Saved a Gen 1 GTM : DAY 65 Build Graduated 3/17/2022

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

The dash always interferes with the doors. We cut down both sides of the dash on every GTM we build, and a lot of times it's tough to get enough cut off of the dash to keep it from crashing into the doors. On many cars, we've had to both cut the dash pods back as far as we can (without getting into the vent opening) AND modify the door panels so that the doors will close.

[Erik W. Treves]

shane - yes that's looking like what I will need to do - My Gen 2 wasn't bad - but geez this one is pretty bad on the pass side - I have it cut it back on the dash side some - I will have to go back and get a little more aggressive - I am not quite to the vent yet so I have a little more room to go. I got the door to close without the door card now - so I am close... I decided to take a break since frustration and having a cut off wheel in my hand always ends badly

[cob427sc]

Frustrated and having the cutoff wheel in hand -- yup leads to disasterous results that I can attest too!

[Erik W. Treves]

Well only worked on it a little during the week... I gave myself about an hour each day to go out and see if I could get the passenger door figured out - if I couldn't do it or see it after an hour I just went inside.... I saw something on Wednesday - checked it out of Thursday - and low and behold on Friday... I got the door to shut all the way with the door card installed!! I also got my steering wheel in minus the quick release hub - but threw it on there anyway I really like the color match with all the other blue

So I am going to call this Day 49

FU Door! - I ended cutting about 3/4 of in off the outboard end of the dash ... and about an inch on the inboard bottom... door car is in (taped in position)...



Driver's side door went on without issues





Steering wheel

[Erik W. Treves]

Day 49 continued today with the Wing and diffuser - came out pretty good I think.

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

Looks like it's coming together nicely! Glad you got the door/dash figured out.....always one of my least favorite things to do....cut the end of the dash off and then try to make the upholstery look nice.....

[Erik W. Treves]

Thanks Shane - yeah I was very depressed when I needed to cut the freshly covered dash But it's part of the process. Thanks for all the parts BTW...

[Erik W. Treves]

Well - the build has been dragging on a bit - for me anyway - we are in the part of the build that there are like 1000 - 10 minute tasks that need to get done - garage is a bit cold - so rather than step away from it - I blew it off gave it a quick wipe down and fired it up and pushed it outside to finally see it outside in the sun and from farther away than 5 feet - must have been good cause I took it for a drive around the block after.... I fell better now - I will get back at it tomorrow - have to wire up the side mirrors - i figure the motors work - I might as well take 5 minutes and wire them up... then I will start closing up the passenger side door and get the speakers in - just have to knock the list down - seems like we are getting closer every day. Anyway the blue really pops in the sun - keep in mind the paint isn't final buffed and it is still somewhat dusty... but geez - it's a loud blue!

[frankeeski]

Said it over on fb already Erik, but that looks fantastic!

[Jeff Kleiner]

That blue really comes to life in the sun!

Jeff

[jbs72697]

I have an 818S that I’ll be building. I thought I had settled on painting it red, but after seeing this blue now I’m rethinking it
Looks awesome!!

[wallace18]

Looks Super!

[Erik W. Treves]

Closing in on the finish line - still a few small things to finish up - the list just is sooooo long on all these finishing touches.... sat in the car and chilled a bit...

[cob427sc]

Looking great! When I built my GTM back in 2006 (?) #82 it seemed like the punchlist went on forever. The door issue you just completed was a scary process although I don't remember mine being quite as involved but there was an issue with getting the window to seal at the front. If I remember I built a small triangle onto the door to make it work. Power windows were another big headache. I'm curious in what you have done with the cooling tubes running through the tunnel. I heavily insulated the tubes but it was still unbearable in the cockpit. I removed the bottom closure panel and that helped a lot. I always thought if I built another GTM I would look at running them through the rocker panel/door sill similar to some Porsches.

[crash]

I always thought if I built another GTM I would look at running them through the rocker panel/door sill similar to some Porsches.

Exactly what we did on the FFR PDG GTM race car. Dropped the interior temperature considerably.

[cob427sc]

Before removing the lower tunnel pan you could not keep your hand on the tunnel. It cooled down considerably with the pan removed but still stayed warm and transferred a lot of heat into the cabin. I really think, especially for a street car, insulating and running them through the rocker would be the way to go. I thought about doing this then filling the rocker with foam.

[Erik W. Treves]

Well - 65 days of actual wrench time - I gonna call it done ... not graduated though as I am still waiting for the VIN process to complete so that I can get plates and insurance. I still have to put door seals in around the perimeter of the forward, bottom and rear of doors... I will need to drive it around a bit to do a full shakedown to make sure the fit and finish is good then put up for sale.... I think. All I have done thus far is drive up and down the street - seems good thus far.... Anyway - here is the 3-piece Suit (mostly buffed out) next to the Combat Gear....

[Erik W. Treves]

[Erik W. Treves]

[FF33rod]

Looks fabulous Eric, a lot of work in that puppy!

Steve

[edwardb]

Looks great Erik. Now that's BLUE.

[wallace18]

Your usual super job! Well done.

[beeman]

Congrats, beautiful car.

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

Very Nice!! How did you attach the plexi to the hatch opening?

[Erik W. Treves]

Thanks Shane (and guys) -

When we bonded your rear hatch piece we left the "lip" at the top where the glass would lay in; we left it open.... so the Lexan slips in there perfectly.... as you know the hatch has a natural "bow" to it... the Lexan being flat and a little flexible, I installed a metal clip on the bottom/rear edge which naturally "bowed" the Lexan up tight in the rear corners - the only thing left after that were the sides - I then scuffed the Lexan with 80 grit - 1 1/4 all around the perimeter and just used glass urethane (fast dry) and clamped it all for 24 hours.... seems like it's holding really well - but I havent had it at speed yet.... but it should be drawing it tighter at speed as it tries to "suck out"... If I need to post a pic of the bracket under the hatch I can certainly do that for the group for later reference if you think it would be useful?

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

That all makes sense. Sounds like a great solution!

[Erik W. Treves]

A non-build related up date but very important step to get on on the road: I was happy to see that my documentation was all approved! In-car video soon hopefully,

[mburger]

Been following your progress. It looks awesome! Another great build. Congrats!

[cgundermann]

Par for course, another stunning build Erik! Love that blue...

Chris

[Erik W. Treves]

All done and done - now to go do some break-in miles before it goes up for sale.... so the wife says

[markm]

Great car Erik, and I enjoyed reading through this build thread. I am thinking the Stanceparts lift cups is going to be a must for my Gen2 as well. You switched out the front KONI blacks and replaced them with the yellows that can be inverted to work with the cups on the bottom, where they fit. Do you know the model of the yellow shock you used? That would be a starting point for me to find replacements for mine so I can do the same thing. I am sure others might like to go that route as well.

[crash]

I think I have 3 yellow shocks in the shop. Stripped down to just shock bodies, but left over from a build that went with after market shocks. $50 plus shipping if you want them.

[markm]

Thanks Crash. PM sent.

[Erik W. Treves]

Markm - The yellows came with the kit from FFR.

[markm]

Right. My mistake. I also have an idea for keeping crap out of the bottom mounted cup, but will post something after I prove it works.

[crash]

Right. My mistake. I also have an idea for keeping crap out of the bottom mounted cup, but will post something after I prove it works.

Just for clarity, IIRC the early kits came with black Koni shocks, and then, at some point, FFR switched over to yellows. It is said the blacks can only be run in one direction, while the yellows can be run in either direction.