Project WidowMaker - The Build Thread

[The WidowMaker]

the body went back on the frame today. i plan to get the rear bumper finished and the rear side markers done in the next couple weeks. you can see how much the rear was narrowed with the old wheels on. and thats with them flipped around for more backspace. more to come.....

[Streetwerkz]

Very nice werk, keep it up!!!

[tones2SS]

Very nice man. Very nice.

[The WidowMaker]

ive been busy between work, family and the promotional classes that ive been taking. but, i got a little more work done on the bumper. i didnt take a whole bunch of good pics before i started, but i did dig up some that i shot last year at a car show. it really shows how much ive been able to suck it up.

i still need to finish working the sides a little more. if you notice in the first pic of the car at the show, the bumper never followed the quarter in stock form. although i got them much closer, there was no way to make this perfect without a huge amount of work to the bumper, and if i want to get it rechromed it may have been too much. but with the bumper not following the quarter perfectly, it gives the illusion of the gap being off when viewed at certain angles. this is bugging the CRAP out of me. i also started with 1/4" gaps, but decided to close them all up to about 3/16". if you look at the side pic you can see how much black hides gaps. i have since shot the quarter white in that area, and the although the gap looks large, its only 3/16.

the last part will be getting the bottom filler piece fit and making a new "bumper pad". the stock one is rubber, but i plan to do something out of aluminum.

here are some pics of the bumper today and the one i shot at the show.

[tones2SS]

Very nice. Looks much better now.

[61ragtop]

This build makes me want tp rob a bank and rip my car apart again!!!!

[Musclerodz]

looking great!

[awr68]

Nice progress! You're doing a great job!!

[The WidowMaker]

so another 25 hours later (not kidding), the brackets are welded on the bumper and its been off and on and falls back in place. this thing was a PAIN in the ass. the main problem i had was how the brackets mounted to the bumper. since the mounting surface wasnt flat a slight movement twisted the bumper instead of just moving it up or down. since the bumper has dimension to it, and some areas are closer or futher from the axis, a small twist would send some areas +/- .050 out of spec. this caused so many headaches that i was ready to just give up. but, like i said the bumper is DONE. i still need to finish cleaning up the quarters and i still need to fit the lower valance. this was all supposed to be done weeks ago.

like ive said before, i am breaking all of the purchases up and buying stuff in advance. this has screwed me many times and ive sold and repurchased a ton of parts, but if i dont spend it on the car, it gets spent at friggin Target. this month i picked up my single 10" subwoofer and the ISIS inmotion controller. for the sub, and after a ton of research, i picked up a focal 27v2 to go with the focal components. i narrowed it down to a few, but decided to just stick with one brand for the audio. its not a loud sub, but the quality is supposed to be amazing. i'll be building an enclosed box in the coming months.

i also have a little money left to send to mike a musclerodz. ive given him a few deposits which all should add up to a PRC radiator and ac condensor in the near future. i was stressing about the ron davis/prc choice, but ive decided to add an intank engine oil cooler. rd wanted 700 since they cant fit it in a stock tank and it then makes it a tank custom, and PRC wants 85 and says if it needs a custom tank there will be no charge. i think the $615 difference in oil coolers, plus the $260 in base price has made my decision. i really hope prc delivers on their welds. ive seen some really good and some pretty good. rd usually looks machine done.

hopefully i can get the rest of the bumper buttoned up and some new pics soon!

[waynieZ]

It looks great tucked up like that, nice work.