rmackintosh

....exactly!...

rmackintosh

Well, the firewall has been removed....ready for a steel or aluminum replacement, the goo and glue has been ground out of the interior, and the doors have been gutted. Now, just waiting on some Black Dog WC bodywork and we can start the cage!

Got some cool parts from the guys at LGM as well. Pro Long Tubes and a radiator for mock up on cage/steering/etc.

The car might look like a real Corvette again soon!

FredSM

You'd have a ball with Darrell and crew, Bill. They race hard and party fun. I do take exception to being called "half rack", though, Darrell!

FM

SIK02SS

check out ebay and corvetterecycling.com for good body work prices and everything else..

rmackintosh

I have run with Darrell for a few years now, and Andy for the past few months. I was able to run right behind Darrell in the first AV8SS race last year and was right with Andy in the race this year....until I had my accident. My car was FLYING for its last few hours of life....sigh....

rmackintosh

OK, NOW we are talking! After receiving the first batch of Blackdog Racing's World Challenge bodywork....the care is NO LONGER a "frame with two doors".....

The stuff is really nice, and VERY lightweight even though I opted for fiberglass in the "impact" areas for repair purposes. I will get the stuff on a scale if I get the chance to let you all know.

This should allow us what we need to get the cage and drivers compartment fabbed in for PHASE I of the build in the next few weeks.

rmackintosh

Got bored after working on the car today and drug out some "junk" from the barn:


I said I would get some weights of Blackdogs race bodywork for future reference:

Carbon roof = 11 lbs
Carbon rear deck = 7 lbs
Fiberglass rear fenders = 3.5 lbs each
Fiberglass rear bumper with/tail/side lights = 18 lbs

Stock inner fender liners = 7.5 lbs each

Hope to have front fenders and rocker bodywork this week.

trackboss

What did you do to line up the panels relatively straight without any of the factory tub, etc. to reference off of?

rmackintosh

I am using stock doors and stock rocker panel/door jambs as well as a stock rear tub. The stock door and rocker/jambs should be fine...I will need to trim the rear of the rocker at the front of the rear fender opening a bit.

The Blackdog stuff just fits right with the stock components. I have it just sitting loose now....when we get it to the cage shop, we will anchor the rear tub and finish mount the Blackdog panels....just need to drill the stock screw holes for the most part. May dZus the rear bumper to fender...the roof will screw to the stock tub and dZus somewhere in the front....

Short-Throw

You're leaving the B-Pillar in tact?

rmackintosh

The steel portion of the B Pillar is gone...just the fiberglass shell/halo. I will remove the A Pillar/windshield frame as well. The main hoop will replace the B Pillar/hoop and the A Pillar. I am a big guy, so I need the cage as high as possible. The main hoop will go ALL THE WAY to the carbon roof and the bar above the door will be tucked into the roof and A pillar area so as to be as high as possible and nearly invisible from the exterior....

rmackintosh

OK, front fenders and rockers now here!




Time for some REAL fab work! Looks like the fabricator's schedule will open up next week sometime. Should be able to get the cage/interior/body mounts before recovery is required for the next stage!

rmackintosh

OK....



...might need springs after all....

redtopz

I'd have to add a 2nd LS6 in my trunk to keep up with those guys! But they do seem to be having a great time out there .

Looking good! Who's building your cage?

rmackintosh

I could keep up with them in the Camaro....this was the year I could hopefully beat them....we will never know....

I am having a local guy Paul Traver, former owner of S&T Enterprises, a fab shop in the 80s and 90s do the cage. His work is impeccable and saved my life once already..... He is a wandering soul however and doesn't do race car work full time now...just for those who can get him to do it....

sspeed30043

Isn't it fun? I just removed the fiberglass firewall from mine also.

Also got the rocker panles off..that was real fun, drivers came off in three pieces, managed to get the pasenger side off in one piece but
a couple battle scars.... have a drivers side on the way.

I'm going to use all stock bodywork on my build, I can almost build
the entire car for what carbon body work would cost...

I also have to replace part of the right frame rail...working on that now.

rmackintosh

Yes...the firewall and goo/glue grinding/burning/sanding was HORRENDOUS. My garage is all new construction white walls....the black cloud of dust from weeks of grinding/burning/sanding has now settled on EVERYTHING in the garage like sheetrock dust in a remodel....BUT BLACK! When the car goes to the fabricator, I will spend a WEEK cleaning the garage...to the ceiling!

rmackintosh

Here is the "under" bodywork progress.....

B pillar repair:



Gutted door:



Invisible firewall:



Car has stock doors, door jambs/rockers, inner front fender liners and rear tub. While the body isn't cheap, the panels are cheaper than Z06 panels....at least the fenders are...hehe

sspeed30043

Just wondering what the price is for the Blackdog roof?

rmackintosh

The roof and the bumpers are the most expensive pieces. Call them for an exact, but without looking up my receipt, I think it was around $2300. It is in carbon and comes with the below windshield cowl piece as well.