Flare Kit
Because of the wide stance of the chassis, it became aparent early on the there needed to be a "bridge" if you will to bring the body and chassis together. Here we are mating a 32 year old body design to a state of the art chassis-- things have changed, new ideas of not only technology but also style and shape have, for better or worse, changed. The 19.5" wheels stick out proud from the ody be over 2 inches. Hey, it will be great for the handling but we need to get those tires inside the body so a flare kit was needed. We also felt that a new style ground effects kit would bring this classic vintage body into the style of today. We did not want to turn the coach into something other than what it is-- a classic GMC. In other words we wanted to retain the original style on any modifications done. It's easy to make a new look, it's difficult to keep the style while undating the look so follow us as we take on yet again another challenge in this project. The following will be a blog of how the flare kit came together.
So now were are in the body shaping stage of the project. Bringing the Duramax chassis and the GMC body together at first was not a pretty sight, we need to make the 2 look as one. From a block of blue foam, watch how the ground effects come together. Enjoy
So you want interesting? I'll give you
interesting-- here's a smiling face you will get used to, here's Jimmie
Fiberglass with the "foam block"
.
I can hear ya say "so whats that for?" This is where the awesome custom
ground effects will come from. This is a very special foam, stable under
hot resins, this stuff will be sculpted to create the shape and from there the
actual panels will be molded. Oh, you gotts stay tuned for this!
Getting ready for the flares and ground
effects to be designed, we needed to prep the body for the fit. As in most
coaches, there is a "buldge" over the front wheel openings
It's difficult to see in the pic so go outside and sight down the body molding
strip on the side-- you will probably see it. It's a bit more involved to
attend to this on the earlier year coaches but on the 76 body fitted to the
Duramax chassis, it's not too bad. There is an inner aluminum support
structure behind the body panel over the wheel opening, we cut 1/8" holes in the
body mold strip, oval cut the holes then use out super dooper self tapping 2
1/2" long oval cut phillips screws to gently pull in the body to it's original
position.
On large bows we will use as many as 5 screws to bring the body in along a wide
length. Again, the pic is difficult to see
and sometimes no matter what you do there will be some amount of deflection in
the side molding but this really straightens up many years of "midrift buldge"
our coaches have. I gotta give credit for this process to Gene Tucker of
Corvette Classics in Macon Ga.. He is a real Corvette body guru and in
that our GMC body is partially made up of the high tech "Corvette Plastic" (SMC)
Gene is in hog heaven -- oh BTW, Gene has what is it 3 or maybe 40 GMC
coaches--- he's no fool! That is if you don't call me one too!
Thanks Gene for that discovery.
We are moving to the interior for a bit up to the dash area. Members go to Member Mechanical for more on where we are on the dash cluster.
------------------ 7.29.07
11.13.07------------------
It's all about getting the ground effects
mock up finished, getting the molds of them made and getting this puppy to paint
and my guys have finally gotten themselves together and gotten back on the job.
Willie had his pancreas removed in an emergency operation (I thought you needed
one of those), sure wish he would have let me know the problem-- I was having
some pretty bad thoughts about him! Hey, it's the world we live im-- megga
stuff sometimes happens and when you are doing such specialty custom work there
are few people that can do the job-- I'm just glad we are back on track.
Here is Willie fighting the sanding dust going at it
and his sidekick going at it too
Here is where we are
Now remember, this is only the "mock up" wait till you
see the real thing! The mock up should be completed today-- pray for us.
A drum roll please
Because after months of work, shaping, building, sanding-- waiting, waiting and
waiting--- the bandages come off from the first round of "plastic surgery".
We get a look at the shape of things to come. She fires up after it's long
sleep and slowly the monster peeks outside
With the air ride system not yet on line, Jesse carefully pulls out the Duramax
from the trim shop where the transformation has started. Oh Daddy-- hold
my hand--- Dave, will we dream--- Take a left at Andromeda it's clear of the
bay!
No grill, no scoop, no headlights, no side window but man-- there it is
Jesse is still trying to get the air ride system up, this pic is in down
position
Man is that "sucked to the ground" or what?
hey, you've got to use your imagination a bit, these pics were actually taken
for Walter, his paint design team and for Raymond to see the style and shape of
the body. Here are the rest of the series.
OK guys, there ya go. I like it, there is so much farther to go but I think we have a good start at least. Thanks to all who have helped to this point, now we really get to work! BTW, thanks Bill Bagley for the question-- the bucket on the roof is not a part of the styling!
What a Christmas present! The molds showed up -- hey Scrooge, it took more than one night and 3 ghosts--- but by God, we've got the fat Turkey-- the big one in the window and the crippled boy will live!
Yes, we have our fiberglass wrap around ground effects kit. Doesn't look like much after what over 3 months wait but level heads have prevailed, no one was sacrificed in the production of this part and I had a chill run up my spine while taking these pics! Tomorrow morning, after a bike ride of course, work starts on fitting these custom parts to Raymonds Duramax coach. The call will go into Walter to foam the runway at his paint booth cause next week (oh dang--- it's Christmas-- I won't get the hot boiled peanut guy to work much next week! Hey, it's only once a year and wouldn't ya know thats where we are) we'll be landing hot and heavy very soon for paint on this puppy. Visions not of sugarplums but of ground effects fitment in my head!) this will be our next "first thing" to do.
Well, the wait is over, you know sometimes
the world just will not spin on your nickel-- then it becomes your time and that
time is now! Our new fiberglass folks came in and took over where we were
getting slow support
.
These molds have taken way to long to bring to this point and still there is
work for someone committed to do, we have our shapes
,
it's now time to fit them to the coach and these guys took the ball and ran with
it
.
The operative phrase having to do with all custom work still holds true "they
almost fit perfect
now our job is to tie the molds to the body and make them look like they are
supposed to be there
Step one, hang the molds-- wham-- and they are all hung
Now they will adjust them and start with the SMC compounds to mold them to the
body. Oh, but unlike the other glass guys who I will say did good work but
it's like standing at that little window at Dairy Queen for 6 weeks waiting for
a milkshake-- that is not cool-- these guys will be here today to start the
molding in process. FFFFFAAAAANNNNTTTTAAAASSSTTTIIICCC!!!!!!!!!! You
betcha I'll carry my camera. Come back later for more.
The guys are hard at work fitting, adjusting
and bonding the ground effects kit to the coach. Here every day, we're
hard on the heals of success on this.
The big day is here, this morning Jesse
jumped up in the seat and we pulled the coach out of it's cocoon
The 26 Duramax is out of it's bay and waiting for the tow truck to take it to
Walters. Sorry, I chickened out driving the coach with no tag! I
could see it now, my pride and joy in an impound lot! Nop, no gonna
happen! So take a last look before some serious magic begins
