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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
Very impressive metal work! Do you use an air nibbler? That Kobalt compressor should be able to handle a lot of air tools. My compressor is an old Worthington with a Carnegie Steel tank built in 1946 that I restored this summer. Been looking for a decent air nibbler, the Harbor Freight one is (understandably) garbage.
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Richmond VA, Baltimore MD. Have a lift at my home in Richmond.
1965 Factory Five Spyder GT, topless with side pipes, very rare and very fun to drive!
2005 Ford F350 turbo diesel Lariat 4x4 supercab with SCT XCal2, MBRP turbo back, ISSPRO2 gauges
2004 VW Jetta TDI, Panzer plate installed, VNT-17 turbo, daily driver with heated leather seats and 40+mpg
Very impressive metal work! Do you use an air nibbler? That Kobalt compressor should be able to handle a lot of air tools. My compressor is an old Worthington with a Carnegie Steel tank built in 1946 that I restored this summer. Been looking for a decent air nibbler, the Harbor Freight one is (understandably) garbage.
Gee, not too sure how impressed you would be if you saw my metalwork up close. LOL
The stuff inside the trunk will be covered with carpet and no one will see it so it doesn't have to be perfect, just watertight.
I have to bea little pickier on the footboxes and areas that will be visible.
The Kobalt A/C should handle all my air needs.
I use a Ryobia jigsaw to cut my panels. They are ,0708" which is about 1 1/2X's thicker than the FFR aluminum sheets so they are a little tougher to cut and bend, but they are aslo about 1 1/2X's tougher too.
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
The winter shutdown is finally over so now it back to working on the Spyder.
I decide to modify the framework on the driver's side footbox so it will be easier to enclose the framework with aluminum panels. Plus these mods will increase the clearance between the footbox and the header so this should help the footbox to be a little cooler.
Here's a few crappy iPhone pics........
Before......
After.......
*
I guess I need to either make or buy a couple of access panels so I can get to the Wilwood master cylinders.*
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
I've been working on my driver's side footbox and transmission tunnel and here's a pic of the latest progress.......
I decided to weld a 1/8"x1" flat steel to the 4" frame tubes so I would have a place to rivet the bottom of my aluminum
panel to so they would seal out water and dust.
I'm slowly making progress and I hope to get the Spyder on the road before 2025.
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
__________________
FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
Since my last update I swapped the engine mounts from side to side and this moved the engine forward roughly 1 1/2" which should give more header clearance around the footboxes and balance out the front to rear weight distribution a little.
Next I decided to cut out the frame work on the passenger's side footbox and change things up a little.
I'm almost through with this modification and then I will start on the aluminum panels.
I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel as far as the panels go. It's a very long tunnel but I can see a little light.
I'll post a few pics tonight.
Paul
I cut apart
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
In this pic you can see the piece I added that is welded to the 4" frame tube and 90's down to the steel floorboards. I did this so I could seal this area from water, dust, etc. *
I used a piece of 16ga 8"x 18" sheet metal that I bent into a 90' angle and then I trimmed it to fit based on a poster board template that I made.
After a little trial and error fitting, some welding and a lot of grinding and polishing with a flapper wheel on my 4 1/2" grinder it fits and looks pretty good.
Next I started working on the aluminum panels.........
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
it could be just the pics but do you have enough room for the engine with the foot box that far forward? It looks like it is right next to the motor mount.
__________________ www.spyder-gt.comhttp://test.spyder-gt.com
Some have said I am not playing with a full deck little do they know I only have two jokers.
FFR Spyder-GT 302 carb, @ 348hp and 325ft-lbs, three link 3.55, F-R 15:1 rack, 17\" 335 and 265 wheels, keyless ignition, 13\" and 12\" brakes all wrapped in yellow.
it could be just the pics but do you have enough room for the engine with the foot box that far forward? It looks like it is right next to the motor mount.
Yes, there is enough room. I've had the engine in and out several times and the reason I cut both footboxes apart and reworked them was to gain more clearance around the engine and exhaust system.
Plus I moved the engine forward about 1 1/2" for additional clearance.
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
Gee, something happened to my last update do here goes a new one. *
I've made new panels for the passenger side footbox. **
Next I work on the firewall........
The firewall will be a 5-piece panel that I will rivet together during its final installation.*
The lonely body waits outside longing to be reunited with the frame and the rest of its scattered parts........
Paul
P.S. Dang! I need to clean my shop!
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
I finally got to a stopping point with the aluminum panels so the next step was to run the brake lines. *
I completed these over the Easter weekend. *
I'm using the Wilwood tandem brake and hydraulic clutch pedal assmy. **
Cheap, I have just a few more frame mods to complete then I'm sending her out to be powder coated. After that I'll start putting her together. Go-cart by Memorial Day weekend?
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
I welded in a couple of 1/8"x1" pieces of flat bar so I could mount the fuel pump. **
I need a length of Jegs * *350 Series hose * -10AN so I can connect the tank to the pump, the filter and then up to the fuel pressure regulator. *
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
Today I worked on the dash and gauge layout of my Spyder.
Tomorrow I'll pick up a hole saw so I can cutout the holes for the speedo and tach.
I still have a little welding to due before I Powdercoat the frame but I killed my welder and I'm waiting on a part to arrive so I moved onto other things.
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
stengun, I'm enjoying following your build, thanks for the updates.
one comment, on the IRS diff, the roadster guys are running solid bushings on the front mounts. The Energy Suspension are probably better than stock, but I think the idea is 0 movement. Any flex of the pumpkin will stress the rear mount (pumpkin cover) and could crack it. something to think about.
cool build, and your mods are great!
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F5R #7446 Delivered 4/4/11, First start 9/29/12, First Go-Kart 11/17/12
Licensed 4/24/13!! Wahoo!
Paul,
Not to hijack, but I used the Autometers as well, and CRAMMED them in the cluster. Here's the beginning of the obsession. I ended up using an EGT gauge in place of the KNOCK gauge on one side:
__________________
John Spina
EM C-word built in 1995, 88K miles, 11.40@118MPH
FFR4166GT Spyder GT VIN 001 11.99@119MPH
2010 Camaro SS just because. Spyder C-word Bumblebee
Today I finished cutting holes for the speedo, tach and indicator lights on the dash of my Spyder.
.
Next thing I need is an ignition switch.
John, I've looked at your build many times down through the years.
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
What's the explanation behind the original owners frame mods?
I gather that without those mods having been done, that a Spyder build is far less complicated than yours has been?
I am also baffled by the exhaust configuration, as pictured Is this set up needed for all the Spyders, or is it a one off?
The exhaust is a one off setup. I'm not going to use it because of a heat issue. I'm going to stick with the FFR headers and custom side pipes.
The frame mods? Good question. Kind of a combo of leg room and to keep his head below the windshield.
I'm almost through with the last of the frame mods and welding. It's scheduled to go to the powdercoater's on Wednesday.
I'm going with a gun metal metallic for the frame and a silver for the panels. Body will either be a med. dark blue metallic or bright red. Not sure at this point.
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
I'm loaded up the Spyder's frame and I'm headed to the powdercoater's.
Unloaded at the powdercoater.
Nothing fancy, just a sandblasting to remove years a spray paint, primer, grinding stone scratches and a crud.
Going to go with a very original color for my frame.
Drum roll, please!
Semi-gloss black.
Should be done on Friday.
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
I've started putting everything to together for the final time, I hope.*
Got the rear suspension done, more or less. *
Started on installing the front suspension. ......
Finally feels like I'm making progress on my Spyder.
I'm off work until Tuesday so hopefully I'll have the suspension completed, fuel tank, engine and transmission installed before I go back to work.
Paul
__________________
FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
Oops! *I realized that I had mounted my IRS knuckles on the wrong side! * This put the calipers on the front side of the disc instead of the rear side.*
This is what happens when you take everything off with the car nose in and up things back on with the car tail in.*
So I swapped them around. *
Got the front disc mounted. *
Except for the swaybars and an alinement I'm finished with the suspension. *
Paul
__________________
FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
__________________
FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
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Misc Parts
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AC
Is this set up needed for all the Spyders, or is it a one off?
Linear Mode
