C5 Corvette re-body, DIY backyard built

I can't wait to see the final product.

Incredible how well this is working out. Are we seeing real-time updates? You're working fast if so.

maschinenbau said:

Incredible how well this is working out. Are we seeing real-time updates? You're working fast if so.

yep these are all real time updates, usually the morning after i have put a few hours in on it

Drivers side door jamb seals are finished

Shortened the second window rails and mounted it all to mock-up the door thickness

Looking amazing. How far are the windows going to be able to roll down? All the way or only part way?

dculberson said:

Looking amazing. How far are the windows going to be able to roll down? All the way or only part way?

Thanks! Windows will go mostly down. They will stick up about an inch out of the top of the door.  

jlk16188 said:

I have overlaid digital pictures of the cars numerous times but they are too messy to post here.  with the tiburon roof on the corvette wheebase it matches almost identically to this picture

I really like the way it gets rid of the chunky C5 butt. and a superb choice for the roofline.

Yes, yours is a special kind of crazy... but it's the kind of crazy that we all want to see more of!

Just checking if there's been any updates to this build.

MadScientistMatt said:

Just checking if there's been any updates to this build.

Unfortunately I have been swamped at work the past month and havent made any monumental progress leaps lately.

I have been doing little things like relocating the ECU and drive by wire module into the car.  I have it sitting where the passenger side airbag used to be. Im relocating the battery to the back of the car so I made up my ground points at the front of the car and bolted the original battery ground to the frame but Im still working on the positive cable route to the rear.

Everything Ive been playing with lately isnt very picture friendly and boring just rearranging wire harness. 

In reply to jlk16188 :

I don't know how I missed this, this is fantastic. 

I get the little details bit, I spent half my time this weekend doing things most people wouldn't even be able to see where done.  It can be disheartening at times but all those little things have to get done and then you get to do the noticable things. Just keep keeping on

Glad to hear it's coming along. I know, not all work on a project is equally photogenic even if it must be done. I've been struggling with getting a nut on an inaccessible stud on my Dodge Dart for the past week or so (only able to work on the car a half hour or so a day).

I've been wetsanding for a week and if anything it makes the car LESS photogenic. Keep it up! The devil is in the details.

jlk16188 said:

Before you ask why.... Because I can, that’s why

I'm late to the party here, but I approve of what you're doing.

TurnerX19 said:

Make male bucks and female molds even if you only make one unit. Make your first mold off the Tiburon roof so you get the hang of the process. Making fiberglass parts without molds is always disastrous. Finished body panels need consistent wall thickness, which can be obtained only by layup inside a mold.

Here are photos of a guy making molds and using them to fabricate the fiberglass rear fenders for his locost.  The fenders turned out really nice.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxgvGWNh0ll/

His molds are interesting....made from many bit of plywood and sanded into the shape he needs.  It is worth taking a look....similar methods could be used to make original body panels that don't match any prior shapes.

JoeyM said:

Here are photos of a guy making molds and using them to fabricate the fiberglass rear fenders for his locost.  The fenders turned out really nice.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxgvGWNh0ll/

His molds are interesting....made from many bit of plywood and sanded into the shape he needs.  It is worth taking a look....similar methods could be used to make original body panels that don't match any prior shapes.

 

*That* is super cool. It looks too easy to be true (I'm sure there are huge amounts of cubic time invested. but wow. 

Had to bring this back to the top!

2GRX7 said:

Had to bring this back to the top!

Thanks for bringing back

sorry I’ve been mia lately.  I started making some foam forms, mostly experimenting with techniques and materials to use as a buck.  

But my biggest hurtle has been we have been busting our butts getting our house prepped and on the market because we spontaneously low balled an enormous house with a fantastic garage and the owner accepted it.  

In reply to jlk16188 :

In reply to jlk16188 :

Yowza! Looks great...can't wait to see more! ....and congrats on the house!

Verrry nice! Something tells me you'll like working with the insulation more than than the plywood. Congrats on the house!

jlk16188 said:

But my biggest hurtle has been we have been busting our butts getting our house prepped and on the market because we spontaneously low balled an enormous house with a fantastic garage and the owner accepted it.  

Congrats! I'm hoping to make a low ball offer in the near future as well on a house. Glad it's going in your favor!

Sooo, how'd the house swap go?

2GRX7 said:

Sooo, how'd the house swap go?

Unfortunately for the car project, the house swap hasnt happened yet.  We close on Aug 23rd on both houses because of delays of the buyers of our house.  Everything on our end went flawlessly but the people buying our house made the swap difficult.. they applied for and then were denied for a VA loan which required lots of extra inspections of my house, which we passed but delayed the process.  Now they are in the approval process for a conventional loan and everything looks good.

if youre interested...heres some pic of the new place just off zillow

the garage bay is 20' x 40' with 12' ceilings. large 20' x 20' storage room behind the garage bay with full utility room for the apartment above the garage.  Its a big step forward for me coming from our current house with an 8' x 12' garage and using the area under my deck in the backyard as the car building space