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cant sleep, and since it is 15 degrees out, I am not going to
the garage...

I'm 46 and work for ATT as a tech. Ham radio nerd, volunteer firefighter. from Omaha, NE. Divorced. had a few hot rods: '65 corvair, '84 vette, '68 mustang, '71 mach one, lots of VW bugs and S-bugs, starsky and hutch torino, '63 chevy II convertible, a few japanese bikes: CX500, suzie cavalcade.

I am really good at taking cars apart, not very good at getting cars together and running. I admired the guys who could take parts from different cars and make custom rods. I own a 220v MIG and learned to weld in high school shop class. My dads' friend made dune buggies when I was a kid, and that made a big impression on me.

When I found out about the donor concept of factory five appealing.
the cobra guys are first rate, but the 13k kit gets turned into BIG money FAST with rear discs, big blocks, stack injection, alu bodies, carbon fiber bling, IRS, unilog knockoff rims.... I was going to build the kit, had a 3 car garage built, when I found a newly completed car in nashville for 23K. It had a 302 stock small block and drove the car 7k miles in 3 years. Ohio to Florida, etc.

While the cobra is simple, the seven is simpler. some cobra guys have
300 hours of labor in the paint/body -- Myself, I'd rather be driving.

the cobra without a body looks alot like a seven on steriods. somewhat space triangle frame on 2- 4" tubes as basis of frame. It wouldnt be to hard to take a factory five cobra and make a faux seven out of it.

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I got the chassis welding mostly done on the mostly finished frame I ought a month ago. I am doing some aussie mods. (W in front)

I am glad I dont have to weld up a frame from scratch. the more I look at
the frame, the more I am impressed witht he details.

'85 supra is donor.

I am now painting frame (rustoleum hammertone silver) and parts. Was going to clean the brake calipers but may just trade them for new rebuilt ones.

I have kirkey drag seats (leftover from cobra), some commercial kitchen
6" table legs that I am going to weld into velocity stacks for my delortos, some 16" OZ 5 spoke rims from a mustang that I may get adaptors to fit the seven. What is small rims for a mustang/cobra is HUGE on a seven. So much bang for the buck on these cars...

Been thinking of color schemes. Orange seems to be hot and is the Tennessee college colors. Kuhmo has tires that have smoke orange and have a orange smell -- but at 2k a tire are way too expensive for my checkbook... I may just leave it unpainted. I like the rat rod movement,
but it doesnt lead itself to cobras or sevens in my opinion.

My girlfriend thinks I am crazy -- she says the frame does not look like a
car, just a "pot rack".

I'd like to keep build under 10k. I have little over 1k into it so far.

I need a nose, wiring, alu panels, lights, wires, custom rims, (I like the look of the deman car) roll bar, coilovers, windshield. etc etc etc

I hope I can take the car to professional shop and have brake system run for 1k. same for getting engine running- 2k if I need a another engine.

My big goal is to get he car a roller. rear suspension need alot of fab, I'm
glad to go live axle -- all the that IRS stuff makes my head hurt. maybe next time.

Again, I hope to be at the sevens rally on 7/7/7 in east tennessee.

car and I will be there, but may be on the end of towbar!

My number is 615-943-7035 -- I am always happy to talk sevens.

Sorry I cant post pictures. I have a camera in my cell phone, I can email
picts, but I dont know how to do the photobucket thing.

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homemade 442 frame, toy 4age motor, newbie, will be at the
dragon 7/7/7, Lord willing...

Welcome aboard!!!...I would like to see pics maybe they can be sent to an admin or Chetcpo and he can post them.

Any donor choices?
What are your hopes for the car?
Daily driver?
Track maniac?
Cruiser for hot chicks?


My wife refferers to my build as "the boat" (not a roller yet).

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I'll keep an eye out for you!

To err is human...
I am more human than most.

Welcome. You can add pictures through the "Add an attachment" feature below the box where you type in your post. Just click the "browse" button and find the pic you want to post on your PC and then click "Add attachment" and bingo the pic appears below your post.

If you can't get it to work, email the pics to me like D. suggested and I'll do it for you.

_________________
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

Any donor choices?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
'85 supra -- motor, axle, hubs, brakse, steering

unknown rack -- but looks good enough to trust my life to.

=)

EFI gone -- has custom mainfold and 2 delortro carbs.

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What are your hopes for the car?

I used to motorcycle -- I have lost 5 co-workers to bike accidents over last 5 years..

Sold my big suziki after #4 - I thought I might be next.

-- so this will be my 4-wheel motorcycle, sunshine fun car, drive to work, car shows, etc.

occasional big interstate trip

maybe go to the dragon once a year -- 3.5 hours away.


save gas. impress people that there are alternatives to going to your new car dealer and
drop $70k on a sports car.

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Daily driver? Yep. no trailer for this ride/


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Track maniac?

no, I seen and ridden with those guys and I dont think I have the skill and ambition
to compete -- might go goof off once or twice.

I dont want to start the "gentlemen, start your checkbooks" mentality.


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Cruiser for hot chicks?


Already got one! =) She says I cant have anymore. She is 45. a librarian and has 2 kids
14 and 16 and they willl be involved in the build I hope-- painting anyway =)


i liked when people came up to me and asked aboout the cobra -- unless they were a
manager of a gas station and they tried to smoke over my gas spout whilel I was fueling up
(some people!)

I like to talk about cars. but there were very few "hot chicks" =)

sigh.

_________________
homemade 442 frame, toy 4age motor, newbie, will be at the
dragon 7/7/7, Lord willing...

Geez, when I can't sleep I just drink a big glass of milk and read a book. Like 'Competition Car Suspension'. Puts me out in no time....

Kidding aside, welcome to the club!!

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A man must keep a little back shop where he can be himself without reserve. In solitude alone can he know true freedom.
-Michel de Montaigne

Scratch built book frame with an 83 Celica donor 22RE. SHE'S A ROLLER!!!

you say your donor is an 85 supra, but from the looks of your engine its a 4age from a corolla gts.

wow -- I guess I'll find out when I buy brake pads for it...

I dont know toyotas at all. It is a 4age by the front plastic
cover.

Never a dull moment, eh?

_________________
homemade 442 frame, toy 4age motor, newbie, will be at the
dragon 7/7/7, Lord willing...

hi
yeah, always interesting when trying to figure one of these things out.
the 4age was from the 85-87 corolla gts, it was also in the 1st gen mr2, the 89-91 corolla gts and corolla fx-16, but those were all either fwd or mid engined.

the 85 supra had a 5mge engine, which is an inline 6 so alot different then the 4banger you got there.

well, reading the ad fo the car -- (in the classifieds)

he said 85 gts -- dont know where I got 'supra"

thanks for saving me from buying wrong parts.

I am often in error, but never in doubt (lol)

The more I look at it, the more i see the good engineering and
craftmanhsip.

This car just makes me so happy -- it that wrong?

I have never built a car befoe, I give 50/50 if I complete it --
and I am now the 3rd owner. but the experience if so fun,
I cant lose ....


well, back to work.

_________________
homemade 442 frame, toy 4age motor, newbie, will be at the
dragon 7/7/7, Lord willing...

To be fair the Supra used to be a variant of the Celica AKA "Celica Supra", but the Supra (Celica Supra) had an inline6 from day one.