Quasi ST Build Anyone?

[cuanlee]

OK...

There is a seemingly endless stream of ST replicas popping up in this forum and elsewhere these days. (Excellence magazine, for instance, seems to have a new one featured every month these days!) I guess like the RS clone trend and the RSR replica craze, it is inevitable.

I am yet another owner setting out to build an ST-ish car. While in execution I may appear to lag the trend, I do claim some moral high ground for at least having had the idea a few years ago. In fact, I bought the shell meant to be the genesis of the project on this very forum back in mid-2008.

Some key differences about this build though:

• The car will not be a street car and will be designed specifically for competition work.
• While I will be going for some old-style accents, it will not attempt to be a faithful recreation.
• At least initially (or rather, until my lottery number comes in), it will not carry a twin-plug 2.5 as much as I desire it to.

I should also make clear at the outset that I am not one of the gifted amateurs you see on similar threads. I will be paying someone to do significant portions of the work. I'll take credit for the ideas (some of them at least) but any workmanship will be theirs for you to compliment.

Another caveat. Since I've had such a long "start-up" period my progress shots are spread over multiple computers. At least initially, you won't be getting progress shots in order. The photos that follow show roughly where the car is today. I'll attempt to show later the progress up to this point.

The next steps are to source and acquire FRP or CF fenders and bumpers and then start hanging all the expensive bits on.

All the fabrication you see in the shots below was done by Kenny at Conway Autoworks here in the Boston area.

[cuanlee]

[Dueller]

"The car will not be a street car and will be designed specifically for competition work. "

Care to expound? Sanctioning body(bodies), Class, etc?

You or somebody knows how to weld...beautiful work. Looking forward to your build...

[cuanlee]

[cuanlee]

Originally Posted by Dueller

"The car will not be a street car and will be designed specifically for competition work. "

Care to expound? Sanctioning body(bodies), Class, etc?

You or somebody knows how to weld...beautiful work. Looking forward to your build...

Hopefully bodies. I'll explain the grand plan later. Off to bed now but glad you like the welding! I'm really happy with Kenny's fabrication skills so far.

[Flieger]

Wow.

[cnielsen]

Wow is right!

I can smell the welding fumes from here...looks great!

BTW, what is the plate with the hole for on the longitudinal?

[skinnerd]

I'm no expert...
but wow, that looks like a very strong rollcage.
You should feel very safe sitting inside this car.

[lateapex911]

Originally Posted by cnielsen

Wow is right!

I can smell the welding fumes from here...looks great!

BTW, what is the plate with the hole for on the longitudinal?

I bet it has a twin on the other side and is for a jack insert. The factory one can stress the body when used regularly

[Walko]

is that tig or mig welds?

Car looks like it will be strong

Michael

[Tom '74 911]

Wow, nice build. In the first few pics are those guys sandblasting or using high pressure steam? Thanks for posting the pics - it's nice to see what was seam welded around the car. The cage looks great too.

I saw Medfield under your name as your location. I grew up in Dover on Center St.

Keep posting!

Tom

[DW SD]

WOW - nice welding!

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by DW SD

WOW - nice welding!

x2 That stitch welding is sexy.

[maresdesign]

Best welds I've ever seen! - Subscribed

[cuanlee]

The plates with the circular holes are, in fact, jack points. There are four on the car and I'll try to get more detailed shots with the jack stands in them. A little rally touch that we decided to emulate.

The blasting is hydro-blasting. No debris but from all accounts it makes jet turbines sound whisper quiet!

[cuanlee]

After messing around all last summer, we finally made some progress this winter. One of the biggest issues has been getting composite body panels. Several places claim to have ST profile forms but sadly, few actually do. There are way too many front and rear fender forms that have the "sharp, vertical" edging of an RSR or a Turbo style fender.

It looks like several folks have beautiful steel flares being built that wasn't what I wanted (too much weight) for this build.

Kenny and I finally realized that if I was going to be that precious about it, I'd have to have something custom molded.

That's where Damon at Series 900 came in. Here are a few shots at what's been achieved so far.

[cuanlee]

[cuanlee]

[cuanlee]

[356RS]

Beautiful work. This will be an outstanding ST when finished.