Coupe into Speedster Conversion

[JTR70]

Thanks a lot Torsten, I appreciate it!

1/13/18

The body shop is just about ready to accept this car in the next several weeks which is perfect as I need my rotisserie back for the S/R coupe. I had one more rust repair to address (It never seems to end! ) and it was yet another PIA chore I could not get motivated to touch until absolutely necessary. I finally got motivated to knock it out so this car can finally go.

Upper trunk floor repair:

Trunk floor is pretty thin and pitted overall but the work involved to replace it was just too much. Especially at this late stage. I attempted to back fill a several holes with a good result but three areas in particular like this one where just too far gone.

Part I most dreaded was replicating the shoulder shapes.

But it was the only way to fix it correctly as it was way too thin to spot fill. It would just blow out and melt away in an instant which really raised my blood pressure.

One down and the last two really bad spots to go. It of course rusted away in the same spot on the opposite side but I at least have some practice.

Thanks for looking!
Justin

[JTR70]

1/20/18

Getting ready to get it on the ground.

A total pain but I finally got the rust repair to the floor completed. Okay, now I'm done with welding and rust repair on this car.

Building the chassis dolly next. These pallet rack runners are a little longer than I need but the excess length came in very handy as the planning went on.

Excess length and flange mount ends made for perfect out riggers for the castors. I'll set the track width to match a suspended car as close as possible for ease of transport. Building the other side and the upright mounts to the torsion housings next.
Thanks for looking!
Justin

[JTR70]

1/21/18

Chassis dolly Continued.

Other length runner trimmed with out riggers tacked.

Time to begin planning out the uprights and clamp mounts. Only U-bolts I could find locally where these. I was looking for the muffler clamp type with the saddled cleat shaped end but I just had to make do. A buddy had some scrap 1X2 laying in his yard so to help hold down the cost I decided to use it. I figured doubling them up would produce the profile I'd use normally.

Front upright clamps complete. Knarly and fugly but they just have to work.

Mounted and ready to tie them together.

Simple cross member

That will sit down into this saddle profile when its all over. It will gusseted as well.

Debated how high I wanted the car to sit as i wanted to keep it low for better stability during transport but also high enough for utility while at the body shop. I decided on this height as it will sit about 3 inches lower than my car currently on its dolly. I'm good with it here. Working on the rear stand-offs next.

Thanks for looking!
Justin

[JTR70]

1/29/18

Dolly built, car now dismounted from the hoist and on the ground for good.



5 years to get here but we both finally made it. I didn't think I'd live to see this day.

This session was a long time coming for not only dismounting it from the hoist but it was also time now to cut the holding Jig out which has been here since the beginning. I was nervous and scared to do it as the fear and thought of this frame curling like a potato chip loomed big but there was of course no choice it was time to come out and see if it worked or not.

I began cutting just above the footings to highlight any shifting in the chassis as it went. So far so good as any notable unloading was in the Jig itself as the cutting went.

The laterals all went free with no notable changes but this last outrigger was going to be the final word for sure. I cut it straight through on both sides to so I could clearly see if any collapse occurred between the A&B pillars.

As I sawed through I was bracing myself for the big "thud" and a notable misalignment here but much to my great relief it was severed with no real tension detected. and as you can see any movement or shift was extremely minimal. The Jig did the job.

This was my last big hurdle and a huge fear now finally put to bed. I could now calmly remove it the rest of the way.

out at last...



After 5 years of looking at it, it was really weird not seeing it in here


Now onto remounting the doors for my final time.

Mounting the doors also gives me more confirmation about any changes with that JIG now out.

Another great relief as this door fits exactly the way it did when I built the body around it. Gaps are raw and big and need to be leaded but at least the door isn't touching anywhere due to some sort of chassis shift.

Right side test next

Fits the same

Here are a few overview shots...







My involvement with this project is all but complete and as a final entry/ sign off I'll be posting some shots of this body mocked up with all the original Speedster parts that I own to give an idea of what the finished out body might look like. Here's a teaser...

Posting those up next.







Thanks for looking!
Justin

[JOP]

[John Pierce]

Hey!! That looks like a Speedster

[Don C]

Fantastic job Justin! The Doc should be getting excited.

[merbesfield]

[Scott B]

Justin - job well done. You never relaxed your high standards throughout this project. That takes real drive and character. So often it is easy to cut corners or not take it that extra mile or in this case fraction of inch. Thanks for capturing and reporting this journey - not only exciting and interesting to watch but an education as well.


Made by hand - again!

Scott

[roy mawbey]

Justin,

Five years of work, five years to appreciate the effort you put in to this car. Really super result. Well done my friend, Gold star!!

Roy

[JTR70]

Thank you Per and thanks for saying so! I do hope this might help a person or two along their journey though I don't think many would want to sit and actually sift through all couple hundred pages of this mess. but at the very least its a good record for me personally as I have already forgotten a lot of the challenges I've been through to make it here.

Once I put that nice canvas top on it John I was thinking the same thing.

Thanks Don! The Doc is very excited.

Appreciate that Mark! I'm to relieved to be finished to be depressed.

Thanks for that Scott! I did the best that I could with what little tools and talent that I currently have; just hope it was enough...

Roy, you were the first to comment on this build post way back when and I thank you once again for all the really nice thoughts and words of encouragement along the way! Its all been a great help, really!

Thanks again you guys!
Justin

2/1/18
Here are my final shots with it dressed in all the original factory Speedster specific components that I own. (Just like I promised Armand )
I decided to share them all to give the clearest and most thorough final presentation I can since it can't be viewed in person. They'll be no repeats but there are a few similar vantage points. Okay, pictures now:

Decided to get out my proper canvas instead of that baggy old ratty example I've been using over the progress mock ups.







Hadn't found my top latches at this point for a full synch against the W/S frame so I was relying on wire for the moment.













Top latches found. Mocking up my GT seats along with a few other dash components to complete the picture.

Top now fully latched. They lined up and engaged with a good snap over with the canvas sounding like a drum. Could not have been happier or more relieved.



BTW: this canvas top was made wrong. The secondary lip for the side curtains was not sewn in so this is why your seeing more daylight through there than you otherwise would.







Tension rod, dash eyebrow, wheel and column added. All mocked up for my final shoot outside the next day.
Those coming up...

[JTR70]

Several years to get here but.... "the big day"

[JTR70]

Topless













































Breaking it down next and getting it ready for its trip up North to an old school body man/painter in Wisconsin. If I get any updates I will of course share them but this build and story is over...for me.
Thanks for reading this!

Justin

[JOP]

[Drew.s]

Justin
What can I say...
You've been an inspiration over the years and I for one will be forever in your debt for documenting such a special build and answering every one of my dumb questions.
If my project gets half way close to yours I'll be a happy man.
Thank you.
Drew