Hey Guys- Ok we're at more than the half-way mark now... even if it doesn't look like it. The body is at the painter. Finishing touches are being made to the chassis and hopefully later this week (or next) the two will be married up together. Then starts final assembly of fenders, hood, interior, etc. I drove up to the restorer yesterday (about 4 hours away up in Virginia). We were planning to meet with the painter too but he had an emergency and couldn't meet us at the shop. So no photos of the body just yet... but those are coming soon (just have a couple teasers of a fender and a door). The body was painted on Friday but needs to be cut and buffed (same with the doors, fenders, hood, etc.). Hard to say when the car will be a driver... the restorer thinks the end of November but I think its more likely to be a Christmas delivery. If I've learned anything it's that deadlines are meaningless and for quality work one has to be patient. Nobody who knows me would say "Matt is patient" so that part has been HARD for me. In the meantime I have a photo update below with dual quads now installed, front discs installed, other suspension bits, and a couple painted panels. Thanks, Matt-
If you decide you want to show it off, I can likely get you an invitation to put it into the 4 day show at Dorton Arena the 2nd week of February 2017. But once it is in Dorton on Thursday it has to stay overnights until 3 pm Sunday.
Wow that looks rally nice, great job!! :TU: You will find it a bit of shame to put the body back on I'll bet, all that beautiful work gets hidden...start shopping for mirrors to lay under it at shows.. LOL
That's an awesome offer. Thank you. Let me think about it. It's hard to get my head around a date when the car is still in pieces. However the other day my wife did challenge me to show it. She said she wants to see if it'll win a trophy or two
Updating with body photos. The Wildcat's underside, wheel wells, and firewall get painted today. Then the vehicle will be bolted back together and get several more coats of clear over the entire assembled body (then final buff of all panels together as one unit). Here are photos of the Wildcat in the shop yesterday. Telriv thank you for the kind words! I'm real happy with how it's progressing.
Which of these wheels do you have on the car? I recently purchased a few and now I have two different types - 1 x square back section, the rest tapered back section. I just want to make sure you have the tapered style before I splash out on some Willwoods.
Fantastic , Your man looks like he enjoys his work . You will have a special car there when completed. Congrats!!
Getting closer to completion now... expected to be done by month's end. Should be firing up the engine for the first time since install. Could be done during week prior to Christmas... Wouldn't that be a nice present under the tree
The engine was fired up for the first time and here's some grainy video (of second time). Super exciting and hard too. My restoration guy is 4 hours away... I would have wanted to be there personally but he's far enough away that managing that, along with work, and family is obviously difficult. It's in good hands though and he's going to run it in very soon by getting it out on the local roads. Close to being done and glad to see the motor come to life (even if by the same video that you all now see). This has been a fun process and helps when working with a solid restoration pro. *video removed*
