Wallace18's 65 Coupe build thread.

[Mitch Wright]

Tom,

I watch your builds and it makes me look forward to retirement that much more.

[wallace18]

Tom,

I watch your builds and it makes me look forward to retirement that much more.

It is the next best thing since sliced bread! LOL.

[loeffler1]

Kinda brings me back a few years.

[wallace18]

I am back working on my coupe now. The 818S I am building for a customer has run into more parts delays. So I am going to stay on my coupe till it is done. I brought the chassis back from the body shop and I pressure washed it to get rid of all the fiberglass dust and such. I mounted my quick release steering wheel kit from Breeze automotive. What a great kit! They even included the drill and tap. Now that is being thorough IMO. It allowed me to move the steering wheel away from the dash some and no doubt will make entry and exit easier IMO. I have a punch list of stuff to get done before taken it back to Huegenics. Paint should be done by March 1st or so. The body is in final stage of primer now.

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[H R Lucky]

Your coupe is looking good Tom.
Looks like it won't be long now, good job.

[wallace18]

I have been busy knocking out my punch list, A/C is charged and working nice. Horns installed and working. I started on some carpet and installed speakers for the radio. Also mounted my Russ Thompson front radiator shroud. Huegenics is going to lay down the Black starting next week then the pearl and finally the clear coat. Then the wet sanding and buffing out. I am getting close to having the chassis ready. Still a few items to do and some additional cleaning of stuff.

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[John Dol]

looks great Tom!

John

[mjazzka]

Quickly and surely, it's definitely coming along!! Lookin' great.

Maybe I just am not very observant, but where are you mounting your speakers at?

[wallace18]

Quickly and surely, it's definitely coming along!! Lookin' great.

Maybe I just am not very observant, but where are you mounting your speakers at?

You cannot see them in these photos. They are mounted on the corners of the dash facing down at the floor, right below the A/C vents. 4.25 coaxial units. They sound great IMO. There was just enough room for them. I was going to mount then in the rear. But if I ever install a Plexiglas shield behind the seats I would not have good sound. So for me this worked out great.

[wallace18]

Well I found out that the paint will not be done till March 17th. I have been working on getting the chassis ready for the body to go back on. I wired up a remote battery charging port, Cell phone charging outlet and made a custom small console. Inside is my battery kill switch as well as cell charger port. I have sealed up all areas of need with silicone. Now all I have to do is wait. I may go back to my customer 818 build since the seats are supposed to be on the way for it. Here is some pics.

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[wallace18]

Well I put my Coupe up on my 4-post lift and covered it up. My painter has painted the underside of the body and hood with Stone Guard called SKS from Wurth. Then 2 coats of black urethane. Now he is going to get going on the outside. My frame is all ready to go. Hopefully I can get by to get some pics soon. I am going to get back to my customer 818S build for at least 2 weeks. Hopefully get close to done with it.

[wallace18]

Stopped by Huegenics today. Made some decisions on the stripes. They are doing the final wet sanding of the primer. Getting ready to paint on Wednesday. I chose the stripe on the left of the hood. I like it the best. On the back it will not roll under as well. I wanted something a little different than the normal for this car. Here is some pics.

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[John Dol]

Exciting!!!

John

[wallace18]

Stopped By Huegenics today. They are almost done with the body. Still have to cut and buff the paint out. Car came out just as I hoped for. Pictures do not do the paint justice. It has green, blue, gold and silver flecks in the flake part of the paint. Pollen is real bad down here now. Temperature in the mid 80's. Can't keep anything clean for 5 minutes. Due to some family stuff I won't be able to put the body on the chassis and bring it home till April. Here are some pics. By the way 120 Model T's showed up at Huegenics today. They are on a all Florida ride this month. So many cool ones. Some even have Wilwood rear disc brakes, LOL.

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[John Dol]

Tom,

That looks great. I see you painted the light pods black too. I'm planning on that also. Did you do the fog light buckets also?

John

[wallace18]

Tom,

That looks great. I see you painted the light pods black too. I'm planning on that also. Did you do the fog light buckets also?

John

No they are the same color. That is what is so cool about this new PPG paint. Depending on the light it can look several different colors and shades.

[tango68ss]

Tom,

this Coupe looks awesome! Are you planning on keeping this one or selling it too? I know you still need to do a roadster and GTM!

TC

[wallace18]

Tom,

this Coupe looks awesome! Are you planning on keeping this one or selling it too? I know you still need to do a roadster and GTM!

TC

I hope to keep it but if the right amount of money is thrown at me I could be persuaded. LOL

[Fluge]

Great Color and paint choice! In the last three photos it looks like a completely different coupe...must be the way the light is hitting it

I like it a lot.

Marc

[bbksv]

Looking pretty sweet

[Kalstar]

I hope to keep it but if the right amount of money is thrown at me I could be persuaded. LOL

How bad do you want the orange 818 back?

[wallace18]

How bad do you want the orange 818 back?

Only if I hit the lottery, LOL.

[neswes]

Nice to see it out of the booth. Looks great Tom

[wallace18]

I had only yesterday to go to Huegenics and mount the body, doors, spoiler and hood. They still have to finish the stripes on the cowl and finish buffing it all out. Unfortunately the lighting I had this morning does no justice to the car. But some pics are better than none, right? LOL. I wish I could stay to finish but I must pack and leave for the NE till April first. I have to help my brother move and deliver an 818S I built for Kalstar. So stay tuned in April for the finish line so to speak. The car is fantastic in person.

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[MRSQSL]

That looks amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[John Dol]

Looks great!

[mjazzka]

Great looking paint job, Tom!!! I REALLY like how the stripes come together at the front. It gets rid of the awkward stripe portion on the lower air intake. Hopefully you won't mind if I copy it

[wallace18]

Great looking paint job, Tom!!! I REALLY like how the stripes come together at the front. It gets rid of the awkward stripe portion on the lower air intake. Hopefully you won't mind if I copy it

Be my guest!

[wallace18]

This morning I made tinted side windows for the coupe. I bought tinted Lexan from McMaster-Carr. They will match my tinted rear window I had done today as well. You can see the difference in the pic.

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[wallace18]

This afternoon at 1:00 P.M. I got my coupe from Huegenics. Wow! pictures do no justice to this car. Marsha helped me unload it. I will start to finish it up. I am registered for the Good Guys show in Kissimmee later next month. It will be some nighttime work to get it done but I can wait to see it completed.

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[John Dol]

Neither can we Tom! Keep at it, the paint looks great.

John

[Tom Mauldin]

Looking good!

[Fluge]

Looks great!! Exciting time....wait until you drive it!!

Marc

[wallace18]

Looks great!! Exciting time....wait until you drive it!!

Marc

Well about a mile down the road from my painter is a certified scales for Agriculture. I drove the coupe there before I trailered it home to weigh it for the title process here in FL. I ran it through the first 4 gears and blew my hat off out the back hatch area. LOL. The car is very fast and sounded great with those open headers. It weighed 2260 as is. I am sure a few more 100 pounds will be added yet.

[neswes]

way to go Tom. Car looks great. Can't wait to get down there later this month to pick up my hood---Wes

[wallace18]

Well the last 3 days I have been busy working on the coupe. I have all the interior done except for the seats and belts. I mounted the tail lights, license frame, splash guards front and back, side pipes, covers, headlights, rear window, side mirrors, side screens and rear screens. Also the gas cap and hoses to it and carbon canister. I really like how the car is coming along. I hope to take it on the 13th for the front windshield install. I mounted the tinted rear glass as well as the tinted side 1/4 windows. Still lots to do. Here is a few pics.

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[loeffler1]

I particularly like how you shielded the inner headlight area just like I did. Sure keeps a lot of junk off that area. I really like the crazy yellow pinstripe on the tail area. LOL

[wallace18]

I particularly like how you shielded the inner headlight area just like I did. Sure keeps a lot of junk off that area. I really like the crazy yellow pinstripe on the tail area. LOL

Yes I did copy some stuff I saw in the coupe book from previous builders. The pinstripe disappears when I put my air hose away. LOL>

[wallace18]

While I was busy sealing up gaps from the body to the interior, and there is a ton of them. I could not help but notice this large opening in the rear wheel well area on both sides. The kit gives a splash shield for the rear but not the front. Go figure? So I filled with foam them used black flex-seal and fabricated up a splash plate to seal this IMO critical area. For those building their Coupe pay attention to gaps all over . Since this is a race car replica the sealing and weather proofing was left up to the builder for the most part. Mine may never see a track day but will be driving a lot on the street. In Florida we get thunderstorms all the time. So I am spending extra effort in the sealing area of the build.

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[wallace18]

Took the car out for photos to send in paper work for title and insurance. Ended up taking my wife Marsha for a ride in the neighborhood.

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