We came close, but did not completely finish the front aprons this past weekend. We were having trouble with the front end dimensions and gaps. We finally got them as close as physically possible (nice consistent gaps, dim's within 1/4"). But to achieve that we had to assemble and disassemble the front end about 7 times. Each time we would resolve one issue and have another rear its ugly head.
We still have to position and weld the cowl in place, but that is something that we can accomplish in an afternoon.
Also, we contacted the media blaster and he cannot fit us into the schedule until early next week. That being the case, we will continue with finer and finer detail work. For example, we are working on the brackets for mounting the trunk latch. You will notice that we have reversed the typical trunk config and mounted the latch on the car and the striker will mount on the lid.
Also, we finished modifying the oil filter lower coolant casting. We had to convert the neck from the stock 90 degrees to a straight run in order to clear the alternator. Doing this eliminates the oil cooler so we are going to have to install a remote oil cooler setup.
Lately, there has been a lot of debate over graphics or no graphics for the final car. I am undecided at this point. Maybe we should just use the badges from the SVT Cobra as we originally planned. Maybe we should use the reverse "C" graphics with the SN65 designation. Maybe we should cave and use the GT stripe with the SN65 designation.
AAAUUUGGGHHH!!!!!
To help resolve this issue, we have decided to hold a graphic design contest. No rules. No regulations. no requirements whatsoever. We don't care if you work up a 3D virtual reality, rotating computer illustration, or scrawl your picture on a napkin at the local dive with a few of your closest friends. Maybe you have no artistic ability at all and just convey your ideas in words alone. We have enough vision to be able to picture what it is you describe.
What is in it for you? Well.... Not much I am afraid. I wish I could offer the winner a scholarship, or free vacation, etc... but, like the rest of you, this wacky hobby has sucked every last loose piece of change out of my pants. With that said. The winner will receive a personalized plaque featuring a signed photo of the finished car, and an unused part off one of the donor cars. Also, you will be given a ride in the finished car, whenever we meet up at an event. Who knows, if you convince us you are a responsible individual, we may even let you drive. Also, the car will be painted with your design and we will give you credit for the design on the display we build for the car.
more power to ya, reason enough to do this would be to have new car that you could do anything to and never have to smog it anywhere. that alone is worth the price of admission. i don't think i would have used a real cobra though. maybe a theft recovery gt .
You're worried about the newer car of the two? How about the 65 that he's butchering? They're hard enough to come by as it is.
1) the fastback he used was in piss poor shape, and there are still plenty of them out there and are easy to find in any shape/condition/price you want. adjust for inflation and they really don't cost as much as we think relativly speaking.
2) i am not worried about chopping up a new car, only it would have been cheaper to find a car that didn't have alot of the parts you don't need (body /interior/motor etc.) and at 1/10 the price.
As I have been working on brackets for the front clip, Wayne has been working on finishing the trunk latch, catch and lock setup. We were struggling with the location of the lock and Wayne came up with the following solution (see photos).
You're worried about the newer car of the two? How about the 65 that he's butchering? They're hard enough to come by as it is.
Hi A,
How far gone does a car have to be before it is considered fair game for such a project?
Are you supposed to "restore" a car that needs new quarter panels, new wheel housings, new floor pans, new trunk floor, new frame rails front and back, a couple of apron panels, one new shock tower, new drip rails (the steel portion welded to the car, not the trim pieces), etc...?
Today, Wayne fabed up the side gas filler door. He had to trial fit the gas tank and the filler neck to get an accurate location. He marked the location of the plastic inner housing on the quarter. He removed the filler neck and the gas tank. He located the center point of the gas door, and drilled the center hole from the inside.
When he walked around to the outside of the car, he noticed that the hole he drilled was within 1/8" of the "X" I drew on the car marking the door location. I told him to trust me next time and he wouldn't have to go through so much work. :-)
Anyway, this is going to be so cool. Wayne ground smooth and flanged the rough cut opening so that the 03 door mounting ring (the part we cut off the Cobra) sits flush with the 65 quarter panel.
LOL, my car needed all those things besides the rear frame rails and drip rails. And obviously if the car is in good enough shape for you to restore this way, it's good enough to restore to it's original condition.
__________________
Gasoline is for washing parts.
Alcohol is for drinking.
Nitro is for kickin ass!
1967 Mustang Coupe
R.I.P. Darrell Russell 1968-2004 The racing world has lost a great racer.
We are planning a get together starting at 8 AM on Saturday April 2nd at Julian's Collision Center located in St Charles IL for a viewing of the SN65 project car.
The car should be in primer at that point giving everybody a real good idea as to how it is going to look at completion.
I hate it when "real work" interferes with this project.
All we had to do this weekend was finish welding in the cowl and the trim pieces around the passenger and driver side windows. That’s all. Maybe about 10 man-hours....
Well... The two bodymen (and my brother) who were supposed to help this weekend couldn't because they had to work on customer cars. I hate it when actual paying customers get top priority. Also, I did not get much accomplished because I had to help another paying customer with his 66 coup restoration.
I spent all day yesterday fitting and welding the cowl. That along with reviewing the corporate tax returns of 2 companies took up my entire day.
I did not finish all I needed to before media blasting. The blaster called yesterday to schedule the pick up (they were scheduled to blast the car today) and I had to reschedule because I was not ready. !@$_(*&!!!! Now they will not be able to get to it before the end of the week if I am lucky. Most likely they will be by next Monday to pick it up for blasting on Tuesday.
I am so depressed. :-(
Anyway... Here is a photo of the finished cowl area. Note the open areas around the hood hinge brackets. These areas will be covered by a small plate.
Now I have to get to work. HydroFlo is having project review meetings today and I need to attend. Another day shot to hell due to real work interfering with this project. When will the madness end?
Well, I have a few days to kill before the media blaster can fit me into his schedule. They are currently blasting and coating Garbage trucks, cement mixing trucks and construction trucks as well as misc. heavy metal fabrications.
The coating systems they use are a bit different than those used on a typical production vehicle. They use a number of different self priming high build epoxy. All surfaces are blasted to an SSPC-SP10 near white metal blast and then coated with 12 to 16 mills of self priming epoxy. The coating is VERY durable and has high chemical resistance. If the surface is prepped properly and the coating applied properly, the system is suitable for indefinite submersion in wastewater with a pH of 2.5 to 13 (normal is 7).
Anyway...
Until I get the car back from media blasting we are going to be working on brackets, misc. detail work, etc.... That is when the real fun begins. :-)
