Hello folks. My first post.
I just snagged a 356 kit car that was sitting for maybe 20 years.. still in kit forum.. looks to be like a deluxe type kit.. interior, trim, disc brakes , etc..Anyway.. it's a classic motor carriage. have read this kits are are not considered good. My question is .. as delivered by them, is in gelcoat or paint? and if gel coat, do people just shine that up? cause I waxed a spot, and It could pass as painted.
Thanks
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CMC's are gelcoat. A CMC kit is as good as the builder who builds it when he builds if he builds it right. Just messing around. A CMC can be a nice car but it really does matter how much effort you put into it and the quality of the parts you use.
A vast number of the members here have CMC's and some of them are very well built.
One of our members, TRP, wet sanded his gelcoat to put a new shine on it. Here's the thread containing his process. https://www.speedsterowners.com...-a-speedster?page=14 The entire thread is 26 pages but that documents his entire process from when he got the car to all of the improvements he's made.
Top right side of the page to the left of your screen name and avatar is a "+" sign and what looks like a magnifying glass. The magnifying glass is a search feature. Type in your question and sit back and read all you can.
CMC is as good as the builder! Some were built for the factory to display in airports but not many. Fiberglass is good and strong - thickness varies to over 1/2" in some areas - which is not a problem. They came factory gel coat with some colors like black extra cost. It can be wet sanded and buffed to a durable high shine. The kit came sans suspension, engine, trans and brakes. The deluxe option ($7995 in late 1988 for classic version) had the doors installed and the heavy steel sub-frame too. Build manuals are here if yours didn't come with one. MGMagic still has many NOS parts still available.
CMC's are fine ..... upgrade the butt sag syndrome and you have a good base to work with.
Oh wait it's all junk sell it to me :~)
My CMC was manufactured in 1989. It's red gel coat is pristine. Check out the pics.
Never been wet sanded.
Thanks folks. Trying to decide to build it or not.. buffing up the gelcoat saves alot of time, and some money. Car had a ton of dust on it. cleaned it a bit, and waxed a corner of the hood. while not a good clear coat.. may pass for a cruiser. btw .. builders name was tony.. signed on the sticker.see pics
Box all that up and pay Dr Clock to build it for you; easy-peasy.
DAVID BAYNE - BAYNIAC posted:
My CMC was manufactured in 1989. It's red gel coat is pristine. Check out the pics.
Awesome.. looks like a single stage paint. Car looks awesome. very convincing.
Robert M posted:Box all that up and pay Dr Clock to build it for you; easy-peasy.
I can build it. I can even paint it. It's the time. and unfamilar with these. I have build camaros , chevelles , mustangs.
What year do you guys think this is? going to join and down load assembly manual. 2 of them are listed.1980 and 1984.
Feel free to make a offer on it. i could be motivated to let it go. thx
Whoohooo another unfinished FL CMC! (See you're near Ocala - I'm Ft Walton Beach). I'd go with the 1984 version. I'm guessing yours is from late 80's (they were in business til 1992). I got same Anza Monza exhaust with mine - yours looks to have new 914 gauges. Your's has rare quality control sticker - none found on mine. You even have the widely expensive wiring harness from them.
So sexy looking
WOLFGANG posted:Whoohooo another unfinished FL CMC! (See you're near Ocala - I'm Ft Walton Beach). I'd go with the 1984 version. I'm guessing yours is from late 80's (they were in business til 1992). I got same Anza Monza exhaust with mine - yours looks to have new 914 gauges. Your's has rare quality control sticker - none found on mine. You even have the widely expensive wiring harness from them.
Thanks. I think I'm going to have do the project.. need to do the motor and tranny that came with it, or buy others. Whats the best( most hp ) for these without getting into turbos or chargers? How long does it take to assemble about for a gear head?
Seem under the car seems almost complete
I think you're a build-and-sell guy. If I'm wrong, please correct. If I'm right, and it came with a good motor, you ought to just clean it up, test and install it. A 1600 dual-port is about 60 hp from the factory. Put two carbs on it and a header and call it a day. You won't get your money back out of a newly-built 2110.
If you need an engine though, get a CB Perf. 2110. That's like 145 hp or something like that. Turn-key for about $6,500 all done. It's the engine most enthusiasts say works best in terms of hp/$. And it's a lot of grunt in these little cars. It's not big-block Chevy power, but it moves you along very well. If you upgrade the engine you'll need to beef-up the transmission as well, which is about $1,000.
As for build-time? So far, the members of this board seem to take anywhere from three weekends to three decades.
Wow - complete with rear disk brakes! Remove that red polyurethane round steering joint from front steering column. They are unsafe at any speed.
1915cc is cheapest performance build - bore stock case and heads to 94mm cylinders/pistons and add dual carbs - good for 80hp for $600. Not that I'm recommending that.
Caution: it is not like rebuilding an existing car. I've rebuilt 2 AH Bugeyes, 1 TR Spitfire, a '62 356 Karmann coupe, '63 VW Transporter, '72 914 and '72 VW transporter -- they all had holes drill and it was debug and restore (all were repainted after rust repair). It can take 400 hours or years to build a Speedster. Don't ask!
Thanks folks. very helpful.
I don't know if the engine i have is any good. but i guess i can fire it up on the floor.
i'm a guy who love a project and the car.. drive it till i'm bored .. then sell it at a loss.. lol true. in this case ..i grabbed this kit for $1200. so i figure i'm way ahead of it.
going to have to print this thread and go through it.
a bit off topic, but what is the registration process for a kit car in Florida? I'm pretty new to the area. I don't have the manufacture paperwork but do have proof of purchase and legal notice ad. Sold at auction.
wolfgang .. do you know a shop that can do that locally?
Junk Man - did you buy this from a Storage container auction? Your garage and your use name leads me to think you're in the storage auction line of work.
Ted
Not sure how FL treats just a proof of purchase like a bill of sale. I have both the original CMC Certificate of Origin (COO) and the VW donor cars Title with a "VIN" that matches the chassis/pan's #. I will probably register mine as a 1971 VW bug. Not sure how you research a "lost/missing" title (that was never in you name). If you find an abandoned vehicle there is a method get a title for it. Abandoned and bought with no title is different (I asked). You'd think in age of computers you could either track down last registered owner or check the VIN against stolen cars and cars that haven't been on road for x # years --- and be issue a replacement title? I have old dune buggy that fits the no title issue. Not sure how effective/legit titling companies are. Please let me know if you get a good solution.
Robert M posted:Box all that up and pay Dr Clock to build it for you; easy-peasy.
Can do ! ( under 300 hours)
Or you can turn a profit for doing nothing....... selling the entire project to me, all I ask is that you drop it off at my friends just up the road from you in Trenton Fl.
pm me if interested ........ Alan drclock
He's only 1 hour south of Trenton, FL.
Morning , @junkman
Just talked to my friend Ross in Trenton Fl a VW Dealer mechanic from way back. (he was at Carlisle with me a few years back ) he is very interested 352 2 one 3 seven 3 five 9. If undecided at least give him a call....Thanks Alan
TRP posted:Junk Man - did you buy this from a Storage container auction? Your garage and your use name leads me to think you're in the storage auction line of work.
Ted
Yes, and I'm a online only seller. ebay mostly. Global surplus supply. mostly new industrial/ commercial / automotive /items . Started doing storage unit in vegas for 8 years.. progressed into a big business.. sold it.. moved here to be closer to my dad.Now we keep it simple. just the wife and I .. and a warehouse on property.
But things like this car get my attention. and I have been known to buy anything if the the price is right. anything. lol I keep some stuff too. lol. still thinking about this one.
WOLFGANG posted:Not sure how FL treats just a proof of purchase like a bill of sale. I have both the original CMC Certificate of Origin (COO) and the VW donor cars Title with a "VIN" that matches the chassis/pan's #. I will probably register mine as a 1971 VW bug. Not sure how you research a "lost/missing" title (that was never in you name). If you find an abandoned vehicle there is a method get a title for it. Abandoned and bought with no title is different (I asked). You'd think in age of computers you could either track down last registered owner or check the VIN against stolen cars and cars that haven't been on road for x # years --- and be issue a replacement title? I have old dune buggy that fits the no title issue. Not sure how effective/legit titling companies are. Please let me know if you get a good solution.
Thanks.. I will swing by the dmv.. and find out. this car has never been registered, im sure. i have a nice 79 z28 in the same boat. so maybe do both.. still thinking about selling the kit car. going to pay in a minute, and get the assembly manual, and see what I see. then decide. thanks for the info.
Alan Merklin posted:Robert M posted:Box all that up and pay Dr Clock to build it for you; easy-peasy.
Can do ! ( under 300 hours)
Or you can turn a profit for doing nothing....... selling the entire project to me, all I ask is that you drop it off at my friends just up the road from you in Trenton Fl.
pm me if interested ........ Alan drclock
PM'd you.. for maybe selling. assembly would be done my me--if i go there. thanks though.
Alan Merklin posted:Morning , @junkman
Just talked to my friend Ross in Trenton Fl a VW Dealer mechanic from way back. (he was at Carlisle with me a few years back ) he is very interested 352 2 one 3 seven 3 five 9. If undecided at least give him a call....Thanks Alan
Will do. Thank you.
See my Private Message to you. Click on your name in upper Right corner then on Private Message.
Find the VW chassis number (VIN) on floor back by shifter coupler. That's what the donor car was registered with way back. Worse case you can replace the pan with a pan with a valid title. Lots of rusty pans - even ghia or Super pan.
PM sent ~
Junkman posted:TRP posted:Junk Man - did you buy this from a Storage container auction? Your garage and your use name leads me to think you're in the storage auction line of work.
Ted
Yes, and I'm a online only seller. ebay mostly. Global surplus supply. mostly new industrial/ commercial / automotive /items . Started doing storage unit in vegas for 8 years.. progressed into a big business.. sold it.. moved here to be closer to my dad.Now we keep it simple. just the wife and I .. and a warehouse on property.
But things like this car get my attention. and I have been known to buy anything if the the price is right. anything. lol I keep some stuff too. lol. still thinking about this one.
That's cool! I admire people who have the vision to do this kind of stuff.
Good luck with the build. Be careful. These speedsters take on a mind of their own. Next thing you know you've gone from simple speedster to +2l motors, disks on all four corners and expensive Italian wheels. 
Ted
"...These speedsters take on a mind of their own. Next thing you know you've gone from simple speedster to +2l motors, disks on all four corners and expensive Italian wheels. "
Now who would be crazy enough to do that? Really, the only thing left would be a 5 speed. Wait....
TRP posted:Junkman posted:TRP posted:Junk Man - did you buy this from a Storage container auction? Your garage and your use name leads me to think you're in the storage auction line of work.
Ted
Yes, and I'm a online only seller. ebay mostly. Global surplus supply. mostly new industrial/ commercial / automotive /items . Started doing storage unit in vegas for 8 years.. progressed into a big business.. sold it.. moved here to be closer to my dad.Now we keep it simple. just the wife and I .. and a warehouse on property.
But things like this car get my attention. and I have been known to buy anything if the the price is right. anything. lol I keep some stuff too. lol. still thinking about this one.
That's cool! I admire people who have the vision to do this kind of stuff.
Good luck with the build. Be careful. These speedsters take on a mind of their own. Next thing you know you've gone from simple speedster to +2l motors, disks on all four corners and expensive Italian wheels.
Ted
I hear that.. but it's what you like, right? Already has disc around. Learned long ago, after building a big block chevy.. and blew it up.. i need to buy crate motors. Think a 502 will fit in there? lol. seems i'm already looking at higher hp motors.. though these these look simple and small.. maybe ill do the twin carb on the stock motor for now. looks as if i can swap it out in a couple hours or so. forklift will be my lift. I'm used to having 30k in a 20k car.. been known to do everything 3 times too..lol
Thanks for advice.
Crate motors? Just avoid what we affectionately call Mexi-Crate motors and GEX. You want a well built motor with best quality parts available. That's hard with even the Mexican and Brazilian stock of old parts drying up leaving China, Taiwan and India parts often with EMPI logo.
You'll see hi-end Speedsters here with Porsche 911 engines and underpinnings, VW/Audi water cooled, Subaru, Jake Rabi T4/T1 VW engines - guy in Europe has one with a Simca engine. We call it "The Madness"
I've bought gm crate motors, and ford motorsport motors. As I had a shop before. We used Jasper at the time. been over 10 years since any of it. I have places to maybe get whole cars.. then I can get the computer and wiring with it. but i doubt this project will get that far.. put a tb 350 in a toyota pick up, a supercharger on a bmw m3, and a few turbos on some hondas.. have looked much yet.. but a turbo engine would be cool, i would think.. but more time, and money.. i hate paying people to do the work, and is why projects sit around and go nowhere.. getting old I guess.
Sent you an update PM
Threw up for sale. if i get the money.. so be it.. if not, i'll try to find the time to assemble it.
What you do have going for you is the classic body style and the 4 wheel disc brake chassis. IMHO I would do 1000 & 1500 w/ soap and water then buff it out. That will be a huge plus and eye candy for a day's work.
What is a "tail gate vent"?
Yea, would make a huge difference to sand and buff. just too busy right now. if it don't sell, will put aside a bit.. and just assemble it.
Tailgate vent.. i call it.. the chrome square vent grille in the engine cover( tail gate )
Ah engine lid grille- affectionately referred to as a Hibachi grill by CMC owners.
I thought you got a good deal at $12k but now only asking $8900 Buy it Now?
