Heres my first owners Cimbria SS vid

[Corky]

Here is the youtube link to a playlist of my first vids of the new Cimbria SS project I just got. Total running time is only about a minute, but there are multiple vids in the playlist because my phone limits me to 15 second clips. I just strung them together using youtube's playlist feature so you can see them all. Includes car, car running and a few short bits of the car driving on the day we brought it home...

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.


-Corky

 

[farfegnubbin]

Hi Corky!

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for the video. I've added the clips to our on-site database as well.

I'm the guy who owns the white SS in the Builders' section. They're fun cars. It'll be some work putting it back together, but that's part of the beauty of kit car projects. Mine is NOT running right now, and I'm in the midst of deciding how far I want to do with reviving the current engine vs swapping to something else. Currently it is set up for a Nissan V6 from the '80s but the engine wiring is so nightmarish that it might be worth starting from scratch.

Again, thanks for the video submission. I've subscribed to your channel and I'll try to automatically add any videos you might share in the future. *thumbs up*

 

[ydeardorff]

Hey warren,

You know that white cimbra might be a great car to toss in the SVX flat 6 into! If memory serves they also made a turbo in 1995 too.

 

[farfegnubbin]

Actually, I'm thinking of using a supercharged V10 out of a wrecked Viper I just picked up...

Nah...I'm just messing with ya.

The flat six would be a great engine. The current engine cradle is begging for another V6, so that's what I probably with give it.

 

[letterman7]

I know where there's a NOS Ford 2.8 just like in my Sterling.... I'm really tempted but I don't have the storage room. And the price is perfect - $300!

 

[Corky]

The work is underway

Hey Guys,

So I started sanding the 4 layers of various kinds of paint off the car. I will take some photos of the progress this afternoon. I am going through sandpaper like mad on the car because it has had everthing from gelcoat to rattle can to rustoleum brushed onto it over the past 20-something years.

I want to strip it down to the lowest layer of primer almost to the glass, and start over. So I looked into strippers versus sanding and decided to sand. It's going faster than I expected, but slower than I hoped for A couple of hours saw the top of the front clip first-pass sanded with 60 grit to cut off all the paint, and 180 and 220 to smooth it out.

I am not sure what color scheme I am going to use yet. But I have a long way to go before I worry about that.

As for power, well, since the VW motor in it appears to have either been replaced or rebuilt with a practically shiny new one, which runs and runs well, I will probably keep that at first. On the other hand, I have a 1973 Chevy Nova with a 307cc V8 in it and I'm half tempted to cram that into the Cimbria. We took some measurements and Kennedy's adaptors makes a V8 to VW adaptor for the tranny so it's possible, I'm just not sure I want to alter the fiberglass around the rear license plate area to make the v8 fit. For now, VW. But possibly in the future, a horsepower upgrade will occur.

I am also sort of interested in putting BMW power into it. Old 325's are kind of cheap and I just let one go, which had an incredibly fun 2.7l 6 cylinder in it. That would make awesome torque and power in this car, so I am also considering that.

For now though - I just keep on sanding...

I need to find seats and windshield glass. I'll be saving up for the sterling wind shield and planning to mod the body using the posted suggestions for making that fit. Has anybody come up with any cheaper ways to solve that yet? and what have you guys done for seats. Rick Milne suggested miata seats I think. Those will probably be what I do, but I'm just digging around for more ideas on the interior.

Thanks for following along!
Corky

 

[farfegnubbin]

I tried Miata seats in my Sterling because they are one of the narrowest OEM seats around. They fit great side-to-side, but they were a little too tall for me. I'm 6'2" and there was enough thickness to the Miata seats to put my head about two inches out of the car. Again, it wasn't a problem with the height of the back rest but rather than with the thickness under your butt. With slider rails removed, the Miata seat was still about 6 inches thick.

I know I've posted this photo elsewhere, but here is a Miata seat (passenger side) next to a Nissan 200sx seat in my chassis.

I really liked the look and the fit of the Miata seat. Perhaps I'm just too tall. *laugh*



Regarding the engine, I'd say sticking with a good Bug engine to start isn't a bad idea at all. There are plenty of strong four or six cylinder engine out there waiting for you in the future if you choose. Personally, I'd stay away from a V8 simply because it does bad things to the balance of the car. It's amazing to think, but many four cylinder engines are now putting out as much horsepower than some of the watered-down, stock small blocks of 30 years ago. My current Subaru Legacy station wagon has more power than my first Camero!

Even with the Bug engine, you will have loads of fun with this car.

 

[ydeardorff]

I was viewing Nic's photobucket pictures and saw he has some cobra seats. 1, I like the look of them, 2 they look good, and 3 after checking on eBay they aren't too badly priced.

It may be a better option than try to mod the current seats. I was thinking of Frankensteining some stock car seat parts into the current stock seats along with some fiber-glassing work to reshape them.

Ah the choices we have, so much time, so many projects, such a thin wallet!

 

[farfegnubbin]

In this case, a thin wallet helps. Gives more headroom. *laugh*

 

[Corky]

I tried Miata seats in my Sterling because they are one of the narrowest OEM seats around. They fit great side-to-side, but they were a little too tall for me. I'm 6'2" and there was enough thickness to the Miata seats to put my head about two inches out of the car.

Thanks for the tip, and the very informative post and photo. I'm 6'3" so it looks like I'm in for the same issues.

I have the lower floor plans with the deeper dish in my Cimbria SS so I'll be looking for seats with thin bottoms I guess. Nice to know about the backs. I have even considered having seats custom made from foam and upholstery since I am in south Florida and surrounded by marine upholstry shops that could probably fabricate something for me. Then there is going to be how to come up with seat belts next.

I'm just being proactive though, I am weeks or months away from needing an interior at my pace of work. My wallet should be plenty thin by then!

Thanks guys!

Corky

 

[ydeardorff]

My problem, is I was given a chunk of money to play with, now I have lots of stuff to get some of these projects going, problem is, I have to make myself stick to one thing till its at a major stopping point. Dont want to have many unfinished things going on at once.

That usually leads to none of them getting done.*thumbs up*

 

[Corky]

I know the feeling! In my front yard, I have:

a 19' cuddy cabin boat with the motor on the stand beside it for a ring job,

a 1973 Nova waiting for it's new Hedmann headers and traction bars, a new interior and body work, parts all still in the trunk (but it is at least running and driving well),

1 1989 Dodge RamCharger 4wd SUV that needs paint

Two motorcycles that need minor work, one a clutch lever and carb cleaning, the other new exhaust, both run, one runs and drives

a 2001 Firebird that needs a new convertible top

and a jet ski that pretty much just needs a good wash and a tuneup.

and the Cimbria SS of course, which is all about major interior and bodywork and paint...

A mid-life crisis having bachelor's work never ends...

But it sure is FUN!

-Cork