How to deal with those side louver openings!

[Jim Frahm]

I contacted Jeff K. and asked him for a template for the side louver openings which he gladly supplied. Once I received it I made a few measurements and then went to work and milled the template out of 1/2 plywood. I used that and a router to cut my openings. I was surprised by just how much each side was precut in a different location. I took some measurements and matched them as close as possible. The upside to just how un-symmetrical the body is, is that no one will see each side at the same time. :p:cool:

200986200987200988200989200990

I'll round the corners and then mount the louvers followed by mounting the body onto the chassis for the last time,,,,,,, I hope.

[Norm B]

Nice work! I too followed Jeff’s instructions for this and all the other topics he has covered on the forum. I had to modify the angle of the openings to match the louvres I bought separately.

Norm

[cc2Arider]

Looks good Jim! :)

Were Jeff's templates different than the printouts from the Build Manual?

Craig C

[Jeff Kleiner]

Wow, great job! I'm kind of lazy so you put a lot more effort into that than I do! I simply take a Sharpie and draw a line around the cardboard pattern like the one I sent you and then cut it out using a thin kerf blade on an angle grinder for the straight lines and drum sander in a die grinder for the radius.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=200996&d=1709000253

Cheers,
Jeff

[Jim Frahm]

Wow, great job! I'm kind of lazy so you put a lot more effort into that than I do! I simply take a Sharpie and draw a line around the cardboard pattern like the one I sent you and then cut it out using a thin kerf blade on an angle grinder for the straight lines and drum sander in a die grinder for the radius.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=200996&d=1709000253

Cheers,
Jeff

That was my original plan but I don’t think I’m as steady with an angle grinder as you are. I needed help to stay within the lines.

[Jim Frahm]

Looks good Jim! :)

Were Jeff's templates different than the printouts from the Build Manual?

Craig C


Jeff’s was slightly bigger than the printout. I don’t know if you can tell or not from the photo above but the louvers actually fill the opening better. My guess is that it helps with getting the heat out as well.

[Matt7553]

Where can one find the specs required to cut the openings? Also need specs for the exhaust cutouts. I don't have access to a build manual.

[Jim Frahm]

Where can one find the specs required to cut the openings? Also need specs for the exhaust cutouts. I don't have access to a build manual.

201586201587

[Avalanche325]

Measured.......on a Cobra?

You'll go from
201677

to this
201678

[fauxbra5.0]

The bodywork is the part of the build that scares me the most!

[maclonchas]

That is why I went to Jeff. He has my car right now and I know the bodywork will be done right and the first time. :)

[Jim Frahm]

That is why I went to Jeff. He has my car right now and I know the bodywork will be done right and the first time. :)

That is a smart choice. I was going to do my own bodywork and paint but then I found a local shop that has done a FFR roadster and it looked awesome. I'm on the waiting list. However, I'm doing as much as I can before hand. :cool:

[ProfessorB]

The bodywork was what scared me as well. That, and it didn't look like "fun", and quality paint is NOT cheap. I took the major shortcut route, I bought a car already completed. It's a well done car in a color I like....done in my "taste" and it's got a 427 Windsor. To build this would have cost 30K more than I paid. The downside? It's a major one. I don't have the pride and satisfaction of building it myself. I have had that experience with cars and motorcycles I HAVE built. It's missing here....but I am finding that as I change things and complete projects on the car I am starting the bonding process.

[fauxbra5.0]

That is why I went to Jeff. He has my car right now and I know the bodywork will be done right and the first time. :)

That’s my plan too…just have to get to that point first! Thankfully I’m only a few hours south of him, which makes it that much easier.