[Scott Doran]

This thread will be dedicated to pictures and comments on the masterpice that I witnessed in Lansing.
If you missed this piece of art this forum will in a small way pay homage to a true craftsperson
Words nor pictures can do this rod justice, you have to see it in person.
Since I cannot download pictures I am asking all that took pictures to share.
As for MR. Bottom please contribute; as this is your forum
We truly are not worthy.
With Thanks
Scott Doran #201 Redline Red :thumbs

 

[Jmalzahn]

Here you go. It is cool isn't it?

 

[ssr71]

Just amazing

That's still an understatement though. What really is amazing is how they squeezed that super charger in there (look just below the intake tube).

 

[rick418cars]

Thanks for the great response, it has been a labor of love indeed.
A project of this magnitude is only possible with the help of great
people like Ken Thurm (grille bars), Eric Peters (hood), Ted Horkey
(wooden bed floor kit), Jon Moss and RC Anderson of Wheel to Wheel
Powertrain (supercharger), and other sponsor companies American Racing
Wheels, BASF Glasurit paint products, GM 's SEMA partner program,
AirRide Technologies, CoCo Mats, C.A.R.S. Inc. (upholstery materials),
and of course my staff, Cory, Bernie, and Brian who helped throughout
to build this SSR, a new GTO and a Malibu Maxx in a mere 12 weeks
just in time for last years SEMA show. Our goal was to inspire the
uninspired and I hope we have. If there is a will there is a way !
Get out in the garage and personalize your SSR, you'll be glad you did.....
...................Later, RICK

 

[beer100]

Fitting that supercharger in there is a trick alright. But changing the dash from textrued to smooth gloss is what gets my curiosity bump going. How'd they do that?

 

[REBEL]

...

I told Rick that was my favourite part of his truck. His reply was smooth it out just like metal. So I'm guessing fill and sand. Maybe he will spill the beans here.

 

[rick418cars]

The process for smooth painted interior , remove parts from vehicle, clean
with a plastics prep solution, sand with 80 grit leaving slight amount of
texture , clean again with plastics prep, spray with one coat of plastics
adhesion promoter, follow that with four coats of urethane automotive
primer surfacer, let dry, sand again with 180 grit until as much of the texture
is gone, than four more coats coat of primer ( don't forget to add flex additive to
the primer), sand again, this time with 220 grit and than again with 320,
sand until smooth and straight but try not to '' cut through'' , one more
round of primer, two wet coats , by now parts are very smooth and can be
preped for paint by scuffing with 600 grit , clean with anti-stat type product
such as Multi-Prep, base paint color next, than clear , let dry for two days
wet sand with 1200 grit, 1500 grit, 2000grit and than buff to mirrior finish
reassemble and enjoy.......................not for the timid !

 

[REBEL]

...

BUT WORTH THE EFFORT ... that time worped the whole roadster. ... now I have to find a spare dash :lol

 

[beer100]

The process for smooth painted interior , remove parts from vehicle, clean
with a plastics prep solution, sand with 80 grit leaving slight amount of
texture , clean again with plastics prep, spray with one coat of plastics
adhesion promoter, follow that with four coats of urethane automotive
primer surfacer, let dry, sand again with 180 grit until as much of the texture
is gone, than four more coats coat of primer ( don't forget to add flex additive to
the primer), sand again, this time with 220 grit and than again with 320,
sand until smooth and straight but try not to '' cut through'' , one more
round of primer, two wet coats , by now parts are very smooth and can be
preped for paint by scuffing with 600 grit , clean with anti-stat type product
such as Multi-Prep, base paint color next, than clear , let dry for two days
wet sand with 1200 grit, 1500 grit, 2000grit and than buff to mirrior finish
reassemble and enjoy.......................not for the timid !

EYOOOW!.

 

[KySSR]

That dash sure does look good! :thumbs Wish I wasn't so darn lazy or I'd try it............

 

[artsmart]

Rick

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS !

 

[ECurtis]

I Second That!!!!

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS !

I second that!!!! :thumbs

You Go Sis!!

:seeya E :seeya

Orange SSR :ssr

 

[artsmart]

I second that!!!! :thumbs

You Go Sis!!

:seeya E :seeya

Orange SSR :ssr

Only cuz you're :cry for an orange :ssr

 

[BIG JIM]

Some more Photo's..................

...

 

[BIG JIM]

and More...........

...

 

[Ken Thurm]

Thanks for the great response, it has been a labor of love indeed.
A project of this magnitude is only possible with the help of great
people like Ken Thurm (grille bars), Eric Peters (hood), Ted Horkey
(wooden bed floor kit), Jon Moss and RC Anderson of Wheel to Wheel
Powertrain (supercharger), and other sponsor companies American Racing
Wheels, BASF Glasurit paint products, GM 's SEMA partner program,
AirRide Technologies, CoCo Mats, C.A.R.S. Inc. (upholstery materials),
and of course my staff, Cory, Bernie, and Brian who helped throughout
to build this SSR, a new GTO and a Malibu Maxx in a mere 12 weeks
just in time for last years SEMA show. Our goal was to inspire the
uninspired and I hope we have. If there is a will there is a way !
Get out in the garage and personalize your SSR, you'll be glad you did.....
...................Later, RICK

It's nice you give people credit for helping you on your truck, but all the people that helped you didn't have your original vision. And thats what shows in the end result. You have great vision! Thats the insperation for other people.
Ken :thumbs :thumbs :thumbs

 

[rick418cars]

Thanks Ken from the looks of your black beauty
you've got ''vision'' too. The SSR is a great canvas
to start with !

 

[ssr71]

The right way

The process for smooth painted interior , remove parts from vehicle, clean
with a plastics prep solution, sand with 80 grit leaving slight amount of
texture , clean again with plastics prep, spray with one coat of plastics
adhesion promoter, follow that with four coats of urethane automotive
primer surfacer, let dry, sand again with 180 grit until as much of the texture
is gone, than four more coats coat of primer ( don't forget to add flex additive to
the primer), sand again, this time with 220 grit and than again with 320,
sand until smooth and straight but try not to '' cut through'' , one more
round of primer, two wet coats , by now parts are very smooth and can be
preped for paint by scuffing with 600 grit , clean with anti-stat type product
such as Multi-Prep, base paint color next, than clear , let dry for two days
wet sand with 1200 grit, 1500 grit, 2000grit and than buff to mirrior finish
reassemble and enjoy.......................not for the timid !

:agree
Definitely the proper way to do a quality finish. Not what they do today by selling you cheaply made thin plastic "veneers" that you stick over your factory dash! Yeah, like you're really going to fool someone that you got real wood trim in your SUV! :glol

I also agree that seeing the tremendous amount of work and creativity that you and others have put into their vehicles really does inspire us. But, I can only wish I could have a car like that - neither time, money, nor creativity on my part. I'll have to settle for drooling over other people's work.

 

[rick418cars]

your SSR is great factory stock, too!

 

[Flassh]

SSR71,

I saw Rick's SSR and several others at SEMA, and left some drool marks as well.

Rick, Ken, Fuzzy, Rebel and others are craftsmen, and can do work on their vehicles that the rest of us simply don't have the skills to do, or can't afford to splurge for.

You can individualize your SSR gradually, a bit at a time. When I first got mine, I planned to bring it back to Canada, play with it a bit, and sell it. Unfortunately, GM messed with my plans by throwing in a huge rebate, and dealers went below cost, when they finally realized the Canadian pricing was way out of whack, and the SSRs were sitting.

I didn't want to "bond" with it, so left it completely stock. When I realized it was a keeper, I started with a bit of paint under the hood,($100/materials) added a polished alternator, ($250) bought stainless hoses that haven't gone on yet ($80), bought the underhood letters from SSRCobra (85), got dommed decals for the sills, tailgate and hood ($90), painted the calipers (25), replaced the rotors with drilled slotted ones painted to match (240), got Eiback springs and had it realigned (260 springs, 80 labour, 60 alignment), and did the big splurge with wheels from Colorado Customs (3000). Before the wheels, the total was about $1130.

Nothing I did required more than basic backyard skills, except for the springs and alignment. End result, my SSR is now mine, and I love it. I've had it in a couple of shows, and it's surprising how quickly owners of stock SSRs pick out the differences.

I can't remember when I last bought a vehicle (except the work Duramax) that I was able to keep the stock wheels on. Personal opinion only, but I don't think anything can define your vehicle better than your choice of wheels. We've seen photos of a lot of wheels on the website - what is awful to one is perfect to someone else. I opted for a simple and clean 5 spoke polished aluminum, showing the difference in offsets. Fuzzy, Mike Powell and others went with a 6 spoke wheel (Fuzzy doesn't want to tell you who built them) that has a really nice retro look Someone else may like very ornate chromed wheels. So far, thankfully, I don't think anyone has opted for spinners!!!!

You've also got the options of adding power with a supercharger, working with new exhaust and header systems, power chips, etc.

Bottom line, your SSR is a blank canvas, and can be made to look and perform quite different from stock without dealing with body mods, custom paint, and tearing into the engine. Several owners have added custom pinstriping, or some tape - easy to do without breaking the bank.

It's a blast in any configuration - a bit of customizing makes it your own. Enjoy.

Ray