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I am starting a new thread here for the Countach 5000s I plan to build. I had another thread started earlier but it turned into a discussion more than a build thread so it was moved.
I will start by explaining some of what I plan to do and what I have so far.
Parts:
- 25th Anniversary body that is missing inner door frames, engine lid and rear trunk lid.
- It does come with two wings, several bumpers and the outer door skins
- which will need some work fixing
-Plan is to convert the 25th into the 5000s
- Set of 4 Champ phone dial 15" rims and older tires.
- Set of replica Countach tail lights.
- New windscreen from Will and Alan's bulk buy if I can get one here not broken
- we are trying once more to see if we can get two here without cracking.
- The first shipment was not successful.
- Front Bumper buck for a new 5000s bumper conversion
- I will explain this below
- Fender flare moulds
- Fiero frame from my 355 build
- Full '88 Fiero front suspension
- Full '88 Fiero engine cradle and suspension
- Full Cliff's Countach interior and some inner door frames that he will be laying up for me.
My plan
Use my Fiero frame and mount the '88 front suspension setup 3" back from oem same as Joe in his Countach build thread. He used a custom frame and C4 Corvette but I have the Fiero stuff so will use that instead. Cut the rear Fiero section off the frame and build a custom rear frame to the Fiero tub. I am currently debating using the '88 rear engine cradle and suspension set up or doing up a Chassisworks rear frame and connect it to the framing I already have set up in the car and the additional side framing needed for the Countach. If I go with Chassisworks, I will get the rear suspension built for that as well and sell off the '88 cradle. I have not landed on that just yet.
The reason I started the thread now is that I have just returned from our place in Phoenix and while down there I helped John (flyhilandsoft), who is building the aluminum Countach, with some fiberglass work. He is doing an incredible job on his project but he was hesitating to do anything about the front bumper and the fender flares as he didn't know much about glassing. I just happen to have a bit of experience in that area.....
. He is far more comfortable with aluminum than he is with fiberglass. Well, since I was down twiddling my thumbs at the condo, I went over to his place when he was in town (he is a pilot) and we made moulds of the fender flares and were going to mould the front bumper but the reference car bumper was too badly warped to be salvageable so we are building a new buck off the reference and I will build moulds on that.
We got the flares cleaned up and the fiberglass laid down on them by the time I was due to head home. He will be sending me the flare moulds and the remainder of the sides of the front bumper. While there, we cut the front bumper off the reference body and started to build a front bumper buck out of mdf.
My plan is to finish the top portion of the bumper in prep for moulding. I still have to build the mould pieces that will be inserted into the buck for the driving lights holes and vents holes. I will then seal the mdf and make a mould of the upper bumper section. We decided to make the bumper and air dam separate since any time the air dam gets broken, you don't have to replace the whole thing, just the dam. Also easier to mould.
I have the original and we tried to straighten it out but there is about a 3/4" to 1" warp in the top of the bumper that is supposed to be flat and the air dam is also terribly warped. The openings for the lights and vents etc are also in pretty bad shape. We just decided it was going to be easier to make new pieces and mould them than to try to fix what we had.
I get the moulds built for John and I pull pieces for my conversion. I also moulded the rear fender tops for the 5000s conversion while there so I can fill in the 25th larger upper vent holes. John is sending those tome along with the flares.
A few pics of the original bumper. You can see the warping on everything.
Cheers
Don
I will start by explaining some of what I plan to do and what I have so far.
Parts:
- 25th Anniversary body that is missing inner door frames, engine lid and rear trunk lid.
- It does come with two wings, several bumpers and the outer door skins
- which will need some work fixing
-Plan is to convert the 25th into the 5000s
- Set of 4 Champ phone dial 15" rims and older tires.
- Set of replica Countach tail lights.
- New windscreen from Will and Alan's bulk buy if I can get one here not broken
- we are trying once more to see if we can get two here without cracking.
- The first shipment was not successful.
- Front Bumper buck for a new 5000s bumper conversion
- I will explain this below
- Fender flare moulds
- Fiero frame from my 355 build
- Full '88 Fiero front suspension
- Full '88 Fiero engine cradle and suspension
- Full Cliff's Countach interior and some inner door frames that he will be laying up for me.
My plan
Use my Fiero frame and mount the '88 front suspension setup 3" back from oem same as Joe in his Countach build thread. He used a custom frame and C4 Corvette but I have the Fiero stuff so will use that instead. Cut the rear Fiero section off the frame and build a custom rear frame to the Fiero tub. I am currently debating using the '88 rear engine cradle and suspension set up or doing up a Chassisworks rear frame and connect it to the framing I already have set up in the car and the additional side framing needed for the Countach. If I go with Chassisworks, I will get the rear suspension built for that as well and sell off the '88 cradle. I have not landed on that just yet.
The reason I started the thread now is that I have just returned from our place in Phoenix and while down there I helped John (flyhilandsoft), who is building the aluminum Countach, with some fiberglass work. He is doing an incredible job on his project but he was hesitating to do anything about the front bumper and the fender flares as he didn't know much about glassing. I just happen to have a bit of experience in that area.....
. He is far more comfortable with aluminum than he is with fiberglass. Well, since I was down twiddling my thumbs at the condo, I went over to his place when he was in town (he is a pilot) and we made moulds of the fender flares and were going to mould the front bumper but the reference car bumper was too badly warped to be salvageable so we are building a new buck off the reference and I will build moulds on that.We got the flares cleaned up and the fiberglass laid down on them by the time I was due to head home. He will be sending me the flare moulds and the remainder of the sides of the front bumper. While there, we cut the front bumper off the reference body and started to build a front bumper buck out of mdf.
My plan is to finish the top portion of the bumper in prep for moulding. I still have to build the mould pieces that will be inserted into the buck for the driving lights holes and vents holes. I will then seal the mdf and make a mould of the upper bumper section. We decided to make the bumper and air dam separate since any time the air dam gets broken, you don't have to replace the whole thing, just the dam. Also easier to mould.
I have the original and we tried to straighten it out but there is about a 3/4" to 1" warp in the top of the bumper that is supposed to be flat and the air dam is also terribly warped. The openings for the lights and vents etc are also in pretty bad shape. We just decided it was going to be easier to make new pieces and mould them than to try to fix what we had.
I get the moulds built for John and I pull pieces for my conversion. I also moulded the rear fender tops for the 5000s conversion while there so I can fill in the 25th larger upper vent holes. John is sending those tome along with the flares.
A few pics of the original bumper. You can see the warping on everything.
Cheers
Don
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