My 88 Formula Interior Redesign (Page 74/87)
Sofa King SEP 08, 02:45 PM
UPDATE:

Remember this?


We are moving forward with a new wiring harness... muhuhuhahahaha
Sofa King SEP 13, 08:51 AM
UPDATES...

I am a little embarrassed to post these pics but it is an update. I worked a little more on the console and did create the beginnings of the center armrest pad that will fit over the cup holder. But I made a HUGE BOO BOO! I wrapped the armrest with seran wrap not thinking about how the heat from the resin might effect the wrap itself and well... ummmm... it melted... UGH... I wasn't able to get a lot done - had out of town guests.

Wrapping the armrest


Laying the glass


Adding resin


Second layer of glass


All dried, cut and fits perfectly



The plan is to build another layer of glass and then wrap this in the black vinyl material to match the door panels and sun visors - Thanks to Katatak for the great idea!


And now the disaster... I have to sand and repaint the entire cup holder


The console receiving a few little updates



That's it for now. I hope to have the new console at least fabricated by this weekend. I also have to get started on the radio console as well. I'm debating whether to use the existing piece I have. That would save time and I think I can manipulate the part into the shape I want. Note to Self: NO MORE SERAN WRAP!!!!

[This message has been edited by Sofa King (edited 09-13-2010).]

katatak SEP 13, 08:01 PM
One step forward and 2 back Greg! You are getting pretty good at that sanding and painting thing. Your little boo boo should not take long to fix.

As for the XTC, we are basically going to "shorten" the rear end and the front end. Then make the entire frontend one piece - like a "flipper" with some molded in "flush" mount headlights and some electric actuators much like Madcurl's setup. The back end will get anagled off and then rounded at the bottom with maybe some difusers and a custom center exit exhaust. The last part will be to remove the "flare" around the bottom of the car and round the bottom under the car. It will be a big project but I am looking forward to it.

Pat
Sofa King SEP 14, 04:56 PM
I really have no idea what I was thinking when I used the seran wrap... DUMB!

The XTC project sounds like a huge undertaking! You will of course post pics? When will the actual body work begin?
katatak SEP 16, 12:14 AM

quote
Originally posted by Sofa King:

I really have no idea what I was thinking when I used the seran wrap... DUMB!

The XTC project sounds like a huge undertaking! You will of course post pics? When will the actual body work begin?



Now you know not to use it! XTC is looking like late December!
Sofa King SEP 16, 08:47 AM

quote
Originally posted by katatak:


Now you know not to use it! XTC is looking like late December!



When I grabbed the wrap... my initial thought was I needed something that would conform and hug the shape of the cupholder so when I laid the glass I got a precise fit. Wax paper wouldn't do it and I certainly didn't want to use packing tape and wind up removing any paint. So... there was a little bit of sanity to my mistake?????? Not much... but a little bit? Right? Maybe?

December, huh? Well... I guess we can wait. OH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Completely slipped my mind. I was chatting with a buddy of mine who has a 355 replica and has approached me to help with the all the fiberglass / body work. He's knows metal fabrication so he and I will be working together teaching and learning and building a 355 replica. We're still discussing it... but if we get started I'll post pics.

Pretty cool, huh?
Sofa King SEP 20, 08:08 AM
So I'm driving my car this morning when I looked in the rear view mirror and saw this splatter mark right behind my head...



My first thought... DANG IT! I just washed the car. So I got to work, grabbed a shop towel out of the trunk and began to clean the huge poop off the car when I then saw this...



Wait a minute I said... ummmm... where did the poop go? I looked back in the car... I see it... but where is it on the outside... Then it hit me... That huge explosion of bird turd was INSIDE the car! I stood there with my mouth open... HOLY BIRD CRAP! That thing almost hit me! The first thing that ran through my mind was Oliver Stone's conspriacy movie called JFK. "...back and to the left... back and to the left... back and to the left..."
Sofa King SEP 21, 11:52 AM
Hey Guys...

The temp shot back up to high 90's / low 100's. Summer is trying to hang on a little more... I figure a few more weeks and then fall will be here which means getting back to the fun stuff. I really want to get the door panels finished, upholstered and installed! Actually... I want to get everything finished!

I have a plan to create a vacuformer. I hoping I'll be able to create multiple dash pods for other members.

OK... back to the pile!
355Fiero SEP 21, 03:19 PM
SofaKing;

Have you thought about using the expanding foam at all for some of the areas of your build? I use the Urethane 2 part expanding foam as a base and cut the shape to close with an x-acto knife and other knives and then sand it down to a close fit and then lay the glass over that. The resin doesn't eat away at the foam and you can get some more complex shapes more easily than using the flat fiberglass panels you have been using so far. Doing a great job with the flat panels, don't get me wrong as I have enjoyed watching the build thread but if you are going into the more complex dash assembly you have pictured above, some expanding foam may be a good option for you.

Depending on what I needed to do, I would build a box more or less the size I wanted and pour the foam in and let it expand and harden and then pull the box sides and bottom off and start cutting and shaping. You can also fill in holes and indents such as the indents your did on the door panels with resin and it will do the same job but end up lighter in the end and just as strong with the glass mat layers over it.

You should be able to get the foam in the same place you are getting your resin and mat from.

Just a thought.

Please carry on as you are doing some interesting make overs on the interior.

Cheers
Don
Sofa King SEP 22, 08:45 AM
Hey Don,

Thanks for the great advice! I've been tinkering with the idea of using foam as the starting point for the new radio console. I've been wondering HOW I'm going to tackle the complex curves of the console without building up too much resin, glass, bondo, etc. I was considering using the flat panel insulation foam - you're talking about going in a completely different direction - the expanding foam!

Is this the same foam you can buy from any home improvement store? You have my interest peaked. Do you have any build pics or a link to any projects you've done?

Thanks again for the great advice!