What are you doing for the interior any thoughts Yet? Wayne
HI Wayne.
Yes, I have some ideas rolling around. I actually started the interior before the rebody started. Currently I have a 2001 Grand am dash with custom gauge pod.
I was also working on custom door panels and console. (And seat covers at one time)
Lately, I've also been trying to install Cadillac ATS seats.
That hoods looking really good man! I spent lotsa time thinking about how to do all the things I wanted to do to my car, and what I needed to do. Then tried to find a middle ground. Kit cars are a lotta work, both on and off the car. Ive spent waaaay too much time online looking for parts too. Keep it up man youre getting close!
shem
Thanx Shem. Missed your post at the bottom there.
No real updates. Slow going. I did more work on the gaps on the pass side. Pretty much looks like the last picture.
Ten years in the making and must applaud your sense of dedication to this project. Will the car be road worthy this year?
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Ten years in the making and must applaud your sense of dedication to this project. Will the car be road worthy this year?
Hey Dennis, Thanx for viewing my adventure. As I closed out the last build season, I really thought I'd have it ready to roll this year. But alas, this year has not been kind to me. There just isn't the funding to get a lot done, so I've been left to tinkering with the supplies I have left. We'll get it turned around and I'll get back at it.
Worked on gaps more over the weekend. Also finished the pass side mount for the front fender. It's in a fixed location now. Pics are on my phone, but it's 20ft away and I don't feel like getting up. I'll post em later.
It's been a sucky year so far, with no end in sight. But, we're hanging in there.
It kills me to see her sitting there, but I haven't done squat in months, so much so, that's it's even hard to lurk here at PFF. Anyway, just wanted to let my peeps know I'm still going to be at it, just real slow due to circumstances.
It just makes it that much sweeter when you DO actually get a spare moment here or there to "fuss" with it..and if you actually get to take a small step forward...well....that's cause for major celebration!
Thanks for sticking with it and letting us all know what's up.
It just makes it that much sweeter when you DO actually get a spare moment here or there to "fuss" with it..and if you actually get to take a small step forward...well....that's cause for major celebration!
Thanks for sticking with it and letting us all know what's up.
More than some of us seem to be able to manage!
HAGO!
Thanx for the kind words, Ted. That's what makes you guys awesome and this forum so great.
Bob
[This message has been edited by RCR (edited 09-13-2019).]
It's been a sucky year so far, with no end in sight. But, we're hanging in there.
It kills me to see her sitting there, but I haven't done squat in months, so much so, that's it's even hard to lurk here at PFF. Anyway, just wanted to let my peeps know I'm still going to be at it, just real slow due to circumstances.
Thanks for peeping.
Bob
Bob Life does have these suckie times and when you exit out the other side in time and you will !!! completing the car will be that much more special..
No worries man, bad times pass eventually! When you need a break from the bs of life you have a sweet car to take your mind off of it. Maybe make a punch list and attack some smaller jobs on the car. Keep that chin up!
Hey Bob! Great to see you posting again. I took a long break over the summer as well... in fact I just made my first post on my build thread since May!!! It's never a bad idea to take a little break to recharge your batteries... Keep at it!
Hey folks. Hope everyone is hanging tight and staying healthy.
For all of the home time, still not a bunch of time to work, and supplies are low (damned gloves), but I've been tinkering and have a few pictures.
First off, the door skins have a big gap on top near the window. Really makes it look like a kit, especially on the passenger side where the gap was nearing 1".
Here's how I corrected that.
I began by taping up the window, then filled the gap with foam strips. The sanded to shape.
Time to get itchy. Couple layers of glass on top. Took the panel off and applied several layers below.
A little trimming and sanding, and voila, Small gap. I think it looks soooo much better. Now the other side needs to get done,
While I was at it, I started messing with the gaps a bit. I filled this door gap once, and it looked pretty good, but with all the finagling over the last few years, the gap grew. So, I guess it's time to fix. Just started, but here's acouple pics.
Stay healthy, friends.
Bob
[This message has been edited by RCR (edited 04-04-2020).]
Bob It’s good to see you back at it! I’m surprised at the gap on the Top of the door panel did you modify the panel that much or was that The way it was molded?
I had to do a lot of work on the front door gap as well!
Bob It’s good to see you back at it! I’m surprised at the gap on the Top of the door panel did you modify the panel that much or was that The way it was molded?
I had to do a lot of work on the front door gap as well!
Keep at it and stay safe. Wayne
Hi Wayne. Thanx for coming by. Yes, it came that way. The passenger side was worse than the driver's side, probably by 3/8".
Glad to see somebody actually working on their project....stay healthy and hopefully everybody you care about and are responsible for does too!
Your door gaps remind me of something the guy I learned from told me about how to get Vette doors to fit right....."You just glass em' shut, then cut the opening to what you want it to be."
Keep up the good work.....and the updates! Enjoy seeing the progress.
Engineman, Sage,,,Thanx for dropping by and the kind words. Stay healthy guys.
A couple days to play. Working on the door gaps and fender flange some more. The first two pics show what I'm working with. Fixing both the gaps and the difference in z-height between the door and fender.
To deal with the z-difference, I cut a slot in the flange and clamped it down.
After some taping and rough sanding, it was time for the glass. I made a template of the shape and cut 3 layers from the matt. (continue the post after a crash...)
One of the many challenges with this body kit is thahe paint that's on it. It took me an hour to get this crap off and back to gel coat.
Back to glassing.
And onto the rocker portion.
Not perfect yet, but here's where I'm at now.
I should be able to keep banging out these little projects as long as the gloves hold out. Only have a few pairs. The current pair I've used 4 times now. Not bad for HF 5mil latex.
Happy Easter and stay safe.
Bob
[This message has been edited by RCR (edited 04-12-2020).]
Looks really good Bob! That’s has to be the nicest advantage of fiberglass being able to make modifications like you’ve done, and no one will ever Know once you have primer n it!!!! I hadn’t noticed you had changed the shape of the upper intake! I like it.
Well, concluding week 4 of stay at home (I think it's week 4 anyway)...
This weekend I worked to undo a mistake I made. Originally, I was going to have the rear decklid open like the 308, but changed it up to open like a 288. In doing so, that left me with the flying buttresses that I had cut off to integrate with the decklid. Lots of words to say I cut too much off, so I put it all back together (well almost).
First thing to do was to take off all of that red paint. Then I had to fill the gap created by lowering the hood. Here is the end result.
Once that was glassed back together, It was time to attach it back on the buttress. I had a bit of a gap to take up, so i screwed a board to the back and wedged it so everything lined up.
Apparently I didn't take a pic of it together On either side... First off, I ground the joint down about 1/2 to 2/3 through, tapering it back about an inch. Then I applied 3 to 4 layers of glass. Then I repeated everything on the driver side.
Once everything cooled down, I pulled it off the car to glass up the back sides.
This requires grinding the joint back down the the fresh glass on the outside.
The verticle cuts above were made to releave some of the stress on the glass when I pulled the gap together. Im ground these out and applied a couple layers on it to restrengthen the part. Rinse and repeat.
Lastly, in these trying times, when latex gloves are in short supply. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to keep moving forward.
Right now I'm recycling gloves. Got 6 uses out of one...
Stay healthy friends...
Bob
[This message has been edited by RCR (edited 04-19-2020).]
Looking good Bob! Just my thoughts for what it’s worth, I personally like the fatter look but you would have to elongate vertically the Gills to make it look proportionally right. I dropped my rear lower valance on my car 3”s to come close to where the 288 needed to be.
Also on your hood,fender, door looks like your extending the hood toward the window?
I was lucky before all this Covid19 I had stocked up my supplies of gloves, glad to see you back to work though.
Looking good Bob! Just my thoughts for what it’s worth, I personally like the fatter look but you would have to elongate vertically the Gills to make it look proportionally right. I dropped my rear lower valance on my car 3”s to come close to where the 288 needed to be.
Also on your hood,fender, door looks like your extending the hood toward the window?
I was lucky before all this Covid19 I had stocked up my supplies of gloves, glad to see you back to work though.
Stay safe Wayne
Hi Wayne, I was probably going to move the slats up higher. Just not going to do it yet. I think I determined what I'm going to do, but that's in the next post. I'm not moving the hood any higher than it is. Just need to clean up the edges.
Take care... Bob
[This message has been edited by RCR (edited 04-26-2020).]
Cleaned up the cove a little bit. Still needs a little more glass, but it's close.
Also started working on the rear valence. First I knocked off that red paint, then I needed to fill the hole where the side marker light was. That requires grinding the back down and adding 4 layers of glass. My template comes in handy for building the mounting flange.
A little trimming and voile.
Now the fun starts. I decided the valence needed to be lower. To accomplish this, out came the Dremel and I cut the valence into three pieces. The main thing was to use the existing mounts, so that gets mounted to the body. Then start positioning the lower part where it looks right.
Grabbed a couple more pics:
I was tired, so that was it for the day. More to follow.
stay healthy friends.
Bob
[This message has been edited by RCR (edited 04-26-2020).]
I guess one other thing... I took 3'rd place in the WIP category for the Quaretine Car Show. Thanx to the folks at MAFOA for putting on a great show and all those that participated and voted for me.
Looking really good Bob, cleaned up really nice. Stay safe Wayne
Thanx Wayne. Not a whole bunch going on. It got ridiculously warm all of a sudden, but I have been moving the ball forward ever so slowly.
I've been concentrating on finish work on the glass, filling, smoothing, and sanding. I'm working on the front right now.
A few pics...
One issue i've struggled with is how to sand the sharp inner edges. necessity is the mother of invention.
Works like a champ.
Pretty much where I'm at right now (as I sit in the AC). I've finished shaping the nose to fender transition and have been filling the top panel and grill openings.
But, we're hanging in there.
Keep at it! 
On either side...
