Off to the Sandblaster

[markandson]

Last three pictures.

[markandson]

Finished my interior today except for the spare tire curtain and the closure below it. I have not decided what to do in that area yet as it will be housing the speakers for the radio. The passenger seat is not in yet just for the sake of easier access to the back of the car. A few things left to do before Carlisle, but even if I stopped now I think the car is good enough to show .

[markandson]

More pics

[markandson]

A few more

[markandson]

Decided on the method of speaker mounting and using AutoCad I designed a board that fit the rear of the car with the proper radii to match the wheel well curvature and vertical closures that are angled to match the angle of the carbon fiber pieces on the doors and rear panels. I will be making a spare tire compartment flap that will attach with velcro so you can't see snaps like on the original. The design concept also includes a matching Blitz design to the one I created for the wheel centers.

[jlthunder]

Very Nice. Can't wait to see it in person.

I'm going the opposite route, like your VW. I reinstalled the AM radio and hid the speakers and stereo so I can enjoy some CD's or iPod.

[markandson]

Can't believe it, my interior is complete except for the custom rear curtain I am making. Today I finished the radio installation and the routing of the USB cable that I need to tune the car with my laptop. I put in the new 180 Deg. thermostat, put the passenger seat in and my wife and I went for a 2 1/2 hour drive. Everything seems to be perfect except the exhaust system is hitting the frame when I go over bumps. There are still a few more things to complete before Carlisle, like New Starter Install, and about 12 other small details that I would like completed but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am soooo looking forward to Carlisle this year, I finally have something to show and it's not just pieces and pictures

[jtb]

Very Nice!

What seats are those? I see that they are Recaros , but out of what specifically? (I did search, but didn't find anything)

Thanks,

jtb

[markandson]

Originally Posted by jtb Very Nice! What seats are those? I see that they are Recaros , but out of what specifically? (I did search, but didn't find anything) Thanks, jtb

Got them from a BMW repair shop, they came out of a Bimmer, but I don't know which model.

[Phoenix]

I love the rear panel and like where your going with the rear flap. There is going to be a whole memory card used up on pics of your GT. Just so much unique things about it.

[markandson]

Found a gremlin in my car today, good thing I am driving it a lot before the long haul to Carlisle. I had a fusible link installed right on the alternator output bolt with a piece of Delrin as an insulator and then the red wire was bolted to the other side of the fusible link. I noticed on the way home from a cruise that I did with Opellane that my ammeter was dead center and it is almost always on the charge side a little. My radar detector also shut down due to low voltage, I thought I just blew the fuse to the lighter socket. The fuse was fine, the culprit was the fusible link, it couldn't take the vibration of being attached to the alternator, the copper connector split so no current was flowing. I went to the parts store and found a 100 amp circuit breaker, really nice piece with a reset button and everything. I made an aluminum plate that bolted to the two holes that used to hold the coil since I was not using them for anything else, the breaker is bolted to the plate, it came out very nice. Now I just have a short pigtail running from the alternator to the breaker and the red feed wire is bolted to the the load side of the breaker.

[markandson]

Here is a picture of the 100 Amp breaker installed.

[markandson]

My front headliner bow pops down with the windows open at 90MPH due to the drop in pressure inside the car as the window openings are acting like venturis at high speed. Has anyone else ever experienced this, I know there are many out there that probably haven't had their GT up to 90 because it is not legal on the highways, but of course I was on a track .

[markandson]

Here is the GT cake made by my Daughter In-Law for Father's Day 2009

[markandson]

A few more pix

[opelenvy]

Originally Posted by markandson Here is the GT cake made by my Daughter In-Law for Father's Day 2009

Wait? We are supposed to get cake for FATHERS DAY?? Oh, I see, Daughter in-law. Sucking up.

[opellane]

WoW, That looks like an Awesome Cake, I have never seen an Opel GT Cake before. What flavor icing and cake? It Looks too Nice to eat. Very Cool Enjoy
Jeff, Happy Fathers Day

[saxybiker]

What a GREAT daughter-in-law!!! Tell her she did great. I don't believe I've seen an Opel cake before.

Very nicely done!

Vickie

[markandson]

BQS4 (Gene) asked me for dimensions of the Miata arm rests that I used in my GT. I figured I would post the info so that if others needed it they could find it here.

[BQS4]

Thanks Jeff, just getting ideas for future projects...

[blancojp]

Originally Posted by markandson BQS4 (Gene) asked me for dimensions of the Miata arm rests that I used in my GT. I figured I would post the info so that if others needed it they could find it here.

You ca also use the arm rest from a 1974-78 mustang II, it is a little longer but works out in the long run.

[markandson]

Originally Posted by blancojp You ca also use the arm rest from a 1974-78 mustang II, it is a little longer but works out in the long run.

Yes I am aware of this but found that they were hard to locate. You can buy the Miata ones from Moss Motors brand spankin' new with the click of your mouse .

[markandson]

Well for most of us in the Northeast it is time to put the fun machines away for the winter. I have driven my GT about every 2 weeks this summer and made it to several local car shows with some friends who own Vettes, and to one with Opellane. I never made it back to the dyno with the car to get it tuned really well at the low end but it is driving very well anyway. I did find that the Jeep IAC in the DIYAutotune aluminum block can not pass enough air to allow my engine to idle so I had to use a stop screw on the throttle body for the major amount of air and let the IAC just adjust for warm up conditions. The car idles fine now except when I have all the lights on it drops a little low due to alternator load. Work has kept me from working on the car at all so the rear curtain is still not 100% complete and I have not started work on the Buick/Opel rear with the Isuzu disks on it. Heads still turn every time I take the car out which I enjoy. 2010 Carlisle is not that far off, I can feel my right foot getting heavy already .

[blancojp]

Originally Posted by markandson Well for most of us in the Northeast it is time to put the fun machines away for the winter. I have driven my GT about every 2 weeks this summer and made it to several local car shows with some friends who own Vettes, and to one with Opellane. I never made it back to the dyno with the car to get it tuned really well at the low end but it is driving very well anyway. I did find that the Jeep IAC in the DIYAutotune aluminum block can not pass enough air to allow my engine to idle so I had to use a stop screw on the throttle body for the major amount of air and let the IAC just adjust for warm up conditions. The car idles fine now except when I have all the lights on it drops a little low due to alternator load. Work has kept me from working on the car at all so the rear curtain is still not 100% complete and I have not started work on the Buick/Opel rear with the Isuzu disks on it. Heads still turn every time I take the car out which I enjoy. 2010 Carlisle is not that far off, I can feel my right foot getting heavy already .

I am glad you are enjoying your car and sorry that you have to put it away for winter. Carlisle will be fun and I will be there for the first time with Stealth so might have a little competition.

[markandson]

Originally Posted by blancojp I am glad you are enjoying your car and sorry that you have to put it away for winter. Carlisle will be fun and I will be there for the first time with Stealth so might have a little competition.

Juan it will be great to meet you, as far as competition, there is plenty, my car is nice but others are done very well also, it is never a given that any particular vehicle will walk away with a trophy. See you in May!!