AP2289 build log

[tkb289]

The blacked out chassis looks very good, and the idea of blacked out suspension bits is a nice touch. The craftsmanship & engineering are still there for all to see, but it’s a bit more subtle. It will also let a nicely dressed 289 / 302 catch the eye at first, then as one looks deeper, the chassis detail and design will draw one’s attention.

Interesting to see how they check / set the gap for the door, nothing like some simple shims to do the trick.

[xb-60]

Hey Tim...just coincidentally....here's a link to one of your threads from back in 2010 about CSX2289 soon after it emerged from its 'barn' (and well before my car was lucky enough to be assigned its AP2289 chassis designation).

CSX2289 Out Of Storage After 30 Plus Years

"The number is pretty neat as well ... #289 for a 289!"

[albanycobra]

Nice link, really enjoyed those pics. Somehow I love the cars when they are in that used state of condition, patina. lots of great reference shots.

[xb-60]

From the update from AP, here's the RH door fit into the body.


When you're 2000km from the factory, the weekly updates from AP are much appreciated


Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

Left door opening. Don't know what the correct term for this is, but it's what the door shuts up against



Right door, checking fit



Right door, showing unique inner skin for FIA cut-back door. The intrusion bar will be located inside this moulding



More as/when it happens

Cheers,
Glen

[albanycobra]

Tight like a Tiga.......Cant wait to see the new body popped out of the mould.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by albanycobra

Tight like a Tiga.......Cant wait to see the new body popped out of the mould.

Yes, gaps will be good

[xb-60]

No, sorry, no update pics of AP2289 yet, but that is a Real One, yes?

Just wanted to bump my build thread. More pictures soon, as the mods to the front guards (OK, fenders in US speak) and the addition of the oil cooler scoop to bring the front end up to 'FIA spec" will be happening soon.

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

Update on the body work for AP2289:

Splashes for the standard bodywork (roadster guards/fenders and also the no-oil-cooler-scoop) on the front section have been made.
Bodywork mods to change the front end into FIA configuration are underway.
Mods are:
• FIA spec. flared front guards/fendersto accommodate the wider FIA wheels and bigger tyres
• the addition of an oil cooler scoop under the nose


This (above) shows the forming of the changes on the body front end ....the shape of the wheel arches is not the exact shape we will end up with.
There is plenty of allowance for trimming and shaping to complete the mould. The mould is made bigger, allowing an overlap that can then be adjusted back for a strong trimmed edge.





Same comments for the rear flares....again, plenty of allowance in the mould for a strong trimmed edge

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

So, the AP craftsmen are working away on making the body for their first 289FIA replica as accurate as they can.
There will be some features (or omission of features) that some might think are unusual about AP2289.

'Trunk bumps'. I'm not having them. I don't like the look of them. Only three of the original FIA cars had them and none of the USRRC cars had them, so I can justify not having them.

If you don't know what they look like, here they are on CSX2345 (one of the FIA cars):




The dash board on FIA cars - typically, but not exclusively, had 2⅝" SW minor gauges spread in-line across the dash, with a 3⅜" speedometer on the passenger's side of the dash. The tacho, in front of the driver, could be a SW or a big Jones or a Sun....or even a Smiths - whatever the driver's preference was.


Here's CSX2323's dash:



I'm not having that either

[xb-60]

My dash config. is something closer to the standard street roadster dashboard. Authenticity-wise, that's OK because a number of otherwise FIA spec. cars had street type (dropped-centre) dash layouts.
One is CSX2514, which is a factory-built but customer-ordered FIA-bodied car.

Here is its dashboard:




Another car with a street type dash, and also with full ex-factory (AC) FIA-spec. body, is one of my favourites, COB6008. Being a COB car, it is of course a RHD config. car, so AP2289 will be quite close to COB6008 in appearance.
COB6008 is now back in its original ex-factory ivory white, but for many years it was painted Viking Blue, which will be the colour of my car.


Here's an early picture of COB6008's dash layout:



.....and here it is now:




More later...

[Aussie Mike]

Those trunk bumps were so they could fit the regulation sized suitcase in the boot weren't they?

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Aussie Mike

Those trunk bumps were so they could fit the regulation sized suitcase in the boot weren't they?

Yes. The story goes - and I have no doubt it's true - that when the FIA guy was checking just before a race, the suitcase (or box) wouldn't quite fit, so the Shelby guys just kept slamming the boot until the alloy skin was deformed enough to close properly, and then they just tidied it up a little later.
Some cars have quite sharp edged deformations for the trunk bumps, and to me they just look too precise, whereas 2345's bumps look more realistic.
The way I'm thinking - why destroy those beautiful smooth curves if you don't have to, and several of the FIA cars didn't have them anyway?

Cheers,
Glen

[Aussie Mike]

It'd be easy enough to get two boot lids and paint them up the same. One with the bumps and one without. Change them as the mood takes you.

Cheers

[albanycobra]

Love the dash layout on 6008...I'm going that way on my 427.
Yeah two boots is the go.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Aussie Mike

It'd be easy enough to get two boot lids and paint them up the same. One with the bumps and one without. Change them as the mood takes you.

Cheers

Says the guy with a garage-mahal in the back yard.
I'm totally green with envy... You lads with big sheds!

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Aussie Mike

It'd be easy enough to get two boot lids and paint them up the same. One with the bumps and one without. Change them as the mood takes you....

Umm....the mood's taken me....

Originally Posted by xb-60

.....'Trunk bumps'. I'm not having them. I don't like the look of them....

Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

Another dash config. that I considered for AP2289 is a variation on the roadster's drop-centre dash. It's the dash on CSX2257 (a similar setup is on CSX2558 as well), which is a factory USRRC roadster.
It's got that 'road car, modified to race car' look about it...which it really is, in effect.

Here it is:




What I finally settled on is something closer to the roadster, but modified in areas that I think don't affect the basic originality of the layout.
It was quite a challenge to track down a correct shaped dash to start with. There are definitely significant differences between some of the roadsters, and then there are the changes from Smiths gauges to SW gauges, and even that switch seems to have resulted in minor movement of gauge and switch locations.
With the help of a good friend (thanks tkb) with access to a CSX2xxx car, I obtained a complete set of dash measurements. 1985 CCX (thanks Jeff) supplied me with a tracing of his CSX2375R dash.


This is what I ended up with:




Cheers,
Glen

[Dimis]

Nice dash - particularly like the two stopwatches!
Very fitting

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Dimis

Nice dash - particularly like the two stopwatches!
Very fitting

Thanks, I like them too! Quite amazing what can be found on eBay.