Aluminum 550 Spyder build

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Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#31 Post by Adam Wright »

Charles H Jacobus wrote:What engine are you planning for it, Adam?

ChuckJ
Still planning on that. Right now I have a rolled over C Coupe that I plan to skin and use the chassis. Then I'm going to chop a 914 at the fire wall and use the engine/gearbox and rear suspension.
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Dan Epperly
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#32 Post by Dan Epperly »

Adam Wright wrote:
Charles H Jacobus wrote:What engine are you planning for it, Adam?

ChuckJ
Still planning on that. Right now I have a rolled over C Coupe that I plan to skin and use the chassis. Then I'm going to chop a 914 at the fire wall and use the engine/gearbox and rear suspension.
Curious why you are going that route instead of using a 356 drivetrain.

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Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#33 Post by Adam Wright »

Dan Epperly wrote:
Adam Wright wrote:
Charles H Jacobus wrote:What engine are you planning for it, Adam?

ChuckJ
Still planning on that. Right now I have a rolled over C Coupe that I plan to skin and use the chassis. Then I'm going to chop a 914 at the fire wall and use the engine/gearbox and rear suspension.
Curious why you are going that route instead of using a 356 drivetrain.
In order to fit under the bodywork it has to be transverse mounted, like the 550 was, as is the 914. Not to mention I will have the benefit of a 901 gearbox and a much more powerful 914 motor, which I can make into a monster later. If there is anything doing autocross has taught me, it's that the extra power the 914 has makes autocross a lot funner, than in the 356.
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Charles H Jacobus
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#34 Post by Charles H Jacobus »

This brings me back to when I was 12 years old and built a 2 speed go-cart with an aluminum body. The chassis was fun to design and build, but the satisfaction of shaping the body far surpassed that, so I really appreciate and am envious of what you are doing. When you get this project done I may have to come visit and experience a real builder's tools, expertise and results.

ChuckJ
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Current:
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
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Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90) :)

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Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#35 Post by Adam Wright »

Charles H Jacobus wrote:This brings me back to when I was 12 years old and built a 2 speed go-cart with an aluminum body. The chassis was fun to design and build, but the satisfaction of shaping the body far surpassed that, so I really appreciate and am envious of what you are doing. When you get this project done I may have to come visit and experience a real builder's tools, expertise and results.

ChuckJ
If you want the real deal experience, Wray does classes once a month, it's a great 4 days, you get to shape metal and learn the tools, while being surrounded with Jags and Ferrari's, it's pretty cool.

http://www.proshaper.com/coachbuilding-classes/
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Jon Bunin
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#36 Post by Jon Bunin »

Adam Wright wrote:
Dan Epperly wrote:
Adam Wright wrote:... Then I'm going to chop a 914 at the fire wall and use the engine/gearbox and rear suspension.
Curious why you are going that route instead of using a 356 drivetrain.
In order to fit under the bodywork it has to be transverse mounted, like the 550 was, as is the 914. Not to mention...
Adam, the 550 and 914 Porsches did not have transverse mounted engines or transmissions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transverse_engine

Here is a transverse mounted engine in a Lamborghini Miura chassis.
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Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#37 Post by Adam Wright »

Jon Bunin wrote:
Adam Wright wrote:
Dan Epperly wrote:
Adam Wright wrote:... Then I'm going to chop a 914 at the fire wall and use the engine/gearbox and rear suspension.
Curious why you are going that route instead of using a 356 drivetrain.
In order to fit under the bodywork it has to be transverse mounted, like the 550 was, as is the 914. Not to mention...
Adam, the 550 and 914 Porsches did not have transverse mounted engines or transmissions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transverse_engine

Here is a transverse mounted engine in a Lamborghini Miura chassis.
Okay, it has to be reverse mounted to how it is normally in a 356. You get the idea, a rear mounted gearbox.
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Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#38 Post by Adam Wright »

The sheet metal for the rear is done, at least the outer skin. I will have the tail on display at the open house. Very exciting.
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Emil Wojcik
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#39 Post by Emil Wojcik »

Looks great. I hope you don't plan on painting it when it's done. Would be a shame to hide that hand-worked surface.
Emil Wojcik
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Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#40 Post by Adam Wright »

Emil Wojcik wrote:Looks great. I hope you don't plan on painting it when it's done. Would be a shame to hide that hand-worked surface.
I think I'm going to paint the outside and leave the inner in bare metal.
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Emil Wojcik
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#41 Post by Emil Wojcik »

Adam Wright wrote:
Emil Wojcik wrote:Looks great. I hope you don't plan on painting it when it's done. Would be a shame to hide that hand-worked surface.
I think I'm going to paint the outside and leave the inner in bare metal.
I guess that's a good compromise and it is your car after all. I'm sure it will look great painted too.
Emil Wojcik
'64 356C Euro coupe
'78 MGB
'86 Jaguar XJ6 Series 3
'94 MB E420

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Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#42 Post by Adam Wright »

Cool crate arrived today bearing the remains of a long destroyed 550 Spyder, it's amazing how light the pieces are! It's like X-mass morning at Unobtanium today!
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M Penta
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#43 Post by M Penta »

Looks like this will be another amazing (and ambitious) project Adam. Nice parts delivery! It will look great painted or bare, but sure love the look of hand worked bare aluminum, such as the great 550 on last months magazine cover.

How do you find the time? I need to get my priorities straight...

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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#44 Post by Adam Wright »

M Penta wrote:Looks like this will be another amazing (and ambitious) project Adam. Nice parts delivery!

How do you find the time? I need to get my priorities straight...
Thursday is the only day I'm at the shop by myself, so I try and devote at least part of that day to working on my own stuff, I don't always succeed, but I try.

The 550 stuff is crazy, you can pick up the doors with one finger.
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M Penta
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

#45 Post by M Penta »

Nice find on that stuff, plenty of 550 DNA!

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