Thunder Ranch build thread

Todd M posted:

 

 

...This is way off topic, but the point is that y'all are helping me tremendously with my coupe build, and if anyone has a question about repairing or improving something on their house, please feel free to ask me...

Not off topic at all, Todd.

Ed (remember him?) is a British car dude. His other car is an MG-TD replica. Which isn't too far removed from that other Jurassic British car - the Morgan.

Which, as it happens, relies heavily on laminated wood forming.

Here's a laminated ash fender fresh off a recent production line.

And here's the 60-year-old form they still use to bend every one. It's not the original from 1920, of course. That dodgy piece of work wore out in the 1950's, after only about 35 years of service.

Most of you guys are better than me at everything. Here's Bridget's dodgy dash board I made a few years ago with some marine plywood and 1/8-inch blanks of mahogany and tiger maple I mail-ordered from Woodcraft. Cut it all up on a table saw and glued it together with some furniture epoxy. 

I still kind of like it.

Plus I equipped a proper British "Gentleman's Emergency Kit" in the glovebox.

That's very crafty looking for a dash and kinda goes with British Plaid..........Bruce

Well, Ed, that is certainly different from my 53 TD dash. Very nice.

Spyder gas tank cover is stripped and (partly) ball-peened for correct texture. 

We used to do that to distress new wood floors (usually Pine or Oak) in reproduction Colonial homes to give them the proper "look", like they had been lived in for a century or so.  Kind of like adding a "Patina" wrap to a fiberglass Speedster.    

I see you might have a future in colonial home remodeling, too.

Want me to drop by and kick it a few times?  Anything to help out a buddy.

No joke, fellas. The original tanks were hammer-formed by hand and left lumpy, like

I think I got this, Lane, thanks.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, progress:

Ed;

That paint looks sooo cool!

Outstanding, Ed!!!

It's really coming together now @edsnova  Looks fantastic!  

Looks good Ed !                                                                                                                        Tommy Martin (your painter) has done about 2/3 rds of my cars including speedsters,  T' Buckets,  a couple of tubbed pick up truck, car trailers and a metal Futon couch frame :~)

edsnova posted:

Dude.

Dude x2

I gave him this pic of Anand's car to work from.

Looks like he's in the ballpark.

How do I contact Tommy Martin?

That is going to be stunning. Wow!

Tommy Martin is retired previously owning a huge body shop business . He previously did insurance work, custom motor homes tour bus's, fleet and custom tractor trailers... and a lot of my projects. Tom now has a shop at his home in in St. Thomas PA  (1 hour south of Carlisle) pm me for his phone number. 

Wow that is really nice and shiny Ed, great stuff.. you won't be able to see the car   Bridget will have to go.. 

Paint makes such a change doesn't it...  

It's gonna be one sporty sports car.

Ed......Your making it really hard for me to choose a color. First I was going to do Red again then I thought Black, then Silver and now I see your Blue and it looks great too !

Your car is gonna look fantastic !.....................Bruce

If I didn’t love my car so much, I would have already  been making transportation arrangements for this Spyder. I love what you have done. Thank you for sharing this build process. If you do go through with selling, someone will get a treasure. 

Alan Merklin posted:

Tommy Martin is retired previously owning a huge body shop business . He previously did insurance work, custom motor homes tour bus's, fleet and custom tractor trailers... and a lot of my projects. Tom now has a shop at his home in in St. Thomas PA  (1 hour south of Carlisle) pm me for his phone number. 

St. Thomas, PA?  Guess I will be looking a bit more local.

Kevin - Bay Area posted:

If I didn’t love my car so much, I would have already  been making transportation arrangements for this Spyder. I love what you have done. Thank you for sharing this build process. If you do go through with selling, someone will get a treasure. 

The car is for sale—or will be when it is sorted. Wish I could afford to keep it.

I love the blue. It looks awesome. It's also NOT silver. Well done. Carry on.

Details.

Nicely done!

What a great choice of color. It would be a head turner if it were painted baby-sh*t yellow like my old DKW, but the blue will be putting neck braces on folks for miles around.

Also:

edsnova posted:

oh my.  the want is VERY strong with this spyder.  I may have to block both you and @arajani; before I do something very stupid.........

[*thinking to myself*]  Does my kid really money set aside for his college education?  I mean he's 4.....I have time.

 @ Kevin - Bay Area   You can drive it around and sell it when you are ready as they hold their value ...

Wow that looks great!

That guy can seriously paint.

Bodywork and rivets-'n-stuff look fantastic, Ed.

Ditto, Ed! Great work.

@Kevin - Bay Area said- [*thinking to myself*]  Does my kid really money set aside for his college education?  I mean he's 4.....I have time.

Lots of time, Kevin- he may even be like my oldest and not go any way, so you were denying yourself for nothing...

Kevin the more you think about the stronger the want get 👍😇

will this one have a Suby?

nice color for sure

My God, Ed.  That is a beautiful car.

Amazing what make-up can do