Engine Cover Hinges and Rear Fender Brace

[john g]

I've just installed Michael Everson's engine cover hinges and Mechie's rear fender brace, with only a simple modification to the fender brace. I now have a hinged front engine cover and acceptable gaps between the engine cover and the rear fenders.

I installed the hinges per Michael's instructions. The hinge axis (if that is the correct term) is just forward of the engine cover "ears" at the rear of the cover so that part of the cover rotates downward. This means that the fender brace needs to be mounted rearward of the designed position by a few inches, and to do this the fender brace rod needs to be shortened by about 1/2 inch. I removed the right hand threaded bracket, cut the brace rod by the required amount to fit across the fenders, and then realized that the threaded hole in the rod needed to be drilled and tapped by the 1/2 inch I cut off. My local Ace Hardware had the correct tap and drill. I was finished in about 20 minutes. Two very helpful products from two of our vendors. I am very pleased with the results.


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[Mechie3]

Thanks John! Those gaps look nice, better than mine. :) Looks like an 06WRX donor too. My favorite.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

John,
What is your opinion of the fit and finish of the white vs red bodies?
Bob

[dougkirkbride]

John
wondering if this bracket came in your kit, I don't remember seeing it.
42826

[matteo92065]

That is a bracket from Michael Everson's engine cover hinge. Not an FFR part. It lets you open the hood by lifting from the front. Its a cleaver part that can also support the trunk.

[STiPWRD]

John
wondering if this bracket came in your kit, I don't remember seeing it.
42826
That's Mike Everson's hinge set:
http://replicaparts.com/818%20parts%20page.htm (bottom of page)

[Mitch Wright]

Bob,

I can't really speak to the fit of the red body on the car, I am not there yet. I have clamped the body together and doing that it fits together great, the car can be another story. I am impressed with the quality and finish of the fiberglass and gelcoat, I am just going to buff it and run it. My R chassis is #145 I think I was one of the first to get the red body.

[RM1SepEx]

I just visited TrickyPete and his red body is better than the original white body that I received in August of 2013 (#17) but not "use as is" ready, it is very rough in the sharp corners and has some really ugly edges.

My replacement parts are very good but FFR had me delay going to pick it up by 1/2 a day to "clean it up" so I don't think that it is actually representative of a newer molded body. I can see where they repaired areas, I wish that I was as capable doing the repairs as they are but they still won't answer questions on how they do it. I keep getting referred to youtube videos on boats etc...

[john g]

Bob,

My white and red cars were close in production--about 30 units apart. Both have/had body issues including a few rough edges, but I can't say one was better than the other. I can say that the red body seems to be heavier or thicker in some places, eg the rear bumper. The red body seems to show scratches. My front hood was blown over by a wind gust and I now have two white scratches in the finish.

John