SO, figured this was a good time for putting a bow on this adventure! (update the web story!)
Here are a couple of shots of the finished product, complete with repop'd decals from Hall Pantera. They are bubbling up a little bit, but that could be due to my installation technique....or the powdercoating.....I just push them back down.....hoping one day they will get with the program!
Astute viewers will also notice that I have no giant cutout on the engine shield! (where previous moron cut out a half circle to install one of those stupid triangle shaped air cleaners (air restricter!) from the 70's...AND cut off one of the support legs!) I finally installed the new set I had picked up. I still only have 3 supports at this time, but fitting the 4th supports into this deal are not going to happen this week before Reno. Welding around the back glass makes me very very very nervous!!! Not sure if I'm gonna pop the back glass out, or just shield everything super duper good with damp towels etc. We're not talking that much welding.....
One thing I did find the other day, after doing dyno runs, was that if I cranked the wing nut down too tightly, I was actually hitting the choke blade with the air cleaner lid, and affecting the idle speed! (was kicking in the high idle lever a tad!) I had lowered the lid by 5/8" when I shortened the body so this was no real surprise!
After some a little work with a piece of hardwood, a 16 oz. hammer, and a clean towel on the floor, I was able to push up the very center of the lid, to give more clearance. If you look closely at some of the previous pictures of the lid, you will see the "new" profile of that area within about 2" of the center hole!
One final item in the TBC column, is the making up some proper paper tube restraints to mimic the originals. I have thought long and hard about cold steel vs stainless, and I think I'm going to go with stainless for the simple reason that I don't need to paint it or treat it to prevent rust. Had I been in charge at DeT when this car was being built, I would have used stainless......
Ciao!!!
Steve
