NS F355 Project (Page 26/73)
Yarmouth Fiero JUL 31, 09:57 PM
Well, it's been a few weeks since I have been able to work on the car. It sucks when your job interferes with your hobby. It just isn't right.

First thing to do was cover up the powdercoated roll over hoops. With all the welding and cutting to be done, I just don't want to risk damaging the finish at this point. I'll unwrap them ..........in a couple years.



Next up was to weld the new longitudinal rocker frames to the chassis. We started with the drivers side... and ran out of wire half way through the passenger side. Oh well...it was getting late anyhow.









Hopefully, we'll get the rest welded tomorrow evening as we are itching to remove the roof. Its been all winter just to get to this point. But I'm happy with the design and the fit to the chassis. I think its going to be more than adequate.

[This message has been edited by Yarmouth Fiero (edited 07-31-2013).]

Sage AUG 01, 08:29 AM
"More than adequate"..........is going to turn out to be an understatement, IMHO!

That looks better in application that it did in theory, and as I said before, don't think that chassis is going to flex any way you don't tell it to.

"and ran out of wire half way through the passenger side." I hate it when that happens!

Looks great to me, and I still say you should patent that design for the frame stiffner! Really can't think of any better way to do it. Maybe you could offer up a blueprint package or something, could make a buck or two? (at least a quarter! )

Keep up the great work and don't forget to keep us updated when you get time.

HAGO!
Yarmouth Fiero AUG 01, 08:41 AM
Thanks Sage. I can certianly provide drawings with measurements for anyone interested in cutting into their chassis. I'm going to use a long inside micrometer on the door frame once welding is done and before I remove the roof. Then support the chassis as if on wheels and take measurements after the roof is removed and also load the chassis up with weight to see what kind of chassis distortion actually occurs. I'm curious to see just how stiff the design is in practice.
Yarmouth Fiero AUG 10, 09:01 PM
Tonight we finally got the passenger side rocker reinforcement welded. I am very happy with the fit of the new frames. So that was the go ahead milestone to start cutting off the roof. For now we just made a rough cut an inch or two from the final line. Once I have an idea as to how to properly cap off the B pillars and the windshield top frame, I'll make the final finish cuts. So, I gave Kirk the green light and the zip wheel and he went at it. His friend who was visiting thought it was pretty cool to see a car get its roof cut off.

And finally, the last photo of the day. I've dreamt of that little car being a convertible for many years.

edit: remove photos of family members

[This message has been edited by Yarmouth Fiero (edited 02-23-2015).]

Bloozberry AUG 10, 09:45 PM
Woohoo! Now THAT's a significant milestone. Completely changes the look of the chassis. Way to go!
Yarmouth Fiero AUG 11, 03:36 AM
Thanks Blooz. I think the next step will be to shorten the wooden supports and get the chassis to ride height. Then I'd like to flip the whole thing over and finish welding the rocker supports to the chassis on the underside as well as clean up the area where the fuel tank goes. I suspect even this clean chassis has a little surface rust under there.

I've been searching for information or perhaps even a build thread that has details on how to best finish off the top edge of the windshield frame. If anyone knows of a link to such info, I'd love to see it.

Today I'm off on the "Heart of the Valley" century ride today. After this 170 km bike ride, I may have to take a couple days off from the car project.
355Fiero AUG 11, 05:09 AM
Graham

I will email you the detail I did to create a good seal for the windshield frame. Did it for my 308 Targa build. It uses a Firebird t-top seal cut and joined across the width. I also have a fibreglass windshield top mold that can be used as well as per a bunch of other 355 kits.

May take a couple days to get it to you though as I am eyeballs deep in extending the 308 trunk by the end of the weekend.

Talk to you soon

Don
Yarmouth Fiero AUG 11, 06:38 AM
That sounds great Don, thanks.
Sage AUG 11, 09:29 AM
Great to see you get to this stage...as always..very nice job!

We also have a mold to make a "cap" for the top of windshield, though I can't imagine it's much different than what Don has available. It's part of what could be called a "kit" for helping to turn a Fiero into a convertible.

Here's a pic of the whole kit:


and here's one of just the ws cap..(this is the underside):


How are you planning to "flip the whole thing over"...is a rotisserie in your future..or do you already have one? Sure would be nice to be able to do that!

Keep up the great work, and don't forget to keep us updated!

HAGO!
exoticse AUG 11, 10:49 AM

quote
Originally posted by Bloozberry:

Woohoo! Now THAT's a significant milestone. Completely changes the look of the chassis. Way to go!



Exactly ! Now that is cool !