I am looking from some input from you guys for the next phase of the project over the winter. I really appreciate everyone's input here, and whether you may think so or not....I do take everyone's points, suggestions and criticism into consideration.
With that being said, I want to lay out my plans for the winter (including as many visual aids as I can supply), and I would like as much input and feedback as I can get.
The biggest addition to the car over the winter is going to me the cage work. I want a full chromolly setup certified to 8.50. While doing this, it is obviously a very good time to situate the interior.
I am looking for a race car feel while maintaining some street amenities and appearance on a budget without compromising safety (mouthful huh?) lol
Seats:I have an idea of running a full set of 4 Kirkey seats. For those of you not familliar, kirkey seats are aluminum fixed back drag seats with a limited selection of covers...usually in twead or vinyl.
http://www.excessiveracing.com/images/products/detail/41519.jpg
They offer a blue cover that is very close to my interiors blue. Each seat back gets secured to the cage, and I feel the way the rear most portion of the cage is going to be, it wouldn't be a big deal to incorporate a cross bar by the rear deck to support the two rear seats, and on cruise nights and street miles, it would be the safest way to transport passengers.
Intercooler and Piping:One way or another, boost is in this cars immediate future, and I feel like I have a pretty cool idea for plumbing and etc.
I would like to take a full size air to water cooler and rear mount it between the two Kirkey seats. Something to this effect, but in the back of course:
What I would like to do, is incorporate two aluminum cup holders for the rear passengers welded into the intercoolers side tanks. I would also like to use the charge pipes for the intercooler as a center console through the car with front mounted cup holders similar to this setup:
With the intercooler mounted so close to the trunk area, I could build a rear firewall, and have the ice water reservoir trunk mounted with two bulk heads to connect the water feeds.
Dash and Gauges:I really like the look of the silver Autometer gauges with the blue interior. I think it is a very nice color combination, and the current cluster layout is really nice in my opinion. But I am not so sure about the wood grain. I like the wood grain a lot, but to me...it clashes with the rest of the interior...unless I find a way to incorporate it further. Like maybe a routered piece of wood stained to accent the cup holders....kinda like a trim ring? Or some type of stained enclosure for the rear intercooler?
As you can see in the photos, the backlighting of the gauges is very dim too. Has anyone seen this adressed in these gauges before for a better illumination without looking ricey?
This is the current setup for the electric water pump, fans, and start....does this look out of place to you guys?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
If I do this, whats the game plan? Would it be best to powdercoat all of the charge pipes a nice contrasting blueish color or leave them natural aluminum? Same thing with the seat backs? Leave the exposed aluminum or have the seat shell powdercoated some kinda color? What should I be doing the cage color in? There are so many variables....I just want to throw my rough draft out there. I am sorry for the long winded rambling, but lets here what you guys have to say.