XRBrati Underway....

Post by **anglin** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:14 pm

Beautiful work. I can't imagine how good the next one is going to look!

It's time to ask this question. Perhaps it's already been asked, but I'm not digging through the other 20 pages to check. How much do you think this is going to weigh?

Post by **turboxr** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:56 pm

Brad,

This is my favorite thread on MC. Everytime I come over here, it's the first thing I look for. I think you're doing an awesome job. Can't wait to see it finished!

CV12Steve · Post by **CV12Steve** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:57 pm

DPDISXR4Ti wrote:Note the 3/8" PVC tube, stuffed down the A pillar prior to filling, to function as conduit for any electrical wiring.

The graveyard of Terocore cartridges . . .

Ten? You did get a good deal on Terocore.

. . . now with the rear seats . . . removed. No need for that any more . . .

Hey, hey, HEY! What am I going to use my E-ticket on now?

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:41 am

anglin wrote:It's time to ask this question. Perhaps it's already been asked, but I'm not digging through the other 20 pages to check. How much do you think this is going to weigh?

Not really sure. As it sits right now, I'd venture to guess it weighs around 2200 lbs, but bear in mind, it's not at all street-able at the moment. I'd say 2400 lbs is a good end-goal.

Thanks for the feedback.

Trust me, nobody wants to see this done more than me!

Mike McCreight · Post by **Mike McCreight** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 9:42 am

anglin wrote:Beautiful work. I can't imagine how good the next one is going to look!

I'ts already spoken for. Don't get any ideas.

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:34 pm

I've really got to make progress on this thing every week if it's getting to Carlisle, so expect more frequent updates.
Some of you may recall that I cut a roof off a solid roof junkyard car in May of 2006. Finally got a chance today to cut it
to size, for it's intended use. This was way more challenging than I figured, owing to the fact that I really want
full coverage of the roof skin. The corners of the roof in particular, are overlap welded in, making extraction of just
the top skin a challenge. Further compounding the challenge was the fact that I couldn't tweak the sheet metal, given
that I'm overlap-bonding this to what's left of the original roof, so it has to perfectly maintain the original contours.
Here's the "before"...

And the "after", with roof test-fit in place

I still need to do prep work before I can bond this in place, but so far, so good. I've also made the decision that the gutters
will go away, giving the roof-line a more modern look (or so I'm thinking, any way

)

Here's what the roof frame looks like after it's been skinned...

And here's the left-over back half of the solid roof, which could be used to "convert" a sunroof car to a solid roof.
(I could deliver this to Carlisle if someone was interested - just drop me a note off-line)

Post by **turboxr** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:58 pm

w00t w00t

yottabit · Post by **yottabit** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:24 am

You're BONDING the roof on?

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:05 am

yottabit wrote:You're BONDING the roof on?

Correct.

yottabit · Post by **yottabit** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:34 am

You're a nut!

I can't wait to see more updates!

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:53 am

yottabit wrote:You're a nut!

I can't argue that point. But relative to installing the roof, bonding it in is a far more sensible approach than welding. We're not talking Elmer's glue here, you realize, right?

yottabit · Post by **yottabit** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:19 pm

Well are you bonding just the roof skin? That makes sense to me... but you showed the whole roof frame cut off, so I was wondering if your bonding that in too. In that case I can't imagine there's much surface area for an epoxy to adhere...

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:35 pm

yottabit wrote:but you showed the whole roof frame cut off, so I was wondering if your bonding that in too.

No, that's just useless scrap from the donor roof. I've already cut it into 4 pieces and tossed it into the rolling dumpster (aka, parts car).

flylear45 · Post by **flylear45** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:12 am

Brad, I haven't been around lately after selling my Merkur, and with being knee deep in my own nutty project. It's fantastic seeing the progress you have been making!

I'll definitely be checking back to see your progress. I may have to actually make it to Carlisle this year to see this thing in person. Maybe I'll drive the 2.3TR7 and carpool with Saffian. Do you think I might have enough Merkur parts on my car to park with you guys??

I have to admit I wondered if you'd ever truly get this done, but I'm certain now that you will.

Go, Go, Go!!

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:15 am

flylear45 wrote:I have to admit I wondered if you'd ever truly get this done, but I'm certain now that you will.

Thanks Jim. Once I cut the original Brat in half, completion of the project was never in doubt for me; the only question was, "When?" Obviously, that question is still to be answered, but at least I can see the finish line now.