250 GTO - the enemy within!

[PeterAllen]

See here

For a one-off you could just play around with a hotair gun on some 2mm Perspex. That's how I established the slightly different shape for the one on the rear.

[Serpnt]

Pure genius!

[David Hodgson]

Nice work Peter, glad you're getting it out and enjoying it.

[Rob. Smith]

that photo bucket thing is good... It keeps all your pics to yourself...

[PeterAllen]

Rob et al.

After Photobucket's initial stunt of restricting 3rd party posting Google Chrome hit back with an 'extension' to address it.

It now appears as though Photobucket has tried again but there is, yet again, a response from Google Chrome. You just need to include new 'extensions.

Click on the 3 vertical dots in the top right hand corner
Click on 'Settings'
Click on 'Advanced'
Click on 'Accessibility'
Type in "photobucket" to the search in the top left hand corner
Click on 'Photobucket fixer'
You should see 3 extensions appear - Select each of them.
Restart Google and you should see images on all forums.

I think Photobucket would stand a better chance taking on Kim Jong-un than Google!

[Bartruff1]

I am not a huge fan of the GTO but I understand why the originals sell for millions and there are some in Washington State that are owned by the Multi Billionaires that display their cars on occasion at Lemay's.

I am a fan of replica's because they allow some of us to enjoy those beautiful and historic cars of the past like the Cobras, GT 40s, 356s.....ect that we could never afford.

Since I first saw one, I have though that the early 60s Ferrari SWB 250s were about as beautiful as any car I have ever seen and now Mirage in England is nearing production of a BMW based model and I am near the top of the pre ordering list. A bucket list car for me.

I think the Cal Spyder is also a beautiful and affordable replica and it is made in the good old USA so you can go to Arizona and see one for real.

The Cobra has a timeless beauty, but so do other cars...

.

[PeterAllen]

I've been running the car for 12 mths, in something of an evaluation period, and have not encountered any major issues. We've just completed a 4,200 km trip around Tasmania and I didn't even have to lift the bonnet (hood). I think the time is safe to attend to a few minor body points and slap on the final coats of paint.

Unfortunately the ride height was far too low so I've had to raise it 40 mm at the front. That made the gap between the tyres and the guard (fender) look out of place. I've extended the bodywork down.

I attached some Corflute inside the guard with 1/8" screws. I discovered in the process that fingers offer little resistance to 1/8' drill bits!



I chamfered the existing edge back about 40 mm on both sides and first layered up the outside with fibreglass then, after removing the bloodstained Corflute I layered up from the inside.



I attached the wheels to guide the marking out of the new edge.



I attached 12 mm fibreglass rope and sanded back



The Pommie painter has arrived and sprayed some hi-fill and we hope to get it painted after Easter when he returns from the a visit to the Gold Coast.

[Zedn]

Hi Peter,

Looking good. Hope the finger is ok!

Can you explain more about the fibreglass rope? Is that to give it a rolled edge for aesthetics or is to strengthen?
I have been thinking in the past about how i can make the arches on mine look and feel more like folded metal. The rope sounds like it could be the answer.

BTW it might be worth getting some sort of infrared light onto the guards to cure the fibreglass so it gets the movement out before painting.

[PeterAllen]

Thanks Liam - PM sent.

About the last remaining observable indicator of a 240Z was the acute angle of the upper rear corner of the side windows, so I took steps to give them the GTO rounded configuration.

[boxhead]

Will you be modifying glass and door frame too?

[PeterAllen]

Originally Posted by boxhead

Will you be modifying glass and door frame too?

Yes. The original design was a bit of a failure and needed to be reworked, so that made the decision for the modification easy.

The original configuration had the base of the frame attached to the top of the door. At anything over 100 the pressure difference created by the airflow over the window pulled the frame away from car body as the lightweight fibreglass flexed at the base mounting points. The aluminium door cards added a bit of structural integrity but unfortunately not enough.

I now realise the secured legs of 'wind-up' window frames not only serve as guides for the glass when it is wound down, but also to counteract airflow forces over the glass when it is wound up. When I made the sliding windows I was unaware of that. Live and learn.

Funny thing is I modelled the window design of those of early 850 Minis, now everyone tells me they were notorious for flexing and letting the rain in!

I'm part way through making new frames with improved (?) base mounts.



Yellow = original
Blue = new

[Zedn]

Those small details will make such a difference. Well worth the effort.

[PeterAllen]

To install the new window frames it was necessary to remove the door skin to gain usable access. Someone had advised me that VW now construct their doors with removable skin so that a whole door doesn't need to be replaced if a door is dented - saving in labour cost as well as parts.

That seemed like a great solution to both accessing the door's inner working and being able to align the edges with the sill (rocker), the front guard (fender) and rear quarter panel.



I made some brackets to fibreglass to the skin.



I made some attachment plates - yet to be nickle plated.



The photos aren't much chop but I think you'll get the picture.
A piece of weather stripping will be used to ensure a seal of the skin to the door frame.

[Zedn]

Is that glasses in bracket alloy? Will it stick?

[PeterAllen]

I sure hope so... There shouldn't be great loads on them and there are five per skin.

I first applied a layer of matt and then several more over the bracket. The layers mated in the holes as well as around the edges.



I haven't as yet elongated the twin holes in the bracket where the mounting plate studs fit through. I'll do that when I do the final alignment.

[Zedn]

I havnt had any success in the past fibreglassing alloy but I’m terrible with fibreglass

[Rob. Smith]

Originally Posted by Zedn

I havnt had any success in the past fibreglassing alloy but I’m terrible with fibreglass

It takes a little patience .. a lot of fiddling and a bit of swearing.

[PeterAllen]

Originally Posted by Zedn

I havnt had any success in the past fibreglassing alloy but I’m terrible with fibreglass

Have you been trying to attach the alloy to the fibreglass rather than encapsulating the alloy in the fibreglass?

[Zedn]

Encapsulating. I have just found resin doesn’t stick to it.

[PeterAllen]

Finished off the window frames