Project Sting-Grey - a 1966 Restomod With SR20DE Power!

[Slackline]

Michael, do you have a solution for the part inside the body where the check strap goes?
I fabbed up a quick plate, but I am not happy with it. Mine was missing when I got the car.

Thanks.

[spriso]

@slackline:

Michael, do you have a solution for the part inside the body where the check strap goes?

From my Project Unicorn build thread:

Here is how I repaired a broken door limiter bracket on Project Unicorn:

Here is what I started with-- the door limiter bracket had ripped out of the door, allowing it to over extend-- in addition to that, the retainer clip in the A-pillar was broken, and for bonus fun, the entire A-pillar was filled with dog food that some sort of rodent had squirreled away:



Once all the dog food was vacuumed out of the A-pillar, I could start to access the damage. The door was removed for paint, and we rebuilt and welded on the retainer bracket-- a very straight forward repair. How I was going to get the clip into the A-pillar took a little time to figure out...

First, I went to this image-- this is a shot of an A-pillar that I replaced on my wife's 1500 project-- I wanted to see how Datsun installed the clip on inside of the panel-- once we saw that, I just needed a parts car:



Fortunately, Eric Straw had a roadster parts car and I was able to cut open an A-pillar to get the retainer clip out and to figure out how I was going to re-attach it:




These are riveted in from the factory, and with the door now back in place, that would not be possible to reinstall in that fashion. After looking at it for awhile, I drilled out the rivets so I could use normal fasteners:



In the end, the screws would not work (with the door reinstalled), so I ended up using Allen head screws with the Nylocks, and that worked out beautifully:

[Slackline]

Thanks for the pics and write up. That is definitely what I was looking for.

That's quite an interesting piece. I used a piece of 1/8 plate to make a similar piece, but it has not lasted. Wrong shape, metal too soft, not sure. I'll find out when I take it back out.

[Alvin]

Mouthwatering shiny parts shots!
Can't wait to see it put together

[spriso]

More Progress

More small progress on Project Sting-Grey-- got the repainted fuel tank in and the in-tank fuel pump wired and sorted-- I increased the hole in the trunk floor for good access to the pump and the sender and got everything wired up and ready to go:



With the access cover back on:



Now the carpet snaps can be added and a spare tire installed:



And found a spare locking fuel cap so that detail is done too:



The fresh air vent and heater fan plenum were re-zinc'ed and seals re-installed;



The fresh air vents also got some of Dean's new seals as well:



And lastly, the reverse light was finally rebuilt with the freshly re-chromed parts-- I also added an LED bulb which seems to do a great job illuminating things when the light is activated:





It sure is nice getting parts off of the setup table and onto the car-- just need more time to make that pile smaller...

Have a good weekend everyone-- hope you can get something done on your respective projects!

Michael

[iloveredmeat]

Gorgeous as always Michael.

So perfectly and tastefully done.

And you have me thinking about borrowing a couple of your upgrade modifications, if that's not rude of me...

1. I likely need a new fuel sending unit as I restore my fuel tank, so I'm curious about your fuel pump strategy. What is the advantage of the in-tank fuel pump? and is that a big effort/expense?

2. I love the way your brake lines look, the big advantage being aesthetic. How about that project, is that a big effort/expense?

And the vent gaskets! I didn't even know those existed! I really, really want my wife to enjoy this car, which is a bit of an uphill battle frankly... So, I have already gone to great expense re-coring and restoring my heater to keep her tootsies warm, and now I will definitely be getting new gaskets. Marital bliss through better heating!

Thanks in advance.
Peter

And as summer winds down, I thought of this car the other day while fishing - as close to a Roadster sighting as I'm likely to have in a long time.

[Gregs672000]

The main reason why he has an in-tank pump is because the SR engine is fuel injected and needs a high pressure pump. In my conversion to EFI, I used an external "swirl" tank (not sure why they call them that) that has a HP pump fitted inside being fed from another low pressure pump from the stock tank to the swirl tank. HP pumps can make some noise, so having them inside the stock tank helps to keep the sound down and is a cleaner install of you have the means to weld on a gas tank... I dont! Since switching to a real Bosche pump, mine has quieted up enough that I rarely notice it. The cheap knock-off pump howled and failed in 3 months.

Anyway...ya won't need one!

[spriso]

Peter wrote:

2. I love the way your brake lines look, the big advantage being aesthetic. How about that project, is that a big effort/expense?

Lots of work, but I hate the mess that the stock lines are.

Here is a tutorial that I wrote some time ago that might help:

New Brake Lines-- Spriso Motorsports Style

Love the video of the sting ray!

Michael

[iloveredmeat]

Peter wrote:

2. I love the way your brake lines look, the big advantage being aesthetic. How about that project, is that a big effort/expense?

Lots of work, but I hate the mess that the stock lines are.

Here is a tutorial that I wrote some time ago that might help:

New Brake Lines-- Spriso Motorsports Style

Love the video of the sting ray!

Michael

Oh my gosh! Thank you Michael! That is flat out awesome. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking the (considerable) time to post that info.

This may be in my plans.

[onsight512]

What a work of art! That'll be a fun auction to follow.

[spriso]

Had a little extra time last night, so I got the driver's door window regulator in, glass installed, and the door handles and panel installed-- really liking the way that this is coming together:







Michael

[Alvin]

Had a little extra time last night, so I got the driver's door window regulator in, glass installed, and the door handles and panel installed-- really liking the way that this is coming together:




Michael

This is a very satisfying photo.
Keep it coming!

[steved033]

WOW!!! What a great color! I might have to steal that.

sjd

[spriso]

I have been tied up with a 100 other projects, so not much to report on Project Sting-Grey, but I did manage to install some freshly re-chromed headlight bezels, slowly it comes together:



Our new Stainless Bumpers from the group buy should be here this week, and that, and the windshield frame should finish the exterior...

Also did a first test fit of our new Ron Davis radiator built to our specs for the SR swap-- and it looks like it is going to be a good fit. We have been very pleased with these radiators, even though they are very expensive, their performance and peace of mind they offer has been worth the investment.



Michael

[Alvin]

Michael,
Looking forward to all the shiny bits installed.
Radiator looks stout...and I like how you spec'd the upper hose location