It has begun - G-Pete's 289FIA Scratch Build

[G-Pete]

Closing the chapter on the IRS. The rear is done, the max I could get was 3.75 inches. The rear will be widened like the car below...

[G-Pete]

Moving on to the front. The front was narrowed by 4.25 inch both sides. That made it nessary to redo the complete setup. Including the shock tower, adjustment rails and brackets.

Tower plate and top spindle bracket in place.



On the bottom the location jig. The tabs for the lower A-Arms have to be removed. What a fun job --- grinding

[G-Pete]

Tower plate welded.



Lower A-Arms shortened and brackets welded on frame rails.



The new adjustment rails attached the tower plate. Bend resistance 14000 pounds.



First setup, ride height 5 inches like in the rear.



Lower shock bracket - horizontally flush with the foot box.

[G-Pete]

First try under weight with the wheels on.




The anti roll bar needs to be modified as well - grrrrrinding, cutting and welding.

[stengun]

Howdy G-Pete,

Rework always suck and takes up more time. Been there, done that.

Two thumbs up on wearing your PPE while grinding!

Paul

[stengun]

Howdy Pete,

+1 on safety!

I'm a multi-craft industrial maintenance tech and at 47yo I've being turning wrenches and beating on things since I was 15yo and I have all my fingers, eyes and toes too!

Congrats on your milestone progress with your build!

She looks great!

I'm in Arkansas but my sister lives in McKinney and I would love to see your Cobra in person the next time I visit her.

Paul

[COBRANIP]

Will the anti-sway bar require (re)heat treating after welding?

I can't tell you how much your pictures and narrative are appreciated and how much they inspire.

Thank you for sharing!

[mickmate]

Pete that's huge getting it on its legs, congrats! Some nice welding there. I hate the little shards of metal from removing welds. I have a little pine tree shaped carbide burr that does a wonderful job getting into corners for weld removal but those stinkin shards!

[Fullchat289]

Love those Avons! Fantastic progress and craftsmanship as usual, Pete!

- Allen.

[tkb289]

Pete ... Looking Good !!!

Once all the fabrication is done, will you paint or powder coat the frame / bits and pieces ?

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by stengun

Howdy Pete,
… would love to see your Cobra in person the next time I visit her….

Any time Paul! PM with my number on the way.

Originally Posted by COBRANIP

…Will the anti-sway bar require (re)heat treating after welding?..

No, it just needs to be welded on the outside of the bushings too. My tig guy is in vacation and it will be done when I take the car apart for paint.
I dipped in cold water after the red glow went away. The chrome moly does not change much its torsion rating. The anti-roll bar is a 1 inch 0.187 inch - [/quote]

Originally Posted by tkb289

…Once all the fabrication is done, will you paint or powder coat the frame / bits and pieces ?

The frame will be powder coated. Some of the smaller parts like the last fabricated A-Arms will be painted.
I’m still contemplating what color I will use on the parts. Frame, silver or black? Moving parts, silver, black, red, blue? This will be spontaneous decision when I bring the frame to the coater. I have 10 things on my to do list and after that she will be taken apart and the frame sent of to the coater. That will be happen within two weeks.

Stay tuned for updates….

[dallas_]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

Stay tuned for updates….

Good progress.

Looks like we'll be done about the same time. Let's go for a spin when they get on the road.

[dallas_]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

after that she will be taken apart and the frame sent of to the coater. That will be happen within two weeks.

Stay tuned for updates….

So did you get your frame to the coater? If so, what color?

Also... pm sent.

[Avmaviator]

Pete, this is one of my favorite thread's on here. Love your work

[stengun]

Howdy Pete,

What does your employer manufactor?

Gee, I thought you lived in Allen, TX not China!

Keep us updated!

Need to finish the welding on my Spyder's frame so I can send it out to be powdercoated. I'm going with a lt. gunmetal metallic.

I have to buy a new mig gun for my welder because someone (not naming names) cut the hose with a cutoff wheel.

Paul

[G-Pete]

Paul,
the main is aftermarket accessories for Pickup Trucks, but we do all kinds of fab work too from Lawinforcment vehicles over aluminum boat seat frames to bicycle stands and pallet rack systems. My database now carries close to 15000 part numbers

Take a look...

Truck accessories for pickups, vans and SUV's

Although GO is in business since 1978, I started in the fall of 1999 the manufacturing part in a 2500 square foot shop. All manufacturing was outsourced and in Summer of '99 I assessed the situation presented a business plan based on the my assumption "it is possible to manufacture competitive in the USA".
It takes dedication and skills - but it is possible. When the market went down, especially in the automotive section I did not lay one man off.

We are very proud of having the label Made in USA on our products. Even it took some German engineering (G-Pete = German Pete)
Guess that explains my silly grammar sometimes...

[stengun]

Howdy Pete,

I checked out the link and y'all make some neat products!

I too work for a "Made in the USA" manufactor.

I work for General Cable.

General Cable Home Page

We make bare overhead transmission power lines and the medium voltage underground power lines at the plant that I work at in Jones' Mill, AR which is 10 miles east of Hot Springs.

Any updates?

Paul

[Roger Bray]

Hey Pete,
I finally got your splash guard ready. I didn't want to send it before I took some wet/dry sand paper to get to get rid of the tool marks.
Hope you like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-zs...feature=relmfu

[G-Pete]

Here comes the update Paul.

Roger, thank you looking forward to that splash guard.

The IRS cradle had these rubber bushings in there. I decided to cap them, after a while they get soft and the whole rear end gets wobbly. Time to get the pumpkin out for final touch up.





The other parts got also a touch up treatment - final welds and grinding (sure you know I like grinding)



After the paint the IRS cradle is back in the frame and secured.



Freshen up the Pumpkin.

[G-Pete]

And yes, the frame is gloss black. Last second decision - I called the powder coat shop and changed from semi gloss to gloss.

Now the assembly begins. Started with the rear end upper and lower A-Arms. Next step the front.