Hooptie... AKA Project Ugly Duckling

[Yoshi]

Hello everyone,

So I had bought this 1985 FB from my friend Adler. From him it received it's title the Hooptie. It had seen better days. When he asked me if I was interested in it I asked him whats wrong and I he told me this that and the other thing, but the biggest this was that it's ugly. So I went and looked at it once they got it running decent and decided that I was sick enough in the head to go ahead and get it.

Here is what it looked like when I got it:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/426909_764541416238_978013971_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/421899_764541645778_892390856_n.jpg

The car was originally a 12a car but had a rebuilt street ported 13b swapped in with a holly 465 carb that I'm still trying to get to run right.

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/423299_764541750568_2072688220_n.jpg

So I got some adapters to run my wheels but the wheel studs stuck out past the adapters so I had to do some grinding then reinforcement:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/524661_771511024088_1576518040_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/560030_771511278578_256978726_n.jpg

Which let me do this:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/528953_769595802208_1409343229_n.jpg

So the suspension was feeling kind of old so I got some new struts and bushings and got to work:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/529573_771326518838_429323818_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/563460_772387951718_606117296_n.jpg

Then one night some alcohol and spray paint got mixed and this happened:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/574930_797854052448_950751868_n.jpg

Then I moved:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/551020_809670811568_469853067_n.jpg

I got bored one day and decided to clean up some of the rusty spots and started with the radiator duct:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/562224_816088355758_536656803_n.jpg

Which expanded to the front piece and the vent piece in front of the windshield:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/598380_818201685628_1589622624_n.jpg

Then the Hooptie got naked cuz it heard the bishes love it:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/550960_818525606488_388218110_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/282298_818525756188_1147207331_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/166019_818526524648_1927282568_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/401959_818526584528_2053848809_n.jpg

And more painting happened:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/481197_818593076278_1229305062_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/246433_818609413538_591979846_n.jpg

Then I test fit the parts to see what they would look like. Nothing bolted here:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/428443_818752576638_1138179796_n.jpg

Then I took the parts back off and set them in a pile of shiny:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/553244_818936822408_2006122341_n.jpg

Then went back to painting:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/529563_818931932208_177856073_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/604158_818931807458_1462351486_n.jpg

And that is where I am currently. The driver side fender and the bottom of the hood are drying. I will be painting the top of the hood tomorrow after work then I start on the doors and will be going from there. I'm using spray paint so I'm shooting for more of an "It looks good from ten feet" approach.

[rx7 vinnie]

My hero!!!!!

[Yoshi]

<3 you Vinney ;)

[RotorDad]

He892390856_n.jpg[/img]
I'm using spray paint so I'm shooting for more of an "It looks good from ten feet" approach.

Works for me, I had a car I had spray bombed & everyone thought is looked good if you were a few steps back.

[Yoshi]

Got the hood painted. Hopefully here in a few weeks it will be all painted (exterior wise) and I can move on to other things.

[lokirx706]

Any updates? Hooptie kinda has that tough beat look to it, and I love the wheels!!

[Yoshi]

Yeah I should be stripping the doors tomorrow. Hopefully get them painted and finish gutting the interior to the bare minimum.

[lilring]

keep up the good work bud!

[Weltall]

Looks like a blast. Just remember 10 or 15. Looks good 10 feet away at 15 miles an hour! Perfect paint is overrated, I like personality. And as long as its all one color, who cares?

[Yoshi]

Yeah man this car deff has a lot of character lol....

Well I started to strip the door... I'm using a paint removing pad on a drill... it's 105 degrees outside with 30% humidity... The drill is close to giving up the ghost and I had to stop because I could feel my hands vibrating lol

Kind of a pita...

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/413660_821720279338_781244753_o.jpg

Here is the hood drying, not the best so I'm gonna do another coat.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/194870_819397354498_1328394764_o.jpg

For the other door I'm just gonna sand it down smooth before painting instead of stripping it... Then I start on taping off everything and painting the rest.

[Weltall]

Yeah.... I'm glad I'm going with a wrap on the racecar....

[Yoshi]

So I am thinking that I am going to do an fc front suspension swap with four lug and a gsl se rear end swap which will bring me from 4x110 to 4x114.3 which opens up my wheel options quite a bit.

So I need your opinion on wheels. I am going for a 15x8 and like the older school looks. The wheels I have now are 15x7 +0 4x114.3 original enkei 92's with an adapter/spacer.

So new 15x8 enkei 92s? 15x8+25

http://www.enkei.com/images/classic/enkei-enkei92-classic-wheel-large-main.jpg

Enkei appache IIs 15x8 +0

http://www.enkei.com/images/classic/apache2_large.jpg

Or rota Shakotan 15x8 +10

http://www.18racing.com/images/wheels/shakotan_1590_4x114_0_frblk4_300.jpg

Rota Aleica? 15x9 -15

http://images59.fotki.com/v255/photos/7/42677/9421736/2222qq006-vi.jpghttp://images112.fotki.com/v110/photos/7/42677/9421736/ALE013-vi.jpg

Open to suggestions/ideas. Trying to keep the set under 700 shipped.

[WankelsRevenge]

You should try and find a set of the old rotor wheels... im sure theres some out there somewhere.

[GySgtFrank]

My vote would be to stay with the Enkei 92s. Classic wheel that looks right on the 7. IMHO

[Yoshi]

Well I have been MIA for a while...

I'm a member of the Honda Manufacturing of Alabama Race Team and have pretty much been committing all my free time to the team. Here are some of the things I have been working on:

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/376508_828548051428_279903616_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/311545_828545401738_1750195202_n.jpg

New KW Coilovers we had to change the mounting point on...

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/418780_835815921558_198139320_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/417504_835816290818_239565017_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/417324_835816894608_1798851009_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/315466_835817124148_1298662988_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/315420_835817653088_731994469_n.jpg

Then they were too long and I had to do it again...

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/229028_836591651988_40823171_n.jpg

Installed on the car

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/217901_836592165958_323512150_n.jpg

Little battery

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/562730_839226227278_1089017358_n.jpg

Alignment

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/391252_839226072588_1009547961_n.jpg

The cars:

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/264802_839226591548_1750482233_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/524292_842857056068_1272847294_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/427415_10151968875605322_746075249_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/484601_10151971682760322_824149816_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/392478_393030057406456_1136672251_n.jpg


Then I got a new car

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/547773_829456006878_1373868775_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/544577_829456046798_612956470_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/555739_829456381128_1485025096_n.jpg

All the cars but one playing nicely together

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/319422_829443052838_1014222084_n.jpg



And then I finally got a chance to work on the Hooptie!

Taped off

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/603572_841448304218_1761481660_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/551730_841448583658_1434476051_n.jpg

Monochromatic?

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/599397_842130796498_54594795_n.jpg

Door painted

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/205965_842395396238_2019903177_n.jpg

Roof Hole Cover painted

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/298783_842515944658_1153267866_n.jpg

New Wheel

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/524367_842395590848_1987232979_n.jpg

All painted just waiting on last door to dry!

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/225039_842845065098_658303402_n.jpg

And that is where I am now.

[Yoshi]

Pictures fixed! See page 1

[speedjunkie]

Looks good man! I like that 240 also. Love those cars. And the license plate is cool lol.

[Yoshi]

Thanks man!

I got some parts put on today. Almost done. Should be able to finish up tomorrow and get some half way decent pictures.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/304915_843760515528_239004037_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/294685_843760779998_363248384_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/378370_843760984588_902893409_n.jpg

Over all I'm pretty happy with it.

And here is a pic of the Z and Hooptie

http://distilleryimage3.instagram.com/3de55822f18311e195f322000a1d0ce4_7.jpg

[Yoshi]

Some better pictures... Almost all together

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/538944_844435093668_264709526_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/296551_844435557738_695084018_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/528100_844435677498_2117225950_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/377222_844435672508_1217933539_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/223808_844435777298_1344409790_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/574703_844435782288_1281232392_n.jpg

And last but not least, all but one of the cars.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/320255_844436251348_95886970_n.jpg

[Raksj04]

If you are looking for 4 lug FC parts I maybe able to help you. I am planing on doing a 5lug swap. If you live near Jacksonville, FL I would let the stuff I dont need go cheap. I dont have the room for them.

[Yoshi]

Let me know what you want to get rid of, I'm in Moody, AL close to Birmingham.

[Yoshi]

Just a little update, I moved the Hooptie from my garage to my new shop.

From garage:

http://distilleryimage3.s3.amazonaws.com/3de55822f18311e195f322000a1d0ce4_7.jpg

To Shop:

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/536208_857976107368_1583625750_n.jpg