Used to be Blue's Valiant

lough3969 · Post by **lough3969** » Wed Apr 22, 15 12:03 pm

Sounds like a great balance of work life and Mopar...

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Tue Apr 28, 15 6:47 pm

Up to my arse in fibreglass this week! I've never tried to make fibreglass parts before, so I thought it was high time I had a go. I made some inner fender splash shields, and because they are not dimensionally critical I used the inside of the original part as a mould. I gave 'em a quick wire brushing, taped over the holes and applied some mould release wax.
I wasn't sure how many layers of mat to use for "race weight" so I guessed at 2, it worked out about right. I drilled all the mounting holes before taking them out of the "mould". They were a bit of a bugger to get out, I'll use some sort of mould release agent as well next time. All in all not a difficult job and I'm happy with my first attempt.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Tue Apr 28, 15 6:57 pm

Tyre clearance was a bit tight at the rear of the front arches, no doubt because I've dialled in a fair bit of caster.
I marked out the new shape and took a slice out. Shaped a thin piece of ally sheet and taped it on tight till it looked right. I ran a bit of P40 around the inside edge join with my finger to stiffen it a bit and also to seal it so the resin doesn't run through when I mat it up from the back to form my new lip.

lough3969 · Post by **lough3969** » Tue Apr 28, 15 7:18 pm

That's great Blue, wafer thin and light as air...

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Sat May 02, 15 11:54 am

New arch lip all laid up. All ready to do a final trim to fit and the wings can go back on for the last time.
I've been modifying to dashboard so it can be fitted in with Dzus fasteners to enable it to come out with the windscreen in, which you can't normally do on an A body.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now, aiming to be ready to go at the end of May.

autofetish · Post by **autofetish** » Sat May 02, 15 1:02 pm

Master

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sat May 02, 15 1:10 pm

Are you still peg leg and small capacity?

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Sat May 02, 15 2:54 pm

Yep! Back axle is the next big job on the list, I'll tear down the 408 over the summer with a view to dropping it in over the winter.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sat May 02, 15 3:04 pm

If you put a Dana in that it would double the overall weight!!!!!

A Fraud 9-incher is probably your best bet but wee's on the french fries of originality....

...weight or Mopar-correctness, what a Dilemma.....

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Sat May 02, 15 6:13 pm

It's getting a Dana.
Everyone bangs on about how a 9" is lighter than a Dana 60. Not if you compare apples with apples it ain't. For a 9" to rival a Dana strength wise, you need a braced thick wall case, an iron centre section and 35 spline shafts and then it weighs about the same and still has a habit of spitting the pinion out...
I very much doubt a stock 9" is any stronger than an 8.75".

Anyhoo, a Dana 60 isn't a "Mopar" axle anyway, it's made by Dana/Spicer and can be found under many a production vehicle from various manufacturers, probably more under Chevy trucks and Ford Transits than anything Mopar produced.

terryr · Post by **terryr** » Sat May 02, 15 6:18 pm

and they look better too

terryr · Post by **terryr** » Sat May 02, 15 6:18 pm

want some 5 13s

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Sat May 02, 15 6:34 pm

I need those back like I need a hole in the head! hang on there's an idea....

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Sat May 02, 15 9:16 pm

Even you have to draw the line at drilling holes in your head, Blue.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sat May 02, 15 9:39 pm

Stu wrote:Even you have to draw the line at drilling holes in your head, Blue.

...but he has probably filled it with Helium.........