The ClayTonto Fiero Build (Page 8/36)
Dennis LaGrua MAR 17, 09:49 AM
Beautiful and Precise first class fiberglas work. The hatchback looks particularly nice but would like to know more about how the engine venting will work. I have the same concern on the convertible that I'm building and have just decided to install two large air vents ( old Chrysler turbo parts) on the decklid and place water catch pans with drains below.
Perhaps the answer to the question on how much venting is required and how much engine compartment temps will vary according to the venting can be answered but no one that I've spoken with seems to have a definitive answer. SInce your crew works on Fieros full time maybe you have a better handle on it.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

Archie MAR 17, 10:42 AM
It is our opinion that there has to be some kind of vents in the hatch to let out the heat.

When you look at the outside skin area of this hatch, you'll notice a triangular "Flat" area on either side of the new rear hatch window. (Note: that area is actually not completely flat, it has some contour to it. I'm just calling it flat for this answer)

You'll also notice that this flat area is not covered on the inside by the inside skin.

I've rec'd. a lot of opinions on what types of vents to put in it. Some people want louvers, some want vents like we did on Curley's car & others' was various kinds of scoops.

We feel that you can't please them all if we just put in one kind of vent. So we decided to fabricate a few different kinds of vents & have them available as "inserts" based on what customers might want.

We also are going to have the hatch available with just the "flat" area for those that want to build their own unique vents into it.

Archie

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Sig by Custom2M4

whodeanie MAR 17, 01:15 PM
Archie did you save the patterns from Curly's car to do the hatch for the chop tops?
Clayton's car is looking great!
when you are done with it I might ride up with him to come get it. we only live about 10 miles apart.
I would love to see you, your crew and shop.
D.
Archie MAR 20, 11:09 AM

quote
Originally posted by whodeanie:

Archie did you save the patterns from Curly's car to do the hatch for the chop tops?
Clayton's car is looking great!
when you are done with it I might ride up with him to come get it. we only live about 10 miles apart.
I would love to see you, your crew and shop.
D.



There wasn't any patterns from Curley's car.

the 350Z rear window is the only common thing between the 2 designs.

If you look at earlier pictures of his car in this thread & look at the detailed pics in his build thread, you'll see that Curley's window was mounted about 2" farther forward. There was no hatch bodywork between the top of his window & the trailing edge of the Fiero roof. Due to the curve of the 350Z rear window, we had to arc the trailing edge of the roofline to match it. His car also had the "C" pillars move inboard a couple of inches.

As I stated earlier, my goal on this hatch is to make it so that no modifications to the Fiero GT rear clip have to be done to install it.

Archie
Archie MAR 20, 11:34 AM
Regarding the question I answered a few days ago about the vent area on either side of the 350Z rear window.

In these pics we have the outside skin of the hatch laying in the mold (to keep it true to shape) then we have the inside skin "buck" laying on top of it. You can see the open (exposed) area on each side of the window opening...





Today we are working on pulling molds off of the inside "buck" for the hatch.

Making the inside "buck" was more work than making the outside one. As you can see there were a lot of surfaces to shape. Then there was a lot of wet sanding polishing & waxing to make it ready to pull molds off of.



Then we sprayed the tooling jelcoat onto the buck.







Today, we are laying up several layers of fiberglass to make the mold.

Archie
whodeanie MAR 20, 12:07 PM
looking good Archie.
are you goint to make one for the choptop?
Archie MAR 21, 04:11 PM

quote
Originally posted by whodeanie:

looking good Archie.
are you goint to make one for the choptop?



There's not enough potential market in making another full set of molds for chop tops.

It will be a lot easier to modify these parts slightly for chop top use.

I know that you understand it, but a lot of people don't realize how much time & labor goes into making a perfect set of molds.

The sad thing is that you don't know if you have a perfect set of molds until you're all done with them.

Then when you're all done with the molds & designing all the parts including hinges to make it all work, someone will complain that the price is too high by saying "It's just fiberglass & that's too much for a couple pcs. of fiberglass."

Anyway, we should have the mold off of the buck by the end of the day Monday.





Archie

[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 03-21-2009).]

FI3RO NUTZ MAR 22, 08:31 PM
Looks Great!!! cant wait to see more....also would be great to see a custom louvers for a notchback from your shop.

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ClayTonto MAR 23, 06:00 PM
Archie and crew, this is looking good. I like how the bottom is turning out. Maybe we should put some trick hinged bars in there to hold it up when it's open like the Ferrari F50s use.
This images is larger than 153600 bytes. Click to view.
BTW I went ahead and ordered that aluminum radiator we were talking about. (They were going up on the price and I didn't want to miss out) Should be there in a few days.

[This message has been edited by ClayTonto (edited 03-23-2009).]

Archie MAR 24, 01:50 PM
This is the mold for the inside skin for the hatch......





After some sanding buffing & waxing, we'll be ready to take some parts out of that mold this week.

Archie