Jump to content
HybridZ

Vacaville Velo Rossa


Recommended Posts

  • 2 weeks later...

After three days of conflicts, I was finally able to pick up my new wheels. I spent no time getting them on and checking for clearance issues. The fronts are pretty tight, and depending on tire width, may need a small spacer to keep from rubbing against the spring. Even if no spacer is required, I may opt for a small flare to the front fender openings to get that hunkered down, slightly wider look, that I've seen on some of the Porsche Speedster replicas.

post-4015-034116900 1330133149_thumb.jpgpost-4015-010885500 1330136361_thumb.jpgpost-4015-008275600 1330133148_thumb.jpgpost-4015-032033100 1330136363_thumb.jpg

 

Looks like the rears will need an adapter to push them out around an inch (again depending on tire width) to fill the tub completely. I anticipated this.2thumbs.gif

post-4015-099006900 1330133146_thumb.jpgpost-4015-050371400 1330136348_thumb.jpg

 

Rota RB Royal Hyper Black

Front: 17x9 -13mm

Rear: 17x9.5 -19mm

 

While I wouldn't describe these as "top of the line", I do feel they are a great value. For me, they are a good compromise between the styling I want and cost. I get a deep dish,slightly muscle car look, and save some cash by utilizing the stock suspension / brakes, etc. Custom wheels made to the specs I need are three times as expensive. Who knows, I might even placate some of the Ferrari guys who feel that wire wheels are the only way to go on these cars. Eight spokes with that Torque Thrust look?? Not enough spokes?sad.gif Oh well, I like them.

 

I tried to get the suspension to approximate ride hight, by supporting the car on its suspension as close to the outside as possible. But as one can see, it didn't work out that well. Can't wait to get them wrapped in rubber and finalize the stance. Alas, it won't be soon. But there is some light at the end of the tunnel. cheers.gif

Edited by Fauxre
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Awesome thread just read all the posts and your attention to detail is amazing

Thanks.... maybe the word you're looking for is 'anal'.laugh.gif

 

Fauxre,

 

Love what you got going on there with the car build. It is nice to see a different option for wheels on that body style with a bit more of an aggressive approach.

 

You wouldn't believe how many people feel that a wire wheel is the only way to go because of the Italian body style and '60s era lines. But I'm not building a replica... it's my one of a kind custom.

 

Thanks for the support guys!!!2thumbs.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Been dealing with a sore throat and sinus infection for the last week. Was feeling much better today, so I decided that my compromised respiratory system needed a good dose of fiberglass/bond dust to make my recovery move right along.blink.gif

 

Got around to finishing the front inner fender/headlight covers. Spent most of the day filling and sanding and I'm pleased with final result. I was going to finish them with undercoating, but it's been suggested that spray truck bed liner might be better.

 

post-4015-079067700 1331522523_thumb.jpgpost-4015-019856900 1331522525_thumb.jpgpost-4015-070731100 1331522526_thumb.jpgpost-4015-028697000 1331522532_thumb.jpgpost-4015-017558200 1331522528_thumb.jpgpost-4015-001174800 1331522519_thumb.jpgpost-4015-021882500 1331522522_thumb.jpgpost-4015-065976200 1331522520_thumb.jpg

Edited by Fauxre
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Still working under the front fenders. Quite a while ago, I started making a block off panel behind the front tires. It'll keep crud thrown up by the front tires from getting to the door hinges and side vents.

I hot glued floral blocks to the under side of the cheek panel and shaped them until I got a curvature I liked.

 

post-4015-060540100 1333240822_thumb.jpg

I removed the assembly, covered the blocks with foil and coated them with a layer of fiberglass cloth. After removing the blocks, the new piece fits nicely between the cheek panel and unibody. But there is still a gap I'll have to close.

 

post-4015-065603300 1333240821_thumb.jpg

Using some sheet metal, I attached a sheet of fleece to the bottom of the upper frame rail. A little resin and it conforms to, and holds the shape of, the old body.

 

post-4015-024269600 1333240825_thumb.jpg

 

I reattached the cheek panel with the new block off and wrapped the fleece around the edges, pulling everything good and tight. More resin...

 

post-4015-021148900 1333240826_thumb.jpg

 

... and it all comes off as one piece.

 

post-4015-099606400 1333240823_thumb.jpg

All three pieces are tacked together only where there was actual contact with the wet resin. I reinforced all joints and filled any voids with fiberglass matting and filler. After some trimming and sanding, it's still pretty rough, but it'll get a lot more attention before finished.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks guys!!

The driver side was much simpler, and cleaner, since I was able to make a cardboard pattern from the passenger side.

 

post-4015-069241700 1335324080_thumb.jpg

 

I left the screen on one side black and painted the other silver for comparison. It's interesting how much easier it is to see through the black screen.

 

post-4015-064997900 1335324083_thumb.jpg

 

With both cheek panels reinstalled the exterior feels almost complete. Thinking about a billet style grill for the front.

Something like this Camaro maybe.

post-4015-096417300 1335324034_thumb.jpg

Edited by Fauxre
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Had some time this weekend, so I started some of the interior work. I need to create new panels to separate the trunk from the passenger compartment and cover the added reinforcing steel. I made several attempts to generate patterns out of cardboard. I thought that would be simplest route. Wrong! angry.gif A total waist of time. Too many square corners. Stretching fleece over such a large area seemed like the best way to go, but I wasn't sure how to secure the material under the lip of the rear tub while applying resin.

 

 

Here's what I've done .

 

Laid out the fleece and trimmed it .

 

post-4015-027355500 1336365954_thumb.jpg

 

I cut 1/2" pvc pipe to length (about 72") and sliced numerous grooves in the areas where it needed to make tight bends. I then attached the top edge of the fleece with a little trim adhesive. The pipe bends easily and holds itself tight to the unibody at the door jams.

 

post-4015-076181900 1336365956_thumb.jpg

 

It kept drooping in the center, so I pulled the pvc up tight to the fiberglass with small screw. I used an old gas tank strap to get it tight around the wheel wells and an old wooden trim molding keeps the fleece tight to the wall under the reinforcement. I need the area on top of the wheel wells accessible in order to mount the roll bar.

 

post-4015-061947500 1336365955_thumb.jpg

 

After it dries, we'll see how easy it is to get out.rolleyes.gif

 

post-4015-000211100 1336365958_thumb.jpg

post-4015-071624400 1336365845_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Well... the fleece and resin didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. I misjudged the amount of hardener to use based on the temperature outside. The resin started to harden before it saturated the fleece.

The result was a very bumpy and floppy panel. I wasn't thrilled with the amount of work it would take to cover the whole thing with glass matte, to make it rigid, and then filling and sanding to smooth it all out.

Instead, I replaced the center section with hardboard. It's already rigid and requires no sanding to get a smooth surface. I did glass the ends...

 

post-4015-072112400 1337128496_thumb.jpg

 

then filled and smoothed.

 

post-4015-027196300 1337128499_thumb.jpg

 

A little trimming and some more filler...

 

post-4015-051885100 1337128677_thumb.jpg

 

and the panel fits snugly around the roll bar mounting points.

 

post-4015-038931600 1337128500_thumb.jpg

 

A little more sanding and it will be smooth enough to cover.

post-4015-062362300 1337128495_thumb.jpg

Interior is starting to shape up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

More progress...

 

Got some color on the rear panel and started to bend up some sheet metal to direct air to the radiator.

 

post-4015-014004800 1338332087_thumb.jpg

 

 

Finally got around to wrapping the Rotas in new rubber.

post-4015-088534000 1338332087_thumb.jpg

 

 

I'm liking the new look...

post-4015-030408100 1338332083_thumb.jpg

 

 

Somehow, it feels more like a real car now than ever before.

post-4015-014079900 1338332082_thumb.jpgpost-4015-031687300 1338332084_thumb.jpgpost-4015-025715400 1338332086_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

The VR left the garage today under it's own power since... well, ever!

 

I spent the last couple of weeks working out the ride height and desired spacing of the wheels within the tire wells. The front wheels got 1" spacers which lets me use the Rota center caps, avoiding the ugly dust caps protruding through the center holes. The rears needed 2" spacers to allow the tires to fill out the wells.

I really like the stance.

Unfortunately, pushing the wheels out created a couple of clearance issues with the body, when turning. Easy fix. A little trimming to the corners of the tilt bonnet and to the edge of the inner blockoffs I made for the fenders, and everything is in the clear.

 

I'm still waiting to install pipes and mufflers, but I just couldn't wait to see if she'd actually drive. So, with more than a little apprehension unsure.gif, I fired her up and backed her down the driveway into the street. I took a couple of laps around the court and to the corner and back. And although the total distance travelled was probably less than 1K feet, it was exhilarating.

There were no loud bangs, no rubbing noises, no strange vibrations and none of those tell tale smells indicating a major problem. Once back in the garage, I did find two small leaks. Fuel, from a fitting not completely tight and oil, from the pan-to-timing cover seal.

 

I was feeling so good, that I took a few pics to commemorate her first day in the sun. And with the bright light, I was even able to approximate a metallic paint finish.

 

post-4015-046084700 1341298369_thumb.jpg

post-4015-065800900 1341298257_thumb.jpg

 

 

All in all... one great 'feel good' day.

Edited by Fauxre
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...