Most liked posts in thread: The Phoenix - The GP Roadster Project

Finished up fitting the A-pillar trim, wet sanded and polished the black windshield header panel, and reinstalled the weather strip.

Padded the roll cage, everywhere a helmet (or bare head) might hit it. The most likely contact spots use dual-durometer padding, so it's softish if I hit it climbing in and out of the car (or in a fender bender on the street), but has a high density core so it does something in a crash with a helmet. Added a new GPR760 sticker.



Finished wiring and plumbing the Aquamist HFS-3 and Howerton custom fuel cell. Ran through the startup / test procedure, no problems. Filled with meth and ready to run.

Swapped out my drivers side mirror housing for a spare (the old one was kinda floppy).

Wired the harness for my trailer lights.

Swapped my Necksgen latches from my old SA2005 helmet, onto my new helmet.

Cleaned things up a bit. Ready to go for track inspection tomorrow. Might play with my front ride height in the morning before I go, if I have time. Safelite is supposed to come out tomorrow afternoon and install a new windshield. Car will be looking good after that...

 

Got up this morning, lowered the front end about half to 3/4 of an inch, torqued the wheels, did a few odds and ends, dressed in 5 layers top and bottom, and drove in 25F weather to town to Tar Heel Sports Car Club tech day.



Car got A LOT of attention at tech, everyone was coming over to check it out and ask questions. Passed! Saved the sticker, to put on new glass...



Went for a drive on the way home, to test out the Auto-Blip. OMG, I love it. It's not a street thing. I was simulating track braking and shifting, and for that it was AWESOME. Took a couple of minutes to get the delay and duration set properly, but then it JUST WORKED. Makes downshifts so dead simple, so I can concentrate on things like braking, steering, shifting...

And the car drives great with the summer wheels/tires on it (even in freezing weather) and with the new EBC Red pads front and rear.

YES I said EBC RED front and rear. It's what I ran as daily pads on my old car, and I love them. I tried to go back to Carbotech 1521's on the new car, but I just can't stand how little bite they have, especially with sticky tires. Much happier now.

Then went home and played around with the rear interior a bit. Cut down my GP-ized cabrio rear interior panels, to fit around the cage, and threw the old carpet in to dress it up a little.


I'm going to work on these some more, I'll probably hack them down a good bit and mainly use the parts that cover the rear of the door jamb, and the area immediately around the speaker grilles. The rest eats too much space, I'll probably just wrap everything else back there in gray carpet.

Then I pulled all the trim and wipers off, waiting for the windshield guy to arrive.


I've had lots of windshields replaced, but have never stayed around to watch. Today I watched and helped.

I should just drive it like this. More aero.


But, wasn't meant to be.



Nice to have new, unpitted glass in the GPness. Really like a new car now. Need to put the trim and wipers back on tomorrow.

Oh yeah, haz sticker.

 

Because it's all about the look, apparently.

 

Here, Dick.

 

Windshield installer yesterday:

"This is the shortest car I've ever worked on."

"Does this thing have NOS?"

 

Thanks. It's been quite a ride.

Truth

 

It's not done yet... seriously.