i couldn't find a pic on the net to post, but the last modified mag i got yesterday has the results of a "design the new nissan gtr" contest. the winning entry has a widebody idea that might work to open the door and leave the keyhole in place. it would also give a variation to using the stage 2gfx pieces (vital for me since i don't have them anyway). might be worth a look if you come across the latest issue. i'm keeping it in my mental file for whenever i can start on mine again.
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05:02 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
The updates I have don't appear to be as exciting as some of the photoshops but what the heck......
After the trial fitting of the dcklid & 350Z rear window, we had to do the leg work to make it all workable.
I think some people don't realize what all it takes to make things like this functional.
After getting the framework ready for the window & welding that to the decklid structure, I consulted with Curley. We determined that there was no desire to make the left & right sides & the top of the window waterproof, but there is a need to have the lower end of the window seal. That way water won't have a chance to get inside the trunk & the small decklid.
Considering that the 350Z window is going to be bonded (with Window-Weld) to the framework & that the Left, Right & top of the window is going to extend out past the framework, we still needed a waterproof seal at the bottom edge of the window. We also need the underside & edges of the decklid to have a finished look. So it took a little time to get that done.......
We had to establish a surface to seal the window to along the areas marked in Red.......
We used a piece of 1/2" box tubing & bent it to shape, put plastic tape on it then attached it to the top of the rear window framework. When we are done glassing it, we will remove the box tubing & we will have closed in the area between the framework & the decklid.......
Note that we also scuffed-up the underside of the decklid so we can glass the whole thing.
Then we glassed it all in.......
............
[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 09-28-2006).]
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10:01 AM
Philphine Member
Posts: 6136 From: louisville,ky. usa Registered: Feb 2000
Once we removed the box tubing, the underside of the decklid was bonded to the framework & the seal area looked like this.........
A little bit more fiberglassing & the underside of the decklid will be completed.
Then it's time to address the tops of the doors.
Curley wanted the top edge of the door to get taller as it goes back into the quarter window area. So we cut off the top of another door skin & did some trial fitting.......
Here's what it looks like before we glass it in......
Archie
[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 09-28-2006).]
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10:52 AM
PFF
System Bot
exoticse Member
Posts: 8654 From: Orlando, Fl Registered: Jun 2003
The real stuff is always better than the photochops! Way to go Archie and crew!
agreed. and now that i see how it is coming along i see that i was wrong on some side detail in my photoshop... I'll have to correct that lol. eh, maybe later.
edit:
[This message has been edited by 86fierofun (edited 09-28-2006).]
Hey Archie, I've found the G6 parts for the thingie that knowone noticed in the pic, hehe).
Items:
1. G6 (three) vents 2. Dakota's digital clock 3. Viper bezel w/leather boot. 4. (2) Watson's bullet cup holders (that's right...I roll with cupholder, hehe). 5. MOMO shifter.
I'll send them out today (3-day delivery). What was the hold-up? I had misplaced them and in the process of finding them I had to go through the entire house. Oh well, the third bay garage needed cleaning anyway.
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12:53 PM
el_roy1985 Member
Posts: 295 From: Bismarck, ND, USA Registered: Jun 2004
Thanks fourpoint9, fierowannbe, and 86fierofun for your photoshop skills.
I think I'll use 4.9's suggestion on the use of painting the lower lip black once it's back to CA. Yes. I like "tweeking" peoples ideas. Constructive comments are always welcome.
quote
Originally posted by Archie: I think some people don't realize what all it takes to make things like this functional. After getting the framework ready for the window & welding that to the decklid structure, I consulted with Curley. We determined that there was no desire to make the left & right sides & the top of the window waterproof, but there is a need to have the lower end of the window seal. That way water won't have a chance to get inside the trunk & the small decklid.
Considering that the 350Z window is going to be bonded (with Window-Weld) to the framework & that the Left, Right & top of the window is going to extend out past the framework, we still needed a waterproof seal at the bottom edge of the window. We also need the underside & edges of the decklid to have a finished look. So it took a little time to get that done.......
We had to establish a surface to seal the window to along the areas marked in Red.......
Just another reason why I wanted Archie and the crew to perform the work on #020....I wanted it done right.
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 10-01-2006).]
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11:55 PM
Oct 1st, 2006
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
I'm ready to see the ideas for the vents around the rear window. The window looks cool alone, but you gotta get all of that hot air out of there. I know it's in the works. I just want to see ideas.
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12:23 AM
PFF
System Bot
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
I'm ready to see the ideas for the vents around the rear window. The window looks cool alone, but you gotta get all of that hot air out of there. I know it's in the works. I just want to see ideas.
Clues are located on pg 9.
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12:42 AM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
I'm ready to see the ideas for the vents around the rear window. The window looks cool alone, but you gotta get all of that hot air out of there. I know it's in the works. I just want to see ideas.
Actually, I've already got a plan for the venting of the rear compartment.
This thread was originally started so that people could see how a lot of the custom stuff was done on Curley's other cars. I was thinking that when the home Fiero hobbyists saw the details on how to work with the fiberglass they wouldn't be so afraid to try their own little projects. However, With all the negativity I've seen about this car, I don't blame the Fiero hobbyists for sitting on their hands.
I've known Curley for quite a while now & for some reason he has an eye for how something is going to look once it's finished. Several times during the early building on #11, #15 & the "Bubbletop" he would tell me about his ideas & I would tell him it was going to look terrible. But then it turned out pretty good. I don't critique his ideas negatively anymore. I only critique his ideas based on functionaly implementing them into the rest of the car. After all, he hasn't built an ugly one yet.
I have talked to Curley about how we're going to vent the engine compartment area & we pretty well know what we need design wise. WE have an area that is only a few inches wide (on either side of the window) & we have to make it look good. It also has to match from the left side to the right side exactly. The Fiero hobbyists should note here that designing one side of the car is easy, getting side #2 to match side #1 is the hard part. Now we could buy some off the shelf part & put it in there (& we've considered that) but we've decided to make something custom. On these vents, the only way to know what they are going to look like is to build them & once you've built them it's gonna be pretty hard & expensive to make big changes to them. So, I've decided to go with my concept for the vents. Curley & PFF won't see them until they are finished. Then if you like them, that's fine, if you don't like them, that's fine too. Then if people want to know how we made them, I'll show the inprocess pictures. Otherwise we'll just move on with the rest of the car. In fact when they are done, I just might give you guys a few days to guess how they were done.
In the meantime please feel free to speculate how you would do them.
Gee, now I sure hope my idea works.
Archie
[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 10-01-2006).]
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10:52 AM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
I'm sure it will work, Archie. The car looks great. I don't take the comments about the front end of the car that have been on the forum as negativity. We all know the car is not finished and will look great by the time it is finished. You know as well as I do that you can't please everyone, so you just please who you can. In the case of a business, you please the customer who is paying for the job. While I may think the nose is a little big right now, by the time the car is done I may think it looks just perfect. I was that way on the Solstice/Sky, new Corvette, and several other cars. I had to sit with them a while and let them grow on me.
My opinion is that you are without a doubt building the hottest Fiero that we have seen. I can't wait to see it completed..
Now about that Coast Run raffle donation.... haha
------------------ 4th Annual California Coast Run October 27-29, 2006 San Simeon, California
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11:08 AM
Gokart Mozart Member
Posts: 12143 From: Metro Detroit Registered: Mar 2003
Just bringing it up to the topic. I really can't wait to see it in person, whenever I get the chance and can't wait to see it in one color, if that's the plan.
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12:49 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Offen times people ask me, "why chop a Fiero" and "why do you want to own two or three choptops"?
The first question can only be answered by all choptop owners. Sure, you can start a thread, telling stories of this n' that (choptop chronicles) but, you'll need to own a bubble top first and then have the same car chopped.
The second question that I commonly hear is "why own two or three choptops"? Bob Rutz asked me that very same question while I was ride'n with him at the CTHC.
The answer is simple, "Too many ideas or mods performed on one car is too much." IMO it's better to spread those "ideas" around to various cars. As for building #011...that's simple. I fell in love with the GBCT. So I had to have one too.
As for the "Redux"? The Redux is a carry-over from #011 mods but, it involved the "what if" factors. What if you added fender flares (1 1/2") to the rear and added 20x11? (taken from the thread titled, "I'm on a Roll, will 20x11 fit"). What if you added the front lip and place it in the back thus allowing for staggard rim applications??? What if you'd added different front headlamps??? (Taken from the Celica, NSX, Corvette headlamps thread).
As for "Why the build-up of #015? #015 is a carry-over from the Redux and #011 combined. What if you'd added a 3" flare, widened the front too and add "The Ausie door rockers"? (Taken from the "Who want's their Ausie door Rocker thread?). Although the "Redux" has fender flares, they're "babyish" compared to #015. #015 isn't finished and I have a feew more "tweeks" to perform.
As for "Why the build-up of #020...Arch Rival"? That's simple. "How can you carry-over some of the same ideas and yet be different for all of the others that were built"? The [Z] idea had been brewing for a couple of years and at D5, while talking to Norm... plans were laid for #015 but was later changed to #020. Norm and I had to wait for the Corvette production of the headlamps. Since the "bubble top" was in ready to roll, it became the candidate for the [Z]C6 flipper. The mad-arch flares and Ausie's are carry-overs from previous projects. Archie, the crew, and I have "tweek" plans for the carry-over items (the clues are found in the various pages).
In conclusion, all of the various builds are for others to copy or build from these "ideas." I've done the same using other people's ideas (GBCT,PPE just to name of few) so I wouldn't be suprised if someone returns the favor. My main goal is to allow the various Fiero venders to have a part...V8 Archie, D1S, Norm's, Pisa, and Mr. Mike's. As for PFF members, they too have shared in tweeking past and present cars by offering "constructive" comments and photoshoping skills. Orville and Songman are now play'n a major part...details later, hehe.
Edit: I forgot the forth question, "Why title the thread as ,"Madcurl's Arch Rival"? IMO I'd rather beat myself over the head vs fighting or with somebody else.
------------------ "Anyone can make a copy of something, it may look good but it ever is the real car. Make something from your imagination, something unique, something nobody has, anything is possible and, ideas can be a reality."
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 10-01-2006).]
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03:55 PM
exoticse Member
Posts: 8654 From: Orlando, Fl Registered: Jun 2003
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