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  Greetings, fellow Batmen
 From: Bates | Posted: 4/12/2005 6:23:10 PM |

Greetings, fellow Batmen
I have no idea what to open this with, so I won't even use an opening. My excitement on this subject is expressed through brute force bluntness, and I only hope that isn't poorly recieved, coming from a newbie to this forum. I apologise in advance for my erratic and poorly worded sentences.

I'm going to build the batmobile. I'm sure around here that sounds like someone in prison saying "I'm going to break out of here", but some succeed (as is pretty obvious from the members of this board). I'm going to build this car, and I've never been more adamant about anything in my life; however, this is my first undertaking of something this proportion, so I come to you for guidance.

I've read most of the threads in all 17 pages in this forum (Though, not before emailing the webmaster -- I apologise), and even after that I have a few things I need help with.

The most obvious, most important, hardest, and most expensive is going to be the body. I saw a few threads in pages past where people asked this same suggestion, but the response was to wait until the patent was up in November. Well, the patent is up, and I'm willing to spend the money. I'm not rich, but I'm not lazy either. I don't expect anyone to go through all the hard work of making their own fiberglass body only to give it up to some rich shmuck with no concept of hard work. I lack the skill and experience with fabrication, so I'd need an extensive amount of help in that area, up to the most certainly painful cost of buying a body from one of this board's veteran members (sup jack and kevin).

Second, as I asked the webmaster, I'd like a suggestion as for what frame to use. From what I read, you can use just about anything, as long as you know what you're going to be doing with it. I'd like to have as little work as possible put into the frame (my inexperience comes into the picture) to enlogate and strengthen it, but also with a big enough engine to, well, seem like the Batmobile. I have quite a few people who can help me with repairing and modifying an engine, so that part I'm not completely lost on.

Third, how is the body fastened to the frame? This has more to do with general car/bodykit mechanics than specific batmobile intentions. Being a complete newbie, I'm just wondering how, getting a Chevy's frame down to the bottom, does this alien body fit onto place? I assume with some modification to the body itself, but what exactly?

Fourth, where does the plug in the front come from?


Finally, as I said before, I'm not looking for someone to do this for me, just to sort of hold my hand and point me in the right directions while I do it. This forum has been a wealth of knowledge already, and I thank you all even before you respond. Going through these posts, you're making an eight year old's biggest dreams come true (who says dreams can't last 15 years?)

As I close this, I thought of something that I'd like to ask the resident replica owners which I couldn't find in a past post. If you could, tell us a story about the first time you test drove your car once it was completed. Maybe you took it to the store to get some milk, maybe your girlfriend begged you for a ride, maybe hilarity ensued? Certainly any story involving the car is one worth telling on this forum.

Thanks in advance, guys. I read the board pretty regularly (hourly) now that I've discovered it, but if you want to talk to me on AIM, my screen name is NoColon85.




 From: Baneful | Posted: 4/12/2005 6:29:56 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Welcome,
That was a great post and one that should get the board going again.

Allow me to light the beacon for the two masters

Jack and Kevin?


 From: Jack | Posted: 4/12/2005 6:56:55 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Wow that is the most excited I have seen someone in a very long time. Welcome and of course we will all help you as much as we can. You need to make sure you check out Justin's website. He has a lot of pictures of replicas in many different phases, http://www.thebatcave8k.com/ . You are welcome to email me any time.

So, where to start.

The body: Save around $10k to $15 and buy one. There are a couple of guys on this board who can sell you one (Guys you know who you are).

The Frame: It really doesn't matter. Impala and Caprice frames seem to be the best choice. I chose to start with a 1973 Impala frame. A couple of the guys like Kevin went with a newer frame and it seemed to work just as well and was actually cheaper because he was able to buy a complete car in running condition for just a few hundred dollars more then what I spent for a rusted old frame. You will need to lengthen the frame to get the required wheelbase somewhere between 140" to 141". I had to lengthen the 73 frame just about 20". It will vary depending on the year frame you choose, he newer the car the shorter the frame.

The Engine: I would stay with a small block Chevy just for cost, availability, and simplicity. (Same with the transmission)

How to mount the body to the frame: Your choice. You can add brackets to the frame and the body and just simply bolt it together. You can enclose the body then bolt it to the frame (this is what I am doing). You could even build a NASCAR type roll cage then attach the body to it. You will just have to decide what is best for you.

The first time we drove or cars? Well I haven't yet because it
s not done and as far as I know non of us has actually finished a car yet. There are some out there but for some reason those owners don't share a lot of info with us on this board.

Well that's my take, I hope it helps. Jack




 From: Uninvited | Posted: 4/13/2005 5:44:02 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
New here too. I'm interested in the question the first person posted.
So where does the plug from the front come from?


 From: Jack | Posted: 4/13/2005 6:50:15 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Oh I must point out we have at least one Chick who loves the car on the board. Right Starlight?


 From: Bates | Posted: 4/13/2005 6:52:41 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Thanks for the response Jack. Sometime soon I might send you an email about a few things, but until then,..

I've checked out Justin's website. At this point, that's better than most porn you can find on the internet. Just to see all those Batmobiles and all that hard work and all that information, OH GOD-

Anyway. I chose my car. I found someone selling a well running 88 chevy caprice for an extraordinarily low amount of money because the body is in disrepair. But who cares about the body, right? Heh, not like I'll need that!

About that body. Anyone who has one that is willing to part with some parts or a full body kit please contact me. I'd very much like to talk to you.

A few of my friends have volunteered as (small) investors in my project, so it might be up and running sooner than I expected. And of course, I'll document every step in these forums.


 From: www.thebatcave8k.com | Posted: 4/13/2005 11:40:01 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
You could contact me and I could give you a little info. ;)


 From: Bates | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:07:47 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Thanks for all the help guys (you know who you are). The plans for this are definitely in motion.

Justin, I'll email you shortly as soon as I have something together. Your website is an invaluable resource, and I'll be needing all the help I can get.

I'll update this post once things are coming together.


 From: Baneful | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:08:21 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Hey Bates.
So you got estimates on how much it's going to cost you?



 From: Bates | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:08:35 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Probably about $20 - 25,000 for the whole car


 From: Tim | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:08:43 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen

 From: Bates | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:08:56 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Or not? It's just a guess based largely around the cost of the body. I don't know for sure how much it's all going to cost, no one has really been forthcoming with the expense of their projects.


 From: Kevin | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:09:06 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Jack pretty much hit the nail on the head. The cost of the car depends on how much you can do your self or can get some friends in welding, fabrication and fiberglass work to help you out.
The car is a Chevy based car and you need to stick with that. Caprice and Impala works fine forget using a Vette as some have chosen to, it is a lot of extra and unnecessary work converting the car over.

Kevin


 From: Tim | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:09:15 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
I was just kidding with you... But I do think that number is a bit low, but not impossible. It really depends on what you want to end up with. The cost will be a lot different if you do everything with junkyard parts than if you buy new parts, but then again, so will the car.

I suppose theoretically you could buy an $500 dollar car, and cover it with a $10,000 fiberglass body and it ends up costing you $10,500. Of course that's not very realistic, and without at least lengthening the chassis it wouldn't even work.


 From: Jack | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:09:24 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Also don't forget the extras. Machine Guns $800 pair. Aircraft throttle $395. Ferrari Tail lights (upper) $120 each, (lower) $160 each, Centerline wheels $800 set, Rear tires $600 pair, Seats $500 pair, gauges $500, electrical actuators $500, etc......


 From: Tim | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:09:34 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen

Just to name a few things...



 From: Justin | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:09:42 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
WHAT?? $10k doesn't get you a full turnkey?? :(


 From: Justin | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:09:52 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Just kidding, of course. ;) I figure it can be done on the cheap for $30k if you do a LOT of the body, welding and interior work yourself. You can pick up some cheap Honda seats and reupholster them for $300, you can forgo(sp?) the machine guns and pop mirrors or something in their place (you will still need the actuators), etc.


 From: Tim | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:10:03 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Did you want the car to go with it or just the key?

Does anyone know what an average Boydster goes for?



 From: Justin | Posted: 4/17/2005 1:10:12 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Shot in the dark.... $80-$150K?


 From: Jack | Posted: 4/19/2005 1:10:25 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
On the lastest American Hot Rod they counted down Boyd's top ten cars. The number one car called "Whattheheye" sold for over a half million. I think a car could be built with all the frills for around $30k if you do the work yourself.


 From: Bates | Posted: 4/19/2005 1:10:36 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
I'm going to do most of the work myself. Well, not so much myself, a lot of relatives and friends are in fields of autobody repair and welding.

And I'm not going all out here. Mine won't have the guns or the aircraft throttle or the authentic seats. I'm going for a perfect outside, and a cool looking yet functional interior.

This is going to sound like an "OMG NEWB LOL" question, but what's an actuator?


 From: Jack | Posted: 4/19/2005 1:10:47 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
"OMG NEWB LOL" Actuators are what make the canopy, gun doors, side doors, trunk lid, and hood open. If I had to say just one thing to anyone who plans on building this car it would be. Don't worry about all of the small stuff until you have bought your body (first) and your frame (second). You can easly get tied up in the details. Start with the basics.


 From: Bates | Posted: 4/19/2005 1:10:57 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Yeah that's the plan. I'm not doing anything at all until the body is at least "in progress". I know I can't kill a gorilla with a stone.



 From: Justin | Posted: 4/19/2005 1:11:06 PM |

RE: Greetings, fellow Batmen
Ohhhhh, I like that phrase ~makes mental note to use it in the future~

Ya know, when I am reading this guy's posts and his plans and all that, I would swear that I was the one writing it!



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