Hey guys - sorry for the delay in responding, but let me bring everybody up to date and let you know where we are.
We moved the car from Florida to me here in Illinois to go ahead and wrap it up. It worked out in an amazing strange way. I was going to take a week off - go down open trailer and bring it back (2,200 mile round trip) later this month.
However, a co-worker of mine bought a truck off the internet and was doing a one-way flight to Largo, Florida to pick it up. I talked him into grabbing the bird that was about an hour away in Lakeland and bringing it up for the cost of fuel and a U-haul rental. This works out way cheaper than me going to and from - AND the car arrived last week!
So - this is the first time I have seen it in person since it has been painted and mostly assembled. WOW - it looks great. The guys at Maaco did a killer job. Those guys can do just as good of work as anybody when they have the time and materials to get it right.
I spent the last couple of days inventorying parts, and putting everything back on that I can with what I have. We lost a header somehow in the move, but the guys in Florida are looking for it as well as some front bumper brackets that had all been blasted, primed, and ready to go on...but are awol right now. The fact it is even in the shape of a car again is a miracle considering the dozens of folks that have worked on it and the many locations it has been stored.
My goal is to have it mobile in a couple of weeks and have it out and about soon after that at the local car cruise events, etc. I plan on having it done soon after and ready to roll back to Florida by November.
There are some parts we still need - any part that can be donated saves us the fund raisers and other avenues to buy new - so please check your garage and see if you have: (don't have to be show quality - just in good usable condition)
1. driver door glass (non-ac car)
2. Front coil springs (I'd like to put some small block Camaro springs in to get some drop - right now I have some in it out of a 1969 Corvette that have to be blocked up under the weight of the engine as they won't hold it).
3. tail lamps
4. front marker lamps
5. front grilles
6. heater control cables
7. A nice 14" air cleaner
8. transmission cooler
9. seat belts (black if possible)
10. SEATS - would love to have some 3rd or 4th gen F body seats - the original 68 seats are just too far gone to even rebuild
11. Fuel lid that goes between the rear lamps with hinge
12. Bumpers - front/rear with brackets (don't have to be show quality)
13. inner door handles, rods, and latches (left and right)
14. Outer door handles
15. Mufflers
16. Throttle cable - not sure what to do here. The old lever system is gone, just have a new pedal on the floor and need to work it out - might just have to get a Lokar set up.
Parts donated are tax deductible if desired. Will need a receipt for the value of the part supplied so the paper work can be completed and returned to the donor.
I'll add/remove as we go.
We need a gas tank and sending unit - but I am going to get those new and have on the way this week. I'll be putting the inner fenders in today (sprayed them base/clear PPG yesterday) and working on the wire harness through the week. I was able to get the motor/trans/drive shaft and other issues such as that nailed down yesterday. I know the motor runs the whole thing was an amazing donation from Vintage Motion out of Dawsonville, GA. Can't wait to hear it roar again.
There is one issue to resolve on this build that presents a unique challenge.
The build team in Florida decided to abandon any hope of getting the roof panel back in decent shape - so instead of just replacing the roof skin and or going over-board on working it - they opted to go with a traditional vinyl top.
So, while the paint and body work on the car is stunning - the roof is not so much - and not even totally finished.
While I think I can work the metal out and get it straight with a simple paint blend into the sail panels to complete it...I'm thinking about doing something different.
On my old 69 Vette, I did a thinned out poly bed liner spray on the rear deck where the convertible top sat, then clear coated over the panel. It came out looking great - and had the feel and appearance of vinyl - without the vinyl. In fact, for something I didn't put much thought or effort into - it become a complimentary feature of the car that I had never expected.
Its crazy but I'm thinking about working the roof out to 80 grit as you would in a normal coating method in the rough spots (think truck bed liner spray prep) - and since this is black now on top, cutting a line with an accent bead trim and blasting the top the same way then clear coating it. The sail panels were part of the new quarters and all was even leaded in old school - that area of the roof is perfect). I also want to work out a stencil for the sail panel area (details to come). The cool thing is, it will look - and even to some degree feel like a vinyl top - but no trim needed around the edge so it gives a modern spin to the idea. Because it is all black - it will blend in anyway for the most part.
Just formulating this out in my head right now - but the roof will have to be dealt with one way or another before the interior goes in.
got the inner fenders in today and re-aligned the front sheet metal. Man...I had forgotten how fun that is on a first gen ....
Somebody had donated a new wiper motor assembly. That was a nice surprise when I opened that bag. It is now on with a lubricated and re-worked wiper transmission.
I'll get the gas tank coming this week. Also, one of the fellows called me and had found the missing header and some other parts. Those will be here soon too.
Man...I can almost hear it running! Fuel system in.
Was able to bang the window regulators in - missing some parts on the driver window.
Door handles...and throttle cable in too.
We are T-minus.... and counting to fire it up. I'll hop back on it this afternoon.
Things to do:
1. re-wire for the internal voltage reg charging system
2. wire up the HEI dist connection
3. hook up a temp ignition switch - bypass the neutral safety for testing
4. put a couple of gallons in the tank
5. connect the battery leads
6. Say a prayer - and light it off.
7. top off fluids
8. Temp wire cooling fans
A fellow in Florida donated the entire front bumper module and bumper (good condition chrome) - rear bumper and brackets - left door latch and inner handle hardware...driver door glass - and buckets of small stuff. That stuff will be here in a week to get on.
Parts that should be in transit:
Pitman arm
coil springs
push start latch system
If I light it off this afternoon - I'll post some video before the end of the weekend.
Oh...just had some killer 99 T/A seats donated - the driver one is power. They bolt right in on the front mounts - minor rear mount mods needed. Very very very cool looking in there.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
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