Plastic Fantastic 2

first step tonight, finish welding the radiator support and paint... though the first step of painting was warm the metal up from 20 degrees (the shop temp)
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time to start making this permanent
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wait, did I put this in correctly?edited
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yep
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also as you can see from the tail panel, I'm starting to figure out how all this goes together and came to the conclusion I really need to take the other rear quarter off... I was planning on doing a video, so I may do part of the video .... we'll see, Clecos arrived today so I can really start getting on getting them fitted.

I could have started with a 72 rear shell, and that may have been the better idea as I wouldn't need the rear panel nor would I have to figure out where the panel goes.... ah well, if it were easy.... :noworry:
 
so an update.edited One thing I appreciate about fiberglass is close is absolutely good enough and a good sign you're overthinking the process

first step... use the old fender as template to get it within 1/4" of where it needs to be
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this allows me to determine where the front edge is - once that's determined, it really doesn't matter what the rear-most edge does - well it does, but if it's wrong you're going to have to fix it rather then refitedited
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mark
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we interrupt this flare with a note that the tank is being a pain lining up and unlike the fiberglass work, it has to be better then close
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next step is to cleco the panel on
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then drill holes in the flare so that it goes where the old fender fit
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and voila
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front fender got some work, but I have a long, long ways to go
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same method to get it close
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and the marker light is hitting the inner fender....edited
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ah well, it's closer but back to the back
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originally I thought I'd leave this side until I got the other side.... that won't work because I need to fit the rear panel at the same time as the quarters
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so chisel out the bondo
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heat and separate
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I have about the front 10" to finish loosening, and the vertical then it's off.... I was losing patience so it became time to stop
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what it looks like from the back
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and it's off.... thought not in one piece
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outline
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and tacked on
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but wait, why higher on the other side?
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time to get the rear in position because it sets everything else
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more cutting and lining up to do....edited
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and the tail needs to go in to the line
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Anyway, happy New Year everyone
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on with what I know is your favorite and most certainly not my favorite thing... fitting fiberglass panels
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best part about all of this is you need it to be too short - then you can build up from the back to make a seamless and strong panel
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ug... need to be to this line
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there we go, the gap is about perfect but I have some verification to do before I call it good
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what it looks like just before I cut itedited
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the absolute best thing about fiberglass is how easy it is to fill gaps.... matter of fact, perfect fitment is not a goal since you want the glass and resin in the between the parts.... this is the easy part, making them smooth - especially since I was the 2nd person to get these flares - will be bit of a task
time to get this where it needs to be - first get a bit of aluminum to make a ledge
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these blades work awesome at cutting fiberglass
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nice, straight cut
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back to the ledges
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cut 1" (and the lip) off the rear panel so they butt together
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and time to take it off its suspension so that I can verify dimensions
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tomorrow, the front panel comes off and I start making those fit.
 
It's getting there
much better alignment
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oops, the plastic is just falling off now
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I think I'm getting the hang of this - this fender took 1 hour to remove, then get back to this point
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Of course, I'm now down with this part....edited

this is the right way to save that vent
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and a back shot
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oh look, I even saved the build sheet
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time to start coloring inbetween the lines... you know, all the boring stuff that must be done that didn't get covered on first swipe
like bolting the fuel pump in and finishing the lines
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a couple zerts
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and it's in place
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then this, and I don't know what the solution is going to be... the fuel lines and the bracket occupy the same space
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tried another fuel line, no joy
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stopped with that annoyance and did a bit of rewiring
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which lead into a lot of wiring
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long ago, I learned the lesson about having operating gauges for first fire
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and now to decide if I just finish with all similar gauges or save a couple bucks and put the fuel gauge and the clock back
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lots of other stuff got done - mostly my wife's Jeep - but that one is going to wait until completion to be blogged....edited
 
so swapping bowls and accelerator pumps
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and removal of a vacuum port
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and figuring out how to get the line bent with no kinks
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like this
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then throttle cable
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and repurpose the old air cleaner I made for P1 ... not final product, but good enough to keep the dust out
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then do a vacuum test on the cooling system
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no, it didn't hold pressure long, however, it did well enough that I'll fill the system just before I start it with far less fear that there are any major leaks
 
I don't know about road race, but a regulator on the fire wall is a no go for nhra.
 
I dunno, I've never run a sanctioned NHRA race in my life.... I do open track days and autocross (and would never dream of racing on the street... never :lol:)

yipee.... electrical
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looks like it had a jacobs ignition box....edited
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I just needed to remove the speedo cable
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and then I found these Bubba devices
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you will be glad to hear that the speakers have been removed.... now to reassemble with better wiring
for those curious, I'm tackling the wiring because I need gauges to work when I fire the motor.edited Not just that but I also need to wire the fuel pump, electric fans, and master switch.editededited
 
this is going to happen soon
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anyway, break is over... much little work done
gauges
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and determining air filter height
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3" filter, check
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the Corvette got a bit of love today too... *hack*
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I'm going to be a bit annoyed if I have to pull the sidepipes off to fix that lower corner
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I think this is going to come out real nice.

Any plans for the rear diff, or just show restraint?

I've been watching that CF thread where they are doing the mustang irs with cv's. I'm convinced, for a bunch of reasons, an enthusiast would still be better buying Tom's stuff and building their own 12 bolt.
 
Yes, but it's not on the list before I have it on the road. I really like the Detroit Speed setup, I have a greenwood set up... but at this point, I'm going to make it drive then update while driving it.
 
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