IDKwhy

Hey Guys, I have been moving very slowly with both projects, as I have had some Health issues in the past few months. I am getting better, and Have decided to finish the first of the "Evil Twins" (which is the red car)- just to refresh your memory - this is the car we are building two identical cars - one red/silver -Conquest the second Orange/Black- Starion. We have a national publication that would like to do an East Vs West Story. Just a play on America vs Japan. These cars are going to be OVER THE TOP built 2.6 Stock motors W/ 6-Speed trans. Looking to produce 500 - 600 HP w/ 26LBS of boost. The item that seems to be the most interesting to the club is the 19" wheels in a staggard stance of 9" in the front & 11" in the rear. and the Cobra disc brake conversion.... This is the car I just e-mailed the pics of the console & guage cluster. We are installing the T-56 as we speak (thanks to Chad) and the engine is assembled. These cars will be dressed in street clothes -meaning A/C & a full interior stereo system to full roll cage.... The other car - the chassis car - is still a work in progress. We ended up cutting the front end apart and have a cool concept of "hiding" the headlights instead of the front end shared (it looked to much like a camaro). We also ended up cutting the rear end and are going to remove the hatch instead we are going to be using a MR2 rear glass and make a "trunk" - The look will ressemble that of a ferrari or Lambo. I decided it was so far from a Starquest that sharing the progress would not really interest the club. I will share the final product = as most would still recognise the Starquest features. If you have any questions or comments on the pics please share your thoughts with me. I am shooting to have this car ready for the National Meet - I think I heard it was going to be held in the mid west? Thanks again for your excitement for my projects...

I moved the control panel to the center armrest pocket. This enabled me to put the radio in it's place. I used the center console panel(radio stock location) to mount a guage cluster, I will post picks - if someone will e-mail me- I can send them to you so they can be posted- I don't know how to post pics to the forum. IDKwhy@aol.com thanks[/img]

Hey guys, I am very sorry, but I have been tied down with work, lately and have had no time to work on these projects. I am currently assembling the engine for the 6-speed car - so I have not put the kit together- thanks to Midwest -I finally have the Flywheel. I will post every detail - when I get to that point. I have been stuck on fabricating the rear section of the chassis car with the integrated rear defuser- but think I am close to a look that I am happy with. the rest will be much more straight forward. I will post some update pics when I have finalized the design. Thanks for the consideration, Work is just so everwhelming right now.. this economy has been very hard on most small businesses and you find yourself working twice as hard to generate the same income... But..... Summer is here and the cars can come out and play...

Chad, I am finally ready to put this thing back together, I have a question- and it may be resolved with the Fidanza Flywheel but, I can not get an 11" Clutch assembly to bolt up to your flywheel adapter, it looks to fit more like a 9" clutch (which does not exist for a LT-1). Also, does the adapter require cutting the weight out of the Factory Flywheel? that's a lot of rotational mass??? Can you E-Mail me the Clutch Part # you are using? Also, do you still have the calculation for the balance due for the second kit? I sent you enough to cover a large portion of the second kit in addition to paynet in full for the first kit. I will be ready to receive the second kit soon, so let me know - so I can get the "scratch" together... Thanks for your efforts!! I can not wait to row a 6-Speed - 500 - 600 RWHP G54B!!!!!!! IDKwhy

sorry- posted twice

Please make it really good so I can Purchase one from you and not have to do it myself... Lexan is perfect because it can be painted on the underside, or left clear, or you can get "smoked"/ Tinted Lexan. It should be NO LESS than 1/4" thick material, But 1/2" would be the "correct" thickness, must consider Air Pressure/ Force applied to the surface of the wing during deflection. It will need a center post with a rubber "shock absorber" to re-enforce the wing span and keep it from flexing. the ends can be "clamped" to the edges of the frame on either side of the hatch glass, you could even make metal plates to allow you to extend the mounting surface over the glass, and it doesn't require a great deal of clamping force to secure it- so you would not have to worry about cracking the glass. Your design is perfect and resembles the large Supra wing from the 80's cars. there was one guy who made that same wing, He and I communicated several time and he was going to make some more of those wings then he vanished... If you really want to blow me away- make it out of 6061 Aluminium - I would even front you the funds to purchase the supplies- but, I would need a time commitment from you for production and delivery of that piece. If I have to make it myself (for the chassis project) that is my intention to do it in Aluminium and give it a brushed finish and use Black anodized machined hardware with nylocs & teflon washers.... Let me know- I would love for some young club member to participate in this project and actually produce a ONE-OFF part... How Awesome!!!! (not to mention, I wouldn't have to do it myself!) You can E-Mail me directly at IDKwhy@aol.com or even call me at (703)926-2663- if I can offer ANY ASSISTANCE>>> KEEP UP YOUR GREAT EFFORTS- you never know what opportunities, they can turn into for you

Outcast, The Lights, I am using are a single housing (rectangle shape) with two lights inside. High & low beam. The assemblies are out of an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1990 model year. The lense is one piece contoured to follow the slope of the hood and I am filling the Light "pockets in the hood. Also, The lights are slightly positioned closer together and the fender will be filled to alter it's appearance- as well, the hood will have a Chrome Moly Rod welded to the lower edge of the front lip and "shaved" in to give the appearance of Rolling over the lights, at the edge- like the challenger concept. I really appreciate your effort here- it looks great and gives me an opprotunity to evaluate these ideas. It really is a help. Please make these changes- if you can- I really am curious to see this, as I had to cut out the entire core support and we are in the process of making everything with 2x3 box steel - (it will look much cleaner). So, I will be delayed in getting to the Mock up phase of the lights. Thanks again IDKwhy

Hey guys, I really appreciate your support. I do however, have some BAD NEWS! In response to the concern regarding the resemblence to a Camaro- I agreed and it has been bothering me, so..... I have been forced to ditch the "pop-up" headlight conversion. I was inspired by the sinister look of the concept Challenger hood over headlight idea and have gone to in another direction. I will say that this will without a doubt be the wildest change yet- I have moked up the arraingement and it is insane. I don't want to try to explain it so when I have a "placed" set up - I will share the pic - figure next week if possible! Lets just say- think of the old Nissan Skyline with the Challenge concept hood overhang.- This also solved another concern I was trying take care of- the opening I have to feed the radiator- may not provide enough flow to adequately cool that motor- so thisset up allows for an additional grill area. Also keep in mind the hood is not finished yet- I have two aluminium "grills" to install in the surface on either side of the cowl. Just to let you know, We ended up cutting the entire fire wall out and fabricating a new one with foot boxes and made the trans & Driveshaft tunnel. I want to get the front at least Held in place before the next picture update- I hope you can understand and stay excited. I promise to have something very soon... Thanks again Also, the plan is to have it complete by the end of May and participate in the Hot Rod Power Tour- I hope this can be a realistic goal- We have covered a lot of ground this week, it gets easier when you are not Making something from an idea but rather fitting an existing structure. (example the Trans tunnel). As for the rear section& Spoiler- I have made another "cardboard model"- that I will post in the next day- please keep in mind- when it comes to "actually" making the "real" version of the model- I may have to change it or even ditch the idea, because of limitations I hadn't thought of when making a model of my idea. I went to making cardboard models of things I just could not draw in 3- dimensions even close to in proper scale. You be the judge..... I value your input and as you can hopefully tell- I am using your input to evaluate my design ideas.....

I sent updated pictures from January 28th. Derek or Gary should be posting them anytime. I hope these pictures get everyone excited, as they are truely uncharted waters. IDKwhy

Thanks for your support. In answer to your questions- If you look closely at some of the pictures, you will see the lexan lense sitting on the bucket. The lense will be partially painted to match the body (imagine a line following the hood front edge). They will be secured with counter sunk stainless hardware ( you can faintly see the counter sunk holes in the lexan panel if you look very closely.) The hood cowl will be functional with a couple of gauges in the inner panel and it clears the wiper valence area. The hood has not been finished and I have a set of Aluminium Vents that will allow hot air to be vented. There will be one on each side of the hood cowl. They are finished in a brushed aluminium. It would appear we are on the same page - conceptually!!!! I appreciate your enthusiasm - please feel free to offer any suggestions. IDKwhy

Thomas, That was very kind of you to say. I really have no problem with "constructive" comments. I can understand the distaste for the use of Mustang parts, but as I have stated before, if I can save myself so fab time on something available that looks nice- I can focus on things more important -Like the Rear Defuser Panel. Having said that, for the idea I am working on for the rear, I needed to "cut" the corners off the rear and "round" or Radius the rear corners. I am very confident most will appreciate the "redesign" as I eliminate the "shopping cart" rear bumper. I can't wait to share this, but I am still trying to work out the kinks and my hands are tied by my lexan molder- he is still working the inner "prismatic" lense to contour to the outer clear lense. HArd to discribe but I can assure you- it should be state of the art.. I look forwaed to the next few progress updates, as they should offer some "one-off" pieces - never seen in our community. I hope they will spark some creativity amongst the Starquest Community- and perhaps we will start to see some other great ideas make there way to the forums. Privately, I have been privledged to have an opportunity to see some great ideas of our fellow club members, but they continue to be reluctant to post them in fear of being "bashed". Their exicution was in some cases rough, but the "conceptual" ideas were great. Not everyone has the access or the financial backing to "manufacture" something to perfecting standards- that doesn't mean they should not feel comfortable enough to share those ideas. Hopefully, like it or not - this project is creating enough enthusiasm to encourage and excite others to share their ideas with the ENTIRE STARQUEST COMMUNITY - you know who you are..... POST YOU IDEAS! Thanks - IDKwhy

Guys, I really value your input- This is why I wanted to share the progress with the club. As result, I have ditched the Mustang Tail Light Lenses, and have Design & am in the process of fabricating a completely original Tail Light Lense Assembly with a more "traditional" look, but Clear. I will have a finished product to share in the next week. I need this in order to design, fabricate & fit a rear bumper & lower Defuser. I am currently "fitting" the Engine & Transmission, fabricating the mounts in order to lay out the tranmission tunnel & inner sub flooring & Wheel Tubs. This is the critical focus, as I really want to get the dash & console made while it is fresh in my mind. Thanks again and please keep in mind - what you see right now - is actually very far from the finished image. It may resemble many different kinds of sports cars but, the actual shape and detail accents are not truely visible due to the grounding marks, unfinished welding, and parts not installed yet. Don't forget the paint too!!!! The paint will have a very large impact on the final detailed image... Stay tuned, Stay objective & please feel free to offer "constructive" & "genuine" input... I hope you can see from my design change - due to the clubs input, I really want your help to make this project something exciting for the entire club to share. Thanks again... IDKwhy

Outcast, The hood, I have been stripping metal from to make the headlight buckets- sorry no extravigant system. As for the color scheme- Thanks to Derek- my rendering insperation- Pearl White, Blue, Green & Silver- striped like he drew it... Thanks again derek... IDKwhy

It is very touchy, but if you copy his sign on & password from this post and paste it- it will work A pain but it worked- give it a try.. IDKwhy

I really like your glass work- Did you cover that with Leather? and is it padded? It almost looks like a Dash panel cover, I wonder if you did more of the console, or did it all as one piece??? Really nice- gives me some more ideas - I really don't need- I can't finish what I've got now.... If you do any more pieces, please e-mail them to me - if you get a chance IDKwhy@aol.com Thanks again