With the mold seams ground...
With the mold seams ground down and the body scuffed, it's time for KR Performance and Restorations to start working its magic on panel alignment, panel filling, and some custom touches we requested.
It took quite a bit of organization, but our Factory Five Racing Cobra replica finally made its way to KR Performance and Restorations in Nebraska for paint and bodywork. It was no easy feat, with the use of a major transportation company, short-term storage at DVS Restorations, and another eight-hour trailer ride from DVS Restorations to KR Performance and Restorations. Now that our Roadster has arrived safely in Nebraska, it's time for KR's owners, Aaron Kester and Bob Roeder, to make our Roadster look its best.
The two men have their work cut out for them, as this is their first Factory Five body. It will be a bit of a learning experience, but they expressed much interest in the intricacies of the FFR body, and we had one in need of paint. It was Dave Stribling at DVS Restorations who put us in touch with Kester and Roeder at a trade show almost two years ago.
We've also enlisted the expertise of FFR bodyman extraordinaire, Dave Heidrich, from Worship One Customs in Charlotte, North Carolina. Also known as NCPainter on the ffcobra.com forums, Heidrich graciously offered to share some of his best Cobra body-prep secrets with Kester and Roeder. With all these talented guys working together, we'll have a great-looking Roadster when the sanding dust settles.
In the last installment on...
In the last installment on our Cobra replica build (July '07), Reliable Carriers loaded up the Roadster for the ride to DVS Restorations. It was a week-long trip as cars were picked up and dropped off during the northward run from Florida to Indiana. Once in Indiana, Reliable left our Roadster with Dave Stribling and DVS Restorations.
He will be helping us a bit...
He will be helping us a bit later with some final safety checks, bumpsteer measurements, and more, but for now he safely stored our project until KR's Aaron Kester and Bob Roeder could make the trip to pick up our Roadster.
Stribling has been working...
Stribling has been working with the guys from KR for a while now, and Kester and Roeder make trips about twice a month...
...from Nebraska to Indiana...
...from Nebraska to Indiana to transport customers' vehicles using KR's enclosed trailer. The Roadster made it safely to Nebraska the following week.
To prepare the body for filler...
To prepare the body for filler work and sanding, the virgin fiberglass and resin surfaces must be stripped of chemicals, as these agents, used to help release the fiberglass from the body molds, will cause problems during painting. A simple wax and grease removal product is a start, but then the body must be completely scrubbed with a cleanser and a scuffing pad per the build-manual's instructions.
After using the wax and grease...
After using the wax and grease remover, Kester and Roeder apply Comet cleanser to the body surface. To keep from ruining our hard work, the dash and engine compartment are taped off.
Using a bucket of water to...
Using a bucket of water to wet the Scotch Brite scuff pad, scrub the body with the cleanser that has already been applied. Notice the complete coverage. Don't be afraid to add more Comet and scrub hard. The body needs to be completely clean for the bodywork and paint to adhere properly.
Once the body is rinsed and...
Once the body is rinsed and dried, you can see the results of the deep scrubbing with the Scotch Brite pad and Comet cleanser. The surface finish is a flat sheen, and the fiberglass pores have been exposed. The body will need a few days in the sun at this point to air out everything.