Fia Update

FIAFRED · #1 (**permalink**) 10-24-2001, 06:33 PM

Hey DSSC,

No I didn't fall off the face of the earth! I too, enjoyed meeting all you guys in Gainesville, and man oh my, was there some fast and good looking cars! What a lot of fun to see the guys AND gals hitting it really hard on the track!! Bravo.

After taking delivery of my car on the Gainesville weekend, what else do you think I've been doing? Grass doesn't grow under my feet! My car got it's first color coat today, stripes on Friday, second color and clear coats Monday-Wednesday, and final massaging Thursday and Friday. I should be reassembled next weekend, and just MIGHT get my first ride next Sunday(week). Now that ain't to bad...from delivery to driving in three weeks. Will I be ready to drive the course in FEB.? Well let's just say, the car WILL be ready. I think I'm going to have to grow some hair!! Regards to all, looking forward to driving to the next event!!!

FIAFRED aka/Fred Savill

Engineer Ed · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2001, 01:49 PM

Great Job Fred.
i cant wait to see it again.
When are you driving it over

Give me a call when you get ready to get on the road.
I'm going to be over at Tom Jones house some time this weekend to help hmi with his wiring.

Talk to you soon.
Ed
FFR1997K

excelguru · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2001, 02:45 PM

C'mon Fred... pictures, pictures, pictures...

I'm gald to hear about the progress. I know you're excited about it!

Keith

FIAFRED · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2001, 03:10 PM

Ed,

Thanks for the good wishes...the final color coat went on today. They are going to apply one clear coat today just to seal the color. Tomorrow they are going to layout the stripes and possibly shoot them. Should get final clear coats Tues/Wed. Then however long it takes to buff it all out. The Diamox paint process requires steady applications through a time window, while each phase sets up pretty quickly. Far to technical for my pea brain!! I'm not really pushing them, the process is driving the time frame. Anyway, way cool, as far as I can tell. Don't really know what the color is until after clear coats do their magic. Check you later.

Keith,

If only I had your saavy on the computer, I would have some pictures posted. Maybe I will try to learn some new tricks with my digital camera, so that I can get something up.

Fred

CobraDan · #5 (**permalink**) 10-26-2001, 08:20 AM

Well, we should have a lot of new Cobras on the road for our next annual outting in Georgia come April.

Fred, send your pictures to Keith he will post them for you.

See you all later.

Dan

jerry rowley · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2001, 02:56 PM

Fred congrats on the quick progress on the Unique FIA 289! I think you will be ready by February to blow our drawers off! I am running with Ruble tomorrow at our local 2 day autocross we do each October. Weather looks good for it and the car is on the trailer ready to go racing!

Got some new ideas going with Bill Parham yesterday for the next meeting in April. We will have a FULL three day afair for those that can stay Sunday. It's going to be secret until it's all set up, but keep watching the posts! You are going to want to be in McDonough, GA in April!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David Niblett · #7 (**permalink**) 11-01-2001, 08:10 AM

Hey Fred can't wait to see your car. I sent you some Email, but haven't heard back from you. Alan from Unique suggested that you might want to part with that skid you built for your body once you are done.

Any truth to that? I would be glad to take it off your hands.

I should have my kit in 23 days 6h, not like I'm counting or anything.

SilverCobra · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2001, 08:30 AM

Dang Fred - You don't mess around do you?? Just hung up from talking to Allan and mine is to be loaded today or tomorrow for the trip to Dallas. I should have a Cobra in the garage by the weekend. Curious - how many man hours did it take you to remove all the stuff for painting?

FIAFRED · #9 (**permalink**) 11-01-2001, 10:30 PM

Dick,

The removal of all the body accessories is not really all that time consuming. Some of the things like the roll bar are a little bit of a *****, but I found jacking up the rear end, to gain access to the thru bolts to be helpful. No Dick, I really didn't waste any time in getting the body painted. My shop pretty much devoted lion share of the past two weeks to my car. I just got the car home this evening. I hung the wire harness today, before the body was re-installed. I put most of the accessories back on the car this evening and will start my mechanical hookup this weekend. With a little luck, should fire it up within the week. I know that you must be totally excited about now. Have fun, my excitement is still up in the clouds. Stay in touch.

Fred

David,

Sorry for the slow response. I've been in Cobra building land! The truth be known, I did not build out a paint stand, We simply used some good jack stands at the body shop and ran 2x4 wood spanners under the the passenger compartment. Since my turn around was just under three weeks, I only experienced about 1/4" of body sag, and we were able to reset the body using the existing penetrations with a little grunting. So glad to hear that you are so close!! As mentioned to Dick above, it's a lofty experience to say the least!!

Fred

David Niblett · #10 (**permalink**) 11-02-2001, 12:41 PM

Bummer, and I was hoping to snag a nicely constructed stand for cheap.

Hope my build goes as smooth as yours. I know my big one will
be getting paint on it. I hope my prefered painter can do the
work this December, but you know how December goes.

Can't wait to see it on Feb 2. Let me know if I can help out in
any way.

aball · #11 (**permalink**) 11-02-2001, 02:51 PM

Hey there...

Does anybody know who this guy is?

computerworks · #12 (**permalink**) 11-02-2001, 03:37 PM

Check the Pantera Listserv
http://realbig.com/detomaso/2000-06/786.html