FFRSPEC72 Challenge Car Refresh

[FFRSpec72]

Was time to refresh the Challenge car's engine, so spent the weekend with only a hand full of metric sockets and wrenches, so the 818R sat idle and served as a holding area. Joe Caropepe (big thanks to Joe for his help and his starter knowledge) came over to give me a hand, started around 10AM and were finished around 4:30PM with only minor things left to do. My spare engine was refreshed with new crank, all new bearings, valves and new balancer (28oz imbalance).

Out with the old
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A few swaps of front and rear items

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In with the new

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Need to check everything twice and will fire it up tonight. I'm using the FMS SS shorty headers and bought new motor mounts and was surprised when the headers went on with out any modification of the passengers side motor mount like I had to do to the old motor mount, was kind of scary as I was expecting a battle.

[soaringDude]

Nice, that was a pretty quick turnaround though. I am half way done with my garage cleanup anxiously awaiting arrival of my new toy. I will keep myself buys next week rebuilding the center section as soon as the gears/bearing kit gets here.

[FFRSpec72]

So my new body shipped from FFR on 1/15 and it is still not hear, the driver keeps calling telling me he is broke down in different places. It will be interesting to see how the MkIII body fits on the MKII challenge frame

[FFRSpec72]

Finally the new body arrived, it took a little over 4 weeks from the time it shipped to get to me. The hood, trunk and doors seem to from the MkII to the MkIII body. The MkIII body seems to be much better made and seems a little lighter. Now on to the body work and find someone to paint it

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[ehansen007]

So my new body shipped from FFR on 1/15 and it is still not hear, the driver keeps calling telling me he is broke down in different places. It will be interesting to see how the MkIII body fits on the MKII challenge frame

So help me out here? The MKII is a better body than the MKIII? Also, who called you to tell you they broke down? Is this Stewart? Thanks.

[FFRSpec72]

So help me out here? The MKII is a better body than the MKIII? Also, who called you to tell you they broke down? Is this Stewart? Thanks.

My typo (fixed now), the MkIII is much better made, seams are smaller, gel coat is better and over all is much better shape than the MkII body was. I got calls from I guess Stewart, but might have been Factory Five (since it was a Factory Five trailer). Body shipment was arranged for me so I don't actually know who delivered it. In the end they had to rent a cab (as they had to leave their cab at a Volvo dealer) and hook up their trailer.

[FFRSpec72]

I spent most of the weekend in body prison, what a nasty nasty way to spend a weekend, sure hope I'm doing all this correctly ! I got in about 4 iterations of appling and sanding the seams with Rage Gold and 120 grit, hope to get in 4 more this week as I need to get this to the painter in 2 weeks. Comments on body work welcome ! I will have painter cut the body right before painting right now it is easier to do the body work while in one piece. The roll cage cutouts were no fun to do but all turned out well.

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[FFRSpec72]

All cut-outs done. I think I finished the seams (wife says I made a mess with all the sanding, etc and that I'm done) about 3/4 gallon of Rage gold (about 8 applications of applying and sanding), I applies a lite coat of truck bed liner to the under side this weekend. I hope to get this off to the painter this week to let him do the rest of the body work.

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[Rotorcraft]

Nice work Tony. What is the paint scheme going to be ?


Jeff