Old School 2 Seat Alumicraft Rebuild

I started with a J&J aluminum car. Every other trip I had to weld the car up. Car was a blast but definitely not the safest car to ride in.
 
Figure I'd post an update as to where I am with the project.

Sold the 002, VW Engine, and the trailer the car came with...got ~$2500 back, which is helping fund the project.

Spoke to Matt at Alumicraft to get his thoughts on a mid-engine 3.5 vs keeping it a rear engine - and after speaking with him, he was in agreement a mid-engine would be a fun car and a good choice...game on.

Picked up a freshen'd 2D with a ProAm Shifter from a member this last weekend - thanks again @Greg Rakes - he even had the trans guy convert it to mid-engine for me while it was in the shop...and the gear ratio's in the trans seems like it will be perfect after putting them in the weddle gear calculator.

Found a Mendeola mid-engine shifter thing that bolts on the back of a 2D from a dude on Facebook...This setup seems clean vs the funky looking cable setups - There's a guy a ride with sometimes who has this same setup and is happy with it.

Called ECP (Powder Coating Company) - and asked about orange candy colors - they suggested looking at the Illusion colors offered from Prismatic Powder vs candy colors...pretty cool company (Prismatic) as they send you samples for free (plus shipping) - I had them send me 11 different shades of Orange - arrived at my house in 2 days after ordered...With some back and forth the wife settled on Illusion Orange. We plan to powder the frame and aluminum this color - and maybe someday paint some sort of design over the sides.

Had JetTrim send us various brown material colors for the seats- the wife picked the two colors shown in the pic below that will be used in various parts of the seats - also shown is the illusion orange power sample. I'm waiting on some thread colors from them in the mail before we pull the trigger and order the seats. The seats take 6 to 8 weeks once ordered - and I'll need those before having the fab work done.

Misc parts - XL80's main lights, Squadron Pro Ambers for low / dust, and Red S2's for running lights...billet 3 panel mirror, Autometer Gauges.

And lastly - finally got my 3.5 engine today...hoping to get the clutch, flywheel, and pressure plate from a member in Glamis in a few weeks.

Hoping to start fab work in Aprilish?

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wesinls said:
Figure I'd post an update as to where I am with the project.

Sold the 002, VW Engine, and the trailer the car came with...got ~$2500 back, which is helping fund the project.

Spoke to Matt at Alumicraft to get his thoughts on a mid-engine 3.5 vs keeping it a rear engine - and after speaking with him, he was in agreement a mid-engine would be a fun car and a good choice...game on.

Picked up a freshen'd 2D with a ProAm Shifter from a member this last weekend - thanks again @Greg Rakes - he even had the trans guy convert it to mid-engine for me while it was in the shop...and the gear ratio's in the trans seems like it will be perfect after putting them in the weddle gear calculator.

Found a Mendeola mid-engine shifter thing that bolts on the back of a 2D from a dude on Facebook...This setup seems clean vs the funky looking cable setups - There's a guy a ride with sometimes who has this same setup and is happy with it.

Called ECP (Powder Coating Company) - and asked about orange candy colors - they suggested looking at the Illusion colors offered from Prismatic Powder vs candy colors...pretty cool company (Prismatic) as they send you samples for free (plus shipping) - I had them send me 11 different shades of Orange - arrived at my house in 2 days after ordered...With some back and forth the wife settled on Illusion Orange. We plan to powder the frame and aluminum this color - and maybe someday paint some sort of design over the sides.

Had JetTrim send us various brown material colors for the seats- the wife picked the two colors shown in the pic below that will be used in various parts of the seats - also shown is the illusion orange power sample. I'm waiting on some thread colors from them in the mail before we pull the trigger and order the seats. The seats take 6 to 8 weeks once ordered - and I'll need those before having the fab work done.

Misc parts - XL80's main lights, Squadron Pro Ambers for low / dust, and Red S2's for running lights...billet 3 panel mirror, Autometer Gauges.

And lastly - finally got my 3.5 engine today...hoping to get the clutch, flywheel, and pressure plate from a member in Glamis in a few weeks.

Hoping to start fab work in Aprilish?

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View attachment 135879
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Nice to meet you this past weekend and this is going to be a sweet buggy for your wife. Can’t wait to see this out in the dunes in the future!
 
wesinls said:
Figure I'd post an update as to where I am with the project.

Sold the 002, VW Engine, and the trailer the car came with...got ~$2500 back, which is helping fund the project.

Spoke to Matt at Alumicraft to get his thoughts on a mid-engine 3.5 vs keeping it a rear engine - and after speaking with him, he was in agreement a mid-engine would be a fun car and a good choice...game on.

Picked up a freshen'd 2D with a ProAm Shifter from a member this last weekend - thanks again @Greg Rakes - he even had the trans guy convert it to mid-engine for me while it was in the shop...and the gear ratio's in the trans seems like it will be perfect after putting them in the weddle gear calculator.

Found a Mendeola mid-engine shifter thing that bolts on the back of a 2D from a dude on Facebook...This setup seems clean vs the funky looking cable setups - There's a guy a ride with sometimes who has this same setup and is happy with it.

Called ECP (Powder Coating Company) - and asked about orange candy colors - they suggested looking at the Illusion colors offered from Prismatic Powder vs candy colors...pretty cool company (Prismatic) as they send you samples for free (plus shipping) - I had them send me 11 different shades of Orange - arrived at my house in 2 days after ordered...With some back and forth the wife settled on Illusion Orange. We plan to powder the frame and aluminum this color - and maybe someday paint some sort of design over the sides.

Had JetTrim send us various brown material colors for the seats- the wife picked the two colors shown in the pic below that will be used in various parts of the seats - also shown is the illusion orange power sample. I'm waiting on some thread colors from them in the mail before we pull the trigger and order the seats. The seats take 6 to 8 weeks once ordered - and I'll need those before having the fab work done.

Misc parts - XL80's main lights, Squadron Pro Ambers for low / dust, and Red S2's for running lights...billet 3 panel mirror, Autometer Gauges.

And lastly - finally got my 3.5 engine today...hoping to get the clutch, flywheel, and pressure plate from a member in Glamis in a few weeks.

Hoping to start fab work in Aprilish?

View attachment 135878
View attachment 135879
Click to expand...
4 seat.jpeg
Orange? Did someone say orange?
 
Orange kinda grows on you.
My friend went w/ brown seats and regretted it afterward...he thought it dated the car vs updating it.
 

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Tonyd said:
Orange kinda grows on you.
My friend went w/ brown seats and regretted it afterward...he thought it dated the car vs updating it.
Click to expand...
if you happen to have more pics of this car showing the sears and can share I'd appreciate it. That's a clean car!
 
Some more orange alumicraft inspiration from two of my ex cars.
 

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With all the build threads - I felt like I need to step up my game with updates - ha.

Today was picking the seat belt bezel color...3 options, carbon fiber look, shiny, or matte black. No plans for black on the car, no carbon...What's your opinions? (wife already picked but curious on others thoughts)
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Get the matte ones and paint them whatever color you want. Or, see if they’ll give you the model to have some printed
 
I would choose the gloss black of those 3 since it matches with the logo in the headrest.
 
Gloss black blends with logo the best imo
So what did the wife pick?
 
We / she picked flat black - nothing on the car will be shiny black...to me it would stick out too much / too bling bling. But, it is the one that matches the seat the best, just not sure once car is complete it would be the best choice...we went back and forth a lot.
 
One step closer today...got the frame and arms sand blasted in prep for fab work.

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