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Old 09-28-2004, 02:36 PM   #16
sgraber
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Re: Build your own car from SCRATCH?!

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Originally Posted by muddymike2003
that car.... look sweet as candy lol it kind of reminds me of corvettes! Suspension will be the hardest part, i know.. i want to have the car mainly be a everyday driver with a trip to the track every once in a while. do you know the best suspension setup for this offhand? on the frame did you use mdf or just hard board, and will you take the hard board out when its done so it will be lighter yet? ur car must fly at only 1200 lbs!! just...watch out for any strong winds....
The body (as you see it) is only temporary. It is what is called a Plug or a Buck. Wood, putty, foam, and more is sculpted into what is to all appearances a finished car. With a show car finish. But it's only purpose is to have a mold created over top of it. Once the mold is pulled the body that I worked so hard to create will be destroyed when I remove it from the car. But the mold (which is a female impression of the car) will be used to lay-up thin layers of fiberglass (or carbon fiber) which will be pulled out of the mold. This creates the shell of the car which is then mounted back onto the frame to create the final car. The nice part about having molds is that I will be able to make as many bodies as I need.

before I started on the body the car had been driven (up to about 60Mph at midnight) through my neighborhood, please don't tell my wife! and the road surface was smooth. I don't know yet how it will handle the bumps and potholes of a regular road. I suspect that it will be a stiff ride and since the car has no top, no heater and no radio (you can add your own when you build your car thanks, but I don't want it) it's not reeeally a "daily-driver" but I will try it and let you know how it goes. I suspect that the thrill of blasting around in a lightweight mini supercar will be nice though. I plan on driving it to work and back regularly. You don't really care about those luxury items when you hop onto a sport-bike do you?

Remember - quickness through lightness.
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Old 09-28-2004, 05:16 PM   #17
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thats wut i thought, but i wasn't sure, thank ya! ive built fiberglass sound systems and leave the frame in there so that it could stand the vibration so it doesnt crack but this is different and wasn't sure...

I'm not planning on putting luxury stuff in it, unless i make it so that i can take it out fast and easy and only have that stuff for shows

that car is going to look and be fast as hell when its all done!!! u got skill
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Old 09-29-2004, 10:55 AM   #18
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Thought you guys might like to see the balance point on the car. I am lifting the front end with two fingers. Once the driver gets in , the center of gravity moves directly below the drivers seat.

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Last edited by sgraber; 11-19-2007 at 10:02 AM.
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Old 10-02-2004, 07:31 AM   #19
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Sick dude! Are you gonna keep it a one piece body or cut it for sectioned body panels?
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Old 10-04-2004, 03:22 PM   #20
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Re: Build your own car from SCRATCH?!

It'll be built in at least 5 seperate panels. Although a one-piece would certainly be easier... But engine access would be difficult.

Graber
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Old 10-04-2004, 05:50 PM   #21
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I second the mutly panels. It's just better. Looks beautiful.
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Old 10-06-2004, 04:14 PM   #22
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Re: Build your own car from SCRATCH?!

Bravo.

I like people who do work them selves. I give you alot of credit for that. Hope it comes out well.

Btw hello joontae havent seen u here often.
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Old 10-06-2004, 08:36 PM   #23
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Yeah I sometimes go out of the street racing forum lol. I get bored every so often and check out other forums. I check here cause they have cool micro cars from Europe in this forum. I'm cathin up in post numbers lol.
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Old 11-18-2004, 01:05 PM   #24
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Hi Guys. A quick update. I have totally revamped the look of my website. In addition I am almost finished with the rough plug building and expect that I will be pulling molds of the shape in early January! It's been over 2 years to get to this point.

You can visit my site Here

Here is a photo of the "almost finished" passenger side. Just need one or 2 more coats of filler and a final sanding. It is within 1/4" accurate to the Drivers side. That was hard to do!

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http://www.grabercars.com/

Last edited by sgraber; 06-14-2006 at 02:10 PM. Reason: fixed link
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Old 12-09-2004, 04:28 PM   #25
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-With the front revamped and the new idea to the rear, the car is really coming together swell.
-http://www.grabercars.com/Mambosite/...d=52&Itemid=42
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Old 12-11-2004, 11:00 AM   #26
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Re: Build your own car from SCRATCH?!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coltion
-With the front revamped and the new idea to the rear, the car is really coming together swell.
-http://www.grabercars.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemi d=42
Thanks, I thought that I would be ready to primer the car and start final sand-downs this weekend, but as I continue to refine the shape I keep seeing ways to improve it. I am working on the tail-lights and the headlights the entire weekend. I had a GREAT idea for the tail lights and how they integrate into the bodywork and am really excited about implementing it. Stay tuned to my website for more updates.
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La Bala - A Lightweight Sports Car for Street and Track
http://www.grabercars.com/

Last edited by sgraber; 06-14-2006 at 02:11 PM.
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Old 12-13-2004, 01:28 PM   #27
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Just a quick update to let you know that I have uploaded some new videos on my website shot this morning. You can watch them here:http://www.grabercars.com/index.php?option=content&task=blogcategory&id=10&I temid=31

Here are some thumbnails showing the most recent progress on the car.





I managed to recruit two local brothers, James and Jason, to help me with the bodywork since my back is going out intermittently. They have been an unbelievable find. Hard working, talented guys, and they observe things very similar to me so it's easy to talk about something that needs to be done and just let them do it! Is that cool or what?!
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http://www.grabercars.com/

Last edited by sgraber; 06-14-2006 at 02:17 PM.
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Old 12-15-2004, 08:36 PM   #28
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Re: Build your own car from SCRATCH?!

You my friend are the most patient man the I have ever had the pleasure of observing... bravo, bravo
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Old 12-17-2004, 06:32 PM   #29
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Re: Build your own car from SCRATCH?!

Believe it or not, guys that build experimantal aircraft are even MORE so! I knew a guy that spent 10 years building an airplane in his basement. One day he decided that it was time to take it outside. One small problem. the wing he had built didn't fit up the stairs! Being a creative person he simply dug a hole beside the house, knocked the basment wall out and took the wing out the side of the house!

And I actually thought about building my car in my backyard... but then I measured the width of my gate and decided that it was a baaaad idea! LOL
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Old 12-19-2004, 02:46 AM   #30
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I was curious and clicked "Other Cars "catagory and couldnt help but notice this thread.Thats an awsome ride,but does the hood open or is the engine going in the rear?
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