Paintwerks' Absolute Pace 427SC build thread

[stephen low]

Great news Sime. Though the 2 - 4 weeks post VIN might be optimistic unless Vicroads have improved. Think I waited 6 weeks but then it was a long time ago maybe I've forgotten.

Anyway your target to registration is close by any count - well done!

[Paintwerks]

Originally Posted by stephen low

Great news Sime. Though the 2 - 4 weeks post VIN might be optimistic unless Vicroads have improved. Think I waited 6 weeks but then it was a long time ago maybe I've forgotten.

Anyway your target to registration is close by any count - well done!

Not sure if it has Steve. Tom at Enkelmans said 2 weeks is the quickest he's seen the docs processed and 4 weeks is about the average. So perhaps things have improved?

Just a quick update.....I had a leaking fuel line that I had to replace so I missed my slot at Vipac for the IM240 test on Monday. I'm booked in for Thursday afternoon so I'll report back then.

[Paintwerks]

Well....my Cobra passed the IM240 emissions test today!

Big thanks to Nick Ball who is the testing engineer at Vipac. Nick is a thoroughly nice guy who went out of his way to explain the whole process to me. He let me watch the test and showed me how everything works. He couldn't have been more helpful. In summary, the IM240 is not a scary event!!!

https://youtu.be/nMicO6VYxOE

[letsboogie351]

Congratulations Simon. Another hurdle jumped. When I did my 240 test it was great sitting in the control room watching the car break and accelerate in concert with the track displayed on the video "gamish" (is that even a word?) looking monitor.

BTW I cannot get you youtube link to work

Doug

[albanycobra]

Woohoo......unreal, also thanks for taking the time to show the IM240 test.

[Paintwerks]

Originally Posted by letsboogie351

Congratulations Simon. Another hurdle jumped. When I did my 240 test it was great sitting in the control room watching the car break and accelerate in concert with the track displayed on the video "gamish" (is that even a word?) looking monitor.

BTW I cannot get you youtube link to work

Doug

Thanks Doug. Yes, it was great to see how everything worked.

The link works now!

[damage]

out of interest do you have the print out of the test??

[Cobra01]

Hi Simon,

Congratulations Simon on passing the IM240 emissions test.

Now for rego and all the FUN that goes with driving your very own Cobra

on the road,there are not many better better thrills than the wind in your face on the open road.

10,000 kms on and I still get a thrill from a drive down the road.

Well Done

Brad

[Paintwerks]

Little update....well it's been just over 7 weeks now and I'm still waiting for my VIN from VicRoads. I'd imagine that it will come any day now.

About to break the car down for paint. Still can't decide between silver with black stripes or light ice blue metallic with Wimbledon white stripes. Hardest decision of my life!

[Tenrocca]

My opinion - go the ice blue and white. Silver and greys have been done to death now, and I reckon the lighter blues with white look all class. This is what I would do if I ever tire of the hand painted cement look.

[DaveW]

Some pics on opening day at the Shelby Heritage Centre LV, the big guy was picking up his Christmas present.
Ice Blue, white roundel, yellow team stripe and a great rumble to match.

With white wheels....droool.

[Paintwerks]

Apologies for the long hiatus from providing updates. The reality is that I've been so busy with my customer's vehicles, that I haven't had any time to work on my own (it's always the way!).

I've finally managed to break the car down for bodywork and paint. Have finished the filler work and she will receive highfill primer on Monday morning. The body is really good as delivered so it doesn't need all that much filler work (compared to other DRB's and Harrison Cobras I have worked on and painted in the past). Will let her sit in primer for about a week until I block her down again and get ready for topcoat. Being conservative, I'm hoping to have the car on the road in mid-late October, but there may be some small stroke of luck that I could get her ready for the Nationals. Will be pushing it however.

Colour-wise, well, I'm keeping that under wraps until I finish her. It will be metallic and it will have stripes....that's all I'll say for now.

My painter/assistant helping me work on the body:



Partially masked in my spraybooth at Paintwerks:

[MikeFromPerth]

Originally Posted by Paintwerks

LSA intercooler reservoir tank and fluid pump fitted, as well as the TR6060 MG9 transmission cooler.

Sime,

How did that intercooler reservoir tank integrate/clash with the clutch hard line? If i'm interpreting that photo correctly it looks like the tank goes right where most people run the hard line (on the back of those two horizontal angled braces).

Any tips you have in general about fitting the intercooler system, i'd love to hear!

cheers
Mike

[Donunder]

Sime I notice you've already done some work to the body immediately in front of the bonnet opening. Are you by any chance considering GTO-style air vents to feed that monstrous air cleaner, similar to the AK cars?
Home - AK Sportscars - Cobra Replica Kit Car

[leroy17]

This is going to be interesting. I saw pics of your recent work and it look just stunning, so I imagine that this will as well.

Do not hold out on pics.

[Paintwerks]

Originally Posted by Donunder

Sime I notice you've already done some work to the body immediately in front of the bonnet opening. Are you by any chance considering GTO-style air vents to feed that monstrous air cleaner, similar to the AK cars?
Home - AK Sportscars - Cobra Replica Kit Car

Hi Don,

I will be running the cold air box as supplied by Pace to suit the LSA motor, but it picks up cold air from the mouth opening. I'm not considering the GTO intake.

The reason the filler is there is due to the body being a little low in that area. We put filler there to level it up.

Cheers,
Sime

[Paintwerks]

Originally Posted by leroy17

This is going to be interesting. I saw pics of your recent work and it look just stunning, so I imagine that this will as well.

Do not hold out on pics.

Thanks Leroy. That's very kind of you! Yeah, I just did Mark Sant's Harrison for him and am waiting on his approval to post pics of that.

I'll definitely keep up with the pics on my own car too.

But re colour, you'll have to wait for the unveil of the finished car. Sorry!

[leroy17]

Should see if mark will ok it and also get a photo shoot of it. Stunning and no others like it.

So black it is, there you go, unveiled!

[Wazza]

Sime,

How did that intercooler reservoir tank integrate/clash with the clutch hard line? If i'm interpreting that photo correctly it looks like the tank goes right where most people run the hard line (on the back of those two horizontal angled braces).

Any tips you have in general about fitting the intercooler system, i'd love to hear!

cheers
Mike

Hi Mike,

Where Simon has the tank is “technically” a better option for performance as it contributes to a better momentum of inertia that the overall PACE 427 design has been focused towards.

But it is a lot more busy in that location to fit it.

It is easier to fit it further forward in the chassis where it is out of the way, but from a technically standpoint not in as good a position performance wise.

We tend to recommend to fit it further forward as it makes the install a lot easier.

See pics below:





Cheers,
Warren

[MikeFromPerth]

Thanks Wazza, very useful info!
Cheers
Mike