Updated Videos

Some of you may have noticed that the videos did not work. Sorry about that. They should be OK now.

First Engine Start on YouTube

First Go Cart Ride on YouTube

First Drive with Body on YouTube

Build Day Twenty Seven - Sunday, Aug 1

Got the body on last night. Got up early this morning and put the finishing touches on the car - Side Pipes, Wheels Trunk etc. It's not done yet, but its a drivable car. Hood is held on with duck tape and the doors have duck tape to keep them closed. Still a lot of work to do, but the goal of completing a car while Jon-Alec was here for the summer was accomplished. I learned a lot, He learned a lot. My Dad got to help a little and be here for dive day, so that was all cool. I will not be posing as much now as I work on the detail work. Maybe every other week or so, I'll keep the page updated with progress. I am targeting December or January to be completely done. Body prep paint carpet everything.

Here is a video of the first drive

First Drive on YouTube

build Day Twenty Six - Saturday, July 31

Engine started today. Just took a long time to get fuel up to the engine from a new tank, new filter and new lines. I ended up using a brake bleed vacuum pump to get the fuel to start flowing. then VROOM! We then spent the morning getting it "Drive Ready" and took some Go Cart rides around the block. Only ever got it to second, but it will be scary fast - I can tell already.

We spent the rest of the day putting the body on.

Here is a link to the video of the engine starting.

Engine First Start on YouTube

And here is a video of the Go Cart ride

Go Cart Ride on YouTube

Build Day Twenty Five - Friday, July 30

Bought the stuff we needed yesterday, but that was about it. Did the last minute adjustments and fluid fills and got ready to start the engine. Switched on the power and everything looked good. All the gauges worked, lights worked it was all good. Pressed "Start" and only heard "Click Click Click Click". Messed with the solenoid wiring for an hour with no impact. O then realized that we gad not hooked up the engine ground wire. So, we did that. The engine would crank but not start. Gave up about 11PM.

Build Day Twenty Four - Wednesday, July 28

Completed the wiring today. Need to get a battery, some gas, transmission fluid and other odds and ends to be ready to go.

Build Day Twenty Three - Tuesday, July 27

More wiring. Routed all the harnesses to their respective areas and hooked up all the obvious stuff. Spent a little while figuring out what I did not know to I could do some research. Jon-Alec hooked up the radiator.

Build Day Twenty Two - Monday, July 26

Began wiring. Installed the fuse box and laid out the wire. Only a couple hours.

Build Day Twenty One - Sunday, July 25

Finished the glove box today. It took quite a bit of fiddling with the hinges to get it all to line up right, but it's in. Still need to add a handle to the door, but I need to find the perfect one first. I cut a piece of aluminum for the glove box floor and it will eventually all get carpeted to finish it off. The wiring also began today. The fuze box is installed, and all the harnesses are run to the correct locations. Now, we just have to hook it all up - right?.

Build Day Twenty - Saturday, July 24

We finished covering the dash yesterday, so it got installed today. Also did some work on the Glove Box door, so that should go in tomorrow.

Build day Nineteen - Friday, July 23

Did not have a lot of time today, so we began covering the dashboard. It was easy, and we had to wait for glue to set up between sections, so it was a pretty uneventful day.

Build Day Eighteen - Sunday, July 18

Radiator and brakes. Installed the radiator and overflow tank today. The inline filler neck has not arrived yet, so we could not finish the cooling system, but the radiator is in. The missing passenger side "F" Panel arrived so we put that on. With the "F" panel in place we could finally complete the brakes. So, we did. Spent 1.5 hours bleeding the brake lines, but they work now!

Radiator Overflow Tank

Build Day Seventeen - Saturday, July 17

Today was dash day. I measured and drilled for hidden dash fasteners, then used JB Weld to attach the sleeves to the dash. The sleeves go through the dash hoop and attach with screws from the other side. Once the padding and vinyl are on the sleeve heads will not be visible. We also took some time to test run the dash layout. Most of the day was spent working on the glove box door and trying to get that to work. Still a ways off on that modification. The hole in the dash looks good though!

Build Day Sixteen - Friday, July 16

Between work and life, we only had a few hours to give to the car. I wanted an "Oh Shit" handle on the passenger side, but the kit does not come with one. So, I fabricated a bracket that will be behind the dash to support it. The kit also does not have a glove box; so, we cut a hole in the dash to put one in. Completing that modification should be interesting.

Build Day Fifteen - Sunday, July 11

After the long day yesterday, there was not allot of motivation to get going today. Still missing the wiring harness, so the next major step will need to wait. We did not even hit the garage until 2:30, then just piddled around. We only managed to mount a few pieces of aluminum in the rear cockpit area.

Build Day Fourteen - Saturday, July 10

Engine is in! Milestone day. Got the engine and transmission installed. Other that dropping the engine once (No harm, other than initial panic), it all went as planned. It's all down hill from here.

More Engine Pics

Video of the install is on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d2O7mdl-LQ

Build Day Thirteen - Monday, July 5

Got back from the Lake about 11. Started back on the car about 12. Completed the front end and got it roughly aligned. It all seems to work. Turn the steering wheel and the wheels turn the right direction - Success! Only a minor set back. While adjusting the Toe, I buggered the treads on the driver's side outer tie rod. I was able to get everything set, but the part will need to be replaced. I'll place that order tonight.

Build Day Twelve - Friday, July 2

The hubs got pressed onto the spindles no problem at the Machine Shop this week. So, those were waiting when we got back from Chicago. If I'd only had a 20 ton press, it would have been simpler!

Only had a couple hours available today, getting ready to head to the lake for the long weekend. We managed to get the steering rack mounted to the frame, but that was about it. We'll finish the front end on Monday.

Build Day Eleven - Sunday, June 28

Finished the passenger side foot box today along with most of the cockpit aluminum. Other than a long day of drilling, silicone and rivets, it was uneventful. I'm looking forward to going back to Chicago this week to get a break from the car!