Seriously. It's been HOURS. I wanna seeee iiiit.
Seriously. It's been HOURS. I wanna seeee iiiit.
Coulda least posted a picture of the crate.
Why are there no pictures!!
Ok I got distracted by all the pretty things.
Got up to the shop around 10:00 out the door and back to San Diego by about 1:00 not counting a stop for lunch.
So the good news. It is so much further along then I thought it was. The really good thing. The body only needs a final block sand and its ready for paint. The even better news. I found really high quality 356 15 spoke polished five spokes and they are here now. Plus I got the rear disk brake kit.
Even better the shop cut open the transmission and installed the shift kit. Even better I got with my pedal package all new master cylinders and I got the 50's style pedal covers and the 50's style door latches and handles. They also cut the hood already and I got the metal filler cap as part of the package.
So onto the photos. I got really excited and sprayed the back wall in high temp paint, painted the front and rear wheel wells already, installed the transmission, put on the front brakes and started organizing the wiring harness so it can go in tomorrow. Engine will be in the car tomorrow, all the brakes will be on it.
So this thing is small. Like really small. Like it fits in a 12x6 trailer which means I may buy one for dragging it to the track.
My precious.
Starting to organize the chaos, this is like 40% of the parts that I have. They will all be on the shelves ready for install in order tomorrow.
so It should go rfaster then I though. This is dissapointing but it means I carn really focus in on getting it to really work well and look very authentic with the little bit of cash I have set aside.
Some big money stuff that I really like.
The custom shifter setup for the transmission .
The OEM repo shifter setup.
Proper running lights.
Proper seats.
OEM style gauges.
Reproduction pedals with lightened pedal covers.
Premade V band clamp double exhaust with OEM style pipe tip.
Aluminum interior with oil cover and street mirror covers.
Please keep going. I love this
WOW! You're not wasting ANY time are you? Looks great!
Sleep now.
Engine and fuel system will be in tomorrow for sure. I have some friends coming over to help with that. Then about 10-12 hours of sanding and it should be good to go.
The bad I found out that my 68 axles and tubes do not work with the rear brakes and push the tire out to far anyway. I need to dig up a pair of short axles and tubes hopefully for cheap. Then I need to grind off all the brake line mounts and shock mounts again which is a serious pain the butt.
Lots more photos tomorrow when the engine is in and I can get a better camera.
In reply to wearymicrobe :
Wow, I had no idea how tiny the car was. Between the quality of the kit, the parts you've acquired, and your attention to detail, this is going to be an amazing car!
You work fast!
This is neat. Can you possibly explain what were seeing better? I doubt ill ever get up close and personal with one of these, so id love to experience them through you.
Whats the distance between wheel mounting surfaces?
Long story short, I using a SuperBeetle transaxle, later fwd axles and struts. I am looking at about 50.5" from hub to hub, less the rotors. You would need to convert from a strut setup, tho.
Dusterbd13-michael (Forum Supporter) said:You work fast!
This is neat. Can you possibly explain what were seeing better? I doubt ill ever get up close and personal with one of these, so id love to experience them through you.
I will do my best. I was fried from the road yesterday. The shifter setup is a work of art, but for almost 1.2K all in it better be.
If anybody wants pictures of something specific then just give me a ping here. There are very few 550 spyder builds online as most are factory built so this is going to be a adventure for all of use.
Sending tires up to be mounted on the wide fives today so it might be on the ground by the end of the day.
Incredibly cool. I'm surprised though - full assembly before final bodywork and paint?
sevenracer said:Incredibly cool. I'm surprised though - full assembly before final bodywork and paint?
Assembly of drivetrain, brakes, electrrical, and plumbing what little there is. Then I will pull apart enough to mark it and paint everything. I am doing the paint so I can be more careful then a production shop and I am doing a 1 stage paint job in a factory 50's color so should be pretty easy to control .
Bit in a pickle right now. My wheels are dead even on the back of the car lip to lip which means I am going to have to limit myself to a 175 in the rear. Or I get a set of short axles, or I cut down the axle tubes I have but will still need to cut them down.
I'd be excitedly building until my eyelids were too heavy as well!
The 550 is one of my very favorite cars ever. Have been lucky enough to see a few real ones at Rennsport Reuion 1 at Lime Rock many years ago... and got to drive a replica across a parking lot. I'd love, love, love to build a similar replica one day.
In reply to wearymicrobe :
Make it what you want it to be. If you want bigger tires, do what it takes to package bigger tires. If you don't, you will have a little disappointment in your heart every time you walk into the garage. Just my $0.02.
Engine is in. Trans is is. Exhaust is in. front brakes are in. Tires are out. Wiring harness is roughly laid out and installed.
if I get my shortened axles and plates later this week then it will be on the wheels and getting sanded down for paint after that.
wearymicrobe said:if I get my shortened axles and plates later this week then it will be on the wheels and getting sanded down for paint after that.
How much tire with these axles?
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:wearymicrobe said:if I get my shortened axles and plates later this week then it will be on the wheels and getting sanded down for paint after that.
How much tire with these axles?
I think I can get a 195 on the back, I can get a 175 on the rear without the short axles.
I checked today and a 175 is the most I can get on the front period. The wheels I have are backspaced perfectly for it. A square setup would be nice but with the power I am putting down and the amount of sanding I have to do ordering the short axles which will be here on the 20th was the right call. It was only 200 bucks to get a nice used pair with new bearings.
Lots of therapy cat needed today it was a pain the butt getting that motor in. I also did the front gas tank and finished blocked the hood and started on the fenders. If the wife has another book club and I can get a full day off on top of that the sanding will be done on the outside of the car. Then I have to do the doors and dash.
Curious about the desire for a square setup. It's mid engined and your putting down more than factory power right? Won't the extra tire in the rear help keep it in check? Seems like the handling would be more neutral with a staggered setup all things being equal.
I am putting some sticky tires on it. I don't think 195 v 175 will make much of a difference. But it will look better with the 195 and I don;t want to do it twice so bigger tires all around. As for handling I have no idea what this thing is going to be like above 5/10th. There is a lot of race car in it surrounded by some really old VW tech.
Body is sanded out to 220 now. It was a pain in the butt. This TCL primer was sprayed a while ago and its hard as a rock. I had to go 120/220 to even get it down. I did the hood in 400 then 600 wet and its like glass and you can see the lights in the shop perfectly. It just took 2 hours to do right and get it really smooth.
Its rubbed down in charcoal right now after the 220 to help me find the spots I missed then rubbed again and likely 360 dry then a bath then 600 wet. Maybe 600 wet the 360 looks really good but again I have the time and sanpaper is cheap.
Short axles and tubes are here. Friend is blasting them now, got new bearings as well for the rear.
Pretty much just need the transmission covers and the front rotors to show up and its on the ground on all four wheels and I can start running brake lines and fuel lines. So by next weekend I think it will be ready for paint and at least rolling.
I'm sanding I'm sanding I'm sanding. 4 hours or so of manual sanding today. About finished with the 360 stage and going into the wet 600 next.
at least all of the pinholes are filled and drying now. Found like ten more.
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