NS F355 Project (Page 30/73)
Yarmouth Fiero AUG 20, 10:18 PM
Tonight I decided to start working on my task list posted above. The first thing on the list was to finish the roof chop by deciding on a line along the top of the windshield. Looking at a few different convertables, there seemed to be a wide range of styles regarding bodywork along the top of the windshield. I decided I wanted to keep it fairly thin yet a little more than the windshield sides. So I scribed a line that ran parallel to the top of the glass ( yellow plastic) and also saved two original body mounts from the original roof.

I bent a wooden batten and clamped it in place as a guide for the zip wheel.



I cut a nice fine line through the top layer of sheet metal. However, my zip wheel was getting a little small and it was my last one in the pack, so once I had the top layer cut from side to side I got out the trusty reciprocating saw with a fine blade and cut through the lower layer of sheet metal. The whole proceedure took about 2 minutes. After dressing the razor blade edges that the cuts left I had a pretty decent finished edge.







From the top of the windshield to the rear edge, I left about 2 3/4"



I'll work on a suitable design to finish off the steel work and strengthen up the edge at a later time.

edit typo.

[This message has been edited by Yarmouth Fiero (edited 08-21-2013).]

Yarmouth Fiero AUG 21, 07:59 PM
Tonight I tackled number 2 on the list of unfinished tasks........ weld the transverse frame into the chassis. We got a good bead on the upper and lower frame rails and you could feel the chassis stiffen up. It even took some of the rattle out of the shortened B pillars. I will finish welding the top flanges of the transverse frame once I have the B pillars capped with some 1/8" plate. I had every intention of stitch welding the top of the firewall to the transverse frame but I'm still not 100% sure how I want to finish the sheet metal off. Right now, I'm not loving the condition of the top flange of the firewall and I may remake this area with some new sheet metal. I'll keep looking at it for now.



[This message has been edited by Yarmouth Fiero (edited 08-22-2013).]

Yarmouth Fiero AUG 23, 01:25 PM
Just received my engine cradle poly bushings from the Fiero Store. Not as flashy as a full suspension order............... baby steps till then.

Any thoughts on installing zerk fittings to the cradle bushing housings and machining an annular groove around the perimeter of the poly bushings to allow for periodic lubrication? There is alot of talk about squeaky poly bushings once in service.
Bloozberry AUG 23, 04:03 PM
There's virtually no relative movement between the cradle, the cradle mount bushings, and the frame, so you don't need to worry about squeaking on these bushings. The ones you have to worry about are on the control arms.
Yarmouth Fiero AUG 23, 04:09 PM
Even when I catch some air racing by your place? ha-ha-ha
Bloozberry AUG 23, 06:15 PM
On my road patchwork-quilt-of-paved-patches you just might get some relative movement between the cradle and the frame. LOL
Yarmouth Fiero AUG 23, 07:25 PM
You know Blooz, that 4 x 8 sheet of black poly skid plate in my garage is going on my car just so I can visit and drive down your road one day. Hey, there is going to be a provincial election this fall, maybe your road will finally get resurfaced. I should have mentioned it to Dexter this week when he toured the shipyard ha-ha-ha

Maybe one nice day I'll bring the lasar transit and we'll mark all the high spots that our 5" ground clearance won't clear.
Klasse_GT AUG 27, 03:44 PM
Updates?

Yarmouth Fiero SEP 01, 09:12 AM
Still working on my list of little jobs to do Klasse_GT. This weekend it's been fabricating top caps for the exposed B pillars. I used 1/8" plate for this. Here is the drivers side done but not welded yet. But even just pressed into place, it tightened up the door rattle in the B pillar.



[This message has been edited by Yarmouth Fiero (edited 09-01-2013).]

Yarmouth Fiero SEP 08, 08:16 AM
Still plugging away at the to-do list generated after removing the rood structure. After capping the B pillars, I have moved on to the windshield transverse structure. I'm stilll unsure if the car will get a soft top right away but regardless I want to strengthen up this area as much as possible while still allowing the option of adding some sort of soft top securing mechanism in the future. This has proven to be a bit of a tough part to fabricate as its less than 3/4" high and it gets a little messed up at the ends due to my cut passing through a couple factory placed holes in the sheet metal.





I am now on my second attempt, as my first try did not offer enough support and strength over the span. Luckily I hadn't yet welded the first attempt in place.
I decided to use 1/16" sheet metal and form it in a way that there will be tabs along the entire top and bottom edge. This will provide maximum stiffness as well as provide the opportunity to weld it to the existing sheet metal along most of its length.







With the top edge formed, I will proceed to fabricate the lower edge and then once complete, get it blasted and primed and welded into place.

I had considered adding a solid rod down each side of the windshield pillars to add strength to them but access at the bottom is very limited and not having a strong welded connection at the lower end would have made them pointess. Does anyone have experience with this?