Tilt nose/tilt engine cover

[ihbobry]

Hi first post obviously. Looking at my GT I keep thinking I might split the body into thirds or  maybe a 2/3 to 1/3 split. Has anyone tried to fabricate a tilt nose or a rear engine tilt? I am 90% thinking front.

If someone has I would like to pick their brain or see pics

I have the fabrication skills, and  the reason is why not and maybe fabricate a small tiny luggage/ spare area.  Might add a little weight over the front axle which based on looking at and scaling itit might not be a bad idea for balance.

thanks

Bernie

[jspbtown]

Someone did a flip nose on a GTII years back (Rob Stone???). It was tons of work and the project was never completed.

There really isn't much room up there for anything really. And it would be a TON of work to strengthen the glass, build the partisan, design a hinge system.

I built an Avenger with tilt front and back (it was designed that way) and it was a TON of work. I mean a TON! I had them bother operating via linear actuators. Trying to get a hinge designed, create a steel subframe, design the actuator mounts and more. That car broke my desire to build kits after 7 or 8 of them.

[Gary Hammond]

Dec 12, 2020 22:05:43 GMT -5 Gary Hammond said:

Hi Bernie,

Like Jeff said, Rob Stone did this several years ago to a GTII as a father/son project. I helped design and then machined a hinge and linear actuator system for him. He had to do a lot of reinforcing of the fiberglass. It did function, but was a lot of wasted effort and money. He then started to make the back end flip as well. That never got finished, and his son lost interest in the whole project. He eventually sold it to someone else.

About that same time, Skip 20 was doing extensive modifications on several GTIIs. He was installing Subaru engines and drive trains in them and also mixing in some Toyota and Honda parts. He fabricated some real hybrid stuff. He hinged the rear end of some of these and also wound up acquiring the GTII that Rob Stone had previously cut up. Skip passed away a couple of years ago. Here's a link to his u-tube page which is still up. Skip20 YouTube

My advice is that this would be a lot of effort and expense that would gain nothing and also weaken an already flimsy body. There is almost no room under the front end of a GT. I couldn't even figure out a good way to place the battery there and make it accessible. Instead, I made a battery holder and installed it just in front of the rear axle.

Gary Hammond,

[ihbobry]

After lurking for a long time and joining after taking the leap of acquisition I know I have Guy 1 and Guy 2 telling me to stop in my tracks. So noted. You both certainly are right. And I will likely follow that advice.

That said what I do for a living makes this look like kinderschpiel. I come from a car background but am a bus tractor trailer heavy vehicle composite guy. with people employed better than myself that I will utilize to help as this is a culture slash shop project.

Fiberglass mods I have seen tend to be poly based, not something like West System using biaxial cloth and honestly are stuck in the 1980's. Good if it works but speed and strength are non existent.

All those things aside I would like to be a resource for materials and process, as much as this site is and has been to me about the kit and the soul of the vehicle.

I likely wont do it but can I see what was done? please point me there.

Best to all I cant wait to share more and share

Bernie

[Gary Hammond]

Hi Bernie,

I likely wont do it but can I see what was done? please point me there.

Go to the link I gave you in my previous post. Here it is again. Skip20 - Youtube

And at that link is a video of his "yellow GTII". Here's that link as well. Wow, It's the Yellow Gradley

Gary Hammond,

[Gary Hammond]

Here's another link that takes you to Rob Stone's postings on this web site. There are two pages here with photos and a lot more links.
Recent Posts by Rob Stone

Gary Hammond,

[ihbobry]

Thanks for the links, exactly what I was looking for. He has some similar and some different ideas regarding the front clip. I need to look a little longer at the front. This definitely rules out the rear tilt as I don't like the look.

Thanks very much!

Bernie