Thunder Ranch build thread

Making all the holes for the emblems now, and the latch covers and the belts and buckles and what-not. 

Of course I drilled the holes off center on the back first try, as the script's middle pin is not in the middle. You guys all knew that probably.

No big deal though—just filled the holes, sanded it down to 220 and did it again—which is why I'm doing this now instead of after it's clear-coated.

I'm going to install the lights and the mirror (just ordered from Vintage as the one that came with the kit wasn't quite perfect) after this. Basically everything that screws or rivets to the car, then take it all apart and give it a bath and start block sanding. The body isn't too bad but there's some chips and pinholes here and there so I want to do a microscopic inspection and filler session before final wet-blocking it for paint.

—Hey! or maybe I should rat/"barn-find" it instead? What do you all think?

Rust wrap like that dude in Texas.

... except that they were originally AL-bodied cars, so there's that.

Man, a rust-wrap would be hilarious, wouldn't it?

edsnova posted:

Man, a rust-wrap would be hilarious, wouldn't it?

'Twould be pretty ironic.

Wow, the Keebler Elves have been busy! Well, the one guy that does all the work anyway....

Looking good, Ed.

When I went to put the sideview mirror on a few weeks ago I noticed it was broken. Easy enough to re-attach the glass but when I looked at the glass...it's TINY! And also the silver seemed to be fading or delaminating on the edges. You know how old mirrors sometimes get those brown spots?

No good.

So I emailed Beck about getting another one and heard nothing back. Greg at Vintage has the part advertised so I ordered from him.

Look at the difference in size.

Top is the Thunder Ranch piece, shipped circa 2008 and boxed in bubble wrap ever since. I got one of these for each side and they're now for sale. Anyone want a set of compact GT mirrors?

Here you can see how the New Vintage Spyder model's glass is about 60-70 percent larger. It's just a much more useable piece. You can also sort of see the edge delaminate or whatever it is on the original TR mirror. It would never have bothered me but since it ain't gonna be my car I figured I better remedy it.

And so there shall be additional remedies needed. The new piece—for $144 delivered—came out of the box a bit rough.

I'm sanding everything anyway so I guess it's no biggie. Still though: you guys primed this? Why not make it smooth first?

Oil lines and hold-down straps are in.

Fuse box is in. The mount is of course home-made. It hangs on two little hooks and is secured by a single machine screw down low, as original. That should make it easy to sort the circuits.

Gonna endeavor tomorrow to run the rest of the wires, drill a few holes for switches and such, and run the fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump, and hook up the mid line and the Autopulses. 

After that it's time to install the windscreen wipers.

And after that it's all about the block* party. I've been staring at the primered body for a while and I keep finding little divots and nicks everywhere, so I expect to stretch the last of that UPOL filler during the coming few weeks.

*-sanding

Ed,

Nice clean wire work !!!

Thanks, Art. Alas, not my work: It's Ashley Hitchcock's clean wire loom.

This is a work of art, Ed.  Are you still planning to sell when it’s complete?

Yes of course. 

Fuel lines in, with fuel pumps—two fake ones and one real one hidden behind them. Very PITA to get this all fit up. Pretty chuffed about the way it came out.

It's like he's building a giant scale model.  If we listen closely we can almost hear him lose his mind...

"Chuffed"  thank god for google, swipe and right click for the definition.

"Chuffed" as in my dog didn't want to come back in, so he "chuffed".

LOL. I hear you, Ed, sometimes it's a real PIA to get things to fit. I like the overall look.

I'm still waiting to see how your shifter works when underway. Did you move the cable away from the frame and reattach to the transmission yet?

Nah. I might run it as is and then decide.

OK, chuffed.  I thought I knew what chuff (noun) is, but as adjective?  Will look it up.

so much for cut and paste.  WTF??

adjective British Informal.
delighted; pleased; satisfied.

adjective British Informal.
annoyed; displeased; disgruntled.

I means whats I say and I sez whats I means. 

(for what it's worth, the second meaning is rarely ever used or meant anymore.)

Seats are almost done. I brought the upholsterer some Spyder carpet to do the backs but he's probably going to use some color-matched plain vinyl instead. I left it up to him.

Getting there, Ed!

NICE !!

Looks like I’ll need a clean set of clothes on before I hop into that Spyder, Ed!

take your shoes off too

Gordon: Take a shower first. No bicycle spandex either! LOL!

IaM-Ray posted:

take your shoes off too

I drove mine today barefoot. It was NICE out!

Rolled the Spyder out of the shop today to wash off the major grime. Time to prep for paint.

Looking great Mr. Ed!

Progress and setbacks. I guess if this were easy everyone would be doing it.

Excellent !

What, you didn't order the eight-way power seats and comfort package?

I thought that was the only way you could get barber pole upholstery.

Where does the navigation system go?  And I don't see the A/C vents.  Are they hidden under the dash?

Well, there are seat heaters....

Noticed tonight that the reupholstered driver's seat now rubs the frame rail so I'm going to shuffle it 1/2 inch to the right.

I also moved the tops of the clutch and brake pedals about an inch-and-a-quarter closer to the front bulkhead to eek out a bit more leg room. 

There are a couple more holes to drill on the dash for switches, and I'll have to close a couple I put in the wrong place. But I'll have the smackem putty out later this week and should be able to hit all the various little nicks and scrapes before getting on with the final wet sanding.

Windshield came today from Fibersteel. Very nice. I test-fit it and it looks like it'll cinch down very easily with the supplied leather gasket and almost (not quite) cover the end holes I drilled for the Speedster screen. I'll plug those up with something you can't see that will be none the less easily removable. Maybe a wine cork. 

So, question: should I use a sealant on this gasket or no? I'm leaning toward yes but eager to hear from anyone with experience.

Also pictured: Fibersteel Spyder jack. I've not yet tested it on the car (it's parked on the lift) but I did rough install it, which took some fabbing.

The piece comes complete with a leather hold-down strap and this handy tie down for the strap to run through.

It's a good likeness of the stock Porsche item, which rivets into the floor just outside the passenger frame tube. Installed in 0051 it looks like

Not all Spyders have. Here's 0056, with its strap just directly screwed into the floor:

Anyway, trouble with my car (and yours) is there's no room to stow the jack right on the floor there; replicas are made with a sweeping curve along the outside, and the jack is just a little wider than the space between the frame tube and the outside wall.

If you rivet the bracket directly to that curved bit of floor, the included strap won't reach the jack tube.

So I made a bracket to lift up the bracket...

That brings the strap up high enough to use the holes and buckle it.

Next I had to re-mod my bulkhead to make the proper small hole for the included grommet to hold the jack handle still. Fortunately I still had the plugs I made when I cut the holes for the front parking lights, and...

A bit of resin, then some kitty hair on the back side, and they were in. 

Spent the balance of today dry-blocking the car with 180. Got about 2/3 done before I'd had enough. The good news? Hardly any spots remaining that need filler.

Nice work there!

Ed, your attention to details on this build is nothing short of amazing.

A tip o’the Gordon Hat to you!

oh!  And I would seal that windshield gasket with some clear or colored (your choice) silicon caulk.  Top and bottom sides.  There is a lot of air pressure at the bottom of the windshield and it drives water right in there at the gasket.

edsnova posted:

Windshield came today from Fibersteel. Very nice. I test-fit it and it looks like it'll cinch down very easily with the supplied leather gasket and almost (not quite) cover the end holes I drilled for the Speedster screen. I'll plug those up with something you can't see that will be none the less easily removable. Maybe a wine cork. 

So, question: should I use a sealant on this gasket or no? I'm leaning toward yes but eager to hear from anyone with experience.

Also pictured: Fibersteel Spyder jack. I've not yet tested it on the car (it's parked on the lift) but I did rough install it, which took some fabbing.

The piece comes complete with a leather hold-down strap and this handy tie down for the strap to run through.

It's a good likeness of the stock Porsche item, which rivets into the floor just outside the passenger frame tube. Installed in 0051 it looks like

Not all Spyders have. Here's 0056, with its strap just directly screwed into the floor:

Anyway, trouble with my car (and yours) is there's no room to stow the jack right on the floor there; replicas are made with a sweeping curve along the outside, and the jack is just a little wider than the space between the frame tube and the outside wall.

If you rivet the bracket directly to that curved bit of floor, the included strap won't reach the jack tube.

So I made a bracket to lift up the bracket...

That brings the strap up high enough to use the holes and buckle it.

Next I had to re-mod my bulkhead to make the proper small hole for the included grommet to hold the jack handle still. Fortunately I still had the plugs I made when I cut the holes for the front parking lights, and...

A bit of resin, then some kitty hair on the back side, and they were in. 

Spent the balance of today dry-blocking the car with 180. Got about 2/3 done before I'd had enough. The good news? Hardly any spots remaining that need filler.

 

 

 

Very nice work.....certainly not for the faint of heart and you're pulling it off rock steady.