Awesome build thread mate
Looking forward to some new updates :cool:
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Awesome build thread mate
Looking forward to some new updates :cool:
Tuesday 05/08/20096
Well - new house, new (double) garage and lots of space so with a day off work I thought I'd restart project Puntova.
It's actually been really good to ignore it for so long because as mentioned a few posts back coming back to it after so long its amazing how many FAULTS were on it - especially the front end structure I;d built. I'd grown to hate every aspect of it - the welds were shoddy, it was uneven, it weighed a ton and looked gash!
So - armed with grinder - I hacked it ALL off -
from this -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ngbay008-1.jpg
To this -
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front004.jpg
drastic - perhaps (basically scrapped 8 weeks of work!) but my welding's improved 10 fold and I've also discovered that the actual Punto slam panel is a really good fit - and looks much better! The above pic shows the new panels I'm welding in on the inner arches.
The next step is to line up the Punto slam panel. The panel is wider than the Novas inner arches so needs cutting down. A simple case of splitting it in the middle, removing 10cm and rewelding -
The split panel-
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front001.jpg
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front002.jpg
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front003.jpg
Because I've cur the inner arches back so far I need to support it on tabs just now (see pic 1). Once the panels in place and the lights are aligned to the wings I'll weld up the sides of the inner arches to fit the lights snuggly.
Current process though it to ensure the panel fits the front. Apart from the obvious aesthetic improvements, the punto slam panel is obviously preset for the lights so they align perfectly and are level!
Also - the Punto slam panel has a built in bimper bar - the 2 "teeth" at the front. This pic shows the gaping holes at the side that will be filled once level -
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front005.jpg
I'll need to add some supports to the front however the Punto itself hardly has any supports relying on the bumper to anchor the slam panel in place!
Before I weld up the middle, I need to ensure that the wings still fit. These pics show how theyre almost perfect -
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front006.jpg
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front007.jpg
I'll need to adjust them a little and the panel will need fettling and bending a tad to get them flush but for a 1st time attempt theyre really close. I suppose it shows that my original light housings I'd built (and scrapped) were pretty bang on.
continued...
Looking good.
continued...
The next task was to weld the middle -
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front008.jpg
I'd added a support behind the weld cut from the original panel - this ave it excellent strength. This will help to keep the old centre bar on the Nova in position and assist in holding up the slam panel.
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front009.jpg
Once the panel was welded I moved on to plugging the gaps in the inner arches - Heres one of the panels in place ready to weld -
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front010.jpg
I havent taken any pics of them welded in place but they are all done.
Heres a couple of the current position...
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front011.jpg
http://www.modelnovas.com/gallery/front012.jpg
Tomorrow after work - plan is to fettle the slam panel a littl more and then build up the inner arches. I'll also test fit the bumper...
I'm off for a shower now - covered in grinding dust and I stink!
good work ade,are you re-doing the body kit etc?
nice work ade nice to see its still going after all this time
good work mate
ive been waiting a long time for an update on this :thumb: well worth it.
Glad to hear your all settled in now and a double garage :)
thats looking good and it will look better once finished with the punto slam panel, As said are you redoing the bodykit aswell or keaping it ?
Looking professional Ade! Top work :thumb: