Well, our Factory Five 818 has arrived and it's time to start wrenching. We've sent a GRM build team up to Very Cool Parts in Alabama, where owner Wayne Presley will be helping us build the car. I'll be posting updates as the team continues to make progress.
Here is the 818 being unloaded:
Stay tuned for more updates, for now check out the project car page: http://www.grassrootsmotorsports.com/818
Oooo, fun!
yay!
It really is hard to believe that you can completely strip a modern car in five hours. of course, putting it back together would be much tougher. Our donor car, a 2004 WRX, was a nice clean car with 117,000 miles and a very light front end hit. Honestly, we could have easily fixed this car for about $1500. It came from an insurance auction and cost $4400. It did have a salvage title. We should be able to sell about $1500 in parts off of the car.
Well, looks like the team made a good amount of progress yesterday.
Here is the aforementioned donor car ready for surgery:
Getting the first look at the new kit, the 818 comes packaged within itself to save money on shipping.
The body panels are taped on with the finest white duct tape, for now.
We're bagging and tagging every part to keep track of it all.
It didn't look too daunting, until we noticed the pile of additional boxes in the corner of the shop.
Our donor car, stripped and out of the shop.
Plenty of Subaru parts to go around.
Meet the GRM build team: http://youtu.be/S0O15uI7LEE
Tim Suddard wrote: It really is hard to believe that you can completely strip a modern car in five hours. of course, putting it back together would be much tougher. Our donor car, a 2004 WRX, was a nice clean car with 117,000 miles and a very light front end hit. Honestly, we could have easily fixed this car for about $1500. It came from an insurance auction and cost $4400. It did have a salvage title. We should be able to sell about $1500 in parts off of the car.
How many people were involved in the stripping?
3.5 people. I helped a little bit, but mostly took photos.
In reply to Tom Suddard:
That's fast work!
bravenrace wrote: In reply to Tom Suddard: That's fast work!
I prefer quality over speed in my strippers.
On topic: That is impressive; I'd have it all stripped and then be left wondering what went where.
Did a similar speed strip job on a 95ish impreza a few weeks ago. Lego car...
we then spent the bulk of the next day scrubbing the interior of the bare chassis in hopes it wouldn't smell like ass anymore. (ours was stripped to be built into a racecar)
All of us involved are pretty experienced, but unlike a lot of those TV shows, this is a real deal, with real people in a real shop with normal tools.
There is no one handing us new parts when we get ready to install stuff. Spent most of the day, sanding, pressure washing cleaning and painting.
Ahhh, the life of a high powered publishing executive.
Finished the day with the best barbecue I have ever had. I am starting to really like life in Alabama.
Tom Suddard wrote: 3.5 people
Half a person seems like more of a hindrance than help. Especially if it were the right half of a left handed person, and if it's the bottom half they would be next to useless unless there were big bugs that needed to be squashed.
Day three starts shortly. Getting up early to keep up with my regular work. Today we will put the new Spec clutch into the transmission and then install the engine. The original clutch was toast. From there we will start hooking up brake lines, cooling system, wiring, etc. If things go really, really well today, we will be driving by day's end. When we come back in a few weeks, crazy Tommy wants to drive the thing back to Florida. I guess that is the ultimate representation of the confidence of youth.
Isn't it, though? Let him do it, but follow along behind with a regular vehicle.
Then again, he does have a cell phone.
jstein77 wrote: Isn't it, though? Let him do it, but follow along behind with a regular vehicle.
No, the best trips are always one in an unproven car. Who knows what will happen? It's like motoring back in the 40s.
The whole Suddard family just went through that with the Merc.
Damnit Tommy... more pics already! Don't leave us hanging! 
huh, I figured you'd be using the white challenge priced car as a donor. That built motor would certainly be fun!
Damn this thing's gonna be a twitchy SOB. Just checked the build page linked in post 1. It lists the following:
Wheelbase:None in.
Not sure if that's a transitory situation as it's in build, or if that's the final target. The berkeleyer will change direction on a dime if it's the latter.
Adrian_Thompson wrote: Damn this thing's gonna be a twitchy SOB. Just checked the build page linked in post 1. It lists the following: Wheelbase:None in. Not sure if that's a transitory situation as it's in build, or if that's the final target. The berkeleyer will change direction on a dime if it's the latter.
From the FF website:
" The car’s new wheelbase is locked in at 95″ which is a little longer then an Exige.”
Wheelbase: None? That would be a unicycle.
2002maniac wrote: huh, I figured you'd be using the white challenge priced car as a donor. That built motor would certainly be fun!
Not really logical to use a perfectly street-worthy car as a Donor. Plus, that's Alan's car now.
Here is episode 2 of the series on choosing a donor car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3sBJ5rShic
I'm uploading pics now.
Compression test on our Subaru power plant:
We removed the body panels from the 818:
Which brought us to a stripped chassis:
Now that the chassis is stripped, we can begin riveting the aluminum panels in:
Electromotive goodies for the project:
Stay tuned for more!
What adhesive is being used for the aluminum? Is the frame powder coated or painted and does the adhesive work chemically with either? Need to do this on my MG soon so was wondering.
Stand alone with the electronic dash. Nice.
You'll need to log in to post.
