I expect to be into primer coats by next weekend! Woohoo!
More photos here
A very good weekend and the La Bala plug is to a point where I can stop building stuff and slathering on the filler start finish sanding and filling
in the low spots and imperfections...
I expect to be into primer coats by next weekend! Woohoo!
More photos here
looking good ste.
looking very good!
which headlights did you go for in the end?
quote:
Originally posted by Chris Green
looking very good!
which headlights did you go for in the end?
I´m VERY impressed. You have done a incredible job!!! Keep up the good work!
Is it your design or is it a version of a kitcar??
How long time have you worked on the chassi (till you could testdrive it) / body ???
I think you and I are in the same stage in our bodywork. Are you planing to have the body done till the summer?
It´s gonna be fun building body parralell with you- -wonter which one of us gonna finish first?
[Edited on 2/12/04 by Micke Fredriksson]
Micke, I just checked out your project and all I can think is WOW, this guy is coool! 
I spent about 1-1/2 years building the car from the start of designing to the day I started it up and drove out of the garage. (Did you watch videos
on my website?) I have been building the bodywork since June 2004. It is all my design, no kit, no copy. The front suspension geometry I had Alan
Bertwistle (from this forum) give me help.
Steve
PS - I can't download your video. I really want to watch it! 
[Edited on 12/2/04 by sgraber]
steve, its a great video! on another thread micke posted a link to media player, which worked fine for me. With the windows one it was missing a
codec.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
select the operating system and then where to download it from.
[Edited on 2/12/04 by JoelP]
nope, link is dead. Can't even download it...
Seems that the server is down for the moment (a friends). I hope it works tomorrow..
I like your concept realy much!! DeDion, Pushrod!!!!!!!!!!! mmmmm
Yes I have seen you videos. Seems you gonna have a realy fun summer ahead
Keep up the good work!! Keep us updated!!
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
steve, its a great video!
What a wild machine. Black stripe down the road indeed! Continuous... I feel the need to drive
something like that! That's why I think dual Bike Engines in mine would work towards that goal. hehehehe Great job...
It makes me dream: maybe I'll be there in some years...
Well, I THOUGHT I was ready for final sanding... But then I decided to change the tail section... and then the tail light area... and then the front
bumper some more... and then the shape of the headlights.... At least all the changes are items that I am really happy about. Please with the shape of
the rear end.
More photos in my image gallery.
Steve, you're doing an excellent job but I've never been happy with your ass end!
So I took the liberty of 'toning' it in Photoshop and thought that - if you liked it - you may want to give it a go since you're
sanding and modifying so much anyway...
The idea is to continue the little 'point' in the upper surface, vertically down and through into the lower part in the bumper, then all the
way down to the bottom of the bumper fading as it goes.
I think it makes the rear look less heavy... But then it'll require more elbow grease!
yeap, it works for me, looks lighter
Steve, I DO like that look. I actually have a couple of sketches with a similar bumper. The center line crease is cool.
However... I need the room behind the rear wheels for the side-exit exhaust that I have already built. The Hayabusa exhaust cans I am using ($5 on
ebay) are pretty long and it's the only way I could fit them into the already short rear overhang. Although I suppose I could scrap it and start
on something new...
See what I mean?
Thought this might help explain things a wee bit better too:
Ah sh*t - forget that last post then!
quote:
Originally posted by tadltd
Ah sh*t - forget that last post then!
Posted 4 new walkaround videos on my website that should give a better idea of the shape. Last one is an explanation of what I am doing under the
headlamp covers for turn signal/markers. I think you'll like!
http://www.grabercars.com/Mambosite/index.php?option=content&task=blogcategory&id=10&Itemid=31
Actually, Steve, Steve brings up a good point. However the dual cans is a very unique part of la bala. I think this is one part that must not
change.
Just my opinion, Chris
How about like this:
...with the catalyst tucked over the transmission? I don't know how much package space you have in the engine bay, but I'm sure you could
find room to accomodate the cat?
Well Steveo - THAT is A WOW moment for me!
OK - SO now mold making will be delayed again.
DAMN YOU STEVE!
Sorry for the extra work, man - but it's better you do it now than regret it later!
Regardless where it goes, keep in mind that exhaust cats get very, very hot.
In Steve's renderings, the rear bodywork ends a bit high off the ground. If you look, the rear fenders end pretty high on the wheel. To smooth
this out this abrubt ending, a sweeping curved splitter-like covering could sweep from below the gearbox up to the bottom of the lower exhaust. I
think this would give it a bit of a more completed look, as well as retain the edgy, exposed styling Steve did. It would be a nice bit to do in CFRP
and should not cost too much as well.
Just my opinion.
--Chris
quote:
Originally posted by kb58
Regardless where it goes, keep in mind that exhaust cats get very, very hot.
I'm no expert but this is my 2 pennys worth
Rescued attachment Graberscar.jpg
Top picture has to be the sexiest exaust Ive ever seen.
http://www.autocats.com/html/about_frame.htm
Anything like this available to you?. You can get a weld in cat the same diameter as most pipes, it might be worth looking at.
a but rough but..
Rescued attachment Graberscar.jpg
quote:
Originally posted by tadltd
How about like this:
I´m VERY impressed in this projekt soo far! Really brutal- I mean, YOU HAVE ONE CHOICE= Just do like this picture!!!!
quote:
Originally posted by Micke Fredriksson
Hi!!
I take the hint, Steve!
I need to see more detail of the rear end to get an idea how to package the exhaust pipe run and cat - the ECU's in the place where I'd
naturally put the cat (if it can't go under the Watts linkage)...
But I'm sure it could be moved...
[Edited on 16/12/04 by tadltd]
quote:
Originally posted by tadltd
I take the hint, Steve!
I need to see more detail of the rear end to get an idea how to package the exhaust pipe run and cat - the ECU's in the place where I'd naturally put the cat (if it can't go under the Watts linkage)...
But I'm sure it could be moved...
[Edited on 16/12/04 by tadltd]
You certainly don't HAVE to if you are busy with other things. I won't get around to actually building a
new exhaust system until the molds are pulled and the plug destroyed. In any case if someone wants to help me solve this dilema I am always
grateful! I had a look round your web-site last night, Steve but couldn't find anything that showed the 'nitty-gritty'!
Mostly you and Alan hooning around your neighbourhood!!
And a few other general shots!
Steve.. great to see all this input. I hope you don’t mind us all chucking in our 5c worth.
This, following, is a design concept that I quite like and might have some application with your “hide the exhaust” exercise. I like the concept that
you have a nice basic shape, but you make it brutally obvious where function has to take dominance, and form is temporarily suspended. Examples are
the supercharger sticking out through a hole in the hood of a car, the engine cover on a VW set proud of the rest of the body to aid engine cooling
and clear the carb trumpets. The air intake on my car below (not a great picture) is a bit like this, the original body work could not accommodate it
so I sort of just pushed it into the body and made a feature of it. These are bold statements that we can make as one-off constructors that thumb the
nose at production car companies whose accountants insist the car appeals to the lowest common denominator of the buying public.
For your exhaust, I was wondering if you could just make the body shape you want, and include flared cut-outs wherever the exhaust system extends
beyond the normal finish-line. It is a very hansom bit of plumbing and seeing it half exposed like this would be very appealing. Also, the pipe
materials don’t need protection from the elements. If you need to protect the hot surfaces for the safety of bystanders, then you can clamp small
minimum size screens made of, say, SS rod over each hot bit. This could be really eye catching, and gives a nice transition from an ultra-clean front
end to an all-meat-and-no-potatoes rear. Which is dead right for a midi.
Cheers, Brian
Hey all, I took your advice to heart and really tore into the car over the holidays. Followed Steve Turners advice and gave the car a Butt-Lift.
Also a tummy-tuck...
... and I know what I am doing with the exhaust!
Check out my progress here:
http://www.grabercars.com/Mambosite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=54&Itemid=42
This photo's a little rough, but general plan is rolling.
WOW!! MUCH BETTER can I tell!! I´m following the progress gladly!!
Steve, I'm full of admiration for your quest for perfection and the results. You know you'll never be finished though, don't you? 
It's subtle, but looks much better than before.
Thanks guys. Tell you what, designing and building the bodywork is much more difficult than building the chassis! Not technically, but aesthetically
very, VERY difficult to make it like I want it.
At some point it will be finished. I know that some day soon I will walk out into the garage and look at the car and feel the same feeling that I got
when I looked at my Ferrari 250GTO replica. It's a wierd thing to say, but sometimes I used to just stare at the way the shape of that car went
from one area to another. Especially the hood lines. I don't think that there has been another car that does it quite the same for me.
Like this view of the hood...
Did you ever see that 62 Ferrari Replica that I built? Ferrari 250GTO Spyder
wow that was your car, I remember reading that article.
quote:
Originally posted by violentblue
wow that was your car, I remember reading that article.
I remember reading that article in the original publication, made me want to do one. that was/is one sweet car with some very nice detail work.
It's all Steve Turners fault!
Turners Fault - Rear End
A few lines need straightening and such, but the butt-lift is basically finished. I think it looks great.
quote:
Originally posted by sgraber
A few lines need straightening and such, but the butt-lift is basically finished. I think it looks great.
Very nice Steve.
Will you be fitting some sort of diffuser at the back?
Have you sorted out the routing for the exhaust. Could you route it so it exits on the side ahead of the rear wheels?
Cheers
KT
Hmmmm...it looks like I could cut out a lower opening out of mine too......
^ Yes, yes you could! Is it something you are considering? Or are you teasing me?
How will you be routing your exhaust?
Yes the plan was always to cut out most of it....the vertical ribs I'll be leaving in though..I need them for mounting the hinges.
Exhaust..?....no idea.......waiting to see what you do......
quote:
Originally posted by Alan B
Exhaust..?....no idea.......waiting to see what you do......