Work is progressing on the Silva Maco

Firefingers wrote: Grill work begun

I had a custom metal fabricator over today; we went around the Mako front end, played around with my mock-up, and landed on the full-width grill design in polished aluminum.

Supposed to take only 2-3 weeks; if I get it back in a month I'll be happy. The full-width grill just …

Custom upper air extractors

Was not an uncomon mod back in the day

It truly amazes me the stuff you guys can come up with! I've never, ever seen a C3 with upper air extractors, although when the image popped into my mind, it seemed "a natural."

Thank you for the pictures!

Firefingers wrote: Custom upper air extractors

Ok, I agonized long and hard about this one... while I want to stay true to the Mako Shark, some creative license is in order... I woke up a few weeks ago with a vision of my Mako B-pillar/fastback in my mind... it had scoops on it like a '67 Shelby, in the style of …

Custom upper air extractors

Thats your "motion" option.

fathom427 wrote: Custom upper air extractors

Im not sure if I like them or not. but you did a great job on them.

Fathom 427 Jim

Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost done

Here's another update and some pictures; the rear valence/roll pan and upper air extractors are now fully roughed-in; I put them into primer last night to get a more accurate impression of them on the car. They fit well and look great (IMO); some fine-tuning is still in order prior to gel coat, but they're close enough for you to get the idea. I'm considering making them active rear brake cooling ducts, although there's no reason to other than "just because."

Getting close. I have a few passenger compartement repairs to execute (cracks/breaks in fiberglass), but that's pretty academic compared to the work done so far. The front grill is coming along; two more weeks and it should be done.

I think I'l take the time to figure out my front end hinge (or pivot) assembly prior to taking the parts in for gel coating. I'm getting excited... when the body's "back in black" gel coat from the fiberglass shop and sitting on the chassis again, it's going to really light my fire.

parkeracing wrote: Custom upper air extractors

Was not an uncomon mod back in the day

Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

I really like the scoops.

2Sharks wrote: Custom upper air extractors

Again, its all about custom. I like it, and have even considered it in the past for my car. Just keep going, you're almost there.

Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

Thank you, Randy. I like them too; they turned out really nice... as good or better than I had envisioned. The curve of the upper edge follows the rear roofline very closely, they're a good size, and they fit the space very well. Sometimes too much is just plain too much; this was kind of a gamble, but I feel the scoops are definately a plus to this car. I'm glad I did it; no regrets.

Firefingers wrote: Custom upper air extractors

It truly amazes me the stuff you guys can come up with! I've never, ever seen a C3 with upper air extractors, although when the image popped into my mind, it seemed "a natural."

Thank you for the pictures!

Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

Hi- It looks especially mean from the direct on front view. Ive never seen it before. If some snelby guy says anything, make sure you tell him they have a pedigree. lol.
Skip

2Sharks wrote: Custom upper air extractors

Again, its all about custom. I like it, and have even considered it in the past for my car. Just keep going, you're almost there.

Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

I really like the scoops.

Ditto, looks great, boy looks like your mako has a couple nice stable mates, not all GM either.

Firefingers wrote: Custom upper air extractors

It truly amazes me the stuff you guys can come up with! I've never, ever seen a C3 with upper air extractors, although when the image popped into my mind, it seemed "a natural."

Thank you for the pictures!

Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

Thank you for the compliment, Ron.

While the Corvette was the first car to ever really "move" me (and remains to this day one of if not my top favorite cars of all time), I appreciate all the fine offerings from the different manufacturers, especially the late 60's/early 70's American muscle cars. I've had many cars over the years, and one thing for sure I've learned... it's better to have a finished car or two than a dozen projects! I sold off and traded most of what I had to keep the '70 Boss 302 (which is fully restored/as new), and to finish out the Mako Shark. I'm always still "looking", and would sell or trade the Boss for something that really lit my fire, but it's a really cool car. There's a '63 Mid America Grand Sport tribute that I really want, but I don't have the cheddar for it (unless someone went crazy over the Boss).

The Mako should be one of the coolest damned cars ever when done though. I love these things! The look on people's faces when they see a car like the Mako on the street is priceless... half the fun of owning a cool car is that it brings such excitement and joy to people on the street.

~Tim

2Sharks wrote: Custom upper air extractors

Thats your "motion" option.

Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

If some snelby guy says anything, make sure you tell him they have a pedigree. lol.
Skip

Skip, the guy I bought them from has a '68 GT 350... he about crapped himself when I told him I was going to modify them for use on a Corvette!

Funny thing though, I sent him the above pictures just yesterday (he was curious enough to want to see how they looked), and he was really enthused about the outcome, and kind of got "onboard" with the project. Sometimes you just have to see it with your own eyes.

Yes, the scoops do have a pedigree... "red fiberglass" as the Shelby guys refer to it, based upon the red oxide-like gell coat the parts came with originally.

Firefingers wrote: Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost done

Here's another update and some pictures; the rear valence/roll pan and upper air extractors are now fully roughed-in; I put them into primer last night to get a more accurate impression of them on the car. They fit well and look great (IM …

Grille Update/Pictures

I'm really trying to make some steady progress, even if it's just "baby steps" at times.

Today, my metal fab buddy Randy came over and brought with him the aluminum grille sections, which he cut from a 4' x 10' sheet of 1/4" aluminum plate. We cut some plywood temporary spacers to establish the "correct" look and spacing... about 7/16" of an inch right now. We cut them to length, stacked them up, and trial-fit them in the opening. We both decided we need one more piece/section to properly fill the opening.

I took a progress picture to give you an idea. The entire grill will be elevated by one more section, and I'll put a slight forward tilt to the entire assembly to allow it to match (visually) the opening angles.

I like it; in aluminum, the headlamps behind it are much more prominent and I can still easily see the detail, which was my major area of concern in using a full-width grille. I'm still going to make the small one, and the "air box." I can make them both out of the scrap/leftovers, and the mounting system will be exactly the same, so they will be easily interchangable if so desired. That said, I think this is the one...

I'm still interested in seeing the air box with a mesh grille at the rear, and maybe an auxiliary oil cooler in the opening (AC Cobra style)... could look really good!

~Tim

2Sharks wrote: Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

I really like the scoops.

Grille Update/Pictures

I think there might be a phew members here that may have bonnahan side glass that was removed & was filled with fiberglass if they still have this glass that you could obtain it might be something that could be added behind the GT scoops if you so desired to .

Excellent progress on your Maco Tim . I like all of what you have done to your Maco the frame, lights ,scoops, grille, ect. just plan awesome the progress you have made on this Maco. keep up the great work!!! I will be looking forword to seeing the progress that you make on this Maco

Eric

Firefingers wrote: Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

Thank you, Randy. I like them too; they turned out really nice... as good or better than I had envisioned. The curve of the upper edge follows the rear roofline very closely, they're a good size, and they fit the space very well. Sometimes t …

Body going in for gel coat!

Big milestone today... I loaded the body and cart up on my trailer and took it to a fiberglass specialist for media blasting, minor repairs where found (*rebonding lower cowl sections, cracked battery box floor, floor board crack, chips, etc.), and the biggie... a nice thick layer of black gel coat on all the parts. The guy is a custom builder and says it will be straight enough for high-build primer!

I'm really looking forward to seeing it in black... going to look awesome. I'm supposed to have it back within two weeks.

One picture loaded, the next ready to roll, pulled by the trusty Excursion! ~Tim

skip wrote: Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

Hi- It looks especially mean from the direct on front view. Ive never seen it before. If some snelby guy says anything, make sure you tell him they have a pedigree. lol. Skip

Grill progress!

Well, the body is still at the fiberglass shop; supposed to get it back sometime late this week... sounds good to me!

Made some progress on the grill today; Gary made me one more grill blade section, and we drilled it and bolted it together using 3/8" spacers. We then put it into the opening and trimmed the ends for uniformity and clearance against/around the headlamps. The weight of the finished grille really surprised me... I'd bet it's between 25 and 30 pounds... We're going to drill lightening holes and trim some unnecessary material off the back to get the weight down as low as possible.

After the grille is further trimmed and lightened, I will take it in to be polished, after which we'll reassemble it. I'm going to bump up the spacer size to 7/16" again in order to gain an additional 1/2" in height without making one more section. After it's polished, I'll need to weld a small support strut to the back side of the grill to keep the ends spaced uniformly; for the time being I had to once again use the plywood spacers for the ends to lay correctly in the opening.

RonB wrote: Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

Ditto, looks great, boy looks like your mako has a couple nice stable mates, not all GM either.

Grill progress!

I think you win the most improved nose category. The round headlights made a 100% improvement, but the grill is killer.

Firefingers wrote: Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

Thank you for the compliment, Ron.

While the Corvette was the first car to ever really "move" me (and remains to this day one of if not my top favorite cars of all time), I appreciate all the fine offerings from the different manufacturers, …

Grill progress!

Thanks Dreamer!

It's coming along nicely... taking way longer than I anticipated, but I should have counted on that... they always do take longer.

In retrospect, if doing a full-width grill again, I would have made all the grill sections 1 1/2" wide, instead of going way back on the section between the headlamps... that would have made it way, way lighter, and not really have changed the look too much. It does look better, more substantial, and more "integral" the way I've done it, but the additional weight is significant.

Hoping to update again this Sunday.

Firefingers wrote: Upper air extractors, rear roll pan/valence almost

Skip, the guy I bought them from has a '68 GT 350... he about crapped himself when I told him I was going to modify them for use on a Corvette!

Funny thing though, I sent him the above pictures just yesterday (he was curious enough to want to …

Grill progress!

You havent thought about making a couple more grills like yours, for a few other Makos. ;-)

Firefingers wrote: Grille Update/Pictures

I'm really trying to make some steady progress, even if it's just "baby steps" at times.

Today, my metal fab buddy Randy came over and brought with him the aluminum grille sections, which he cut from a 4' x 10' sheet of 1/4" aluminum plate. We cut some plywood temporary …

Grill progress and body update

Carl, I would be willing to consider that, but only after I'm done with this and know what the variables and ultimate cost will be. The aluminum alone was over $300.00 to start, and polishing is going to run another $150.00. I'm currently into it $850.00 and it's not quite done... ideally, it would be less expensive to build once I've done one, but unless I could have the pieces scanned and CNC'd, I don't see it taking a lot less time.

I'm getting a little frustrated with the gel coat guy... He told me a week before I brought it in, and when I dropped it off, he told me two weeks (he did see it previously). When I called after a week to check progress, he said he was on his way to California to visit with his sick mother. Three weeks in, I checked again... he was on his way to California again to see a new grand-baby. At least I didn't pay anything up front.

His custom work looks excellent, so in the end if the work meets my expectations I will shut up about the delay... right now I'm a bit irritated.

eray979 wrote: Grille Update/Pictures

I think there might be a phew members here that may have bonnahan side glass that was removed & was filled with fiberglass if they still have this glass that you could obtain it might be something that could be added behind the GT scoops if you so desired to .

Excellent …

Grill progress and body update

Hi- Grill is really cool. And, 3 words you may not be thrulled to hear- Body shop jail!!
Skip

Firefingers wrote: Body going in for gel coat!

Big milestone today... I loaded the body and cart up on my trailer and took it to a fiberglass specialist for media blasting, minor repairs where found (*rebonding lower cowl sections, cracked battery box floor, floor board crack, chips, etc.), and the biggie... a ni …

Grill progress and body update

Hi- Grill is really cool. And, 3 words you may not be thrulled to hear- Body shop jail!!
Skip

I hear you there, Skip... I do most of my own bodywork and prep for just that reason.

The guy got back in town this weekend after being gone for over three weeks... I did ask him to do the work personally instead of assigning some lackey to the task, so I'mhaving to live with the timeline.

He promises I'll have it back within two weeks of today's date...

The grill is looking great, but I'm concerned about the weight and the effect on the fiberglass being driven. We'll see; if I get any cracking down low I can make repairs and cut the back/center section from the grill to make it way lighter. It looks much more substantial the way it is right now, though. Thanks again for your pictures; they really helped me land on the full grill for a viable option.

Firefingers wrote: Grill progress!

Well, the body is still at the fiberglass shop; supposed to get it back sometime late this week... sounds good to me!

Made some progress on the grill today; Gary made me one more grill blade section, and we drilled it and bolted it together using 3/8" spacers. We then put it i …

Grill progress and body update

Skip,
We would all like to see your pics.