Most liked posts in thread: Isobell, The RatRod Project

320 Miles in! The rain has been patchy since before I got out of CO, and I might want to wait this next one out a little!



For all the people who asked what I do if it rains having the NACA duct in the airbox...



Got that covered!

There is a 10-20 degree difference in airbox temps with the vent open or covered.

Back on the road in a few!

 

I'm back on the right side of the big river... Was going to stop for a pic with the Gateway arch, but it was socked in with fog.

I didnt even stop at my "oh crap I took the wrong road" gas station either, for the first time in 12 years of driving through here! I just passed it by, gave it the finger, and kept going...



Plans changed, and my army buddy is going to try and meet up in Mount Vernon on the return trip... Plotted everything out, and his house is just to far out of the way.

Still have to keep the NACA duct taped up... And I am not sure about the safety orange duct tape. (Its over masking tape so no residue...)



And onward to Tennessee, to see my adopted family!

 

Editing pic's from the Dragon, and my other pitstops...

They will come in slowly!





Not sure what one of these I like more...

 

Adding a bunch of clutter to the car is just tasteless... Kinda like putting 30" rimz on a stock Tahoe...

Now the pic Eric posted, thats more my style.

 

The other rust bucket there doesn't run quite so hot... [emoji17]

(Non edited iPhone pic)

 

Thanks Don, that shoot was a hit! Nice to slow down and have a club activity that you're not stuck behind the wheel... I'm waiting on Jim to get all of the ones he took up before I do those...

Zillon, its kinda stalled out. Pretty sure the house I wanted sold, and what Tapoco was going to pay me wasn't going to fly. [emoji17]

I turned down a job with CAT in Tacoa GA, and right now I am reevaluating my situation. When the CEO of the company tells you "We're going to do whatever it takes to get you to stay" thats not a bad thing. [emoji41]

 

The car had its chance to get dents plummeting down the ravine at the Dragon, but it wasn't having it... Just sayin... [emoji13]

 

So because of the beautiful Colorado sunshine today (note the sarcasm, it's snowing, cold, and wet) I can get the thread caught up to where the car sits now.

I wanted to ditch all the holes in my original hood, to clean the car up a bit so a new hood was needed. Miniconcarne came through, and I got a new OE hood that didn't need much work, just needed Maaco's best removed, and the hole made above the air box for a NACA duct.

It was hour upon hour of cut, weld, and fill, just for a fancy hole to fit the duct.



I decided to flush mount the duct as much as I could, so I needed to fabricate a mounting plate to weld to the underside of the hood, then stick it all together without warping the sheet metal too badly.









I also cut the bottom of the duct off, to open it up a little more than the 2 1/2" hole that was meant to be connected to a hose.



The completed mounting plate, right before welding it in:



And post weld test fit:

 

I had thoughts of doing just black and primer spatter on the plastic pieces, but the rust looks so much better.

 

Its not going to really be covering anything, it will be brushed on (yes with a paint brush) then aged with the rest of the car. Trust me on this one... It will just add more to the look, not take anything away.

 

Na not my thing...

The Kite blue is on the door, and lookin SICK!

Glad I payed the extra for that color.

 

Waiting on the innards of the new hood to dry, so I can flip it over and do the outside...

The one piece that is staying shiny, and rust free... Its Silk Green with a brown candy coat.

 

HERE DAVE.... Sheesh, you are a tough one!
It looked good, but all the M7 garbage had to go!:devil:

 

An online friend just sent me a pic of his buddy's Beetle so I figured I would share... This is a decent example of this kind of paint on a new car.

 

A little random misfire just lets you know you are still alive Nate...