1971 Firebird Build ("The Other Woman", a.k.a. Project "T.O.W.")

[Flash68]

Ok I will quit with the 315 comments (Rob will continue anyway) because that spoiler and bellypan look KILLER. Those are great finishing touches.

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Ok I will quit with the 315 comments

(Rob will continue anyway)

Those are great finishing touches.

I agree! This was design two, the first one didn't work out as well as we hoped, but I'm happy with this! At some point, assuming that I do enough events to warrant it, we have plans to add an actual splitter, and possibly some canards on the sides. As it is though, I'm worried about how long it will take to scrap this one up. I want to drive to work, and my office is in a hilly area with simply no good way to get in. I told Eric that I hope he made a template for this thing...

[gerno]

Looking good. If you aren't having issues getting out of the driveway at Eric's shop then I think you should be ok in 90% of Austin. I haven't run into any huge issues with my car but did have to raise mine a little for more suspension travel. Mines lower but then again it has no front spoiler yet.

Have you scheduled your first tack day yet? It's only 102 this week, perfect time to test out the cooling system....

[GregWeld]

....... I am so hungry.....

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by gerno

Looking good. If you aren't having issues getting out of the driveway at Eric's shop then I think you should be ok in 90% of Austin. I haven't run into any huge issues with my car but did have to raise mine a little for more suspension travel. Mines lower but then again it has no front spoiler yet.

Have you scheduled your first tack day yet? It's only 102 this week, perfect time to test out the cooling system....

The C63 is pretty low too, and I've driven a few C5's and C6's, so I'm definitely used to the low spots! We have some brutal speed bumps here too! Thankfully none in my building at work or home, but that work entry would be tough! We'll find out soon enough!

No definite plans on a track day yet. Are you enjoying the events around here?

Interestingly, we built a block-off plate for the oil cooler for when I run on the street. It's not allowing the oil to heat up enough, in the couple of drives that I've done so far. And that's with 99* temps! I'm keeping a close eye on that...

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

....... I am so hungry.....

There's some dinner for ya...

[carbuff]

#$^%!# !@# _)( _!@# #%(*@#$ @#_$)(#@$

Today started out as a good Saturday... I drove up to Eric's shop and pulled the car out to go get the front end alignment checked. I didn't really want anyone to change it, because Eric and I took measurements ourselves and thought it was pretty close. I just wanted to check that we were right.

Sure enough, it was almost dead on (kudos to Jake!). The toe is a little off, but we knew that. One side has about 1/2* more caster than the other, and that's ok. The camber was dead on with me sitting in it, and the thrust angle is almost perfect too. Great!

So I left that place and drove to a friend's who is about a mile away. He wanted to see it, so we went for a quick ride. All's well, we come back to his place and sit around and chat for a while. And while doing so, the car is sitting in the hot Texas sun (it's 106* here today) for an hour.

When I come out, my hood is buckled up about 2" in the middle!!! WHAT?!?!

Eric and I have been fighting about 1/2" of bend, and we've been adjusting and trying to get it to settle down. Apparently it was the hood hinge struts which were causing it, even though we weren't convinced of that. So I hopped in the car and drove back to his shop to get it in the shade and release the pressure. When we did, we could see where the 'support' (I use that word loosely) that runs front to back was buckling right in front of the hood hinge. NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

I was so pissed off that I just left. I'm supposed to drive the car to meet up with some car buds tonight for them to see it. Eric pulled out the struts, and at least it appears to sit down mostly, but it's still bowed at this point. I absolutely do not want to have to replace the hood, between getting it, painting it, and getting another stripe kit for it, that will cost a small fortune. And I certainly wouldn't replace it with another VFN is this is going to happen again.

This feels appropriate about now:

[Sieg]

You need a couple really cold beers!

[carbuff]

That's about what I felt like doing today! I don't think fiberglass will respond quite as well to the sledge though.

[garickman]

How is the hood looking after two days? Was it damaged beyond repair? I was thinking of using a VFN hood on my build but I am having second thoughts now.