… and now what?
Having spoken to Swartz a while back, I got an odd email that seemed to indicate that he didn’t really have time for me. I wasn’t sure whether that was regard to the specifics of looking at the pictures I sent him ‘right now’, or that he just didn’t want the work, period. Well, it’s been almost 2 weeks and haven’t heard back, so I suppose that answers that question.
Next up, I called another local auto body shop on the recommendation of a local friend who I know to be a ‘car nut’. Called Joe Que after his web page contact form clearly didn’t work. Had a chat and he said it would be in the $12-$16K range. I think my heart stopped. That’s not going to work – was he expecting to build the car too?
It was then that I heard back from my friend George R. from the Upstate Cobra crowd. I’d approached him back in September but the quote he gave was more than I really wanted to spend. We spoke this week and I think we’ve come to a game plan … I’ll do most of the bodywork (the caveman work as he put it) where much of the labour cost would be tied. I’ll give her a covering spray of epoxy if I want to drive it over the summer, and then he’ll take her in the fall to complete the bodywork and do the paint.
So, that’s the plan du jour.
Today I thought I’d rehang the doors and perhaps crack the Rage Gold tin and have a go at some initial filler application. An hour on the doors (that driver’s side is going to be the death of me!) and then in for some lunch. It was a bit chilly in the garage (it is February in New York) so I thought I’d look up the minimum temperature for the Rage filler. 60F. F***! Looking out the window, 60F is not anytime soon.
So I may have to spend the time on the other areas to work on, notably getting the throttle linkage installed.
Except for that, I need an empty garage bay to place the body. And, as of yesterday, the Cobra has a stablemate – my son’s new 2017 Subaru WRX STI.
So for now, I’m back to the ventilation system design and dreaming of warmer days.
I did get some bling in the mail this week. The louvres from FinishLine finally showed up, together with trim bezels for the windscreen and rollbar from Mike Everson.