I flew-in and was amazed how Jerry performed the glass work on #15. The 4-parts are shinny black w/Mustang air vents. The VDC Fiero II kit is improved by using a better and stronger strut shock to left the doors. I rode in a VDC Celica today and the differences are noticable. The Fiero are made to clear the roof-line and extend outward greater than other kits I've seen. I took cell phone pics but I'll wait until Wednesday for better resolution from a good camera. If things workout, ShawnFL might have time to post pics if he can?
Later.
------------------ Archie's Choptop conversion #11, #15, Redux & The Stealth
Beautiful car. Has anyone ever seen/own a car with less than a 3" chop? I was wondering what 1.5" would look like?
Edit: Sweet-my first owned page!!!
HI all,
I doubt this will ever happen though, I pmed archie about doing this and he had said that it would be about the same amount of work, so probably would cost just as much........Course he "didn't" say it would..............SORRY to highjack............
Okay guys, vacation is offically over. News? Yes. sorry guys, I only got 3-pics and 1-pic is missing.
What happened? The area that was to be covered with the same material was performed or worked on by someone else and not by Matt's Customs. Whoever did the work somehow covered over the center defroster vents (yeah, that's what I said too?). It was later reworked on the next day and by 12noon it was finished....but! The padding was too thick and it therefor throw-off the entire custom black fiberglass parts. Plus, the speaker padding was not a complete copy of each other as seen in the pic. I was going to live with it but since I like things to fit nicely and so does Jerry, it was decided that I'll come back next month.
The VDC kit was finished and the doors are now easy to raise due to the use of a stronger strut that is commonly used on trucks. The SUV struts are way too strong. It does take a little more weight to bring the doors down. It's really no issue due to the Fiero's door handle.
XS Customs deducted the cost of the round trip and hotel loggings. They throw in some extra work on the headliner and "alls good" in my book. No monies were lost because I was off during the time I was at the shop. I had a good time and finally meet ShawnFL (a very nice guy). It's good that we have friends all over the world who loves Fieros.
I must have talked my headoff with ShawnFL, talking about this & that. Mr. Mike and Frank was very helpful in calming my nerves. Exoticse and D1S were great too. I decided to leave after Thursday came and gone. I flew-out of FL headed to Chicago (ORD) to CA (SFO). I nearly missed my connection flight while in ORD while trying to eat a hot dog.
DAsh n Things? The dash IMO is 100% better than #11 and since it is a high gloss black, it's apprearance is stronger with less fluff. I do have camera phone but I won't ruin the moment with those pictures. Jerry took 4-pictures total while I was at the shop.
Edit: The two front speakers are 6x9's. The 6x9's were part of the problem, hehe
Thanks Tony for posting. I'll ask Kelly for the other pics.
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 10-17-2005).]
Glad everything is working out and looking good . My doors take alittle more effort to pull down also . Those little lift shocks are pretty strong . What color is the car going to be painted ?
Dash is in, interior is cleaned, and the oil plus the filter has been changed. Wednesday it will get a good bath. It's time to roll! Shawnfl is comming by prior to me leaving. He's bringing his camera---I hope?
Really glad to hear things are going well. Can't wait to see this car again this spring!
Man. It's seems like there will be a large Daytona choptop turnout. 11-12 choptops (I hope).
UPDATE: I finally arrived in CA on Sunday 16:00HR. Before I left BAK, I dropped additional pics off at Dale's house. I didn't use my camera phone, hehe.
Issues? Yes. My battery died on me while at a rest stop in TN. I drove straight throw to AK. I spotted a local Auto Zone and bought a new battery. How did I drive that far w/o shutting the car off? I used my gas card and left the engine running. Yes. That's a "no-no," hehe. Also my XM radio didn't work. Why? They accidently mounted the reciever underneath the steering wheel. I had my 20-disc backup...no problem.
What's new? Dash is finished in fiber-glass with a black shiney paint. Items?
1. Dakota Digital gauges 2. 2005 Mustang air vents 3. Street Works electric window switches (illuminated), Cup holders. 4. 2003 Viper shifter bezels. 4. MOMO shifter. 5. and Mr. Mike's Custom one-off interior (material).
Items not finished:
1. Bezel around stereo, ugly grey-ish mat behind seats, and headliner. From the [pics] you'll notice that it's not finished. 2. hook-up Dakota gauges.
The unfinished items will be done in CA. The guy in FL was "fooling around." I didn't have all day.
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 11-15-2005).]
I also noticed that I have more left knee room (both sides). Lt & Rt vents are moved toward the dash. How was this performed? Jerry used some type of white flexing vent material. Looks like the type you'd find in a hardware store, hehehe. He also used PCV piping too for the Mustang vents. The two central vent are located higher (near you're face) and the two side vents are about in the same height as stock.
Change of covering? I finally found a good use for the 10" sub woofer covering. I'll try and take more pics on Wednesday. Change of Coloring? While traveling, I notice a nice DUB 1970 Cuda. I'm like the color scheme.
Thanks Tony and Dale for posting pics. The last pic was just outside Armarillo, TX. All the others were taken at Mr. Mike's place and later in CA. As you can see----I have alot of work left to do. My new electrical window switch...died on me. I had to pull it out from the center consol (that's why it's raised). Some how, the left side switch is acting-up (I need to call Watson Street Work). The radio consol will be fiber-glass and then sent to Spectra for paint chroming. The radio face plate will be bushed aluminum.
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 11-16-2005).]
