Zak works on the TLC show "Junkyard Wars" and since the show was in the off-season, he decided to begin the construction in the TV team build area where there was a large level concrete pad. There he found the necessary fabrication equipment: tools, chop saws, and a heavy duty Lincoln welder. He called in some friends to help with the heavy lifting. After removing the stock Chevy II front end by unbolting it from the firewall, it was easy to roll the vintage A-arm set-up away on the tires. They laid out the basic form using 2x3 box mild steel from Industrial Metal Supply in Sun Valley similar to photos of the Bill Thomas front end. Rather than a chassis jig, as Thomas had probably used, they improvised with two folding chairs, jack stands, a straight level and a tape measure. After a few late nights the car was coming together nicely and once the fender supports were spot welded on the Chevy II was taking on the altered wheelbase look.

The steering was formed by using a '62 Corvair steering box found at nearby Memory Lane and making a trip to King Bolt Company in Covina to find rod ends, threaded rod and steering parts of all description. The shortened steering column came from hot rod specialists Limeworks. Thorley's racecar had raced using 'push-steer' but since Zak's car would also be driven on the street he chose to use the 'cross-steer' method of steering.

The car was now rolling so it headed home on the trailer to finish up the interior. The Chevy II still had no floors so it was time to fabricate sub-frame connectors to tie the new front end and rear end mounts together making the platform more rigid. We found a blowout bargain special from S&W Race Cars for an eight-point roll bar, and began laying out the pre-bent pieces. With some help from friend Jeff Utterback at Hansen Chassis we positioned the bars using the NHRA Rule Book in our back pockets. The last thing anybody wanted was to get bounced out of the tech line at Famoso Drag Strip and miss the California Hot Rod Reunion.

The engine was next. Rather than fabricating mounts, a friend said to take a look at a universal mount from Total Cost Involved in Ontario, CA. The mount would make spotting the fresh big block a lot easier and, with the Mike's Transmissions Powerglide attached, slipped between the frame rails and snugged up against the firewall. I'd found a set of '69 Camaro headers at the Long Beach Hot Rod Swap Meet for $60 that hugged the block just right. Zak then fabricated his own cross member to support the rear of the trans, mounting the support between the sub-frame connectors.