Note from Ron Fletcher: What you are seeing on this page is my progress diary, many of you have set up your web-sites in a dairy documented style - which is extremely helpful. This site is not set up like that, this is the only page that will help you to see in what order I have started to work on (which parts). -Fletch

5/9/05

I just finished having the NAERC Chassis fully welded.

Now I can add the suspension and sheet metal parts.

Click on the photo to see more.

12/23/04

I placed the body on top of the full frame to check the fit.

Click on the photo to see more.

This photo was taken last year 2003, of a custom chassis frame that I had built for me that didn't fit correctly.

I really need to thank Andy Bujtas, Kelly Hayes, Jim Gorbet and Dale Van Blokland for there support.

Last year I was ready to give up with this project, discouraged with the amount of money that I had lost.

There encouragement to continue building (along with many other builders) has helped me to keep building.

Thanks guys… your help and support is not forgotten!

11/22/04

I have not had time to work on my car for a few months. Now things are slowing down and I can get back onto the frame.

This weekend I tacked the center section together... joining the rear section to the front section. Adding in the center parts, front wheel wells and the side ladder.

It is now a full chassis!!!

8/31/04

My garage is a mess as I am now cutting the pieces that I need for the center sections.

Click on the photo to see more details of this section.

7/27/04  

I have been assembling all the flat pieces for my new NAERC chassis frame and know I am finally building them together to create the front end.

Click on the photo to see more.

January 3, 2004

Tires finally mounted to the rims and holding the air pressure... for the NASCAR frame

December 21, 2003

I have completed building my three piece rims, torquing down all the bolts, and I am now going to have the tires mounted to the rims. For more details check out the wheel section.

Before - center castings

After - machined, sanded, powder coated and mounted

November 24, 2003

My body and chassis frame are finally home, I have been talking with Andy about the next steps to take to complete the chassis frame... his recommendations was to get the frame to roll. I am working hard to get my center rims sanded and powder coated then I can put the rims together and have the tires mounted.

October 3, 2003

I am working on getting my rims finished.

The edges of the center pieces are rough and need to be filed around the edges.

After talking with many different custom rim/wheel shop, they all recommended to just file and sand the casting. In this photo you can see that I filed down the edge and started to sand the surface.

For more details - click here

July 1, 2003

I have just purchased the new gauges from J.C. Hamlin, and I just mounted these gauges into my new dash panel.

Take a look and see how I made this dash panel - click here.

To see more about the gauges click here

June 17, 2003

I am at the point where I am testing the function of the moveable wing flap. Click on the photo to see a 5 second video on the flap moving up. All the parts are working correctly and again I must thank Andy Bujtas for his concept with this design.

I still have more sanding, fiber glassing and more sanding before it is completely finished, but it is at least 90% there.

To see more of the Wing Flap click here

June 9, 2003

Click on the photo to see more details

May 15, 2003

I received some photo of my body being test fitted to mounted to the body.

Click on the photo to see more details

April 28, 2003

This weekend I worked on my rear wing, I want my wing flap to operate the same as Andy Bujtas made his work. Click here to see where I am headed

Click on the photo to see more details of what I did

February 18, 2003

I worked on the dash and center console making templates for the gauges and air vents. I cut out the center section to gain more room for the console components.

Click on the photo to see more information.

January 23, 2003

I have been working on the steering column repairing the side walls, I think I finally have a knack of fiber glassing.

On the right is the almost finished product. I pushed the walls out 3/4" to match the top cover.

Below are the "before" photos you can see that the wall did not align with the top cover. To see more details of this check out the Steering Wheel Cover section.

November 22, 2002

I just received my mirror glass with the LED blinker (inside the glass) and the warmer on the back side... take a look at this

November 17, 2002

Mirror - Rear View Shell (section)

Working on the inside of the mirror shell to achieve a smooth surface.

I also ordered some mirror glass this week from Muth.

There mirrors have the LED inside the glass (like the newer style SUV), I ordered the glass for a Dodge Dakota 6x10) and I will have a glass company cut it down to fit the shell. This is a $200 experiment that I hope works.

Steering Wheel Cover (section)

While waiting for the fiberglass to cure I have started to fix the steering wheel cover mating surface.

The top and bottom pieces edge what not a good clean edge, and the bottom piece has shrunk (or caved in) about 1" so I am attempting to pull the bottom out.

October 27, 2002

I have to tell you that I have been very discouraged with my progress of my car this summer. I talked with Dale who gave me some encouraging words and got me rolling again. I have started to work on my mirrors, check this section mirror motor mounting section.

Some words of advice, if you feel down in the dumps... talk to your friendly builders. I was ready to give up, sell everything and take my losses, but Dale talked me out of it and has given me the encouragement to continue... thanks Dale.

This mirror motor is a great part for me to take on, since I don't have my body and or frame back yet. I will just have to work on the mirrors, dash and center console, which should keep me busy for the rest of the year.

August 16, 2002

I traveled to Oxnard to pick up my rims from Will (at CRP). I was afraid since CRP is going out of business that the doors would close and I would not get my rims out of the shop.

While down in Oxnard, I also check in with Lance at JLS Motorsports to see my chassis. For more photos click on the Fletch's Custom Tubular Frame

June 16, 2002

For Father's day I worked a few hours on the mirror connection point to the door frame.. it's not much but it's a great start.

Click on the photo to see more.

May 22, 2002 - Lance has added more to the rear frame, and has utilized and installed my new RCC Rear Coil Over Struts, the RCC Lower Control Arm, they mount my Fiero steering column (that I have already shorten 4"), they fabricated and mounted a roll bar, and they have started to mount the body. (click here for more photos)

April 25, 2002 - I delivered my body to Lance in Oxnard California, his team will continue to build the frame that will include mounting points for the body and doors. (More photos)

April 17, 2002 - I just received my photos from Lance with his weekly progress of my frame. He is still utilizing my front end suspension from RCC (from my Fiero frame), and Lance installed my new Fiero steering (rack & pinion) and Fiero 1" sway bar.

The fuel cell will be located in the front trunk section, Lance insisted that I needed more weight in the front. (More photos)