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SSsnake Design Up-date

tony barnhill

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline
SSsnake Design Update

Today the design team & I sat down to discuss the grille area....I'm going to build a custom aluminum slotted grille ala the Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 (https://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/ferrari-330-gt-2-2-1.jpg) so we're looking at ways to enhance the grille opening.

Here's our initial mockup of the changes to the grille opening & something neat we're thinking about doing with the front edge of the hood.
 

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Re: SSsnake Design Update

When you get this thing done I am going to have to come down and see it in person.

Regards John
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

Hmmm, egg crate floating inside the grill opening. Cool.
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

jlaird said:
Hmmm, egg crate floating inside the grill opening. Cool.
You got it, Jack! & that's why the front edge of the hood has to change.
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

Tony, Looks great. Another visit is in order when it comes back from the body shop. Is you Midget gonna be ready for the choo choo event? Lynda and i are planning to attend if nothing changes around here. Bob
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

Tony, I like the basic idea. Can you tip the top edge out a bit farther to give more visual seperation between the grill opening and the headlight area? Seems a bit "tight" as it is, and would look a little more like the Ferrari in the photo as well.
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

bill_young said:
Tony, I like the basic idea. Can you tip the top edge out a bit farther to give more visual seperation between the grill opening and the headlight area? Seems a bit "tight" as it is, and would look a little more like the Ferrari in the photo as well.
hmmmm....I see what you mean, Bill....I'll ask the fiberglass guy tomorrow....the line where we're gonna cut the hood is exactly in line with the front edge of the 'slam panel' so we can close the edge of that little piece off to the slam panel....we might be able to make a little 'point' out front of that little piece of the hood to push it out in front of the grille but I don't think we can angle the entire panel.....I'll have to mock it up to see what it looks like (& it would probably help if I set the headlights in their holes also).
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

Yep, I think you do need to set the headlights in for effect while pondering the grill.
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

Yep, actually, if you look closely, the bottom edges of the grille opening are just a little bit different...the right design is the one I like as it accentuates the curve more than the left design which has less of a curve....& I need to see how they look with the headlights.....but, I can't maske the grille until the opening is finalized:

200810080001.JPG


...& the chin spoiler is laminated & ready for final shaping before installation at the bottom of the valance....probably need to see it in place also.
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

I agree the lights have to go in, they will change the look dramatically IMHO.
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

OKAY...1st photo shows headlights sitting in place (not secured)...

2nd photo shows first cut of the hood....its actually gonna work out quite nicely as the cut is right at the front edge of the radiator 'slam panel' so we can use some aluminum between the new top grille surround and that panel to block any air from going over the top of the radiator.

Still some work to do on the front end where the valance meets the fenders & mounting the chin spoiler...finishing that complete fiberglass front clip is next week's project! So, it'll move outside for lots of grinding, smoothing, filling....
 

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Re: SSsnake Design Update

Seems preaty darn good to me. It's just that rear spoiler thing.
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

jlaird said:
Seems preaty darn good to me. It's just that rear spoiler thing.

Yup - "What's it spoil?" "The looks of the car, of course"

What sort of grill are you going to use?
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]What sort of grill are you going to use?[/QUOTE]
P002Web.jpg


{Anybody know how to photoshop?}
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

Yeah, that early Ferrari thing works. You can also stick in some expanded metal cut to closely match the opening, painted semi-gloss black.

Looks better than it sounds. I was going to figure out something else for the Jamaican, which came with that sort of grill, before I realized that I didn't WANT to draw attention to that area. The black mesh suited the look just fine.

I tried to lighten the whole image up enough so you could see detail on the grill, but it's hard to do - which I guess is the whole point.

grill.jpg
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

Thanks, Kensai - that's the look I was wanting, maybe not so much curve at the top of the grille though...now to add the chin spoiler next week!

eyes02.JPG
eyesgrille.jpg
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

I assume its intended to have the same inset as the usual B grille (earlier Chrome Bumper grilles anyway, not the later plastic lattice work that looks deeper)? My photoshop skills aren't quite up to that challenge. It would be much less curved and further back in the recess if I had positioned the image in the correct MG position and not in the Ferrari positioning that has the grill more towards the middle of the inset and not at the back like an MG. For some reason the new grille reminds me of an Ah Sprite or a midget, which certainly isn't a bad thing. I'm surprised MG never went with a grille more styled more like the one you've chosen, given how much they tinkered with eh B styling over the years. I like it much better than the rubber bumpers.

What year is the car originally?
 
Re: SSsnake Design Update

Oh me, if I only had the money.

Yes, I would also suggest that the top edge of the opening be a straight line.
 
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