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chestikoph1

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Posts posted by chestikoph1

  1. Sheds done and finally getting a chance to play with fibreglass again. I have been a little distracted with another car project but in between I’ve selling a few of front lips I have been making. I got asked a few times for a boot spoiler and wasn’t keen on selling the large version I made so decided to make a smaller easier to post version and one that’s a little more subtle.

    Similar process as before, and it’s almost ready to take a mould. Shame these plugs end up getting destroyed! Looks good in the funky blue topcoat.

    861B5F10-6810-467C-A02C-5A4AD77B6216.thumb.jpeg.5a6f632d1358c9e6dba8eab39bc75edb.jpegEF802F15-85E5-4CB7-92EF-7C67C3A655D9.thumb.jpeg.b2dd2652bd3aee76fef52e3a823f73c9.jpegC22BBBB0-1208-4D2F-88E5-05B6BE372504.thumb.jpeg.e09691dad22bded667e159eccb2c059e.jpeg

    • Upvote 1
  2. And so it starts again!!

    Until I start accumulating all the consumables for infusion I thought I would make a start on the wide body. Narrowed it to two styles, bolt on flares, kind of like what I am already running but boxier/wider. And full wide body arches trying to follow the cars body lines as much as possible.

    I thought I would start with the front and try the full wide body option first.

    Doing this on the spare guards I have as this gives me the option to return the car back to normal at anytime and let me enter a couple of events coming up. Gonna have to take my time unfortunately with this stage as I’ve got a home/shed renovation happening soon. 
    Couple of pics to help my ideas make sense to everyone, similar to the way I did the boot spoiler, get the general shape sorted, fill the voids with the foam blocks and then start shaping.

    56B7D641-B979-4FF9-B9B0-4FA5DE82A479.thumb.jpeg.6a5e3d32a27dca1820d14e5d5850279b.jpeg

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  3. Well this first project is done.

    Managed to replicate the result successfully and also make the spoiler section by itself.

    For this second one I trialled some 3 mm Corecell as a core and got rid of one layer of glass. Turned out super strong and light, actually way stiffer and lighter than the factory metal one.

    2.9kg v’s 5.8kg for the factory one, and perfect as a pin on option, no need for the frame or any other reinforcements.

    B218E102-09DB-43C9-A77F-26295C86522A.thumb.jpeg.91899319c40311e59ee80dc8008ce8a6.jpeg

    Spoiler option also turned out great, had to add in some bolt recesses to allow it to be an easy bolt on fit.

    68BFC9D3-6723-4344-BD28-DD0FE3BA685D.thumb.jpeg.cda819b51ea9ab543f983c3ed7733eec.jpeg

    Vacuum pump and catch pump have arrived and looking at buying some carbon fibre and consumables for an infusion trial soon.

    First need to make a new mould and thinking of either doing the bonnet or maybe the boot lid as a first go. Boot is small and not a huge loss in materials if it goes pear shaped.

    Unfortunately I can’t use the current mould as the flanges are a little small and being 2 piece mould probably too complicated for a first go.

    So that’s it for now, until the next update take care, stay safe (and sane) for those of you who are lock down affected.

     

  4. Yeah the whole infusion process is looks like the ultimate way to make composite parts, strength, weight and also aesthetics if you’re into the carbon look.

    I don’t know if that would suit and older car but I will take the weight reduction, if I do the bonnet, boot, doors, front and rear quarter panels there is a heap of weight to lose.

    Haven’t ordered a catch pot yet, I was thinking of making my own. I have seen some simple DYI ones made out of pvc pipe.

    Anyway after 2 months of dust and resin fumes… whats do you guys think?

    needs colour but all in all pretty happy with the final result and knowing it’s somewhat unique is pretty cool.

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    • Like 1
  5. I have enjoyed the process of design, concept and then manufacture, seeing the fruits of effort is rewarding,

    The fact that it’s built from scratch is pretty cool.

    I did weigh the original boot lid. It was 6.1kg, it’s actually rather light, I guess it only small. I will weigh this one once it’s done though.

    I don’t think it will be much lighter, being layered up with chopped strand matt it does take a fair bit of resin to wet out.

    This first one is more about learning, styling and to see if it gets rid of some lift. I’ve ordered myself a vacuum pump to trial resin infusion next.

    A carbon or even fibreglass resin infused one without the metal. (Just the skin) would weigh less than 2 kilos I think, I would attach it via pins and also get rid of the hinges which are very chunky, between them and the boot lid maybe lose 10kg?

    some reinforcement before I glue it up

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  6. Getting the frame ready to bond to the new skin.

    Something that surprised me was the weight of the frame, its about a quarter that of the outer metal skin, I was expecting the opposite.

     It’s made from much thinner steel, I guess the moulding gives it its strength.

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    6C16B625-4F22-4D2A-BB1A-5D8B4E01688E.thumb.jpeg.909382de21619f530bd5e62d6495db22.jpeg

  7. First spoiler/boot lid in one gel coated and laminated, I will give it a couple of days and demould. Not the easiest to lay up with the deep spoiler section but all went ok.

    Really looking forward till its cured. In the meantime I will start separating the original boot skin from its frame, idea is to bond this one the original frame.

    Although the end goal is to make one of these or similar in carbon fibre and secure it with pins to the car.

    This one has always been a learning opportunity and to get my mould making process right.

    88BD57AE-853D-41ED-9DF4-4955584A1369.thumb.jpeg.73368e168a5f1e99d14aa44bba894fa6.jpeg

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  8. Well the plug released from the mould…but not in one piece unfortunately.

    It stuck around the back corners and had to be broken to release, in hindsight I should have used PVA not just release wax but I was trying to gain the smoothest finish possible.

    Positive thing is the mould turned great and should be ready after a 1200 grit sand and polish.

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  9. It’s primed and sealed.

    No more bog, only taken a month to get to this stage of making the plug!!
    I am finally done with filler, i think it’s as symmetrical and straight as it’s going to get. Key take away, next time keep it simple with flat surfaces.

    I think I went to complex making it with compound curves and trying to follow the cars profile too much

    Anyway it’s done, final sanding to 1200 grit to go and then it’s ready to pull a mould from it.

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    • Upvote 1
  10. Classic!! That would double as a nice luggage rack.

    Perfectionism, it’s a terrible affliction, probably borderline OCD.

    My thing is if I wouldn’t  be happy paying for the finished product, then it’s not good enough.

    Getting close to blocking and final shape, pics soon.

     

     

     

  11. First layer of filler to seal the plug and start the shaping process.

    The next part of this project really is tedious, a lot of sanding and filler and then a lot more sanding! 
    But I can start to see the resemblance of the finished product which keeps the motivation up.

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    • Upvote 1
  12. I definitely enjoy the build challenge more than driving the car sometimes, the satisfaction of doing it yourself is rewarding.

    As for the tape it serves a couple of functions besides protecting the paintwork, it’s a little hard to see but there are reference lines marked on there. I use these as a guide to glue on the cross sections of the spoiler. Their cut from pvc sheet.

    It should also help in removing everything from the boot once I take mould from the finished plug.

    Plan a to mould it as one piece with the boot but have the option to make it a bolt on spoiler as well.

    Some more progress pics with urethane foam now filled and shaped into the cross sections.

    5FA91D7A-656F-464A-AF0C-B21388356B3A.thumb.jpeg.cfa4a99a699b2e53226de03f66df4674.jpegF8BB35BD-2A75-4500-BE31-5ED03713A870.thumb.jpeg.33235d688585a64ba5d611a4696ceab0.jpeg

     

  13. Thanks Keith.

    It’s certainly nice to have something different amongst the field of modern cars.

    Planning a big change with the cars look this winter, I want to get rid of the fender flares and look at moulding a wide body type set up.

    I want to keep the same body shape but wider, something like the Subaru 22b. The plan to use my spare shell to make the widened plug and take a mould from that then fit to the race car.

    Trialing one of the methods I was thinking of using on a boot spoiler first.

    Easier  to explain the process with some photos.

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  14. Thought I might drag this thread out from the archives!!

    Cars still in one piece and running well. I was doing a few track days throughout 2020 in between lock downs and restrictions mainly sprints and Time Attack at Barbagallo. 

    Couple of upgrades and changes since the last post include wider 15 x 8 wheels, 225 tyres and some bolt on flares to fit them under.  Bought tears to my eyes taking the grinder to the rear arches, they were absolutely rust free! Oh well she’s long past ever returning to a standard shell.

    Also dropped in some cams for a bit more top end. Now into the mid 66 sec around our local track, weight reduction is my next project. Will have to get back into more regular posting, some recent pics.

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    • Upvote 1
  15. Well it's been a while since the latest update, where do I start.

    The Rally Sprint series concluded with the remaining 2 rounds going well and really helping with the development of the car.

    The sway bar link setup worked well and contributed in reigning some lateral weight transfer. I also changed up the ride hight a bit by dropping the rear by half an inch and raising the front by the same, this coupled with a heavier front spring rate dialled in the rear to front weight transfer. The car was now more settled under braking and was a lot more balanced and  nuetral turning in to corners.

    I did end up changing the brake pads and this was probably the single most performance improving part I changed. The QFM's I was running weren't bad but just didn't perform the same as a proper race pad. At $600 for a set of pads I was pretty nervous at dropping so much cash at just brake pads. But the change was massive, dropped 6 secs over one lap, the confidence going into corners was amazing the harder you push the pedal the more they bite, and with out the booster the modulation you get is great.

    This was all great and I was super happy with the results. At the end of the 5 round series we ended up mid field out of 80 odd cars and were beating much more modern and more powerful 4wd cars. But Tarmac Rallysprint on streets is pretty unique, very fast sraights into slow and very tight corners over and over again. I was interested to see how this setup would go on the race track.

    I have done a couple of track days with the Rolla in the past but none since the cage and the latest rebuild, so I thought I would sign up to the very next event available at Barbagallo Raceway it just happened to be the first round of the WA Time Attack Series. Definitely not the sort of event you would expect an old Corolla at. Anyway I was super excited and they had just resurfaced the track for the upcoming V8 Supercar round so I was keen to check it out.

    Put it this way It was the oldest car there by a loong way and it attracted heaps of attention amongs the Skylines, Evo's, WRX's, Civics and Porches. Three classes, Street, Tuner, and Race, I was allocated to Tuner class. There was aero as far as you could see and I don't know if you can count my front lip as aero but car went great and surprised a lot of people. Out of 58 entries I finished 36th, ran a best time of 68.8 sec. The fastest lap of the day was a 58.4sec and slowest was 78.4 sec, overall super happy with the result and I think with a couple of tweaks and changes I should get into the mid 60's. I have couple of things in mind to sort then I will chase more HP and that should help get me further up the field again.

    Well that's it for now I will post up a few things I am working on soon.

    A couple of shots from the track day...

     

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    • Upvote 1
  16. 5 hours ago, Taz_Rx said:

    T3 gtx2?

    Yeah I've seen those Si, they do look good but hard to justify the price considering the exchange rate at the moment.

    It would be pretty straight forward to fabricate just need to sus out the ball joint or maybe use a spherical bearing instead. Getting the wheel alignment redone on Saturday so I will see if this has made a difference, gonna run a little bit of toe out aswell see if that improves turn in. I also grabbed some higher rate springs of a mate to swap out and experiment after a couple of runs.

  17. In getting things ready for the next round I thought I would fix somethings that I was never really happy with for a while. The extra positive castor and negative camber I am running causes my lower control arms to sit at a pretty high angle compared to standard. The sway bar link pins were at a bad tilt and I wasn't getting full benifit from the swaybar also the castor rod was starting to bind even though it has a rose joint connection. I did have go at a fix for the sway bar link a while back but it wasn't the best solution.

    Before...image.thumb.jpeg.79c1874f3cfd76ce0279752313e857aa.jpeg

    So I have changed the orientation of sway bar hole to the vertical plane and welded and redrilled the castor rod mounting holes on the control arm. link is nice and straight now and the castor rod pivots freely. Ultimately I wouldn't mind making up new control arms from some chromoly tube with multiple mounting options, but this is fine for now.

    After...

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  18. My first event since the rebuild and couldn't be happier, still a lot of things to work on particularly the balance of the car, it's like starting all over again with handling setup, but it ran well with no issues. It feels significantly more rigid with the cage now and definitely getting a heap more feedback on the cars behaviour. First thing to look at is the brake pad choice and brake balance, currently running some QFM AR1M  but just not getting the bite they were when I was running the boosted setup. Considering a couple options one being Forza FR 6 carbon fibre based pads, after chatting to the guys at GSL Rallsport they said these are more suited to a non vacuum assisted setup. Once that's sorted I will sus out the front to rear brake balance and then move onto the springs and sway bars. Next round on the 7th, in the mean time a couple pics pinched from the web.

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  19. On 2 January 2019 at 5:00 PM, oh what a nissan feeling! said:

    So good mate,  nice work, it looks insane!

    A bit jelly as mines still a week or two off

     

    On 2 January 2019 at 6:50 PM, ke70dave said:

    well done! looks the business. 

    Thanks fellas.

    Motor back in yours Matt?

    New tyres on and rolling smoothly now, oppted for a set of AR1's, great reviews on these and priced really well. Definitely more of a slick than the RSR, heaps softer with a tread wear rating of 80 compared to 140 of the  Federals.

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  20. Happy new year everyone!!

    What a better way to kick this new year off for me than to get this car running, fuel in, oil pressure up and started first crank. Quick check over for leaks and funny noises, all good. Went for a slow drive around the block to set up initial brake balance, brakes seem pretty good, balance feels ok straight off the get go, a bit it more pedal effort required without the booster but the feel is great with no vagueness at all. 

    On the bad side tyres are shot, they have gone square from sitting on the one spot for so long, its like driving on square wheels. I was going to freshen them up soon but was hoping to run them for the shake down event on the 10th.

    Anyway here she is out of the garage properly for the first time in ages.

    image.thumb.jpeg.bcf63bf67f2b68c96134bc3723bdd792.jpeg 

     

     

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