceS10]

Instead of beating the crap out of the fire wall has anybody thought about cutting out the area that is in the way and welding a new one. The reason I am asking is because I am making my truck just for the drag strip.

[Mike]

why would you want to complicate things by cutting and welding?



the hammering of the firewall is minimal at best if you do everything correctly.

[redneckgames]

like mike said it isnt much hammering and it isnt even noticeable.



now if you were going to move the motor back, then Id go for it.

[BruceS10]

The problem is is that the guy I bought the car from did not do it right . It really looks bad and he told me he still had a hard time grtting the motor out.

[Ryoung68]

smooth it back out with a body dolly and repaint.

[Scotty_S-15]

OR (unless it's a show truck) Speckled paint or "hammered" paint does wonders for stuff like that.

[Triaged]

If you want to replace it get a new cheap wheelbarrow (the cheaper the better because it won't be as thick). Then you have something of about the right shape to cut out and weld in.

[stevo67]

I had to cut my passenger side footwell area because I didn't buy the book first, and/or do enough research first. I had motor and trans in, and went to install shorty headers, and WHAM!!! right into the pinch weld below heater box. After all I went through to get the motor and trans in...I WAS NOT gonna pull them out "JUST" to hammer some room for my header collector to clear, so I got out the trusty sawz-all and went to town.

I used a piece of original GM sheet metal scavanged from the front bed panal to form a new area and pop-riveted it into place over the hole.

Next time, I'll know to hammer that area back, as well as the pinch weld around firewall at the bellhousing (I did know to hammer that first this time).

[85350DROPTOP]

why would you want to complicate things by cutting and welding?



the hammering of the firewall is minimal at best if you do everything correctly.

Minimal at MOST. IF you do it right, even using headers, you shouldn't have to beat, destroy or mangle ANYTHING. I have done several conversions, and assisted on many more, and never taken a hammer to the firewall in anger. It takes careful placment, measuring, and lots of patience, but it's worth it to say nothing was mangled. Just my .02.