The SN65 project car

Hi All,

In responce to above, I can't have people going through withdrawal now can I. So, without further adieu.....

We are patiently awaiting the delivery of some key components, so today, we reviewed the status of the project and organized our thoughts.

First, we reviewed the intercooler installation and came up with a solid plan of attack. Due to interference with the relocated roll bar, we cannot run the lines, as the factory does, under the frame rail,. We plan on running the intercooler lines from the engine, through the opening at the top of the core support on the passenger side and down to the recirculation pump and intercooler. These lines will end up underneath the cold air intake system. We are going to use as many of the factory pre bent tubes as possible. Some look to be almost exactly what we will need. A little modification and we should end up with a pretty slick installation.

Second, we trial fit the lower front valance and discussed how to route air to the intercooler radiator. We decided to locate two 4 inch diameter holes on either side of the license plate mounting area. Wayne feels that the round holes will fit in with the overall design much better than the rectangular trapezoid shapes I had originally worked up. We will connect the two holes together with 4 inch diameter tubing. We will then section off the back half of the tube, and fit it with a rectangular transition that will mate up with the front of the radiator. This is probably hard to picture in your minds eye, but we will be following with photos of the finished installation next week

Third, we reviewed the oil filter, oil cooler routing. We haven’t received the oil cooler yet, but we figure it will mount in front of the air conditioner condenser. The oil filter itself will mount to the inner cowl panel on the driver’s side. At this point I have to say that I don’t really care for the appearance of the anodized fittings and the braded SS hoses that came with the kit. Don’t get me wrong, they are very high quality items and they should work very well, but they don’t really match anything else on the entire car. Maybe if I keep the hose ends and just trade out the hose for the non-braded variety it will be less “flashy”. I guess, if I want to go off the deep end and also drive Wayne totally insane, I could paint them all flat black to match the look of the rest of the fittings.

Next we found a supplier of electric actuators for the 65 door locks / latches. The problem we were having is that the typical actuators used in classic applications come with 5 leads that tie in to a separate dedicated controller. We needed actuators that would function with the 2 lead, 03 Cobra electrical systems. After talking to the staff at NPD, they suggested that I call their supplier Electric-Life directly. After talking to a few of their techs, I finally found the right setup for our project. Also, we found that the “door ajar” lead is at the very end of the door harness. We will have to unravel the entire harness, pull the wires all the way back to the door jamb and rewire them to tie into the old fashioned door plunger switches.

Today is going to be a good day. We should be receiving the cold air induction system, the oil cooler and a bunch of other miscellaneous items.

Catch ya'll l8r.

Bob
Come see this WIP at
Julian's Collision Center
http://www.julianscollisioncenter.com/

Hi All,

Well we have received the cold air induction system today and have started the fit up. Opening the package was both exciting and anticlimactic at the same time. Because, unlike the kit you would receive, ours comes unpainted and un assembled (nothing welded together).

After examining all the parts we had to work with, we started trial fitting things together. We installed the rubber boot over the throttle body and were thrilled with the configuration. This was a big deal for us. In order to get the proper orientation of the pipes, we ordered the kit normally supplied for the 01 Cobra. With the boot in place we positioned and started rough trimming the pipes. Once we got a feel for the positioning of the pipes, we positioned the fender apron mounting flange and cut a hole in the apron. We have positioned everything in line and are ready to tack everything together. We will then disassemble the whole shebang and weld everything up. After that, we just have to fit the Mass air sensor and the rest of the vacuum lines and sensors.



We have also received the Maximum Motorsports shock tower brace. We will have to modify it to fit, but that has become the norm on this project. Doesn’t anybody manufacture standard products that fit a minor grafting of two cars 40 years apart?

The oil cooler has arrived, so we can now plan for the installation of the oil filter / cooling plumbing. In order to get the lines routed and looking correct, we will have to combine ½” diameter aluminum tube with formed rubber hoses. To get the tubes looking correct I will have to purchase some sharp radius tube bending equipment. Anyone want to loan me the one they got laying around their garage?

Wayne has been busy. He has laid the first coat of primer to the roof / top of the quarters / trunk surround areas. He will then start on the tail light panel and rear valance. He cannot start on the sides until we get the doors and fenders mounted.



We have an aluminum fabrication specialist coming in early next week. Their task, if they choose to accept it, will be to cut, shape, trim, bend and smack, and tweak and hammer the dash trim panels into submission.

I sent an e-mail request to NPD. I need a custom warranty plate for the door. I am going to intermingle the codes (as best I can) as there appears to be no relevant correlation from 65 to 03.

How does “63B-7-26-16B-13-E-5” sound???

I am also going to locate a “VIN” number (on an aluminum) panel with 67 VIN trim in the original 65 location. I will be keeping the original VIN info in my office. I was thinking about mounting the info under the rear package tray, but I think that that would just be asking for trouble.

We received the battery box and are struggling with the location of this monster. While of heavy construction, it is not exactly what I pictured in my minds eye. It is rather on the large side. Maybe I can have it covered in leather just like the rear fiberglass surround panels.

Enough for now, we need to get back to work.

Bob
Come see this WIP at
Julian's Collision Center
http://www.julianscollisioncenter.com/

Edbert said:

I agree with you, the red/blue -AN fittings would look out of place if they were just used on the oil cooler. However if you used them throughout the project I'd think it would look great. You've already left the stock engine compartment theme behind anyhow, I say go for it. Maybe S2M can hook you up with a sales-drone from Aeroquip.

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Hi E,

I am not sure if I have left the stock engine bay there behind. If you look at the most recent engine bay shot, I think it looks pretty "factory". We are going to paint the air linlet the same color as the Eaton blower and other air inlet plumbing. When it is all bolted together, it should look pretty "stock".

More to the point though, even if I don't achieve the total factory apperance I was going for, I think it is even more important to keep the color scheme of the engine bay consistent. If you look at the latest photos of the engine bay you will notice that almost everything in sight it either black, grey or silver. Also, the only chrome is on the MM caster camber plates.

Also, all the fasteners are the factory spring type. I could make the SS braided hose look as if it belongs, but the red and blue anodized hose fittings would look totally out of place.

I will talk it over with Wayne and see which direction we want to go.

Thanks for the input

Bob
Come see this WIP at
Julian's Collision Center
http://www.julianscollisioncenter.com/

Thenemesis said:

man your getting close.. i bet you got the jitters seeing it come together lol if only i could afford A. a 03 cobra B. a 65 fastback and finally C. to pay all the people to work on it and have a place to work on it.. lol VERY nice sn65.. whats the next project gonna be? a convertible.. that be awesome

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Hi TN,

Thanks for the kind words.

As far as the next project, I have been trying to talk Wayne into building a SN65 convertable, but not just any convertable. Where would the fun be in that??? I want a convertable that looks like a fastback when the top is up. We would need to use a converable body, but the window glass from a fastback. Also, we would have to reshape the roof, etc so that it took on that fastback shape when up. Also, we would have to have to incorporate side glass like on a 66 GT-350. I think on that one, we would have to incorporate the fold down rear seats and rear surround of the fastback.

OR

Someone has contacted us asking if we could build them a SN65 useing the body of the 69 sportroof.....

Catch you l8r.

Bob
Come see this WIP at
Julian's Collision Center
http://www.julianscollisioncenter.com/

no_3 said:

'65? '03? So many other questions, like what era clothes are you going to wear when you drive it? Are you going to listen to the Beach Boys or Gangsta Rap?

SNIP....

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Hi N,

It is funny how great minds think alike.

I was just thinking the other day about a short music video of the build. I was going to intermengal music of the 60's with current heavy metal. I got some good ideas and you guy's will be the first to see it when it is done.

Soon after to be shown at theaters across the country. Maybe we will win an MTV award for "best music video / car comercial that intermengles classic rock with heavy metal".

Bob
Come see this WIP at
Julian's Collision Center
http://www.julianscollisioncenter.com/