Edit....Back from paint!

[Holshot]

Looks AMAZING Pat! Congrats bud... You sir are a brave man, I would be sooooooo afraid to ever take it outside. Black is one of the best colors but such a pain to keep up with. I've owned 4 black cars myself and everytime I've sold one I told myself never again, lol... Good luck with the install!

[Ptoneill]

Paint is fantastic. Nothing like a scratch free paint. Just think, it will never look this good again.

I know,,,,,I will stress the first time it gets a blemish......but after that I will be able to relax and really enjoy it. It was never planned as a show car although I will show it locally I still intend to drive it.......but not in the snow!!

[AriK]

......but not in the snow!!

Does anybody still actually use these cars in the snow?

[johndemar]

......but not in the snow!![/quote]

Or the rain.....or heavy traffic......or park under trees....or

[Ptoneill]

......but not in the snow!!

Or the rain.....or heavy traffic......or park under trees....or[/quote]



I have to set some limits....but I live in Western Washington if I never drove in the rain. ( aka liquid sunshine), heavy traffic or parked under a tree the car could never leave the garage!!!


Please note the abundance of trees...that is my driveway to the right. It is beautiful but between the leaves and pine needles it requires a lot of maintenance. The Pine trees drip sap during the summer......very messy!

[johndemar]

[/quote]The Pine trees drip sap during the summer......very messy![/quote]


In Northern AZ the ponderosa pines also produce yellow pollen each spring that covers everything.

BTW the paint looks great.

[Ptoneill]

Sorry, the wife and I went to Cabo for a week, all inclusive, adult only resort. We only left the property once!!

Not much to report as Scott worked on some other projects while we were gone. I did wrap the kick panels in 3M carbon fiber wrap I will get some pictures tomorrow, I am hoping they will blend nice with the paint.

I would like to re-chrome the windshield surround...has anyone had it done?, costs?

[amawds]

......but not in the snow!!

Does anybody still actually use these cars in the snow?

I'm retiring this car to build another, but it's been a fun three years with it. It's been a daily driver, racking up 35,000 miles since the engine rebuild. I have a dedicated set of snow tires on stock wheels to deal with snow, and have been known to honk my horn as I tractor up hills driving past all the pickup trucks stuck in the ditches. I can only imagine what goes through those poor peoples minds. This is in western washington as well.

[Ptoneill]

I got my stainless back from Mr. Eric Hayes...he polished all the stainless to include removing several dents for $350. If anyone wants his info please let me know. He is going to prep and have my windshield frame re chromed for approx. $450.

Photos tomorrow...would have taken them today but it was raining!!

Scott cut out the upper half of the transmission tunnel to allow for the modifications we are making to the shifting and emergency brake systems. I am having problems finding a custom upholstery shop, I want to have the aftermarket dash covered in leather.

[Ptoneill]

Here is a picture with the running board wrapped in the 3M carbon fiber film. It looks much better than the picture shows I am hoping to get better pictures tomorrow.





Here are the stainless pieces Eric polished for me, they are wrapped in plastic for protection.






More to follow!

[SoFlaFiat]

Man that's gonna be one shiny car!!
So Pat, did you dream about the Fiat while you were in Cabo?
You know you own a Fiat...

[Ptoneill]

Actually....my wife thought it was funny because I was emailing Scott ideas on the rear plate while in a beach cabana!! It is a sickness!!

[SoFlaFiat]

I knew it!!

Looking great Pat!!

[Ptoneill]

Ok, so as I said before I never intended this car to be a show car......but then I made the damn clean spot and I fell in love with a $400 junk yard auction car.

The original rebuild plans called for a slightly modified car but as I became more involved with this site I saw some incredible ideas and it started the ball towards over the top rolling!

I have decided on an electronic emergency brake, after reviewing several products I went with estopp. The original lever assembly was removed, the emergency brake will now activate/ deactivate with the push of a button. You will see that I have cut the center tunnel of the car, lowering it by several inches, this allowed a straight line to the OEM cable assembly. This will all be covered by a custom center console.

Cut console with custom reinforced shelf installed, hole in front is for wiring.



Estopp module mounted on shelf, cable routed into the center tunnel.



This is only one of several ideas that I am putting into this car!! Stay tuned!

[SoFlaFiat]

Pat, are you also planning an automatic trans with electronic controls? Obviously you have something different going on with your trans...
Talk about piquing curiosity!!