The body work begins...

[Stratous]

jrbexhaust - My name is Bryan, and my brother is Jason.
I'm sure I can pick you guys out, if you're still working with John Ertz.

phantomrt - I'm not sure if I said yesterday, it was originaly my mom's, but she had crashed the car the first year it couldn't be stored for the winter. My brother being the body tech, straightend and repaired it with a complete repaint in the factory white. His car is probobly around 11x,xxx miles now. A couple years ago it over heated and sceized a valve. We rebuilt the head with a Purple Shaft cam and Mopar valves, and just got it done a year ago. It's been driven MAYBE 100 miles since then. I am sure I can talk him into the next meeting, but with a 2 year old and new puppies at home, he just couldn't make it.

I am definately going all out with this car. I've ALWAYS wanted to do this to a car. Everyday you see someone that has just totaly half assed a car together. It's depressing really, that people aren't willing to put the extra effort into doing something the right way!
I chose the Daytona because for a first project car I wanted something easy. I am not ready for the Muscle Cars, so I figured I'de stick with what I call the "pocket rockets", or 4 cyl turbos. Since I'm a Dodge fan it just seamed right to go with the Shelbys. It was between the Daytona and the Charger and I found the Daytona first. Maybe a Charger will be next...he he.


Oh BTW - I got the exhaust, front suspension, and drive axles out today...I GOT SO SUN BURNT!!...I also loosend the engine mounts. Except for the shift cables and a couple trinkets, the engine is ready to come out. The plan is to pull the tranny with the engine, but we'll see how that goes.

[phantomrt]

I'd really like to check that car out sometime.

But yea, that thing about doing stuff nicely once to be done with it is the way to go. There are too many people on this board who are shocked that my air/fuel guage costed more than their entire car, and to justify proper air/fuel ratios for $400 is outrageous. Well, its cheaper than a new engine.

[Stratous]

Exactly.

I want this car to win Car Shows as well as races, so it will be media blasted, repaired, primed and blocked atleast 2 if not 3 times, painted inside and out in one shot as to completely eliminate paint lines and any tell tale signs. The complete engine compartment will be painted and the undercairage will be somekind of textured coating for protection, but I havn't yet decided the best route for that yet.

Granted, when I am done I will be in it for more than $15k, but that is completely worth the satisfaction when you win your first trophy!

There is this guy around the corner from me that does some HALF ASS body work in his garage. And it's not repair work...He is bondo-ing R33 Skyline taillights in a Corola right now. It's hard core rice burner shit!! I see him all the time when I am out working on my car drive by watching me...in his '92 Civic hatchback with a fart can bigger than my head out the back...
When it's done I am gonna stop in front of his house to show him the flawless body work, let him hear what a REAL turbo sounds like, then let the Quaife lay twin strips down the street.

[Stratous]

ENGINES OUT!!!

I pulled it today...By myself I might add!!!
The list shortens, but there is still all the wire harnesses, cross member, shifter, gas tank, rear axle, and the heater.

Should be ready for media blasting in two weeks.








UHHH THIS COLOR!!!!!
I cannot decide on a fricken color!!!!!!
Blue, Red, Silver...tu-tone, don't tu-tone.

Jeez...I want a color I like, but I also want a color that will stand out and win shows.

[phantomrt]

This car is gonna be sweet. I am jealous already.

I've always liked these era Daytonas red with dark gray ground FX. Its an original color scheme though and may not stand out to most people. Red metallic perhaps. Hmm

I just got done bringing my '92 Daytona home from its winter hibernation barn. Really nice car with the exception of the paint... it looks like permanent bird poop all over it.

Some engine ideas:


Still a long ways away from where I want it, but getting there. If you want a crazy powerplant for your car, there's someone locally who I think still has a 16V Maserati engine/transmission that will fit in that car. Those engines are tanks--massive rods, massive crankshaft, and the transmission you won't be able to break. You would likely have the only '89 Daytona with the Maserati powertrain in existence.

[Stratous]

There will definately be some custom plans for the next project, but for this one, I want to prove to the punk Honda kids that you don't need DOHCs and VTech to produce great numbers. I am sure they will make up some good stories for their buddies when they get slammed by an 8 valve.

I got the main wire harness and the heater core out today. I also removed the doors.

I have gotten A LOT of people telling me to paint it Red. A couple guys on another gaming forum said to paint it Dodge's Inferno Red, which is a DEEP metalic. I've always wanted blue, but the Intense Blue just wouldn't fit. The Viper Blue with tu-tone would look nice, but so would Inferno Red, or Viper Red.

I also found another known media blasting shop in Maple Grove. The Long Lake shop currently appears to have the nicest process with full rotissery, dipping, blasting, and rust proofing for a competative cost.

OH!! When I was removing the the wire harness I noticed that the last owner has installed a nice set-up, direct wired, ignition shut off. I am going to have to correct some bad wiring, but I think I will keep it. It uses a relay and is controlled by a switch to cut off the ground to the ignition coil.

Jim - Other than the A/C lines thats looking reall nice and clean. Hopefully mine will look similar, but a little cleaner...

[jrbexhaust]

Bryan, I'd like to check your car out sometime. I like the silver, but Inferno red might look cool too. Let me know if you need any help too. I'm in Plyymouth all the time (other than when I'm at work). It was nice to meet you the other day. Let me know if you want Todd's info too.

Later, Jessie

[Stratous]

Yeah, definately hit me up with Todd's number. If he can produce FM numbers for cheaper it's definately worth a shot.
I also only work in Plymouth. The car is at my house in Coon Rapids. I have to let us get a solid foot stationed in the new shop before Tammy will alow me to anything with it in the new shop, but that is where it will be prepped and painted.

Yeah, like I said before, the Silver is nice and it's rare, but I don't think it has the wow effect to trophy in a show.

The solid red, with the recond Pumpers would look sweet...especialy with tinted windows and silver accents like the window trim and spoiler top.


I still like this paint scheme.
http://stratous.250free.com/My_Car/837871_13_full.jpg

[jrbexhaust]

Send me an e-mail. Jbuhr@abraauto.com

[Stratous]

Gettin' pretty bare...

[raccoon]

I still see rear windows and the k-frame! get back to work!

[Stratous]

My website membership has lapsed, so even though I havn't lost my storage...I lost my bandwith. I'll get it back, but right now I gonna rely on MySpace.

The inside is completely stripped except for some padding a couple odd bolts that I didn't want to forget.

The only things I have left are the fuel lines, the brake lines (which are siezed to the brake booster), and the parking brake line, which is also siezed.
I planned on making new brake lines, so I will probobly just cut them, but I want to try to save the parking brake line.

It's getting there.

[Orangetona]

Man you're doing a great job on that!

[raccoon]

you have to do a time laps video when you put it back together!

take one picture a day from the same spot and make a movie for us.

[Stratous]

Just wait till the ACTUAL body work begins. I see so many people half ass their bodywork (especialy my neighbors...ricers). When you work at a top name body shop with a life time warrantee and Platinum Certified technitions...Half ass body work is not possible.

The time lapse is definately a sweet idea...bummer I didn't think about it at the beginning. I will definately try to take more pictures in the same positions as I go from now on.