My new car

I like it Phil.  Nice and open.

Pete

So, Phil.  It's public knowledge now...?

It's gonna be grrrreattt 

Do you still have the IM?

I do.  Spyder isn't going to be finished for 4 months (just in time for winter) so I hung on to it.  Going to give this place one more crack at it then on to ebay.  Really want to keep it in the family.  As long as I sell it before the Spyder is done I should be ok cash wise.

What's the flat bracket on the left (in this view) front hoop? Petty bar mount? Battery tray?

Obviously this is a Vintage Motorcar frame.  Loops for passenger compartment are major difference from Beck.  The flat bracket is the front mount point for a removable 3 point role bar.  Rear 2 mount points are just in front of rear loop.  Battery for car is in rear under the bonnet.  Car will be 200 hp Suby.  I am copying an original 550.  Silver, tan interior, ivory knobs and Capri blue stripe.

Cool, windshield or Plexiglas?

I've got to check out Virginia inspection rules.  I'd like to go with Plexiglas.

16" x 4.5's ? Or something wider to put the traction down?

Nice choice for a car to replicate. It's going to be amazing when it is done.

My ultimate replica would be a standard silver a 904.

Going with polished aluminum 190s.  4.5 in front and 5.5 in rear.  I thought they were 15 inch.

Those are the way. But yeah, the early 550s rolled skinny 16s.

Subie, and what tranny?  Also is the Subie going to get any special treatment Phil?

Getting hard to find tires esp. for the rear 195 X 15 ideal for the rear, easy to find 205's but IMHO they are a tad too wide. Even in 16" it's the same story. Would love to get 165 X15's front with 195's rear it's what I currently have Kumos' but they don't have those anymore.

If you can get antique tags then your ok with plexiglas, no inspection but you could still be stopped. Maybe Vintage can help you to get antique tags guess it depends on how they register/title it.

2.5 L suby.  Naturally aspirated.  High performance heads with ECU programmed for performance.  200 hp at crank.  Greg says he got 155 hp at the rear wheels when he dynoed a previously built car with same engine.  My car may be the first with drive by wire accelerator if John at Outfront can work out the ECU programming.  That would be cool.  

Rancho 4 speed 3.88 with Greg's recommended gearing.  With that much power the tranny will get a LSD.

Feels like Xmas.

Don't know if anyone knows but I was the first person ever to own a Suby spyder in 2003.  That one was 165 hp and really moved.  This one will be incredible.  Took me 2.5 years to get the car.  This one should take about 4 months.  Unfortunately we put the radiator in the back and during performance driving that car would not cool.  I built the car to race at the track.  So that was a real disappointment.  Paid $36k back in the day.  Some rich guy from Ft. Lauderdale called me out of the blue and asked me how much I paid for the car.  I told him $36k.  He said I'll give you $37k.  A truck showed up the next day and took it away.

I'm so happy for Greg Leach at Vintage Motorcars.  This will be my 3rd car.  He's finally hit that sweet spot in his life.  I am happy to call him a friend.

He is currently finishing up the space frame for his 356 Coupe.  Who knows maybe one day I'll have a 4th Vintage Motorcar.

Phil, why don't you just go stock 175 hp like IM does and stock Drive by Wire Throttle. My Turbo Soob also has the stock Drive by Wire Throttle.   Give up a few ponies for max drivability.  

Because more is more. 

It works well in my car... How do you like the drive by wire Marty?

Phil, will you be able to get your wife in the right seat with no windshield?  

No way my wife will get in a spyder full windshield or plexiglass. 200 is better than 175. 

Drive by wire: not at all clear on how that will be managed in this case, but on my V6 Mazda with such a system, it sucks.  I'm guessing you can tweak 'em up to act like a direct cable to the throttle, but mine is, compared to the Speedy, sluggish as all hell. Bopping around town, no problem, you adapt and all is good enough. Get aggressive, and expect to have your engine rpms under control of your rt foot, and you can forget it.  Just one data point. Your mileage may vary.

My DBW throttle is awesome.  But what really rocks is the dual overhead cams and the variable valve timing. 

Marty, I copy that for sure.  But like I told Ed, you are missing all the fun of keeping all that old school technology: mechanical distributor and ignition timing, single point cam grind, idle jets, main jets and float levels all set just right BY HAND right up there on its power curve, working the gears, and keeping it screaming.  You put all that EFI, VT technology in, you take all the "fun" out.  Turn the key, put it in third and just go. Well, not all all the fun, but . . .

That said, I think somewhere down the road, there may be a Soobie in my future too.

The car pictured above here is truly immaculate.  Do I see two coils?  What sort of engine makes that one go??

Kelky, I know  what you're saying; I really miss my carbs

Kelly:  That one way up above looks like an original 550 with a 4-Cammer in it.  The give-away to identity is in all the little details (just like the 356's).  wish I could find the video I have of someone starting a 550 4-cam.  They truly sound glorious.

Definitely a 4 cam original.  Obviously my suby will look nothing like that but my rule for the build is NO CHROME in the engine bay.  Going for the business like look.

NO CHROME?  I like the look of highly polished or even brushed aluminum parts.  It seems much cleaner than molded plastic or painted parts in engine compartment.

Yes.  Going with polished aluminum and new black plastic pieces.  Unlike the speedy the spyder engine is very noticeable from all sides and needs a clean look.

Gordon, I noted what looked like the cam cover, but these days those are easy to duplicate and make look like.  That one seemed authentic to me.  Have only seen not heard one of these in person.  Which reminds me to wonder if we can make a sojourn up to NH and visit the 550 shop up there to do an inspection tour.  Anytime, more or less, in the next six months.  Just wonderin' . . .

Starting to look a little bit more like a car. 

I hope you paint it black.

I know most of you speedster guys aren't interested in a spyder build but I'm posting anyway. One nice thing about social media such as this it serves as a permanent record of events in your life. I was the first to put the scoops on the rear bonnet in 2002. Had to do it again. Paint next week. Silver with Capri blue stripes. 

Just as a tease for the 356 guys there is a 356 coupe in the background  

BTW Pete. I'm getting both plexiglass windshields the single and the double. They will be removable. No wipers. 

Phil IM356D posted:

I know most of you speedster guys aren't interested in a spyder build but I'm posting anyway.

Malarky. I doubt there's a single speedster guy anywhere who doesn't secretly or openly pine for a spyder in addition to what's hanging out in the garage.

We're all living vicariously through you. 

What Stan said!

I've always wanted to do the scoops on my speedster...

crhemi (Bill) poboiinhawaii posted:

What Stan said!

I've always wanted to do the scoops on my speedster...

ME TOO...thinking of putting one of those MUSTANG SHAKER SCOOPS on the trunk lid of my car....bring a 60ish MUSCLE LOOK to an IM6

Looking good Phil I have never been in a spyder must be lots of acceleration fun for sure

Ray.  Its not just acceleration.  The handling is very neutral and forgiving.  Dive into a corner, brake hard at the apex and punch the accelerator.  No violent end swapping.  Let the back tires spin and let the tail hang out a bit.  Use the accelerator and a little counter steer to bring the rear back in line.  Other than my old boxster S its the best handling car I've ever driven.

Now if a real man ... Just kidding.   I mean a larger man size could get it that might be a nice bomb to have   I guess I could wear a WW1 flight ace head gear and glasses.