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.Charles H Jacobus wrote:What engine are you planning for it, Adam?
ChuckJ
Aluminum 550 Spyder build
- Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
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Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Curious why you are going that route instead of using a 356 drivetrain.Adam Wright wrote: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.Charles H Jacobus wrote:What engine are you planning for it, Adam?
ChuckJ
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
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.Dan Epperly wrote:Curious why you are going that route instead of using a 356 drivetrain.Adam Wright wrote: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.Charles H Jacobus wrote:What engine are you planning for it, Adam?
ChuckJ
www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
- Charles H Jacobus
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
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
ChuckJ
Current:
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C
Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90)
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C
Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90)
- Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
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.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
http://www.proshaper.com/coachbuilding-classes/
www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Adam, the 550 and 914 Porsches did not have transverse mounted engines or transmissions.Adam Wright wrote:In order to fit under the bodywork it has to be transverse mounted, like the 550 was, as is the 914. Not to mention...Dan Epperly wrote:Curious why you are going that route instead of using a 356 drivetrain.Adam Wright wrote:... Then I'm going to chop a 914 at the fire wall and use the engine/gearbox and rear suspension.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transverse_engine
Here is a transverse mounted engine in a Lamborghini Miura chassis.
Jon Bunin
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Okay, it has to be reverse mounted to how it is normally in a 356. You get the idea, a rear mounted gearbox.Jon Bunin wrote:Adam, the 550 and 914 Porsches did not have transverse mounted engines or transmissions.Adam Wright wrote:In order to fit under the bodywork it has to be transverse mounted, like the 550 was, as is the 914. Not to mention...Dan Epperly wrote:Curious why you are going that route instead of using a 356 drivetrain.Adam Wright wrote:... Then I'm going to chop a 914 at the fire wall and use the engine/gearbox and rear suspension.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transverse_engine
Here is a transverse mounted engine in a Lamborghini Miura chassis.
www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
- Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
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.
www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
- Emil Wojcik
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
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
'64 356C Euro coupe
'78 MGB
'86 Jaguar XJ6 Series 3
'94 MB E420
'64 356C Euro coupe
'78 MGB
'86 Jaguar XJ6 Series 3
'94 MB E420
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
I think I'm going to paint the outside and leave the inner in bare metal.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.
www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
- Emil Wojcik
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
I guess that's a good compromise and it is your car after all. I'm sure it will look great painted too.Adam Wright wrote:I think I'm going to paint the outside and leave the inner in bare metal.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.
Emil Wojcik
'64 356C Euro coupe
'78 MGB
'86 Jaguar XJ6 Series 3
'94 MB E420
'64 356C Euro coupe
'78 MGB
'86 Jaguar XJ6 Series 3
'94 MB E420
- Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
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!
www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
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...
How do you find the time? I need to get my priorities straight...
- Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
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.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...
The 550 stuff is crazy, you can pick up the doors with one finger.
www.unobtanium-inc.com
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
Check out my Barn Find column in the Registry magazine, always looking for good stories.
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Nice find on that stuff, plenty of 550 DNA!