70 Firebird Pro-Touring TA "" Cherokee Soldier""
 

Well after no less than three false starts with 70 shells we have a winner,,, this super clean (I'm talking not even a tiny bit of pitting) project is finally got traction.... My good friend Tony Ramos will be building the car together with myself and I look forward to a very cool ride that pays homage to vintage styling while updating suspension components, driveline and shedding some real weight for a daily driver... The build was inspired by a super nice TA from down under (thanks Cam she sure is a beauty)...

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse3831471.jpg


The plan is to run a basic LS1 warmed up by West Bend Dyno that features a MSD injection system through a Brian Finch provided T56 and 10 built ten bolt... Utilizing a stock subframe we'll update with A arms and coilovers up front from our good friends at Ride Tech... Pro-touring F body will be hooking us up with their G-Braces, frame connectors and solid body bushings.. Out back we'll be utilizing a set of Global west lowering springs and Ride Tech smoothies.. The vintage appearing 15" Ralley II's will compliment the stockish paint theme and BFG Goodrich will be planting the power to the road in vintage styled rubber.... The showcase a PPG custom color blend has a unique Turquoise hue to what would otherwise be a Lucy Blue paint scheme and the interior is somewhat undecided,, however is leaning to one of my signature Tuxedo White updates...

Carbon Kustoms Ltd will oversee the build and of course be supplying the nose, hood, shaker, fenders, inner fenders, and door skins.. Should budget allow we will be reaching out to Anvil auto for a trunk lid, rear center spoiler section and rear filler panel...

A quick couple of pic's that showcase the sweet undercarriage of this shell....

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps30b1a74e.jpg

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...psbdf60406.jpg

Love it Albert!! This should be really cool are as all of your builds are. :king:

Can't wait to see this one!!

Love the wheels and tires!

Can't wait for this one to come together Albert! LOVE your builds! :relax:

Thanks Rick I'm glad you like what we do...

Ty, it been a little tough out of the gate but I'm really getting stoked about the build now and coming into my stride,, thanks man.

ArisESQ, thanks man I just wanted that vintage look for this one and thought it'd be cool as a look to pay homage to the stock rims of the day...

Chichirone, thanks buddy... BTW we're way overdue for one of our hour long calls bud.. I'm finally home for a couple of weeks, lets talk pal.....

can't wait to see this one going together.

I dig the deep custom Rally II's. Sounds like another great build.

Speaking of which, have you ever heard anything from the guy who bought Sleep Beauty, Albert?

Sure John's doing well and has been very busy with family and work (this guy has a lot of responsibility and a very large staff with his work) ... I understand he took the car apart and went through it very thoroughly.. He personalize the car to his own preferences and I'm waiting to see it come out again.. He is a really nice guy and you'll likely see the car out this summer I would think all things equal....

Thanks for the update, Albert. I thought Sleep Beauty came out great. Glad the new owner is happy with the car, too.

Just wondering - what are the specs on those wheels and tires?

I had wanted to do something similar but couldn't due to my brakes being too large for 15s. Always loved that look though.

WSSix, when John purchased the car he knew there was work left to do on it and he's taken to another level again from what I'm to understand... Some of the trades did work that left room for improvement (that both of agreed on) and John is the right guy for that.. He is very talented and I trust the car will be great when he's finished with it...


ArisESQ, I will be dealing with that exact info over the next few weeks... That is a quick edited photo and I will need to deal with manipulating the rims and selecting tire sizes and and body mods require to achieve the look... I have the tool for measuring backspacing and will be testing options in the coming weeks to determine exactly how to achieve what I want and will post that here for others.... Summit sells a 15" x 5.5" X 10"wide rim that will likely be the launch point for customization to achieve the results. I will review this and take the steps to move the center and adjust backspacing accordingly within the rim barrels...

Well gang back from SEMA and my trip down to the Baja 1000 in Mexico where I was fortunate enough to cook for the BFG pit 5 crew (great group of people BTW)..
In my absence Tony Ramos has been doing an outstanding job of working on Cherokee Soldier... He took the balance of the car down and primed the shell... He also prepped, painted and half assembled the sub-frame,,, Hell he was a machine... Anyways I'll let the pic's do the talking from here...

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...psbd8b2022.jpg

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3581e94f.jpg

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps89edcb75.jpg

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4c06382a.jpg

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps17d5ee36.jpg

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...psaaa63d14.jpg

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...psbbee0f45.jpg

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps8128d056.jpg

and tomorrow we'll place the Carbon door skins on the car all things equal
http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf9c70614.jpg

Very nice Albert!! Question are the firebird skins the same as the Camaro?

Thanks Rick... The Camaro and Firebird door skins "are not" the same buddy..

The Camaro door skin (which I also make) has a horizontal relief/recess along the bottom of the door and the horizontal body line mid way up the door is sharper or more pronounced.... the inner door panel also has to follow these details as well....

Ok I'm not that up on the Firebird body's. But you make the same for the 2nd gen Camaro?? Interesting, pricing?? :thankyou:

Rick they are roughly between $600 and $800 a side and unless you're doing an overall light car they'd be wasting money I'd say... The door skins are really nice, they're very straight as a part,,, but heck they are really more for a guy who wants everything and where weight reduction is critical in the build...

Don't get me wrong, I'll sell them but do you really want that much in a set of door panels?? Hell 600 X 2 = a good part of what it takes to buy a Ride Tech 4 link for your car and that would surely make more difference in my mind.... I really love what we do and this is a hobby/business so I tell it like it is bud,, guess I'm just a real enthusiasts at heart....

Do you make any other carbon parts?

Firebird
 

So how much weight savings on the skins?

Also how light have you made a 2nd gen bird?

Looking at shaving mine down

Panteracer with a 70 ta clone

On a side note .... do you know what product Tony is using to paint the sub and the interior?

Thanks for keeping us in the loop, looks good!

Michael

The best thing I can suggest is to call me as we can alter layups for track day cars if you'd like (or do a light street layup)....

The lightest we've done to date is 3,230 to date.. That was a front clip and we started with a 3,670lbs car... The car had a weight balance of 51% front and 49% rear and handles like a champ... We have a car currently that has more carbon on it so I'm guessing it'll be around 3,000 range..

If you're really looking to go the whole nine yards we are molding up a second gen roof, partial floors (almost complete less torque boxes & cross members), partial firewall, quarters, trunk drop (already done), and trunk floor over the next several months... Carbon Kustom will be offering rolling chassis packages hopefully by the end of 3/4 2015... We have initiated work with DSE to develop the potential of a DSE/Carbon Kustoms mixed Composite and steel sub-frame that will take substantial weight out of the sub...

Personally I am building a 2nd gen 70 Camaro that has a desired street weight of 2,400-2,600 lbs (see rendering below)...

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...psb93a3ded.jpg

Every part will be mixed composites except for the rockers, B post and pillars, torque boxes (hence partial floor mentioned above) and floor panel between the inner rear wells that transitions from lower floor to trunk floor... The car will also have a cage and bay bars... Feel free to call me if you have any more questions at 416-566-9660

Tony was using PPG band epoxy primer and I'll have to look at the black paint selected as I frankly don't remember....

Trans am
 

Not sure I am ready to jump that far yet
Mine was 3710 a year and a half ago Been lighten
Things up and was hoping to get to 3250

Saw a second gen Drag racer a few years back that was nice
With plexi windows weighing 2650 my mustang was 2830
I miss the light car

Hobaug is 3000 but he put some weight in
For his Scca class

Pozzi told me a few weeks ago she was at 3400

I saw your car at semi with the Bfg wrap last year

Look forward to seeing your rollers a front ends

Thanks

Panteracer

its single stage urethane ready to spray hot rod black

Np 3,250 is very achievable with fenders, inner wells, hood and nose I'd say (maybe a custom rad support)...

Thanks ... I was looking into SEM hot rod black, I didn't know if it held up to the abuse a daily driver might see.

Michael

Suggestion to use SPI Epoxy Primers........
 

Suggestion to buy direct from http://www.southernpolyurethanes.com/

and get a high quality product at a direct to you shipped price
with best in industry customer support.

And put the cost savings toward your expensive suspension parts

Popped by Tony's today and we did a super fast test mount of the Carbon TA fenders for Cherokee Soldier, fit nice and we were both very pleased with fitment right out of the mold.... This car is such a clean & straight shell I'm thinking the panel gaping efforts should move pretty quickly all things equal....

Watch in the coming weeks for the debut of "Rick's Tanks" new F-body stamped gas tank on the build...
http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps89503d9d.jpg

Going to be sweet:thumbsup:

Thanks Kevin

I'd love to check this out in person one day. I still remember the talk we had at the Border when you imported one of your cars.

Joe

Well come on up to Toronto Joe,,, I have a few on the go presently and the drive isn't that bad pal...

How you doing with your project BTW???

I might take you up on that. My project is slowly coming along, cash builds will do that. Car's been to the body shop and everything is straight and primered. The car awaits it's drivetrain and brakes. Then back to the shop for final block, paint and glass install.

Joe

You should Joe, we'll be chipping away at things up here over the break,, call me and we'll set it up....

Just a quick shot of Tony holding the nose up to the car for a quick test fitment on the front clip... Work to be done, however overall it should line up real nice in the end result without to much fussing around... The condensation spots on the hood are from the hood reacting to a warm room after being transported in the back of an open pickup down to Tony's...

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7747fae4.jpg

Well it sure feels like Christmas to me around here as so many good things are coming together this month... Work on the Cherokee Soldier, WarPath, the 53 Caddy series 62 and my new little surprise for ya'll, ""White Lightening"" (details to come soon) are moving along nicely... We've selected a color mix for the Cherokee Soldier and it's really very exciting as a color goes... The color it's self (as you can see here) shifts with light so nicely that I can't wait to see the car painted... While relaxing upon getting home last night I did a super fast edit of the ride height (and it likely won't be that low) for for fun....

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps971fc10c.jpg

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps388208fa.jpg

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4dc59314.jpg

Tony and I spent some time working the project prior to a Christmas BBQ a few days ago and I thought I'd share a couple of quick updates....
Firstly the final paint mix has been selected and the paint has been mixed so we're super excited....

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps77d69145.jpg

Notice how the light plays on this mix,, we're super excited to take this car into the booth when it's ready for paint

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...psac07cb7b.jpg
Amazing light play and it really it's even more dramatic with the human eye so those sexy curves on the car should just pop.....

Here is Tony working on the under Carbon hood structure epoxying in the hood latch receiver mechanism and hood hinge brackets/receivers..

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7162e449.jpg

http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4fb99b9a.jpg

Until next we post,, Merry Christmas gang.....

That's going to look great in that color, Albert. Looks like a modern, metallic version of the original Lucerne blue. I love it!

Merry Christmas to you too, and I love the color.