Just Saying Hi... Again...

Looooong over due update...

Coupe body should be done with prep next week and ready for paint in a few weeks. After that, all the glass needs to be installed and then it is mounted to my chassis.

Speaking of chassis, the trans I got decided to spring a leak and drop trans fluid all over my garage floor. Some plug thingy? Not exactly sure since I am no transmission expert. I spent an hour this afternoon draining and pulling the trans out. Since I got the trans through Greg, he is being kind enough to drive to my house and pick it up. I would drive it up to him, but it is hard to get away from the house when you are managing a soon-to-be three year old! Greg for the win!

If all goes well, I will have a nice coupe painted and mounted to my rolling chassis before month end. After that, wiring and interior.. gauges.. more sound deadening... and an engine... done!

Didn't happen without pictures!!!

Lane Anderson posted:

Didn't happen without pictures!!!

Here's the trans after I removed it. It is with Greg now and he will get it all fixed next week. I stopped by Vintage earlier today and it is PACKED full of cars. He is really really busy. I also had a great conversation with Roland from Fat Performance - he's a very knowledgeable engine builder. I would have stayed there all day, but I had my daughter with me (she was fascinated with all the cool cars - that's my girl!).

Greg also had this 1954 beauty in his shop... WOW!

Proof of life! I’m thinking end of April the coupe body meets the rolling chassis. Love at first site!

Also picked out the interior color and carpet.

SuhWEEEEEET!!!!!!

Just got the transmission back this afternoon. I had Greg fill her up full of transmission fluid and she doesn’t leak. Time to finish the rolling chassis so that she’s ready for the body.

Body hood and deck lid are installed. Just need the doors and she’ll be ready for primer and the final prep work before paint. I’m still thing the end of month for it all to come together...

Whitewalker has finally touched ground! He is ready to be united with the body!

On a side note, what is typically the next step if you are leaking brake fluid out of the nipple that you bleed the brakes from? I can’t tighten the nipple any more, but it still is leaking and I can’t get the brakes set up correctly...

Switch bleeder nipple from another caliper on the chassis, if it doesn't leak then you have a bad bleeder screw,  if still leaks ( with the other bleeder installed) at that location the threads on the caliper are bad.

Spot on as usual Doc! Greg’s ordering a few more bleeder screws tomorrow. Looks like someone from the factory monkey fisted this thing and crushed the tip!

Looking good... looking good ! ! ! Greg's Team is doing an amazing job!

Looking good Longfella ... That's my coupe body on your drivers side based on the photos Greg sent me.  I am just waiting for it to be mounted to the rolling chasis so it can be shipped to FL next month.  Base on 550 Phil's wait for shipping I'm crossing my fingers it will be ready soon.  Looking forward to seeing your progress. 

Maybe you can make an Episode of The Shipping Wars on A&E?

The myth, the man, the legend @Will Hesch came through for me again! He knew I was on the hunt for a real Porsche rack like the one on my Speedster (which he also got for me). He found a nice one, had it cleaned, and powder coated gloss black to match the rims. It’s going to add a nice touch to the theme I’m going with for the outlaw build...

Looks like @MusbJim won’t be the only one with a gloss black Reuter Rack

Brian, you should have it today. You forgot to mention that it's a hyper-rare single-grill model.

Dual grill Reutters are rare but these are much harder to find!

I stand in awe.  This build is going so well.  Should be a dream when done.  And can't have too many pictures.

It turned our great. Will is the man! It certainly is not perfect, but it is an original

Looks great, Brian! Your coupe (I mean Monica's coupe) is going to be one bad-a$$ ride! 

I've always liked the detail a powder-coated luggage rack adds to a 356.

Love the Reutter racks!  It will look great in your coupe!

I literally just found a single grill Reutter rack two doors down in a garage sale,  neighbor asked for 75$.  I felt guilty taking it for that, and spent all Sunday helping him with his yard work... they are in their 80s and getting the house ready to sell. He said it had been hanging from the garage rafters since the mid 70s. Came with the house when they bought it. He never owned a Porsche, he has a nice collection of Jags.

Now I have two Reutter racks...I imagine after I get this single grill one cleaned/powder coated I will put my dual grill one up for sale,

Lfepardo posted:

Love the Reutter racks!  It will look great in your coupe!

I literally just found a single grill Reutter rack two doors down in a garage sale,  neighbor asked for 75$.  I felt guilty taking it for that, and spent all Sunday helping him with his yard work... they are in their 80s and getting the house ready to sell. He said it had been hanging from the garage rafters since the mid 70s. Came with the house when they bought it. He never owned a Porsche, he has a nice collection of Jags.

Now I have two Reutter racks...I imagine after I get this single grill one cleaned/powder coated I will put my dual grill one up for sale,

That is a good find! I wish I paid $75 for mine... 

That one was meant to be LFepardo. 

Long overdue update...

Body is going to paint next week on Tuesday. I finally got a hard brake pedal - it shouldn't have taken as long as it did, but they work and there are no leaks.

Once the body is painted, headliner will go in before all the glass. Then I will bring the chassis up for everything to be married... I and REALLY HOPING I can get the coupe back in my garage by the end of June so that I can start everything else...

*LongFella posted:

Lfepardo posted:

Love the Reutter racks!  It will look great in your coupe!

I literally just found a single grill Reutter rack two doors down in a garage sale,  neighbor asked for 75$.  I felt guilty taking it for that, and spent all Sunday helping him with his yard work... they are in their 80s and getting the house ready to sell. He said it had been hanging from the garage rafters since the mid 70s. Came with the house when they bought it. He never owned a Porsche, he has a nice collection of Jags.

Now I have two Reutter racks...I imagine after I get this single grill one cleaned/powder coated I will put my dual grill one up for sale,

That is a good find! I wish I paid $75 for mine... 

...but just think Brian, how much yard-work you would've owed me had I only charged you $75...

Sounding like a broken record, but I "think" the coupe was scheduled to be painted the week of June 25th. Still waiting on pics to see how it turned out. I think Greg was on vacation this past week - definitely well deserved considering how busy he has been...

My rolling chassis is just waiting in the garage... waiting to be married to the body...

After checking out the Reutter installations on single grill VS speedies in attendance at SLO last month, ...I decided I do have at least one of the two things I'll need to put a rack on mine: "equipment/tools" and the "skill" to accomplish the project. The one I know I've got is the equipment/tools - Ha!

Anyway, if anyone can direct me to a rack "se vende," I'd sure appreciate your passing the info on to me.  Unlike LFEPARDO, though, I'll not be doin' yardwork - way too old and infirm for that - but paying cash: U.S. cash plus 2 forms of ID.

The broken record continues... no update on the Coupe. Hoping paint next week?

On a side note, my wife and I just bought a house so this build will be coming to a snails pace build. I will likely not have it complete until end of the year/beginning of next. It WILL be done before next years SLO cruise!

Is Greg just too busy to get to it? Problems with the prep? Equipment? Too hot?

TRP posted:

Is Greg just too busy to get to it? Problems with the prep? Equipment? Too hot?

 

Greg is crazy busy! He was out of town for a week (which he needed). Plus, a few key employees were out on vacation too.

He is doing me a huge solid, I help him out too, with this build so I don't have any concerns or issues if he needs another couple of weeks. Plus, he knows once I am done with this coupe it will get a LOT of marketing (shows, forums, etc.) - so he wants it to be perfect

Understood. Just wondering. Do it right and do it once.

Quick update on this build thread...

I’ve asked Greg to hold for a few weeks since The Dowd Clan is in the Czech Republic. We’ve been here two weeks and have another week to go (visiting family). There’s no point in Greg rushing to get things done and I’m not around to get the rolling chassis up to him.

Also, I’ve been buying and house and spending most nights at 3AM local time dealing with the back-and-forth involved. We finally got agreeemnt and we got the house. Escrow closes Aug 27th. We return the 22nd, so I’m sure you can see a bit of stress and drinking... LOL!

Speaking of pivo.... cheers!! (about five stories underground at the Pilsner Urquell Brewery in Pilzen, CZ - that’s straight from the wooden barrels baby! Unfiltered and unpasteurized from the beer gods themselves!)

NICE! I'll need to visit Pilsner Urquell someday! We drank 4 cases of that to get all identical bottles. We brewed beer, bottled, and printed labels for wedding favors.

Good luck on the house.

Looking good! I'm having a great time with your speedster. Thanks for leaving the keys for me.

We were in Prague last year - it's great beer.  Don't forget to try the original Budweiser while there.

Yeah, like I’m gonna travel all the way to Eastern Europe to drink a Bud..........

Gordon Nichols posted:

Yeah, like I’m gonna travel all the way to Eastern Europe to drink a Bud..........

Hick-town homeboy that I am, Prague has always seemed like Eastern Europe to me as well. It's not really-- it's maybe 20 miles east of Berlin, and south. It's also 100 mi or so west of Vienna, which has always seemed like a Western European capitol.

Weird aside: I started poking around on the AirBnB site the other night... and decided that one way or another, I'd really like to go to Prague, Vienna, and Budapest in the summer. This time of year seems perfect.

Enjoy yourself, Longfella.

I can't even get to Carlisle.

Stan.  I've been to all three (Prague, Berlin and both Buda and Pest (both sides of the river) as well as Istanbul (again, both sides).  

Go.   Please go.

Take one of the many river cruises, or just go there, find a guest house and hang out.  Don't forget to stop by Salzburg, too - you won't regret it, any time of the year (but Christmas is extra-special).  If you can get to Istanbul, THAT would be wicked-awesome, too! (But I'd personally go to Salzburg first).  There is so much history over there from so many early cultures that you feel like a sponge, just soaking it all up and when you return home you're dismayed at how much has leaked out of your head.

Have breakfast at a small cafe and meet locals.  They will be thrilled to speak with you and learn about you and share their cities with you.  Ask them for cool things to do.  Become a part of their culture (I know....You've already done this).  

I was once in Prague for a business conference/meetings and ended up "being delayed" at the end of the conference and "had" to spend a weekend there.  I was escorted about the city by a potential customer and thoroughly enjoyed the visit as we found out-of-the-way places and even some relatives.  

I would go back in a heartbeat.

It's Vienna, Budapest, and Prague, and I'm working hard on locking down dates. 3 years ago we did Dubrovnik, Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Jeanie wanted to sell everything and stay in Rome.

She would, indeed, sell everything and go if you had visited Umbria........

Unless Umbria has 1000 churches, I think Rome is it.

Every single bit of advice, encouragement, and enthusiasm that everyone has offered regarding these cities is, in my humble opinion, spot on! I have had the great privilege of piloting magnificent flying machines across the Atlantic to Europe for almost three decades now for a living (hence the ‘30West’ moniker: 30 west longitude is the approximate midpoint for typical routing across the Atlantic). I have been very blessed to have become very familiar with many of the cities you speak of.

I can’t tell you how many great conversations and enduring friendships started with a simple, thirsty guy (me) wandering into some random pub just looking for a pint while exploring the local landscape, and probably off the beaten path! I have always found folks of all kinds of varied backgrounds to be generous, gracious, and eager to engage. Conversations are lively, fascinating, and highly entertaining. The scenery ain’t bad, either!!

And like Stan’s wife Jeanie, my wife has threatened to just wholesale up and move to the Amalfi Coast - and has even invited me to go with her!!

- Brent 

si signor, bellissima  

Ok, bringing it back to a build thread

After three weeks in Czech, bought a house while abroad (came home Wednesday, final walk-through Thursday, signed loans docs and got keys Friday), moved the following weekend, jumped on a plane to Utah for two days this past week... Greg an I finally caught up... Coupe is getting painted this weekend!

My goal is to have the coupe body mounted and back in my garage by the end of this month. I should have the garage finally organized and ready to continue building the outlaw coupe for the wifey...

On a side note... a HUGE THANK YOU to @MusbJim for helping me out. He took some time over Labor Day weekend to help trailer my coupes rolling chassis to the new house. It was also a nice little road test to make sure nothing fell off or broke... LOL!

On another side note...

I have a bucket list of cars I would like to drive. The #1 on the list is a Carrera GT. Well, I got to drive one. I'm amazed on the amount of power it has. So. much. fun.

Very nice!

What was like in the cockpit of that thing?

Jethro posted:

Very nice!

What was like in the cockpit of that thing?

Everything felt where it should be... aside from terrible blind spots, it was a dream to drive!

Whitewalker has emerged from the lands of THE NORTH!

Really nice. Now you’re cooking!

That’s awesome!

I approve of this paint color! PPPPFFFFFFFTTTTTTT Stan!

Looking forward to seeing the build Brian!

Update... update... update...

A HUGE shot out to @MusbJim - he is the man. Period. He is the coolest of cool cats. On a moments notice, he was able to swing by the house this morning and help hitch the completed rolling chassis to Greg at Vintage Motorcars for the well waited joining of the body and chassis. Finally!!! Greg and I have a solid plan for the carpet, headliner, interior, etc... It will be nice to have Whitewalker home and spend time in my garage working on it...

It has been a few months since I have stopped by and talked to Greg. He is SUPER busy, but the quality of work at his shop is amazing. He has made some amazing improvements - the little details that mean the most (at least to my OCD).

Side note: It was nice to see the rolling chassis handle some speed on the freeway and not have any issues/problems. Guess I am getting good at this "building" thing. I'm certainly not a Greg or Dr. Clock, but I learned from both and several more on this forum

@LongFella   I admire YOUR super detailed build skills !

Update: The merging of my chassis and body is about complete. I hope to have White Walker back in the home garage Monday or Tuesday to start my round of work. Once that is complete, back to carpet guy to get the carpet custom cut to the car (I learned not to order just a general kit)/door panels/seats/headliner... and last stop to Greg for all the glass install...

No pics to share yet

Welcome home Whitewalker. Welcome home!

FINALLY! ! ! ! Greg and the guys at Vintage Motorcars Inc did a wonder job mounting the body. Even got a nice custom steering wheel and hub from Greg. My wifey is going to have one bada@@ coupe when I am done with it!

Let the building begin!

Beautiful, and agreed - your steering wheel is bada**. I’d love to have one of those. It fits the VW spline pattern?

Looks awesome LFella. Sounds like you are in the O.C area? Hopefully be able to see it in person someday ...

Brian in Murrieta

Looking pretty sharp, Brian!

Looks great Brian! I see your daughter has already claimed her spot.  Look forward to following your build.  Mine is on the truck to FL now.  Waiting on message from the driver. 

30West posted:

Beautiful, and agreed - your steering wheel is bada**. I’d love to have one of those. It fits the VW spline pattern?

Yes, it fits the VW spline. Greg at Vintage Motorcars Inc makes a custom hub for this wheel. It is gorgeous in person...

Got a big box of parts yesterday from Greg. Always great seeing his shop and Team plugging away.

Pics of the gauges... these are Greg's new ones... even the small gauges are his design/custom for him... they are gorgeous!!

Once I finish sound deadening the interior, all electrical will be run, lights, battery, frunk and engine painted like my Speedster... year end goals...

After that, it will head to have the carpet custom cut and installed. Then I get all the interior pieces... finally stage is engine choice and fuel pump...

I am really hoping my wifey is driving this Coupe up to SLO in 2019

Are they VDO guages?  I wonder how the lighting is at night.

IaM-Ray posted:

Are they VDO guages?  I wonder how the lighting is at night.

Not sure. I'd have to ask Greg - they are his design/build - not sure where he sources them from.

The smaller gauges have LED lights. The larger ones don't have the little lights in them, but I will likely go LED like the smaller ones.

I have the Beck gauges in my Speedster. I like them, but the regular lights are too dim at night... so I will replace those with LED too.

I have the Beck/IM guages as well and yes they are a bit dim... Marty has LED's green and very bright. 

I believe there are incadescent bulbs you can get now, that are brighter and will allow your rheostat to work and dim the instruments.  

The LED's are usually undimmable for the most part with the standard rheostat, unless you have more electricity skills. 

Brian, are they exactly the same size of guage?

IaM-Ray posted:

Brian, are they exactly the same size of guage?

Which ones? The tach and speedo are the standard Porsche size. The fuel and oil temp are smaller. Is that what you are asking?

Yes I was mostly concerned about the Tach and Speedo.

I often look at this setup, pict below,  it just keeps all the guages in one spot.  I am a bit nervous about doing this myself on my set up but it would be nice to have some auxiliary guages at times with a bit more precision than the standard temp guage. 

Oil temp would be nice, as well as water temp in my case.

I just added Cruise Control and it is awesome on the 4 lane highways.

I often think of building a coupe but I need to experience on first then I can deal with getting it north of the border.  Another challenge.  Keep going your cars look awesome.

Whitewalker is up on the stands and will be there for several months. Let the fun begin!

Man, I can’t wait to see it all come together!

You have mentioned that you and Greg have a ‘solid plan’ for the interior, headliner, etc. Can you divulge any secrets - colors, other details? Inquiring minds want to know!

I’m super excited and anxious to see the finished product, and it’s not even my car!! Like a kid in a candy shop . . . . . . it’s going to be beautiful!

*LongFella posted:

Whitewalker is up on the stands and will be there for several months. Let the fun begin!

May the Force be with you.

Brian have you looked at Wilhoit's site he has come nice coupes that are redone with the same dash as yours... it might give you some ideas. 

 @*LongFella  I don't know if you're interested in this, but I have attached the dimensions for an original 1955 Pre-A speedster dash that lives about a mile from me.  Maybe they will give you some ideas of layout and spacing so you can go from there.  They are the same photos that Bob Carley used on his IM-6, as well as Gary Bloom and Manny and a few others outside of the 'states.   Happy Building!   gn

Looking sharp Brian! I just sent Anna an email to get a coupe parts order going as well.  The gauges are on my list.  Keep the details and photos coming. 

 I'm waiting on a few boxes from "Anna-Claus" too !

Alan Merklin posted:

 I'm waiting on a few boxes from "Anna-Claus" too !

She’s holds the shop together. Trust me

Finally had some time to do a little work. Sealing EVERYTHRING before laying the sound deadening material. I’m also wrapping the wiring harness in cloth tape like I did my Speedster

Brian,

I see you notched the back above the shift coupler. Wasn't there a 2x2 steel horizontal tube running across there in the coupe?

Stephen

AllnuttS posted:

Brian,

I see you notched the back above the shift coupler. Wasn't there a 2x2 steel horizontal tube running across there in the coupe?

Stephen

There is a 2x2, but it is not that far into the interior. I notch that spot, add a hinge, and stop so that I can access the coupler later on (if needed). I do that same where the opening is on the opposite side of the pedal assembly...

Once the foam insulation is cured, I will clean it up and cover it all with the sound deadening material. Like my Speedster, it seals the sh#$ out of the interior so that nothing from outside can get in. I also use an adhesive caulking (think liquid nails on crack) on the exterior seams where the body was attached to the pan. I then use the truck bed liner stuff and paint roll over it. The entire underside (including the body) will have the truck bed liner. It takes forever, but it looks great and seals everything nicely. It is the same stuff I used to cover the entire pan before the body was installed...

*LongFella posted:

AllnuttS posted:

Brian,

I see you notched the back above the shift coupler. Wasn't there a 2x2 steel horizontal tube running across there in the coupe?

Stephen

There is a 2x2, but it is not that far into the interior. I notch that spot, add a hinge, and stop so that I can access the coupler later on (if needed). I do that same where the opening is on the opposite side of the pedal assembly...

Do you have (or can you take) a good pic of that, Brian? I have that issue with my car and before the trans goes back in I'd like to do something there. I have an adjustable coupler on the end of the shift rod and getting that all undone to pull the trans out was a bear. I have an idea for a solution but it involves welding so I'd like to see what you did. Thanks in advance. Al

I made the same cut-out over the shift coupler in my car.  But, rather than hinging the original piece I took a thin piece of aluminum sheet metal and cut it the appropriate size to overlap the cut-out by about 1/2 inch on all sides.  Then I bent the flat aluminum sheet metal to fit over the cut-out.  I used the front edge of the area adjacent to the cut-out to bend the piece with the correct radius.  I secured the sheet metal over the opening using the  same tape that you’re using for your sound deadening.  It makes a tight and waterproof seal.  

I chose not to hinge because this access will only be used occasionally (hopefully) and once the tape is cut around the edges, the piece can be completely removed for maximum access to the coupler.  

Just a suggestion.  

Mine looks just like what James describes, and rather than hinging it and all that goes with THAT decision I just screwed it right to the fiberglass and flopped the carpet back over it.  Done.

Someone also mentioned having a service access panel on the other side of the tunnel across from the pedal cluster.  I did that, too, and it makes servicing the clutch cable super-easy.......Whenever I remember that the panel is there.  Old habits die slowly.

Isn't cutting a window in the tunnel opposite the pedals going to weaken the chassis? 

Doesn’t seem to.

It’s only something like 4” high by 8” long.

edsnova posted:

Isn't cutting a window in the tunnel opposite the pedals going to weaken the chassis? 

Not at all. In fact, most VW based Speedsters have a cut there (at least all of Kirk’s and now Greg’s). Most of the time they will put a plate over it, but you can still remove it if needed...

ALB posted:

*LongFella posted:

AllnuttS posted:

Brian,

I see you notched the back above the shift coupler. Wasn't there a 2x2 steel horizontal tube running across there in the coupe?

Stephen

There is a 2x2, but it is not that far into the interior. I notch that spot, add a hinge, and stop so that I can access the coupler later on (if needed). I do that same where the opening is on the opposite side of the pedal assembly...

Do you have (or can you take) a good pic of that, Brian? I have that issue with my car and before the trans goes back in I'd like to do something there. I have an adjustable coupler on the end of the shift rod and getting that all undone to pull the trans out was a bear. I have an idea for a solution but it involves welding so I'd like to see what you did. Thanks in advance. Al

Here are some pics. There’s a good amount of distance between my cut out and where the 2x2 is. The foam is nice because it expands and gets all the way back there. It’s easy to shape too...

What brand foam are you using, being white? 

AllnuttS posted:

What brand foam are you using, being white? 

Thanks Brian... Great stuff is off-white to yellow.  Hadn't used loctite brand. Plan on cutting my access hatch tomorrow.  How deep is your notch?  

Brian, is the body standing many inches away from the frame.  I have never seen this close up, having never had a pan speedster.   Is any cushioning needed or do you just fill it hoping it will never move at all?  

Brian 1 or 2 cans to do the rear area?

Alan Merklin posted:

Brian 1 or 2 cans to do the rear area?

 

2 cans, but one can do it. I usually over do it and just trim away the over do...

IaM-Ray posted:

Brian, is the body standing many inches away from the frame.  I have never seen this close up, having never had a pan speedster.   Is any cushioning needed or do you just fill it hoping it will never move at all?  

Cushioning? Not sure what you mean??

If sealing... I can only speak for the two of mine I've built/building, but there is (in some areas) a gap that requires some sealant. Not all pans are the same. The body and sub-frame within are usually the same... they just don't line up 100% to the pan... because the pans are all different in some shape or form...

I personally make it a point to seal the sh^& out of every spot the body meets the pan... and then use dyno-mat type stuff to seal and sound deaden it more... and then add some polyester material to sound deaden it even more... and some expanding foam... and more sound deadening material...

All of that adds weight too

Which, of course demands the application of additional horsepower to mitigate.  🏎

Ray:  The original VW had a body/pan sealing gasket that, in cross section, looked like a small dog bone, maybe 1-1/2" wide.  It was very effective, but as Brian mentioned, there are a lot of differences between the donor pan mating surface and the speedster body frame causing gaps here and there needing something extra - The VW body and pan fit together really closely, the speedster frames, not so much.

Before we had the benefit of this forum, I assembled one car without that gasket, using only LOTS of silicon caulk instead, followed a few years later with lots of foam (Great Stuff) to finally seal things up.  After the forum, the next car got a base of silicon, then that dogbone gasket followed by another thick layer of silicon and then mating the body and THEN followed with more foam (Great Stuff).  Unfortunately, Dr. Clock finished that car so I don't know how effective all that work was (and all those tubes and tubes of silicon caulk).

I simply installed a sump pump! ;-) 

That's pro'bly a much simpler approach......

And maybe baffles in the footwells to keep the fore and aft tidal waves at bay!

Gordon Nichols posted:

Ray:  The original VW had a body/pan sealing gasket that, in cross section, looked like a small dog bone, maybe 1-1/2" wide.  It was very effective, but as Brian mentioned, there are a lot of differences between the donor pan mating surface and the speedster body frame causing gaps here and there needing something extra - The VW body and pan fit together really closely, the speedster frames, not so much.

Before we had the benefit of this forum, I assembled one car without that gasket, using only LOTS of silicon caulk instead, followed a few years later with lots of foam (Great Stuff) to finally seal things up.  After the forum, the next car got a base of silicon, then that dogbone gasket followed by another thick layer of silicon and then mating the body and THEN followed with more foam (Great Stuff).  Unfortunately, Dr. Clock finished that car so I don't know how effective all that work was (and all those tubes and tubes of silicon caulk).

 

The gasket helps, but there will almost always be a little gap.

Here is the stuff I use on all the seams inside and out...

Thanks for the info having never built one from scratch it’s good to know the challenges

Lane Anderson posted:

Which, of course demands the application of additional horsepower to mitigate.  🏎

Yes it does!

Early morning progress...

Brian, looking good, I would double the insulation and sound deadening in your coupe to reduce the reverberation that these can bring.  Just saying.  Since it's christmas you can use flashy christmas wraps.