Thinking of buying a gtm. Having som questions

[ChrisO]

Hi everybody.

I´m having thoughts about buying a gtm. And I wonder what is the "worst" part/s is to do with this kit? bodywork to make everything fit? And if their is someone who knows how long this project would take to finish?

[fastthings]

For me, It's kinda like the gas milage question. If you have to ask, your in touble. I would caution a first time builder to try something else maybe. I have done alot of custom stuff, this car will challenge you, the body work that is. But, it can be done, lots of proof on this forum.

I am a pretty good judge of how much time a task will take me. This build has continued to amaze me how I have misjudged the amout of time a task should take. Pretty much everything has taken twice as much time as what I estimated. If you know what your doing I would plan on over a year for a top notch build.

Please consider doing a GTM build like the Koni car, I love it. Down and dirty, spend as much time and money on the go-kart, make it fast. Then hang the doors, no windows, put the hood on with some quik release pins, a shiny paint job and go thrash it. It has to be the funnest build out there, and I garentee he has just as much fun driving it and has just as many people checking it out as any other. When you aren't trying to make it perfect, there is nothing to pick apart, when you shoot for perfect and fail you will be disapointed and get burnt out befor it's done.

good luck,
Gene

[ChrisO]

Hi. there you are. I´ve actually was looking for you. i have ssens ome of your buildings videos on youtube. I am a first time builder for such this huge project. This i something i´m seriusly gonna think about a long time before i considering if i´ll gonna do this or not. One question for you. how long time did it take for you to rigged up the car when you´ve meassured the center with the laser?

[LCD Gauges]

Work? Family? Kids? House? Friends? Family? Hobbies? I don't have kids, but of all the rest have eaten up my build time. Whether it be financial commitments, or helping a friend, or
an unexpected visit from the family it all sets you back.

Right now I'm dealing with changing careers, and moving cities. The new house needs some work. The GTM unfortunately gets placed on the backburner under these circumstances.

One year to build the GTM is a great estimate when you consider all the set-backs, the holiday breaks, and the days you just dont want to get off your butt. As much as
you want to stay in the garage for hours at a time, there comes a point when you begin to slack off and cut corners. When I feel that emotion coming on, that is when
I walk away.

It's better to delay another day than rush a car that needs to look, and perform like a six figure, street machine is supposed to.

[ChrisO]

Only 1 year? That was not so bad anyway. Is it the body work that takes the longest time to fix? doors,windows,hatch,hood?

[VD2021]

Only 1 year? That was not so bad anyway. Is it the body work that takes the longest time to fix? doors,windows,hatch,hood?

In my opinion, unless you're a shop owner so you can work on it full-time, build it without a priority to fit and finish or contract it to a builder (how is not busy) it will take longer than a year.

The majority would like to have a car that also looks the part. How I wish my GTM was on the road 6 months ago, but it looks more like it will be a two year project. Right now, I am only able to work on it on Saturdays or Sunday evenings so progress is slow. I go-carted about 11 months ago. I have made some upgrades lately, that have pushed things to the right. You should expect around 1000+/- hours to get to go-cart. From there you'll decide the amount of effort you'll put into the fit and finish. You can use these hours with the time you expect to have available to estimate how long it will take you.

[docglock]

I estimated three years to do the build. I year to plan (just completed). Two years to do the physical build. I've got one of those small business owner, operator and chief bottle washer things going on. The other reason I planned it over three years is to spread the financial burden out. I built a budget based on acquiring the kit and donor parts in the first year. Optional items and engine in year two. Transaxle and the rest in year three.

My goal is to do a top notch build with top notch components. That means I am replacing and/or upgrading a number of items on the base build (e.g. Big Brakes, upgraded shocks, ISIS power, LS376/5525 crate engine and so forth).

I'm glad I spent the last year planning out the build. While not everything is crystal clear in my mind, there isn't one task that truly intimidates me. Besides I have a Corvette and Boxster drive while I'm building my dream car!

In eight short weeks, Stewart Transport delivers my GTM. Yeah, I'm kind of bouncing off the walls.

[carbon fiber]

go for it dude!

[kabacj]

In eight short weeks, Stewart Transport delivers my GTM. Yeah, I'm kind of bouncing off the walls.

Awesome Doc! Welcome to the builders community.

I also planned out my build.. but im going to end up about 100% over my estimate.

As you continue to learn about the car through the build the scope of the project tends to creep.

Its not a bad thing that the build takes longer. I think you will find that the journey is as enjoyable as the desination. I know I have.


John

[Keith Topliffe]

I built the FFR AC Cobra in one year start to finish including restoration of the donor parts. Why does this one take so long??? I dont get it?

[bobzffr]

The AC Cobra doesn't have all the body fitment problems of the GTM. It also doesn't have power windows, heater, air conditioning, a mid engine...You could spend a year on just the body if you did it all yourself part time.

[RumRunner]

The AC Cobra doesn't have all the body fitment problems of the GTM. It also doesn't have power windows, heater, air conditioning, a mid engine...You could spend a year on just the body if you did it all yourself part time.

I'm a reasonable case in point. I had all the electrical, mechanical, engine systems installed and working on my GTM in just over 8 months. Go-Karting almost 8 months to the day I started. Then came the body work. I'm doing it all myself with the help of Presto51, and we've spent every weekend for the last 9 months working on it. An just now I'm close to being ready for primer. To list some of the areas:
- Body mounting. Sounds easy, but really must be done after a wheel alignment with car at ride height to set the rear wheel wells properly. Requires about a day to get spot-on. And some re-work is required even here to get the body to clear the door latch mounts.
- Door fitment. The doors must fit the body and seal. They don't do either from the factory. They need to be cut, ground, etc.
- Power windows. Getting the windows to fit and operate fully, and seal against the body is not trivial. Many folks spend days or weeks on this area alone. My experience is that the body flange that holds the bulb seal must be cut and re-glassed to correctly follow the curvature of the glass. And the passenger door is fully 1" less thick than the driver's door.
- Window seals - the one's FFR supplies leave something to be desired. If you want better seals, more glass/aluminum work.
- Hood. From the factory the fitment of the body with the hood is poor. The only way to get a nice even gap where they meet is more glass work. On both sides.
- And if you want your front wheel wells to look round with an equal reveal around the tires, again more glass work, both sides.
- Moving on the the rear hatch, it is almost impossible to get the glass surface flush with the body along all four edges. Some folks have done more glass work - I did a little and essentially used a mortar bed of Bondo to float the glass and get it even. Still was several days of effort.
- I added a roof scoop. Another several weeks locating it, trimming, glassing it down, feathering the edges so it flows smoothly from the body, filling, sanding, etc.
- I added rear quarter window scoops. Again, a week or two of preparing, cutting, filling, sanding, etc.
- I added large radiator exhaust vents in the hood. This one probably took three or four weekends to complete to the point that it looks like it was molded in. Again glass, fill, sand, repeat.
- General body work. Filling and sanding to get smooth flowing curves, flat flats, and no defects take time.

It is really the poor fitment of the hood, doors, hatch glass, and power windows that drive the time up.

The next one will be much quicker!

-Michael

[VD2021]

I'm a reasonable case in point. I had all the electrical, mechanical, engine systems installed and working on my GTM in just over 8 months. Go-Karting almost 8 months to the day I started. Then came the body work. I'm doing it all myself with the help of Presto51, and we've spent every weekend for the last 9 months working on it. An just now I'm close to being ready for primer. To list some of the areas:
- Body mounting. Sounds easy, but really must be done after a wheel alignment with car at ride height to set the rear wheel wells properly. Requires about a day to get spot-on. And some re-work is required even here to get the body to clear the door latch mounts.
- Door fitment. The doors must fit the body and seal. They don't do either from the factory. They need to be cut, ground, etc.
- Power windows. Getting the windows to fit and operate fully, and seal against the body is not trivial. Many folks spend days or weeks on this area alone. My experience is that the body flange that holds the bulb seal must be cut and re-glassed to correctly follow the curvature of the glass. And the passenger door is fully 1" less thick than the driver's door.
- Window seals - the one's FFR supplies leave something to be desired. If you want better seals, more glass/aluminum work.
- Hood. From the factory the fitment of the body with the hood is poor. The only way to get a nice even gap where they meet is more glass work. On both sides.
- And if you want your front wheel wells to look round with an equal reveal around the tires, again more glass work, both sides.
- Moving on the the rear hatch, it is almost impossible to get the glass surface flush with the body along all four edges. Some folks have done more glass work - I did a little and essentially used a mortar bed of Bondo to float the glass and get it even. Still was several days of effort.
- I added a roof scoop. Another several weeks locating it, trimming, glassing it down, feathering the edges so it flows smoothly from the body, filling, sanding, etc.
- I added rear quarter window scoops. Again, a week or two of preparing, cutting, filling, sanding, etc.
- I added large radiator exhaust vents in the hood. This one probably took three or four weekends to complete to the point that it looks like it was molded in. Again glass, fill, sand, repeat.
- General body work. Filling and sanding to get smooth flowing curves, flat flats, and no defects take time.

It is really the poor fitment of the hood, doors, hatch glass, and power windows that drive the time up.

The next one will be much quicker!

-Michael

Precisely!

And likely the reason ~only about 30% of them are complete. That's an approximate based on the number of kits sold, the known complete GTMs and a little added for a fudge factor. On a positive note; That means the GTM will remain rare.

[Jeff Collins]

This is a good thread with some well thought out comments and real world experiences. The GTM is an awesome machine when done, and puts a world class supercar in the hands of someone like me who otherwise wouldn't be able to have one. It is worth the effort it takes to make it look like it performs. I tell people all the time when you are working on your car. You are doing it for fun. When it stops being fun close the door and go do something that is fun until you are ready to get back to the build with the right frame of mind. Don't put arbitrary dates and deadlines on yourself, just stay focused on what you will have when you are done.