Bit of an update...

So trying to fiddle around with three seperate front panels (guards and bumper), and with the two guards having completely different fitment/dimensions I decided to take the three off and build them off the car; results below - my front room has returned to the workshop space!!

So still working alone, I went to Bunnings and for the price of an expensive Perth pint I bought bag of 16 sprung clamps of various sizes - quality tools! I can now operate as an octopus, no longer limited to just two hands - a right result

Below is the overview from the stairs - shows the clamps and vicegrips in position.



Below is image of clamps in place after a good 10 minute heat gun session. Bolt positions can be seen inside the guard towards the front bumper part. Also, (unfortunately) near the clamp closest to the camera is a crack where there is a wheel arch lip which will eventually form thge area where the guard liner is attached - doesn't look critical but it will need some fibreglass repair attention before a final fit is possible



Below is the same join from the front - looks half-decent given there's no filler or fibreglass involved yet?? I was pleased in any case I particularly like the near-vertical line to the left of the panels, which i think forms a definitive part of the overall TRD kit look - hope this happens when I bolt it to the car?!!



Below is a pic of the same join from the side; wheel arch arc and join line look ok to my eyes..?? It is obvioust that the same clamping process was repeated on the opposite side..



Below is the opposite (passenger) side guard/bumper join - slightly 'out' but this can be rectified with some fibreglass and filler. My plan at this stage is to fit the panels to the car, and once I'm happy, bond the whole kit togetherm, and then bolt to the car as one peice. Given my post about insurance companies and their view of the additions,

http://www.mr2australia.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19867

I intend to up my insured value to $20-$25k and wear the premium so that if anyone smashes me I'll be properly recompensed for my (considerable!) efforts




The beach of a thing with these kits is the angles of the tabs, and horizontal sections which should lie flat and flush against each other, but which don't - a product of poor quality molds I imagine. Funny thing is the lad I bought it off told me he paid $13,000 for it and had it imported from Japan.. After a spot of bartering I paid $1300 - standard price for a TRD replica kit in Australia.. Must have seen him coming I reckon... ;)

Anyways, the clamps in conjuntion with the heat gun have helped loads
in forming the somewhat 'warped' panel angles (i.e. where the horizontal part of the guard meets the horizontal part of the bumper) into the correct position - pleased with the outcome so far, so we'll see how the whole peice fits onto the car tomorrow. I've admittedly spent a great deal of time trying to get the fibreglass parts to "fit" to the factory mounting points, but in some cases there are no tabs on yhe molds at the rigth spots or it just won't happen SO my latest logic is to form/manipulate/bend/extend the mounting points to the individual fibreglass panels, once the exterior positioniong looks correct. Or shold that be 'panel' now it's one big three-part beast.

Will stick some pics of the results tomorrow if they're positive - had been wrestling with the individual panels for too long - a very unrewarding experience, but then again it;s lke anything with this build - after much sweat, frustration and sometimes anger(!), I manage to attach one panel, i.e. a rear quarter, and then spend the next week or two thinking how differently I could have done it and then trying various different ways!! - the three-to-one front section looks the goods in the house though

Pete - ready when you are mate!!

Today was a good day. I think?! After umming and ahhing for 6 weeks of what/how to do it, and them being really reluctant about cutting/grinding my car body, today I took the plunge and ground off some metal at the front arc of the rear wheel arch to attempt the first side skirt fit...



I cut out all of the visible red metal area behind the blue fibreglass rear quarter panel after lining up a cardboard template of the top of the skirt where it meets the wheel arch..



Using the trusty dremel



I mounted a bolt to a tab behind the skirt external wall and tightened the bolt from inside the cockpit at the factory mounting location accessed behind the seat belt fitting. The same bolt passes thru the rear quarter panel..
Arch line looks ok for a first fix..?




Now I have to work the side skirt closer to teh car body and heat mould into place - to be fixed with tech screws along the door sill..



First fix views (1)..



...(2)...



This view shows a decent vertical alignment with the other panels looking down the length of the car body..



And at the front of the arch where the skirt meets the guard. Not quite sure how to finish off this section; The side skirt is bonded into place in the car so it's permanent, but if I permanently bond the front sectinoof the side skirt to the front guard, I'll never be able to take the guard off?! not sure if this will cause maintenance issue int he fiuture - any comments would be gratefully received as always



I also had a go at the dodgy fitting driver's side corner of teh front bumper. Basically I had to widen the bolt holes I'd made when putting the panels together in thr house, as when the whole thing was mounted to the car they were a little too close together causing the dodgy fitting.

I managed to get hold of an extra couple of mm each side (pass and driver sides), and also had to 'dremel' off the internal fibreglass radius. I've gone pretty thin on the fibreglass so will have to lay over multiple additional layers of fibreglass to the non-visible side of the fibreglass bumper radius (i.e. from the inside) to re-strengthen the corner, as it's going to crack otherwise..



Looks much better with the frunk lid down now though :



So I notice less comments these last few weeks - would appreciate some feedback!!! I would really benefit from some pointers going forward into the finishing stage (i.e. fibreglassing and filler work), especially from folks who've had a go at this or other generic body kit fitting - feel like I have a bit of momentum at the minute, so hopefully this time next week, most panels will be bolted into place, and then i can think about taking everything off again and making permanent fixings... defo the next big step!

I have 0 knowledge about fiberglassing and very limited experience in body work so I will leave that for other folks to comment on. But the kit is really starting to come together now so I applaud your hard work! Just on those sprung clamps though - I have been building some wooden desks recently and a pack of those was pretty much the most helpful $10 I have spent :). Good work mate.

been flat out all weekend getting some stuff organised but will call soon
great to see so much progress

updates updates
how goes the progress

quote:

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Originally posted by Dozer

updates updates
how goes the progress

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+1

Pics Pics!

Bit more on the drop-off; Turns out the guy I'd been speaking to is the owner of Fibrevision in Welshpool. He introduced me to Bruce Sullivan, and between the two of them they're going to fit up the project. Some cool custom work going into it too, which should be able to be made out in the concept board pics - wider 2000GT arches, and extended rear centre panel so the tail lights aren't so recessed at the back. Looking forward to the rresults, but it's going to be a patient wait - something I'm not exactly very good at... [xx(]

So, some pictures of my concept board are below, and one with the car as I last saw it at Fibrevision's garage...





I have a few original parts for sale which won't be making the transition to the new custom widebody vehicle - link below, hopefully some folks can benefit from my spares!