What stage are you at?
 

Scratch builders,

I thought it might be interesting to see what stage each Scratch builder is at. It might be helpful to understand where each of is at and where our questions/answers/insight is coming from?

If you've done several, let us know. The amount of helpful information here is unbelievable at times, but sometimes I personally don't know what I can ask or not ask- mostly due to not knowing everyone's background and what is way too basic to be bothering with here as opposed to trying to figure things out for myself. I'm constantly concerned that making a mistake at this stage will impact something important down the road, so I get a little gunshy about jumping in too much without a little reinforcement.
I try to contribute as I can, but my background is pretty shallow to be much help to anyone here.

Anyway, here goes- I bought a partially completed frame. The birdcage was missing along with a lot of pieces being tacked in place in case I wanted to make changes- which has been a fortunate thing indeed as I have made some changes.

I'm using the T-bird 8.8 IRS and needed to fab up mounts and locate the rear properly. I'm having Grumpy design/supply my suspension pieces and I'm hoping we're just about there. I think I've delayed the process due to my misunderstanding of what information was really necessary for his end of the process.

I'm installing a 393W stroker in my build, so I needed to fab up some different motor mounts from the Cobra Restrorers design- again thanks to Grumpy and some drawings and measurements he sent me. Also Mickmate has been a huge help in pointing me in the right direction when necessary.

I'm installing the birdcage now, and bent most of the pieces today. Just need to cut them to length, cut the fishmouths, and tack them in place so I can remove the body. I will start on the dash supports and door supports this week so I'll probably be asking a bunch of questions.

The Carbon Fiber body I got from Roger is very nice, and now that I figured a few things out in fitting the different points, it fits like a glove. Relocated a few pieces that were incorrect on the Cobra Restorers drawings, but back on track fitting up. His body has very nice rolled edges on the front and rear of the cockpit and provisions to roll the edges on all the wheel wells.
I still need to build the door, trunk and hood hoops but I'm saving that little chore for last.

Probably way too much information for everyone, but hopefully I can continue on with the great help I've gotten all along. It would be great if some of us were closer together so we could get together to discuss this stuff in person, look at each other's builds, and maybe have a get-together later on. Tip a cold one for me-I'm going to owe most of you several before I get done! ;)- Bob

Bob,

my chassis is on wheels, (street) brakes 95% done, need rear brake lines (today and tomorrow).
next would be clevis forks for the Tilton master cylinders, trans mount, gear lever, fuel line and front (lower) steering shaft mount.

the body could almost go on for good now.
door tubes are done, and hinged.
locks work, but door skins are not cut to fit yet.
I leave that to the painter.

I made lots of errors, believe me, but I also got a lot of help from people in this forum who had done this chassis before.

I see you are already asking the right people! And you did follow Morris' build up did you?
that is the next awesome build-up since the butcher's JBL and the cobrachuck coupe..
there are probably more, but I wasn't in this forum for a while.

thanks to Mickmate who reanimated it, and of course thanks to the moderator for a separate forum to channel the information.

Dom

All I have is an engine at the moment. :(

Jay,

believe me that is better than having 4 engines in parts, one complete, 9 bodies, one body mould from a Contemporary copy with a body, 2 chassis done, plus 4 started...

and you have this forum to learn from our mistakes.

dominik