'88 FC -> LS1 Redneck Road Racer Build

[Hank.]

I started a thread quite some time ago, but the car was put on the back burner. Now the car is my main point of interest. 99% of the parts are in my garage to complete the build.

The car is now getting painted. Painter is welding the gas door shut. I have a fuel cell in the rear that I will fill through the hatch.

The car will be registered and driven on the street quite often. I will drag race it a few times a year with my buddies, but I am building it for road racing duties for events across the country. NPR is close by, but my heart is still at TWS. I'd like to go to Road Atlanta, Barber Motorsports Park, and maybe Laguna Seca some day.

Now on to the pictures!

1. As delivered from the guy I purchased it from in New Orleans.



2. Old 1988 Turbo II showing signs of oil leakage and a small engine fire.



3. Don't laugh at my shipping technique.



4. I had to stack it that high to clear my garage lift upon exit.



5. The straps through the taillight openings are loose I promise.



6. Run of the mill 8-point mild steel cage.



7. Junkyard Door $25 (window was rolled down)



8. Junkyard Door after gutting



9. Fuel cell, pump, etc.



10. The Miracle of Media Blasting.

[Hank.]

It is downright impossible to find a decent painter in Louisiana. All of the good ones are doing NOTHING but collision repair for insurance companies. I'm never going to finish this car. It's still in my backyard on the flatbed. Sumbitch.

[RacinAlt]

Why don't you paint it yourself???? I have done 2 "racecar" paint jobs. Only cost $250 for all the stuff. And they aren't too bad. Not going to win any car shows, but they look nice on the track.

PAINT BOOTH #1

RACECAR #1 IN PROGRESS

RACECAR #1 DONE WITH PAINT


PAINT BOOTH #2

RACECAR #2 IN PROGRESS

RACECAR #2 DONE WITH PAINT

[RacinAlt]

Here is a good complete door cutout.....

Impact beam will be relaced with tube from the cage for protection.

[Hank.]

What did you use to remove the door beam (spot weld specific bit or drill bit)? What size? If you did it another way please let me know.

Hell, I'm interested in trucking the car to you. How much would you charge me?

[RacinAlt]

My recommendation. Do what the Spec Miata guys do........Macco!

Basically what you do to get the bars out. You take a angle grinder or large cut off wheel, and cut through the beam by where the large holes are. be careful NOT to grind into the door shell.

Then leave it out in the sun to heat for a while, there is a tar like stuff that bonds it to the door, it will get soft, and then you can peel it away.

You will then be left with about 6" of the beam on either side, bend it up, and you can get a sawzaw in there. That will get most of it.

Then take the angle grinder to the reaminder of the beam to grind it down. Will take about 2 hours per door to do.

[gnx7]

If you take dry ice and place it on the tar... you can bang it with a hammer or simply chisel it off pretty easily.

RacinAlt- that grey/anthracite color paint job looks great! I painted my engine bay in my garage with a friend and it turned out fine. As good as a body shop. I did have sufficient ventilation and it was converted to a booth just like yours.

[Hank.]

I've been through 4 painters. Car is now on a flatbed awaiting the suspension & rims to go back under it. Maybe it will be easier to paint if it's a rolling chassis.

[Mr Beckman]

Originally Posted by gnx7

If you take dry ice and place it on the tar... you can bang it with a hammer or simply chisel it off pretty easily.

RacinAlt- that grey/anthracite color paint job looks great! I painted my engine bay in my garage with a friend and it turned out fine. As good as a body shop. I did have sufficient ventilation and it was converted to a booth just like yours.

Damn you do good work!!!!!

[michael knight]

Wow! Sweet build man!