Aluminum 550 Spyder build
- Bil Brown
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Adam.......do you know if your buddy Bill Haupt`s 0054 has 60mm brakes from factory?.....and is it a "high-rail" frame car? I asked LeeRaskin if 0055 was fitted with 60mm brakes, but he could`nt answer that question and referred me to Jerry Slonger`s 4 cam book.....and I looked and he mentions nothing about 550 brakes! I know the big brakes were fitted to some of the 550 cars, but not all.
Bill Brown
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Hey Bill, You can see in these old photos that 550-055 was running standard brake drums.
You can see that the center snout on the front drum protrudes out further from the surface than a GT drum. The extra width on the 60mm brakes went to the outside so the center isn't so pronounced and...
No rear wheel spacers for wheel track compensation.- Bil Brown
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Sure enough Justin.....good eye! Lee just learned a new detail!!
Bill Brown
- Vic Skirmants
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Interesting that the transmission that just sold has the spacers on the rear drums. I wonder who added those?
- Bil Brown
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Vic......the first pic in this thread looks like rear spacers are on the rear.
Bill Brown
- Bil Brown
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Also, when 60mm drums are fitted to a 550 car, a different offset 16" alloy/steel wheel was used. There are 2 different 16" a/s wheels
Bill Brown
- Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Ok, It looks like we are entering the home stretch in terms of the chassis being operational. Geoff has working brakes, exhaust, shifting, engine and gearbox in place. Some of these things sound simple, except when you realize there is no mechanism for a lot of it. Brakes sure, they are brakes. But shifting on a hybrid chassis with components that are new to it. For example, the linkage and shifting that works on the 519 doesn't work on the 644, which I am using, so Geoff had to do a lot of thinking outside the box and trail and error to see what works. Probably a lot of what the Factory had to do when they made the first 550's.
Better him than me. I was recently told by a mechanic who I know really well that I'm a good finder, an ok salesman, but an awful mechanic. He told me politely to play to my strengths!
Better him than me. I was recently told by a mechanic who I know really well that I'm a good finder, an ok salesman, but an awful mechanic. He told me politely to play to my strengths!
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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
Chassis is done, picked it up at Geoff's today, just missing the blizzard that is hitting tonight. A Nor'Easter, they are calling it.
Next stop is Proshaper where we will skin this baby!
Next stop is Proshaper where we will skin this baby!
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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.
- Martin Benade
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Nice progress. Any pictures of how you joined the frame to the body sheet metal?
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
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62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
- Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
It's alive, fired the motor today, the exhaust is throaty!
https://www.facebook.com/adam.wright.96 ... 3681017111
https://www.facebook.com/adam.wright.96 ... 3681017111
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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
Loaded up the car today to head to Wray's so we can start skinning it this weekend, if you squint you can see the dream!
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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.
- Mike Wilson
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- Adam Wright
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
It's been a productive weekend. Me and Wray really got rolling on the assembly. Dreams come true at Proshaper!
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
Last pics from the 550 build weekend with Wray Schelin at Proshaper, the car is finally taking shape after all these years of working away.
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.
- Trond Vidar
- 356 Fan
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Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build
Looking good, I have seen some of his instructional videos on youtube, impressive skills in metal shaping.
'56A coupe & '63B coupe