Star Mobile 1 Build

If you're thinking of bed liner, look at Raptor by U-pol: https://www.u-pol.com/us/en/products...ective-coating

I've used four brands of bed liner and Linex is the gold standard. Raptor is on par with Linex and can be tinted or painted over with your exact color. You can apply it yourself either roller or sprayer. While the product is not cheap it is less expensive to DIY on small parts than taking them to your local Linex dealer.

I should add that it adheres great to fiberglass and I used it on areas of the body that show the rough fiberglass finish to give a finished textured look.

Haven't made it out to this shop today, but Kory posted these pics late Thursday night...

Attachment 112432

Attachment 112433

Attachment 112434

Attachment 112435

Attachment 112436

Attachment 112437

Attachment 112438

Attachment 112439

Attachment 112440

Here are some additional pictures from my visit to the shop last weekend. Not really anything new visually, just better quality photos. The plan last week was to be finished priming and blocking and be cutting in the interior, that plan still holds true for this week. I still need to get the grill in my possession so I can get it to the chromers as well. I am currently working on polishing the window frame myself and hope to have it done this weekend. Hitting the start of the season for delivery now is definitely off the table and although we are still five weeks away from the Good Guys Car Show (I pre-registered :() I think making that may be in jeopardy as well, but I still have hope...Just painting, clear, buffing, interior, final fit-ups, chrome, final mechanicals & tuning & then registration - that is a looooong list to still be hopeful about.

Attachment 112746

Attachment 112747

Attachment 112748

Attachment 112749

Attachment 112750

Attachment 112751

Attachment 112752

Attachment 112753

Kory and I did discuss the options for finishing out the Engine Side Covers. Some have done the mirrored stainless panels that look really good and offer some added rigidity to the panels. I told Kory that I thought for my build that this wasn't a good use of budget. I can laser cut the panels (and even already have the digitized templates), but even at my cost these would run me ~$300 for the set and I feel that the engine compartments on these cars are so tight that I wouldn't gain anything with that. So I stuck with my original plan, which was to just do a uniformed undercoating on all the undersides of the Fenders and then the inside of the Engine Side Panels. I did let him know that if he feels like we need some additional stabilization around the Headwind Headlights, we can do a polished stainless washer or something.

Still doing some final paint prep at the shop this week. I spoke with Arron who will be painting the car and he said the plan is to cut in all the Silver on the interior, doors, hood, decklid & top. Then put the doors, hood & decklid back on the car & paint the interior Blue. The Dash face in the car will be blue and carry over on the triangular surfaces on the door. We will use an 1/8" white pinstripe where the two meet. Then once all of that is done. We will start laying out the star on the outside of the car.

Attachment 112896

Attachment 112897

Attachment 112898

Attachment 112899

Attachment 112900

Attachment 112901

Attachment 112902

I am also going to pick up the grill tomorrow and then take it for Chroming. About a week and a half ago I decided I was going to give polishing the Window Frame a try myself. I had never really polished anything (at least nothing substantial), so this was going to be interesting. I first had the holes for sun visors tig welded and this is when we started running into a porosity problem. The welder kept just chasing the pin holes, so I finally just told him to do the best he could and I would live with. Just seemed to be a lot of contaminants in the material (these are guys that weld aluminum all day long every day for a living, so I trusted they did all they could). I took the frame home and was surprised to see how many very deep scratches were in the aluminum, particularly in the concave curved area of the underside of the frame. So I set out starting with 80 Grit (only in specific areas that needed it) and then ran 120 across the entire frame followed by 180 & 320 on a DA. Once I hit 600, I used wet/dry paper in a bath of soapy water, making sure to rotate and keep the paper clean. Once I ran the 600 everywhere I followed it with 1000, 1500 & 2500 all by hand :(. After the 1500, I switched to a wet/dry 3000 grit polishing pad and then finished up with a 5000 grit polishing pad. On the final pass with the 5000 grit, I actually layed down some Mirror Glaze on the pad itself and polished it one more time. It's still not perfect, but I am extremely happy with how it turned out and it was a great learning experience. After buying all the materials, I may have saved myself only $50-$100, but I would definitely try polishing again. With the grill I really want the chrome look, so I will bite the bullet and have it professionally chromed instead of polishing. Will still need to put the window back in and then wrap it up until install.

Pre-Polished...
Attachment 112903

Attachment 112904

Attachment 112905

Post Polished...
Attachment 112906

Attachment 112907

Attachment 112908

Attachment 112909

Here are few pics of the Silver Cut-in from Monday...

Attachment 113072

Attachment 113073

Attachment 113074

Attachment 113075

Attachment 113076

Attachment 113077

Also Kory met me half way with the Grill yesterday and Larry (MBB Larry) from Grapevine is going to be kind enough to take the Grill up to Gainesville to the Chromers when he picks his stuff of :cool:.

It starts to feel real when you see the color going down!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AJT '33

It starts to feel real when you see the color going down!!!

---

Yes sir it does!

So I brought my Trim Rings for the E-Brake and the Shifter home yesterday and sanded both down a bit and countersunk the holes. I made these out of 11ga Hot Rolled Steel. I wanted to make from 13ga but we didn't have that material in stock so I just had them ran from 11ga. In hindsight, probably just a bit too stout, but they will suffice. I will take both up to the shop when I go and just double-check the fit. The shifter ring is we be a little more challenging as it gets a bit of bend put in it. Once I confirm the fit-up, these parts will be chromed as well and I will have boots made for both out of the blue vinyl...

Attachment 113405

Attachment 113406

More pics from Kory today showing the Silver Base Coat & some Clear...

Attachment 113407

Attachment 113408

Attachment 113409

Attachment 113410

Attachment 113411

It's my understanding that the doors will go back on, so that the blue dash and carry over to the inside of the doors can be painted and then of course the layout of the star on the outside, then final coats of clear.

Can't wait to see in person!

Looking great!

Had an opportunity to actually go out and put eyes on the paint today and it looks great! They went with four coats of base silver, two heavy coats of clear on all surfaces that won't have additional paint sprayed, one light coat on areas that will receive the blue and then will follow with another heavy coat of clear over everything. Aaron was doing some wet sanding today. The plan is to try and get all panels back on and then lay out the star Monday or Tuesday.

Few more pics from Paint and Trim Rings...

Attachment 113478

Attachment 113479

Attachment 113480

Attachment 113481

Attachment 113482

So after all the planning, purchasing projector (both opaque and digital) for the layout of the star, sometimes keeping it simple just works best! Yesterday we scrapped all (well almost all) technology and just went old school...with tape! I am speaking as though I have done this many times (and believe me I haven't, but I was with a team today that has...thank God!), you really get a sense of of how asymmetric the car really is when you start lying out graphics. Where graphic lines cross body lines, spacial placement, etc. and in the end you just have to find the best compromise (the contours of the body don't help things either). Yesterday we were able to get the lines dropped for the outline of the blue star and I was extremely happy with the way this went. Kory took on the bulk of the layout and I really only provided some technical support for measurements...shout out to Adrian back at my shop as my laptops version of Draftsight was not the same as what I use at the house so when I got to Kory's and needed to pull a few additional dimensions I had to call a friend I work with to open the file and provide a little extra support. This morning Kory will layout for the white portion of the star. They will then paint the white, tape off for the outside and inside field of blue and paint it as well. Once the outside line was done, I told Kory I didn't really feel there would be any benefit to me just hovering around watching over their shoulders, so they will be own their own today...

We were still playing around with the location of one of the legs of the star on the side view, which is why the tape looks like it is off a bit. We locked it down and cleaned it up once we rolled it back into the booth.

Attachment 113716

Attachment 113717

Attachment 113718

Attachment 113719

Attachment 113720

Attachment 113721

Attachment 113722

Attachment 113723

I also spoke to the Chromer and he will have the grill back to me this time next week along with the shifter ring and e-brake trim. The hope is to have this thing in interior next Tuesday. I am spending some time the rest of this week working the plan for Theft Audit, Scale Weight Certification, Safety Inspection and final Titling & Registration :eek:.

I love how crisp your vision is for the finished product.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sethmark

I love how crisp your vision is for the finished product.

---

Thank you. I have lost a lot of sleep because of it, many times, but it keeps me on track!

A Star Is Born!

We took a few liberties in adjusting the star based off the body lines...

Attachment 113827

Attachment 113828

Attachment 113829

Attachment 113830

Attachment 113831

Attachment 113832

Attachment 113833

Attachment 113834

I have not seen this in person yet, but it looks AMAZING to me right now!

And then the Dash...

Attachment 113835

Attachment 113836

Attachment 113837

I can imagine how excited you are at this stage, that is looking oh so good!

Got the Door Sill Pieces today as well as the Shifter & E-Brake Trim Rings. I will take the Sill Pieces up tomorrow just to confirm fit & my intention is to have those Line-X or Raptor Coated to match the blue on the car. Don't get me wrong, I like the Chrome & Polished look on the Sills, but these parts are going to get feet drug across them all the time. I think opting for something a little more wear resistant & durable in this area will work out well. Plus the custom cut outs in the Sill will show through the Silver of the car & I think will contrast nicely against the blue of the Sill.

Attachment 113864

Attachment 113865

Attachment 113866

Final Clear just applied...
Off to Interior on Monday and then back toward end of week for Final Assembly & Buffing!

Attachment 113897

Attachment 113898

And you got to keep Ezekiel! A good week.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sethmark

And you got to keep Ezekiel! A good week.

---

Yes, there was a point earlier this week where art was imitating life...the only thing missing from the team and car was an overpriced star!

Making some headway on the interior now...

Attachment 114085

Attachment 114086

Attachment 114087

Attachment 114088

Attachment 114089

Are the seats blue?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sethmark

Are the seats blue?

---

Yes, Blue Marine Grade Vinyl with White stitching.

Latest update on interior...

Attachment 114136

Wow!!! Your dedication to the theme is astounding...

Just went and picked up the Sill Covers from local Line-x shop. They look good to me, I think they will look even better against the Silver backdrop of the body...

Attachment 114250

Attachment 114251

Also, to update...I have (along MBB Larry - another local builder) had quite a frustrating experience with having the FFR Grill Chromed. We have both used a very reputable shop and in both instances they have had to deal with a significant amount of pitting and pinholing in the grill. I believe on Larry's they have re-chromed (3x) now and mine is going in for it's second attempt. It seems as though after polishing post copper is when the pits show up and then it's back in the cyanide. These guys are going above in beyond in my eyes to get an awesome finished product, but the process and timing is just extremely frustrating.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JOP33

Just went and picked up the Sill Covers from local Line-x shop. They look good to me, I think they will look even better against the Silver backdrop of the body...

Attachment 114250

Attachment 114251

Also, to update...I have (along MBB Larry - another local builder) had quite a frustrating experience with having the FFR Grill Chromed. We have both used a very reputable shop and in both instances they have had to deal with a significant amount of pitting and pinholing in the grill. I believe on Larry's they have re-chromed (3x) now and mine is going in for it's second attempt. It seems as though after polishing post copper is when the pits show up and then it's back in the cyanide. These guys are going above in beyond in my eyes to get an awesome finished product, but the process and timing is just extremely frustrating.

---

I feel your pain. Mine had some pretty deep pitting right out of the box.Attachment 114261Attachment 114262

Just back from the upholstery shop, so I have a few updated pics. The interior looks amazing! When I picked the blue textured material for the interior, something just seem to make it fit with the Football theme, but from a two inch swatch it was difficult to get a sense of what it was exactly...today was the first time I had seen the material actually on the seats in person and on a larger scale. Roy, the Upholsterer, hit it right on the nose though, he said it reminded him of the old football jersey material and man he was dead on! As soon as he said that I knew that was exactly it! Everything looks great and I am especially happy with the way the console is turning out. He had to trim the console armrest down a bit as there is very little room between the seats. The EFI display will be stowed in there and there will also be an accessory port (or cigarette lighter socket for those of us that remember those). The switch plate looks really clean too...just super impressed with his work so far. I actually just spoke with him on the phone as he is getting ready to cover the door panel armrest with the faux football leather (that will use the black stitching). I dropped off the Roadster Window Frame that I had polished, along with some Hagan Rearview Mirrors for the hardtop and window frame. Kory also needed an additional cord for the Media Receiver since the chassis on it is being mounted remotely. Roy and I test fitted the door sills and they are tight but I am still hopefull we won't have to remake...we may have to put a thin silver plate or vinyl under the sill though. Getting the car through all of the Registration & Titling legalities before the GG's show in two weeks was really going be very challenging, so Monday I am going to go pick-up a 30 day temporary permit and then the week following the show I will do all of the running for Inspection, Registration & Titling. I am still hopeful to get the Grill this weekend from the Chromer's and it sounds like Roy will have the car still for most of this week and then there will be a herculean effort by Kory and his team to get everything buttoned up and tested in time for show!

Attachment 114287

Attachment 114288

Attachment 114289

Attachment 114290

Attachment 114291

Attachment 114292

Attachment 114293

Car looks amazing

Just received Grill back from Chromer's...It looks awesome and they did an outstanding job, but in listening to everything that had to be done to it (and redone) it sure does seem like a pain. They actually told me they won't be doing anymore cast aluminum grills anymore...:(. but offered a lifetime guarantee on the chrome for as long as I own the vehicle!

Attachment 114411

I just got back from Tax Assessor's office...received my 30 Day Temporary Registration and paper plates. Man nothing says you have one bada** Hot Rod like paper tags :p!

Hell yes!

Just a quick update, here is a pic of the door panel with the Armrest covered in the football material...

Attachment 114553

Every Time you post, I open as fast as possible to see if there’s a finished product picture!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sethmark

Every Time you post, I open as fast as possible to see if there’s a finished product picture!

---

NO ONE is more excited than I about this build. And I understand it gets a little cheezy in some areas, but it has been a blast. I am actually glad at this point the loose ends are in someone else's hands as I tend to hurry things a bit as I get closer to the finish line!

Stay tuned...it's coming!

Car made the trip back from the interior shop to the rod shop on a trailer yesterday. Now for final assembly. Kory said people were honking, waving and taking pictures as he made it back to the shop...I guess that's a good sign! I can't wait to see the full car with interior in person ;).

Attachment 114586

Attachment 114587