Here's a glimpse of the direction I am going with the project...

Much of what you see is just a hodgepodge of mock-up parts to help me decide which ideas have merit. From front to back:

* I changed to a more traditional late twenties/early thirties style grille (albeit heavily modified) to provide opportunity to reinforce the vintage Pontiac heritage. This body is still just a mock-up. When I model the real thing I will incorporate as many 1927 Pontiac styling cues as possible; especially in the grille area. In keeping with the modern-vintage balance, I added a billet-style carbon fiber grille.

* The front suspension shown here is borrowed from another model to help wrap my head around the design choices. The Fiero-spec front suspension should be lower, and less bulky (knuckles), when I get around to modeling it. There will be a large opening on each side to allow the suspension to pass through the body, and the body to be removed without disassembling the chassis.

* The windshield will NOT be split. Wouldn't be too cool from a center-seat driving position Again, this was borrowed from another model, and quickly hacked up, to get an idea what would work there. I do like the carbon fiber frames though.

* Three bucket seats, as promised! I have them in carbon fiber here, but that is not settled. I am experimenting with the idea of carbon fiber, aged aluminum, and body-color paint for the interior with no traditional leather upholstery and carpet. I would have to figure out what goes where though. Too much carbon fiber and the cockpit would be dark and lifeless. I realized this when I started to model carbon fiber side panels and realized that it would just look like a gray blob in the renderings. I had to lighten the front seat just to get it to show up in the front three-quarter view. If I do the carbon fiber seats I am thinking about making perimeter frames with a suspended, stiff, nylon mesh in the seat and back areas. I sat in a $300-400 office chair like this that I absolutely loved.

* I tried the high-mount mufflers a zillion different ways and didn't like it. They wouldn't properly assimilate into the powertrain. They work down low, protruding from under the transaxle! If I can make this work in real life, without raising the CoG too much, I am doing it. The mufflers themselves are basically glorified custom Flowmasters. The plan is to split Suppertrapp cans in half and add about four inches of sheetmetal between the halves, after duplicating the size and position of the original, loud, metallic-sounding, two chamber, Flowmaster 40-series internal baffles. Ideally the end plates would be CNC-cut, and properly aged, aluminum.

* Speaking of my aged-aluminum-parts-from-billet plans, I have to come up with a tool or process to give a sand-cast texture to machined parts; and then the correct aging process, to get the look I am after. I saw a street rod in one of the big magazines that did something similar, but he used textured paint on sanded billet aluminum parts. I want real aluminum.

* The rear suspension is the stock Fiero type lower arms and knuckle with transverse, quarter-elliptic leaf springs to replace the struts. I still have a LOT of design work and modeling to do to make this a reality, but the concept makes the Fiero-derived rear suspension fit the project.

* I haven't settled on an induction setup yet, but it will now be called on to fill the gap on the left side of the powertrain...

* Finally, the wheels are carbon fiber land-speed style discs, with aged aluminum three-bar, knock-off style, centers. Again, just thinking out loud... If I did it they would have to have much more detail. Probably the five-hole/five-bar salt flat style...

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[This message has been edited by toddshotrods (edited 12-23-2007).]

27 Poncho


Close up of the grille shell - I want the raised center section. I don't have a good pic yet but it seems to taper down to nothing as it moves back across the hood.



Some of the aluminum stuff - one you've seen before, and some new ones...

Pedal assembly. I have five-hole, billet, pedal pads to replace the (painted wooden mock-up) balls, but didn't take any pics of them yet:


Shifter:



Horn button that will cap off a custom billet steering wheel - I can't wait to make this one


Fuel filler trim ring:


Mirrors:




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[This message has been edited by toddshotrods (edited 12-22-2007).]

Looking good!

Aged aluminum seat accent like http://www.crank-it.com/seat-rear-view34.jpg , maybe the Pontiac logo? http://www.eastviewchev.ca/..._pontiac1_081005.gif

Will it have handles outside or reach in and open? I'm guessing the later. Suicide doors of course.

Valve cover (mufflers, engine, etc) etching? http://www.buckleshop.com/images/ba325e.jpg

Will the throttle body be a modern single unit or a dual side carb-look with Inglese stacks?

Fenders? nah...

Tonneau cover covering the back seats?

Mini roll bars behind the back seats?

Bonnet mounted mirrors http://www.britishcarlinks....phead_Coupe_MKII.jpg

Don't forget http://www.flamekitz.com/index.html

Here's another car to check out: http://thekneeslider.com/ar...-wheel-street-racer/

[This message has been edited by Gokart Mozart (edited 12-22-2007).]

Wow, you had a lot to say! Great research work, as usual - I'll respond soon...

Until then a couple more details:

I will probably do something similar to this for the dash area, with the Cutlass gauge pod behind it:



Also, the '27 Pontiac bodywork was pretty simple with only one other distinguishing characteristic (other than the grille/hood thing) - the half-round molding type line running front to back. Reminds one of a Fiero body-side molding, eh? Ideally, on this project, it should wrap around the back of the body...

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Thanks guys

quote Originally posted by eph_kay: I know it would probably cost somewhat more, but wouldn't it make sense to go with 88 style rear knuckles? The added benefit to me seams to be worth it...

I'm open to it, but I am clueless about the 88 knuckle. What are the advantages? The one thought I had to replace the Fiero knuckles are W-body (Grand Prix, etc). From what I understand certain years (late nineties???) came with aluminum knuckles and bolt-on hub/bearing carriers that are interchangeable with C4 Vette parts. We went through all that in one of my old threads here looking into building an all-out performance Fiero. The advantages are less unsprung weight and stronger bearings.

quote Originally posted by eph_kay: ...I have watched from the beginning and I will hopefully watch until it gets finished, Chris

Things are looking better now that I have narrowed my personal projects down from five to two.

quote Originally posted by WhiteDevil88: ...Plus it would give you a place to put the beer cooler.

Lol! I am thinking about a detachable cover for the powertrain for times where aerodynamics are a concern. This depends on how hard I decide to run the car though. It will NOT be a trailer queen and will be used regularly on the street. The question is how much I will want to push it. A lot of that will be determined when I get some seat time in it.

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