Pantera parts ! (Page 38/75)
bubbajoexxx SEP 16, 11:21 PM
bump ity bump
opm2000 SEP 18, 12:40 PM


Still mostly doiing Fiero-type stuff, but I did finally get around to glassing in the headlight door hinge bases. These parts are cut out of the Fiero inner front hood, along with the metal strap inside. The strap is threaded to accept the headlight door hinge mechanism, so it's just a matter of locating where these bases mount, to allow full travel of the headlight door hinge. There is a huge amount of adjustablilty in the mounts and various hinge fasteners, so even if you don't get it just perfect, your still ok.

I have finished degreasing and preping the chassis for a paint job. I'm using a product called Chassis Saver. It's identical to POR-15, just a bit more affordable.

And I've been round & round with the fuel tank and sender. I've finally decided to coat the interior of the fuel tank with the POR-15 product. I've done all of the cleaning and tweaking of the fuel sender that I can. I sure don't like those senders. If this one doesn't work well, it's coming out and I'm installing a capacitance sender, like the ones I've installed in homebuilt airplanes. We will see.



This weekend I layed out the dimensions available on the forum for a front battery box, drilled corner holes and cut out the opening.



I then cut & fit cardboard panels to create the mold of the battery box. This is a great example of how you can quickly fabricate parts with fiberglass. Bear in mind that the cardboard is the mold, and the layup will be done on the other side. Since the cardboard cleared everything like steering arm, swaybar, brake lines, etc.....there will actually be a bit more clearance once the cardboard mold is removed.



Sorry for the glare. Here we are on the side where the layup will be done. Everything is covered with aluminum furnace tape. Then one quick coat of wax, and three thin coats of PVA. Now it's ready for the layup.

At this pooint, Blackrams came over and pointed out that the box was sized for a standard v6 Fiero battery. Since this car is getting a 4.9 v8, it might use a bigger battery. Ok, we resized the opening and retaped the cardboard mold back together, and recoated the worked on area. Now it should accomodate any size battery.



Then we cut panels of 2oz mat to fit the mold. We used panels like this and then overlapping tapes on all corners and edges, wide enough to assure a minimum of 2" overlapp. This box is made of two layers of 2oz matt. After curing and removing the mold, If it seems like it needs more strength, I'll ad one layer of woven fiberglass cloth.

Anyhow, we did the layup by having Blackrams quickly wet out each panel, laying them on a cardboard work surface and wetting them out rapidly with a 2 1/2" brush. Then I'd take each pre wetted panel and place it in the mold. This goes real fast, we were able to use 24 oz of resin and lay it into the mold within the 20 minute gell time of the one resin batch.



After 3 days, we will remove the part and the mold, trim it, and evaluate it's strength.

David Breeze
blackrams SEP 19, 09:25 PM

quote
Originally posted by opm2000:
Sorry for the glare. Here we are on the side where the layup will be done. Everything is covered with aluminum furnace tape. Then one quick coat of wax, and three thin coats of PVA. Now it's ready for the layup.
At this point, Blackrams came over and pointed out that the box was sized for a standard v6 Fiero battery. Since this car is getting a 4.9 v8, it might use a bigger battery. Ok, we resized the opening and retaped the cardboard mold back together, and recoated the worked on area. Now it should accomodate any size battery.



Anyhow, we did the layup by having Blackrams quickly wet out each panel, laying them on a cardboard work surface and wetting them out rapidly with a 2 1/2" brush. Then I'd take each pre wetted panel and place it in the mold. This goes real fast, we were able to use 24 oz of resin and lay it into the mold within the 20 minute gell time of the one resin batch.
David Breeze



Hey, that was my attempt at special effects.

------------------
Ron
Freedom isn't Free, it's paid for with the blood and dreams of those that have gone before us.
My imagination is the only limiting factor to my Fiero. Well, there is that money issue.

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 09-19-2006).]

bubbajoexxx OCT 06, 07:25 PM
bump need imput
s550w OCT 06, 07:35 PM
Dave,

Did you happen to place the Pantera front end on a rest of it Fiero body and snap a couple of pictures?

Brian
blackrams OCT 07, 08:46 AM
Brian,
That would require us to have a Fiero with the front panels off, we don't happen to have one like that now, that might be an option the next time we prep one for for rebody but we don't currently have one at that stage. You need to make another trip down and I'll take you to the shop so you can visualize you tail off.

------------------
Ron
Freedom isn't Free, it's paid for with the blood and dreams of those that have gone before us.
My imagination is the only limiting factor to my Fiero. Well, there is that money issue.

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 10-07-2006).]

s550w OCT 07, 09:07 AM
Sounds good, now I need to find some time!
1fastcaddy OCT 08, 04:29 AM
I just thought Id mention that I have been working at a full production show quality powdercoating shop and though rough, your little writeup on it was pretty close to what we do. One major difference is that we preheat every part to 400* and before it cools, we shoot the corners where the powder tries to avoid. then you coat the rest and after it is cooled back down, it can be frosted with the last layer of powder then heated to 400 again for about 15 to 25, depending on thickness. Our website is www.precisionpowder.net if anybody in the area needs some show quality work done for the lowest price in the area, give John or Steve a call and they can hook you up, tell them Andrew sent you and maybe you can get an even lower price. Thanks, Drew

------------------

1985 GT Fastback
Low Original Miles at 39,006!!!

Otherwise stock for now

[This message has been edited by 1fastcaddy (edited 10-08-2006).]

opm2000 OCT 16, 12:32 PM
Thanks for the many kind bumps.

I have been busy putting the Choptop Pantera back together, ever so slowly. Some things really can slow you down...like the stainless auto trans tubing kit from the Fiero Store. It just plain don't fit an '88 chassis. Looks like it would be a glove fit on an '84-'87. So work-arounds take time.

But it really is great when other things fit right the first time. Like the battery box. Most excellent fit, and I've got the new cables fabricated and routed. I've removed and flushed the entire AC system, and am ready to reassemble the entire front end now.

More pics on this stuff later.

I had the sad occasion to take my son to his farewell ceremony, as he is now on the road to Afghanisan. Looks like two months intense preparation and then out of country.

Just before Hunt left we were talking abut putting the LT1 into the Yellow Pantera, and he said it would be awsome. So yesterday I devoted the day towards that project.





David Breeze
motoracer838 OCT 16, 07:12 PM
Well I can see that youv'e been busy, thats the problem with having more than one project going at a time, it's hard to decide what to work on and sometimes it seems like moving sideways instead of forwards. Keep up the good work!

Joe