Got started today

[RPM]

Great looking kit there. It will make you a cool hot rod for sure. But tell us the truth did you sit there going VROOM VROOM VROOM?:lol:

 

[Satori]

Of course Ron.

Rooster, I agree. I bet one guy that I would be driving it to work Monday, but I got off to a slow start due to my b'day so I'm thinking I might lose that beer.

 

[Satori]

Oh, and now that I see what I have to work with, I'm going to be asking tons of questions. Probably mostly having to do with the fiberglass body. For example, what's the best way to attach the bed cover? Are there latch or hinge kits out there?

 

[Satori]

We counted revolutions on the rear end, and the best we can tell, it's 4:10 ratio.

 

[Rick]

Oh, and now that I see what I have to work with, I'm going to be asking tons of questions. Probably mostly having to do with the fiberglass body. For example, what's the best way to attach the bed cover? Are there latch or hinge kits out there?

Try Jim over at Wintec he worked at Total till they closed and they came out with a real heavy duty deck lid hinge to replace the piece of crap that they sold before.

 

[Satori]

Try Jim over at Wintec he worked at Total till they closed and they came out with a real heavy duty deck lid hinge to replace the piece of crap that they sold before.

I'll check that out, thanks. Right now there's no sort of hinge or latch for it, and it looks like I'll have to trim about 3/4" of the lip all the way around to make it fit.

 

[Satori]

Here's the extra lip on the bed that will need to be trimmed:

And this looks like the only damage - some deep gouges around the door:

 

[Satori]

After looking through everything, it looks like I'm missing two pieces (besides the radius rods Josh said he would ship to me) - the steering box and the radiator cap. I'll send Spirit an email about it. I also don't see any sort of invoice or any Spirit paperwork, including MSO.

 

[rooster57]

Ya know if it were me i would forget about the body and get the chassis all mocked up. get the motor and trans in then test fit the body. Get all the geometry right with the chassis rolling. Get all those under details done and the frame off to paint or PC then when all that stuff is out of the way shazam get all thet body stuff done. When i got the body painted last so when it came back i was ready for it to go on and not set around asking for a scratch. JMO Also if you loose the bet and it looks like it my beer is Newcastle. Athankya

 

[Satori]

That's basically my plan Rooster. I just set the body on the frame yesterday to see how it looks. Today I'll move it back over to the wood rack so I can start prepping the frame.

 

[rooster57]

Great minds think alike!!!!!

 

[Lee_in_KC]

Ya know if it were me i would forget about the body and get the chassis all mocked up. get the motor and trans in then test fit the body. Get all the geometry right with the chassis rolling. Get all those under details done and the frame off to paint or PC then when all that stuff is out of the way shazam get all thet body stuff done.

Mike, I would go so far as to recommend that you get the car fully assembled and running before you paint it. Drive it around for awhile, maybe a full season. That's what I did, although that wasn't my original plan. I actually drove it three seasons before getting around to paint. Even though I had a Spirit Super Kit, I ended up changing or re-doing a lot of stuff, much of which would have ruined a paint job.

The problem with the lip on the bed surprises me. Not up to Spirit's usual standards. Mine fit perfectly, didn't have to touch a thing.

 

[thomas]

After looking through everything, it looks like I'm missing two pieces (besides the radius rods Josh said he would ship to me) - the steering box and the radiator cap. I'll send Spirit an email about it. I also don't see any sort of invoice or any Spirit paperwork, including MSO.

I would make sure that he sends you the rear radius rods from RPM. The radius rods I recieved with my kit were not stout enough. You certainly have a great ride going for you.

thomas

 

[RPM]

I would completley assemble the car, except for the wiring. Make sure the door works as it should when bolted to the chassis. The guys a Spirit do a great job, but there may be something that you would like to change on the frame. Then there goes the paint or powder.

 

[Satori]

There is a lot of sound advice here. I don't want to seem disrespectful to those who have given me great paint advice, so I'm actually a little hesitant to post this, but... I decided I only want to assemble it once so I'm going ahead and painting the frame and suspension parts prior to assembly. If something dings the paint during assembly or if I need to change something that requires a touch-up, I can live with that.

I did get the frame prepped, primed, and painted yesterday.

 

[rooster57]

OH now you gone and done it you did somethin with out our permission HA HA. GOOD JOB.
I think spirits frame is bulletproof plus paint is easy to touch up keep movin forward bro.

 

[Satori]

Ha, thanks Rooster. I just don't want to seem unappreciative of all the great advice on this site.

 

[rooster57]

Hey brother thats your car, if you dont take my advice and i get bent about it thats my problem. But its cool you are respectful of those helping you, not a trate you see much anymore. COOL lets get this puppy put together.
PS I hope you didnt get any overspray on my Bike Ha Ha !!!!!!!!!

 

[putz]

I think the painting they said would be okay its powder coating that you want to wait on because that can't be touched up. Lookin good you must have the cruise set on you speed you are going at this a little faster than some others on here.

 

[Satori]

Thanks putz. Well I was going to start painting the suspension parts tonight but I guess I need to let the frame paint dry for another day. It's still a little soft so I don't want to cover it with plastic just yet. Now I just need to find a diagram of how the front end goes together. I'm sure there's one somewhere on this site. :toast: