When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm well familiar with your recommendation on VPA over laminations Dub. I spent many hours reading in the paint and body section while I was waiting to receive the funds to start this project.
I'm well familiar with your recommendation on VPA over laminations Dub. I spent many hours reading in the paint and body section while I was waiting to receive the funds to start this project.
Just though I would mention it.
I hope your compressor 'drama' is not a deal breaker for you.
The compressor is a big problem. The budget was tight as it is and a 25-30 CFM compressor is $3-4k Canadian new. We could go used and get one for about half that but the last one we bought used and we got very little use out of it before it died so its a risk buying used again. I used to have a 2hp putting out 6.3 CFM and a 5 hp putting out 11.8 CFM and with the two of them hooked together they would keep up to my heaviest use of air but they ran continuously a lot of the time which exceeded the duty cycle and they didn't last as long as they should have either. So I figure we need one putting out 25-30 CFM to not exceed the duty cycle. There's lots of used compressors for sale that put out 10-15 CFM but ones that put out 25-30 CFM are much less common. Plus Hubby just spent $1000 for a scissor lift hoist.
Hubby removed the compressor motor yesterday and took it to a repair place today. They figured the motor didn't look completely shot so he bought capacitors and switches (those looked bad for sure) and bearings and installed them for a total of $172. He's putting the compressor back together now. He says he has a good feeling that that's all that's wrong with the motor so we've got our fingers crossed.
We haven't used the compressor very much since the last head gasket was installed so I'm not very confident that its going to last if it does work now but we'll hope for the best!
It made it through a couple cycles without problem. Whether or not it works long or even medium term we'll have to see. I'm sure hubby will keep looking for a deal on a replacement though in any event.
I've used the compressor a bit more and its still running - fingers crossed. I haven't been able to work for a few days as my wrist is bothering me a great deal (even holding a cup of coffee is very painful), hopefully it'll be better soon. I got my replacement license plate bezel from Zip and unfortunately its only a little better than the one I returned. I originally wanted to order from Willcox but they were out of stock, then ordered from Paragon and they contacted me and said they were also out of stock and the manufacturer had told them to check back in 45 days to see if more were available. I suspect the manufacturer was having production problems and had stopped making them while they tried to sort that out. Unfortunately Zip didn't give me a return form with this one so it looks like I'm stuck with it - pretty disappointing.
What is even sadder is that within 2 years the metal will develop tiny pits....ZIP needs to take that garbage back and at least give you a store credit.
Back when Tommy did my chassis swap he damaged a lot of stuff pulling the body when I saw it I didn't get mad, after all when your car is at a shop they have you by the short and curlies,
I let him know how disappointed I was,
I made a comment in a light joking way that a purist, with a pristine car would but loosing it on him,
His reply and I have to paraphrase was to the effect that he wouldn't have let that happen to a nice can but my car wasn't nice.
So your issue reminds me of that, Zip will send that out and replace it with more crap, we all know how **** some corvette people are and they would not accept a flawed sub rate anything, so what should you have to.
There is a feedback section of the forum I suggest you post the pictures there and a write up perhaps if ZIP sees that people want a correct part they will then make good on it for you.
So, I was surprised to get a cheque from Zip today for the price of the license plate bezel. Hubby says I can't cash it until I contact Zip and see if they want it back.
So, I was surprised to get a cheque from Zip today for the price of the license plate bezel. Hubby says I can't cash it until I contact Zip and see if they want it back.
I finished the outer fiberglass flanges for the exhaust bezel yesterday.
I started by making these to backup the wet fiberglass as I laid it in place.
Wax paper on the inside edge to keep the fiberglass from sticking
Here's how I had to clamp it in place, a little tricky to do while maintaining space to lay in the fiberglass
Laying in the fiberglass cloth:
And the finished product:
I tried to test fit the left side bezel and the factory hole in the exhaust filler panel was a long way from lining up so I had to fiberglass up the hole and make a new one. The black mark to the right is where the hole in the exhaust bezel lined up with the factory exhaust filler panel. It was actually right on the edge so I couldn't just drill a new hole in the unmodified panel.
And now the exhaust bezels fit nicely or at least as nice as the aftermarket parts will allow:
Hi P,
Looks very good!
It must give you a pleasant sense of accomplishment seeing the bezel go into place!
Well Done!
Regards,
Alan
When I put the under car exhaust back on my car I too had to work at getting even the original bezels to fit well and completely conceal the opening in the valance and bottom of the rear fender.
Thanks Alan. Yes, it does feel good to have the bezels fitting. When I was marking the holes for the flanges I made I put some dowels through the bezels into the exhaust filler panel and the dowels were all cockeyed. I marked the holes in the flanges I made, drilled them and was going to call it done when I decided I better put the bezels in place and check for fit. Oddly, I needed to redo that hole in the left side of the exhaust filler panel but not the right side.
