Cutting the roof out of a Z06, my targa conversion project
06-12-2008, 02:04 PM
#261
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All 4 CCWs are finally back together with new centers :beer: Have to let the silicone cure for 24hrs then put the tires on and balance the wheels. Have Thursdays off now so I decided to knock out the last one.
I had two of them split (remember they're real 3-piece wheels) when I was hammering out the centers. So... I had to put the centers in, have the tires removed, take them all apart again, clean all the silicone off, sand the metal for traction, clean w/ alcohol, re-apply fresh silicone, place the wheel 1/2s together, drop in the center, bolt up all before the silicone cures so I can smooth it out with my finger. Yes, it's sort of a PITA, but I've done it a few times now.
CCW has how-to videos on their website but they have this cool roller system on a work bench to spin the wheel around quickly and have an air gun pre set at 33 ft-lbs... they of course have it down to a science.
I love these wheels!
Long story, but the car isn't done yet... she's being completely re-painted by a new shop... will update when she's finally done correctly.
I had two of them split (remember they're real 3-piece wheels) when I was hammering out the centers. So... I had to put the centers in, have the tires removed, take them all apart again, clean all the silicone off, sand the metal for traction, clean w/ alcohol, re-apply fresh silicone, place the wheel 1/2s together, drop in the center, bolt up all before the silicone cures so I can smooth it out with my finger. Yes, it's sort of a PITA, but I've done it a few times now.
CCW has how-to videos on their website but they have this cool roller system on a work bench to spin the wheel around quickly and have an air gun pre set at 33 ft-lbs... they of course have it down to a science.
I love these wheels!
Long story, but the car isn't done yet... she's being completely re-painted by a new shop... will update when she's finally done correctly.
07-06-2008, 09:13 PM
#265
All 4 CCWs are finally back together with new centers :beer: Have to let the silicone cure for 24hrs then put the tires on and balance the wheels. Have Thursdays off now so I decided to knock out the last one.
I had two of them split (remember they're real 3-piece wheels) when I was hammering out the centers. So... I had to put the centers in, have the tires removed, take them all apart again, clean all the silicone off, sand the metal for traction, clean w/ alcohol, re-apply fresh silicone, place the wheel 1/2s together, drop in the center, bolt up all before the silicone cures so I can smooth it out with my finger. Yes, it's sort of a PITA, but I've done it a few times now.
CCW has how-to videos on their website but they have this cool roller system on a work bench to spin the wheel around quickly and have an air gun pre set at 33 ft-lbs... they of course have it down to a science.
I love these wheels!
Long story, but the car isn't done yet... she's being completely re-painted by a new shop... will update when she's finally done correctly.
I had two of them split (remember they're real 3-piece wheels) when I was hammering out the centers. So... I had to put the centers in, have the tires removed, take them all apart again, clean all the silicone off, sand the metal for traction, clean w/ alcohol, re-apply fresh silicone, place the wheel 1/2s together, drop in the center, bolt up all before the silicone cures so I can smooth it out with my finger. Yes, it's sort of a PITA, but I've done it a few times now.
CCW has how-to videos on their website but they have this cool roller system on a work bench to spin the wheel around quickly and have an air gun pre set at 33 ft-lbs... they of course have it down to a science.
I love these wheels!
Long story, but the car isn't done yet... she's being completely re-painted by a new shop... will update when she's finally done correctly.
07-08-2008, 05:38 PM
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^ Thanks... car will be out of paint tomorrow, but I'm going to run Viperdays this weekend at VIR so I'll be at the shop next week putting it back together... then finally some freaking pics.
This should have been done long ago, but live and learn. You get what you pay for and the first shop royally fucked me.
This should have been done long ago, but live and learn. You get what you pay for and the first shop royally fucked me.
07-17-2008, 06:51 PM
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Well... I finally have an update. The car is completely re-painted. The only thing left for them to do is do the lower blackout on the rear bumper and do some custom black trimming of the openings on my tigershark front facia. The paint is incredible, done by a true professional with attention to detail this time. Its all one shade and best of all its the right shade of yellow that really pops. Previously the car came out orangier that it was supposed to.
I spent the day up at the shop putting the car back together. I took it apart so it wouldnt have been too fair to hand them a bag of bolts and tell them to have at it. Got everything mounted other than the mirrors, bumpers, and door handles. The deck lid and hood need some fine tuning, but everything else went together beautifully. On of the best things is that they fully baked all the parts and the car so I dont have to worry about expansion of the body work parts (the roof, the shaved quarter, and the rear facia) when the car gets hot fore the first time.
Heres two crappy cell pics to show todays progress:
Next up... full wet sanding and buffing then clear bra.
I spent the day up at the shop putting the car back together. I took it apart so it wouldnt have been too fair to hand them a bag of bolts and tell them to have at it. Got everything mounted other than the mirrors, bumpers, and door handles. The deck lid and hood need some fine tuning, but everything else went together beautifully. On of the best things is that they fully baked all the parts and the car so I dont have to worry about expansion of the body work parts (the roof, the shaved quarter, and the rear facia) when the car gets hot fore the first time.
Heres two crappy cell pics to show todays progress:
Next up... full wet sanding and buffing then clear bra.
07-17-2008, 09:49 PM
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have fun wetsanding and buffing it hahaha. god it sucks wet sanding things flat. its been awhile since i chimed in on this thread. glad to see its coming together!
07-17-2008, 11:21 PM
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^ Yes wetsanding sure does suck... but Im not doing it, they are. The paint is better than OEM right out of the gun, but shell be truly show quality when theyre done with it.
Ive sent them some good referrals and Brian (shop owner) says everyone comming in/out of the shop asks about it and what kind of car it is. This is a shop that works on Ferraris, Lambos, Porsches, Viprs, lots or race cars and other high end cars too, yet a modded Corvette is getting most of the attention. Probably the yellow. Anyway... they want the car top notch to show off what they can do because they know itll get them recognition/business.
Ive sent them some good referrals and Brian (shop owner) says everyone comming in/out of the shop asks about it and what kind of car it is. This is a shop that works on Ferraris, Lambos, Porsches, Viprs, lots or race cars and other high end cars too, yet a modded Corvette is getting most of the attention. Probably the yellow. Anyway... they want the car top notch to show off what they can do because they know itll get them recognition/business.
07-23-2008, 02:06 PM
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Thanks guys... car should be out of the shop end of next week. They're wet sanding and buffing the whole thing, getting my windows tinted, and applying clear bra to it. Once I get it back I have to get it ready for Corvettes @ Carlisle the 3rd week of August! I have to put my interior in and get the targa top gaskets all in.
07-26-2008, 05:03 PM
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^ No... re-did it as it was with only the lower part blacked out. I'm happy I went with it that way becuase that's what I really like. I was considering the all black just to change the car up, but at the end of the day I wasn't 100% on it.
07-28-2008, 05:59 PM
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Stopped by Auto Elite today at lunch to take some pics. Im making a photo-book of the conversion so I wanted to snap some before we moved farther along.
Front facia ready to install
Rear facia lower blackout complete ready to go on
Modified the oem antenna w/ a universal so it will work under the bodywork, remember no more antenna hole.
Car now has functioning door handles and mirrors again... notice the lack of lights on the quarter.
Front A-pillar moldings and weather stripping run channels from a coupe installed
Rear side run channels, targa brackets, etc installed, still have to put in the main top run channel and install the gaseket set.
Moving along!
Front facia ready to install
Rear facia lower blackout complete ready to go on
Modified the oem antenna w/ a universal so it will work under the bodywork, remember no more antenna hole.
Car now has functioning door handles and mirrors again... notice the lack of lights on the quarter.
Front A-pillar moldings and weather stripping run channels from a coupe installed
Rear side run channels, targa brackets, etc installed, still have to put in the main top run channel and install the gaseket set.
Moving along!
