Since the last time I posted, I've completed both door panels and installed, which required completing most of the steps I had outstanding in my last post. The only thing I need is to source the Leaper front wing badges that I use on the front door panels. Here are pictures of the interior all together.
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| Interior with everything but center console carbon piece |
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| Interior wide angle |
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| Back seats with upholstered center filler |
I also carved the center console carbon fiber piece from pink foam and did a layup of two layers of 6 lb fiberglass, which will be the underlay/support for the carbon. Pictures of the layup process:
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| Foam buck covered in Saran wrap and two pieces of 6 lb fiberglass |
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| After layup of fiberglass and covered in Saran wrap |
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| Piece removed from buck. Will put back on buck for placement of carbon fiber |
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| Layup of end piece which is done separately. Two layers of 6 lb fiberglass |
I completed wiring the rear reading light switch and the USB charger. This was a bit challenging, like most thing have been because, if I had known what I was going to do in the beginning, I would have done things differently. First, the switches are not the same as the ones I used in the front of the car. Those are not made anymore! So I used something similar, but they are wired differently. They have two LED lights, one that you can wire separately, and one that goes on when the switch is turned on. I wanted the LEDs that you can wire separately to be connected to the running lights so that they would come on with the dash lights. However, I didn't run any wire from the dash to do that. Thinking about it for a bit, I realized I could easily splice a wire in the truck that runs to the outside running lights. So, that is what I did and now the switches light when I turn on the dash lights. I can't dim them like the front, but they are in the back and I'm not that worried about it.
The second challenge was the USB charger. My original thought was to take the hot wire off the right had reading light switch to power to USB. The problem is that the power for the reading lights is coming off a fuse block in the truck that is hot all the time. This means the USB will be hot all the time. I didn't want that because it's lit and would run the battery down. I scratched my head for some time to figure out how to fix this issue (again, knowing five years ago that I was going to install this USB switch would have helped!) Then I realized that the AUX switch that I wired into the dash ran to the trunk, and that AUX switch actually supplied a ground, not a hot. When I put it in originally, I figured I would use it to run things in the trunk, like arming a NOS system and that I could use the fuse block in the trunk for power. So, all I needed to do was run the AUX wire in the truck back up to the USB charger and plug it into the ground side. Voila! Works like a champ. The USB charger doesn't work unless I turn on the AUX switch up front. A good compromise. And, if I do need to charge something overnight, I don't need to leave the car power on! Here are pictures of the light switches:
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| Center switches with dash lights on. |
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| Center switches with dash lights and reading lights on. |
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| Center switches with dash lights and USB enabled |
I tried to install my center brake light bar that I purchased years ago. The mount that the light is in doesn't stand up tall enough to reach from the back parcel shelf to the bottom of the window, so I created some ABS plastic extension on the 3D printer. I had done this three years ago, but once I tried to install them, I realized I couldn't because the back window is in the way now! So, I got back on the computer and designed a new extension that has the screw mounting going in at an angle instead of straight down. It's nice to have a 3D printer! I ran out of time to install the light, but I'll get to that this week.
So, what is left? Hmmmm. I have to think about this. To truly be done, I have to do the following:
In the back of the car:
- Mount the brake light
- Finish the carbon fiber layup and mount the center console panel
- Final mount of the center console
- Final mount of the center console arm rest
- Source and mount wing badges on door panels
Front interior:
- Fix the plastic center console insert and install
- Install the center console arm rest
- Install the glove box vanity mirror
- Install a glove box door catch
- Install a lower glove box latch system
- Finish the center indicator light bezel
- Mount the dimmer switch knob.
- Calibrate Speedometer
Trunk
- Make left and right upholstery panels
- Buy carpet kit and install
Exterior
- Fix mismatched paint
- Install bumpers
- Install front license plate
- Repaint hubcap center caps
Mechanical:
- Have front wheels alighted
- Have headlights aligned.
That's all I can think of! Wow! The list is super small now! Oh what a feeling!
