How hard would it be to put these latches on a hood that's already painted? Mine has an airbrushed bird on it and I'd hate to have to replicated that but I need some sort of latches and I like the look of Aerocatch.

We (we meaning Eric) installed them on my painted fiberglass VFN hood. I wasn't there when he did it, but I don't recall him complaining too much. I expect it's no harder that drilling through any other painted surface. Tape it up and cut through paint so you don't scratch.

The key is finding a point to mount them. Mine are more inboard that Bob's, and also turned 90* to keep them in the channel across the front of the hood. Here is a picture (kinda dark, but you can see them) of my hood:

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps6t9wgmhc.jpg

You can see the pins mounted in this picture also:

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps994f07a2.jpg

Dreamin Ta's
 

Doug,
Yes I remember seeing your airbrushed bird.. very cool
The latches have a fairly large flange on the top side
so if you tape things up and mark it you will be fine

The biggest issue I had was all the stuff below was not in
the same line.. up and down and curves.. so that created
a little issue... I think Hobaug ...where I got the info on the
hinges- summit carries them- cut his in on new paint
when I was looking at his build

Bob

Dreamin Ta's
 

So I finally ordered rear brakes and a master
with a proportioning valve for the bird 12.88 4 pistons
to go with the 13" 6 pistions up front

They told me roughly two weeks so I figured the Pantera
was going to Crows but also needed new rear Rotors and pads

I come back from a meeting today and the stack is in the corner
everything came from Wilwood for both cars

Not sure I can get the gear change done before the 4th weekend
on the bird so I will start with the Pantera and then get going
on the bird... kinda like Christmas:)

Bob

What a nice surprise to come home too!! Good luck on the upgrades!

Dreamin Tas
 

Thanks Lance.. goal is to get the braking
and gearing right on the car and now that things
are lighter try to dial it in.. at that point I hope
to get some secret sauce data from someone who
knows what works:)

Bob

Someone has a busy weekend coming up!

Dreamin Ta's
 

So after running the Pantera on the 4th it was time to start
working on the Bird... finally got the brakes mocked up out back
Now need to change out the master and then to the rearend shop
for a much needed gear change

Bob

Wilwood sure puts together a nice package of quality stuff.

What gear ratio do you have now, and what are you going to?

Dreamin Ta's
 

Have 411's and going to 373's
The TKO 600 tranny gears are so low and close together
I hit the rev limiter way too quick... Big torque motor
needs to bite a little better

Bob

Dreamin Tas
 

So now that the rear brakes are done and the
rear sway bar is changed to an adjustable one
I ordered up a new pair of front tires going from
275 to 385's Bridgestone re71r but a little shorter also
as they are making a 30 series... Then I need to get
serious and cut the front fenders to get some more clearence

Bob

Which rear tire are you going to run? I wish they made those tires in a larger size which would work for the rears. I'll be curious to see those mounted on the car given the 30-series height. :)

385's? oO


:D


Wouldn't that be cool with some 435's out back? :poke:

Dreamin Tas
 

Zoomin.. not too much tire otherwise it will push like a dog:)
I had to make the Pantera rears smaller a long time back to get
rid of the push

Bryan,
I am running 335 Rival S tires out back.. they seem pretty good but
I don't have a lot of time with them.. yes the Bridgestones in my
opinion is the best tire out there unless you are running Dot Road
race tires which I run on my Pantera all the time

I wanted to get a little more clearance in height but also in
the turning point of the tire... I have only a 4 3/4" offset so
much of my rim is offset outside.. not the best in working but
my liking in looks.... when you put on modern a-arms they seem
to pull the wheel backward with the castor.. works great but in
my case hitting on the bolts that hold the fenders.. I had to grind
them and they still sometimes hit.. so get a shorter tire

I have found that running at shorter tire on my Pantera 35 series vs
40 series makes the car stick so much better on the track... Just
my experience so figured try it on the Bird

I also cut a tire in the front recently so need to flair the front
fender... figured get a little wider tire since cutting things...
was originally thinking 315's but don't think they will work with my offsets
and again I think the bridgestone is that much better to give up a little size

Bob

Got it. I've had new Rival S's on TOW since March, but haven't driven on them yet other than a few miles. 275/315 currently, but I'm going to try and squeeze a 315 up front as well. When I did it previously, everything was great until I hit a bump at full lock. This is what I got for my trouble (315 Rival S with 5 miles on it...). Well crud, I can't copy my link at the moment, but suffice it to say that I have a new Rival with a cut to the cords. And I think if I had just rolled the fender I would have been ok. Live and learn...

Dreamin Ta's
 

So I did a little measuring and the new tires
are about 1/2" wider and 1/2" shorter. The shorter
dimension only lowers the car 1/4" but that 1/4" helps
with fender clearance at the back side of the fender
Verticle height will be opened up with the new flair

Bob

Dreamin Tas
 

Ok back to the car...had to move some things around
in the shop so I now have 6 cars in there.. 4 Panteras
my bird and a mustang.. gave the back to my brother so he would
quit complaining

Missed Pleasanton because I had a short in my lights and finally
got that fixed last weekend.. just finished shortening the uprights
on the new sway bar so it is adjustable and clears the exhaust

So back to making flairs for the front end
Did a quick mockup last night and ordering a
shrinker today so I can start to get this project done
Trying to do a plant on so no repaint etc

Bob

Looking good! That body just looks right with a flare. How about a wide shot so I can see the whole car?!

Dreamin Tas
 

Will try to remember to shoot a side shot
this weekend... heading out of town the
next couple of days and then back to the shop


Bob

Just read this entire thread. This is such a cool thread and the last post makes me want to flare my 70


Marty-MJ

Make a few extra sets for us poor bastards who can't work metal! I'd be happy to pay for the time and effort :-)

Dreamin Ta's
 

Doug
This will be my first try at shaping these
It almost gets there just bending slightly
Will see how it goes when my Shriner shows up

Bob

Looking forward to it!

This will be cool. Keep us posted, Bob!

Dreamin Ta's
 

So spent some time with the shrinker
and found what I wanted I could just
bend slightly on my knee

This is the mockup piece I did a while
back. Finally bought the new metal and
will clean things up

Bob

Leave the lip long so you can roll it around some rod for strength....


Looks great Bob!

Dreamin Ta's
 

Thanks Greg

Also bought a new Aeromotive Steath cell
will be getting rid of the Ricks SS tank
Some trunk cutting and supports to be made

Bob

Dreamin Ta's
 

Finally got the courage to cut the fenders
Finished one side so far

Bob

That hurts my eyes!!! :superhack: :weld: :lostmarbles:

Bob --- Find your local Snap-On dealer and buy an air driven BODY SAW -- it will do a far nicer job for you.


https://store.snapon.com/Air-Saws-Du...w-P758983.aspx


There are others -- and whatever you do - don't cheap out and buy the Blue-Point junk version (they have zero torque)

Thats funny looking luggage. Is that the new "retro" style?

Kiddin aside, are you fabbing rails and dropping it into the "tank location"? How many gallons is it? I'm interested in doing this at some point....

Atta boy Bob! Love it...

I can think of something else that hurts my eyes.....

it starts with "shak" and ends with "er"

:twak:

:action-smiley-027:

Bob, can u post more pics. Looks like the back of the flare should go a bit longer.

Dreamin Ta's
 

Mike

Fuel cell will go thru the trunk
and sit on an alum frame I will
make. It is 20 gallon with an A1000
in tank pump (i have an external A1000)
so replacing it. 24" wide vs stock at 36"
20" deep and 10" tall vs 6-8" stock
It has -10 outlet and -8 return for the 1150 carb
Will also brace the frame with the supports
So more room for exhaust. Thinking of
running them in the middle like the Pantera

Track junky
The intent is to leave the back of the flair
Short. I want to match the rear flair and keep
the trans am look that has a flair in front but
not the back

Yes I have been putting off cutting the fender
but with one cut tire already and now going to 285/30 shorter
Tires -RE-71rs it will also be wider so the need for Flairs
Best of both worlds

Bob

Taking big risks is the only way to make big gains.:thumbsup:

That is a fact. A few dollars spent up front can save a bunch of time and $$ on the back end.:G-Dub:


It's not like looking at rust bubbles appearing from under paint. It's just the start of some enhancements. Cut to cure.

You're a brave man, Bob. You're treating that pretty Fireibird like it's a Falcon . . .

Dreamin Ta's
 

Not a falcon?? but with an $1100 dollar paint job done over
25 years ago it makes it somewhat easier to
cut but I know to fix it will cost way more than that
Thinking of wrapping the flairs, hood etc

Not really a body man so trying to make this less painful
and stay out of Paint Jail

Hows your Vette/Falcon coming along??

Bob

Thanks for asking about my mess, Bob. It's actually coming along pretty decently as of late (see update). I thought writing books sapped the brain's creativity generator, but the sheetmetal job I cut out for myself is really kicking me.

As for an ugly state of wheelhousing, I submit the following (car will drop about another inch still, if not more--I will eventually apply a flare):

Dreamin Ta's
 

Finally spent a day fabbing up the alum
Flairs. Will more than likely wrap them later
in carbon fiber. Four link showing up Wednesday
I will do the tank at the same time

Bob

Dreamin Ta's
 

Ridetech four link showed up today
So time to fab the new fuel cell supports
and install the new suspension

Will have the old SS ricks tank to sell now

Bob