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I'm alive! Just very busy (...now can publicly state I was working on the James Webb Telescope, [happy to report that my parts didn't fail, lol.]) Hope r3v is well. Lost my original log in info, so here's to a fresh start.
The car is moving forward. Hoping to get the last of the glass in over the next week.
Dash has moved forward. Ground out the cracks. Filled with with glass-fiber reinforced plastic weld. Topped with dash filler. Marked out the gauge holes to be drilled, then dropped the three pieces off at CoupeKing to have their upholstery fellow do his magic. He rewrapped everything with orginal OEM vinyl in such a way to avoid visible stitched seams.
Once finished I had to get it in! Mocked up the gauges and made a cut to the sheet metal for more clearance. Still isn't deep enough, so next up will be deeper mounting bezels. Also mocked up the gauge cluster for fun.
Funny note: I FINALLY got the VDO Series-1 clock finished. Used a different style VDO clock and took it to Paul's Speedo, where he swapped the series-1 chrome ring onto it.
In another fit of stupidity, I drilled speed holes into the stock pedals and had them chromed. Huge thanks to Verne's Chrome Plating. He's being forced by California's draconian environmental laws to shut down. Trying to get anything I need chromed to him right now.
Headliner is now in. I do NOT like the OEM 2002 headliner, as it looks like cheap wallpaper from an old motel. Opted for the headliner material used on the E9 Coupes which has embossed pyramid details.
At the beginning I mapped out the route for the brake and fuel line with welded mounting bolts. Now that the bodywork is done it was time to put the lines in. Running E30/E12/E28 mounting tabs for a little OEM+ action. Lines are made from 3/16" and 5/16" Cunifer pipe.
First, the gas tank was dropped in (little gold heat reflection tape added for good measure).
Here you can see where they terminate up front. The fuel line ends with a flare and runs a 1ft. section of hose to the fuel pressure regulator. The brake line ends underneath the frame rail with a 2 PSI residual pressure valve. Will route it up to the brake master (just found a compatible Alfa master cylinder with a 23mm bore, so swapping out the 20mm E21 master for that!). Happy to have bought the 2002tii booster years ago, they are stupid expensive now.
Also installed these awesome Koogleworks Hood Props (more speed holes!). With these, I was able to delete the hood cross bar and get some extra clearance.
Firewall heatshield finished. Started with a butcher-paper template, then cut out of the DEI heat shielding material. Sealed the exposed ends with aluminum tape. Then started on the front brake lines (templates made from wire before cutting, flaring, bending the cunifer tubing).
Next up was the front/rear glass. On the 2002, this installation is done via the old/fun string method. It took a couple times (and a willing wife and child), but it's all in now. The hardest part is definitely the little locking trim strip.
I'm alive! Just very busy (...now can publicly state I was working on the James Webb Telescope, [happy to report that my parts didn't fail, lol.])
Nice! I've been following all the unfolding and calibration steps. My son just graduated with a degree in astrophysics and is trying to figure out which way to go next. Fermilab, space telescopes on a mountain somewhere...?
I really like your brake line routing. Very tidy. You're doing beautiful work.
Reichart12 - Thank you sir. An old local fabricator taught me that. I've now had to find excuses to break out the wire.
2mAn- As usual, my car remains a lawn ornament while you're actually enjoying the drive in yours! Can't wait to join you.
LateFan - Dude, huge congratulations to your son. That is no joke. I bet you're hugely proud of him, and rightfully so. If he ends up at Fermilab, please let me know! I've got some experiments needs doing, lol.
Finals are looming next week (yes, still in school), but I did get a couple little things knocked out this weekend.
1) Exhaust
In an effort to mitigate weight gain I opted to do a titanium exhaust system. Ordered a bunch of bits from Vibrant to make it happen. By my estimates, it'll end up being close to half the weight of the factory system. Overall, taking into account the M20 swap and all part changes on my "weights spread sheet", I'm getting very close to a net-zero weight difference over a stock roundie running a 5-speed. (a couple mufflers are not pictures).
A couple observations with regard to titanium ....
1) One goal is to have a higher pitch in the exhaust note. Titanium helps with this by simply being thinner. We are going to try a couple things with regard to header design as well, so it should be interesting.
2) When buying material, mandrel bends of titanium are actually much more expensive than the fancy "pie-cuts" you see on fancy aftermarket systems.
Final brake system clearance checks..... and jeez it's tight. I really wanted to run the Alfa-brembo single-line brake calipers with e21 vented rotors behind the Diana wheels .... did a rough mock up a year ago. Did final mock up over the weekend. Looks like the OD of the rotor and the hat itself need to be turned down slightly. Rear 250mm drums also JUST cleared.
Cool OEM little bracket from the Alfa the calipers came off of that allow for a short section of hardline at the caliper. Made some new hardlines and had technafit make some custom flex lines to thread right in. This setup mitigates stress at the fitting, so we'll call it a win!
Thanks, I have my fingers crossed for him! You're in grad school?
Wow, this is such nice work you're doing. What kind of wire did you use for brake tubing patterns? Like heavy electrical wire? I'm about to tackle an entire new braking system on my '67 Alfa, but with the engine in. MC to calipers. I'm a bit nervous.
Oh, EDIT - Is it in post 475, second pic, that fine wire?
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