Pelican Parts
Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   Pelican Parts Forums > Miscellaneous and Off Topic Forums > Off Topic Discussions


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rating: Thread Rating: 1 votes, 1.00 average.
Author
Thread Post New Thread    Reply
Registered
 
Shaun @ Tru6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 44,405
Previous owners

Back when there were still things like 911 parts cars, I acquired and parted out 13 of them. All of them would be saved today, then not so much. As previously loved cars, each one had major issues, many times from dereliction or a sale on drywall screws at Home Depot, which many had holding things together.

I started to restore a '71 decklid grille today. If you aren't familiar with them, there are 5 bars, upper and lower, that are riveted together sandwiching the black mesh. Left, center and right bars also have captive bolts, invisible from the top, that hold the grille to the decklid. One must have failed in some way so a previous owner, who knows when, drilled a hole through the top bar, countersunk it, and then shoved this screw in place. Both bottom corners. Those bars are now toast and rib #13 is probably junk too but I'll try to save it. The worst part is they bent the top and bottom bars to get the bolt out but then drilled the hole for the new screw which makes no sense at all. And then there's the screw head... Who does stuff like this?

There really should be some sort of test you have to take, and pass, before you can own certain cars.











__________________
Tru6 Restoration & Design
Old 12-29-2022, 03:16 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #1 (permalink)
Registered
 
varmint's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: secure undisclosed locationville
Posts: 24,312
heli coil?
__________________
1971 R75/5
2003 R1100S
2013 Ural Patrol
2023 R18
Old 12-29-2022, 03:29 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #2 (permalink)
Registered
 
Shaun @ Tru6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 44,405
The bar is ruined, can't be used save for TIG'ing some new Al in the hole. I'll post pics tomorrow of what it's supposed to look like to give you a better idea.
__________________
Tru6 Restoration & Design
Old 12-29-2022, 03:48 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #3 (permalink)
Band.
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 13,333
Send a message via AIM to Gogar
I'm trying to sell something of mine right now that has questionable choices made by a younger version of me. The initial tour of the car is basically me showing off all my dumbass moves.
__________________
1983 SC Coupe
1963 BMW R60/2
1972 Triumph Tiger
1995 Triumph Daytona SuperIII
Old 12-29-2022, 03:50 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #4 (permalink)
Almost Banned Once
 
sc_rufctr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Adelaide South Australia
Posts: 38,430
Send a message via MSN to sc_rufctr
A well restored car is about getting the details right. The worst is "modified wiring" and "economic body repairs".
__________________
- Peter
Old 12-29-2022, 03:58 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #5 (permalink)
Baz Baz is online now
G'day!
 
Baz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Posts: 45,774
Garage
You should see some of the "engineering" I've seen over the years when I was in the irrigation business.

Talk about Rube Goldberg.

Not an exact analogy because what you are talking about is ruining something by mickey mouse tactics.

But the mindset is similar.....
__________________
Old dog....new tricks.....
Old 12-29-2022, 04:01 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #6 (permalink)
 
Registered
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 17,409
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baz View Post
You should see some of the "engineering" I've seen over the years when I was in the irrigation business.

Talk about Rube Goldberg.

Not an exact analogy because what you are talking about is ruining something by mickey mouse tactics.

But the mindset is similar.....
I restored a Greene and Greene home sometime ago. It was a 4000Sq' home that turned into a rental with an addition attached to it. Built in 1908, over the years, neighborhood changed to the worst and now gentrification is bringing them back to their former glory. Windows, staircase and intricate woodwork through out the house had holes, plaster and big nails through them including burn marks. What a mess. Thankfully we were able to re-make most of that in our shop sourcing out the same straight grain lumber. Hardware is another story.

People will do just enough to get by. That's the way it goes.
Old 12-29-2022, 04:39 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #7 (permalink)
Model Citizen
 
herr_oberst's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: The Voodoo Lounge
Posts: 18,965
That's why good ones cost what they do. I'm as guilty as anyone of that kind of behavior. Not that exact scenario, but definitely "Butcher of Boise" repairs because I didn't know any better or didn't have a choice because of money or time.

"Do no harm" isn't just for Physicians.
__________________
"I would be a tone-deaf heathen if I didn't call the engine astounding. If it had been invented solely to make noise, there would be shrines to it in Rome"
Old 12-29-2022, 06:08 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #8 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Nearby
Posts: 79,768
Garage
Send a message via AIM to fintstone
A lot of cool cars were once cheap and owned by people with little money or skills.

I have seen repairs like this done by professional mechanics and body shops.
__________________
74 Targa 3.0, 89 Carrera, 04 Cayenne Turbo
http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/fintstone/
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money"
Some are born free. Some have freedom thrust upon them. Others simply surrender
Old 12-29-2022, 07:19 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #9 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Higgs Field
Posts: 22,633
After 44 years of ownership of my 1976 Harley Sportster, I'm finding it harder and harder to blame the previous owner.
__________________
Jeff
'72 911T 3.0 MFI
'93 Ducati 900 Super Sport
"God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world"
Old 12-29-2022, 07:53 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #10 (permalink)
Location: Galt's Gulch
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 4,918
Quote:
There really should be some sort of test you have to take, and pass, before you can BUY certain cars.
If you buy a piece of crap, who's fault is it?
Old 12-29-2022, 10:46 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #11 (permalink)
Kantry Member
 
oldE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: N.S. Can
Posts: 6,846
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins View Post
After 44 years of ownership of my 1976 Harley Sportster, I'm finding it harder and harder to blame the previous owner.
I don't think there are many of us who would be greatly impressed by meeting our much younger selves.
Go ahead and blame that dumb SOB. I do it all the time.

Best
Les
__________________
Best
Les
My train of thought has been replaced by a bumper car.
Old 12-30-2022, 02:53 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #12 (permalink)
 
Registered
 
greglepore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Charlottesville Va
Posts: 5,802
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins View Post
After 44 years of ownership of my 1976 Harley Sportster, I'm finding it harder and harder to blame the previous owner.
Hear ya, brother.
__________________
Greg Lepore
85 Targa
05 Ducati 749s (wrecked, stupidly)
2000 K1200rs (gone, due to above)
05 ST3s (unfinished business)
Old 12-30-2022, 04:14 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #13 (permalink)
Preferred pronoun:Maestro
 
Norm K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Group W Bench
Posts: 11,359
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6 View Post

I started to restore a '71 decklid grille today.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6 View Post
The bar is ruined, can't be used save for TIG'ing some new Al in the hole.
Well, then, don't just refinish it, restore it.

_
__________________
When in doubt, use overwhelming force.
Old 12-30-2022, 05:30 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #14 (permalink)
Registered
 
Shaun @ Tru6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 44,405
Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm K View Post
Well, then, don't just refinish it, restore it.

_
It's not cost effective to repair it Norm. I buy "junk" grilles all the time to have spare parts. I'm sure the owner of this grille would rather pay $30 for a new bar than $125 to TIG and surface it.
__________________
Tru6 Restoration & Design
Old 12-30-2022, 06:32 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #15 (permalink)
Registered
 
Shaun @ Tru6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 44,405
Here's what it should look like. This is a 72-73 grille where the entire thing was built and then black anodized. As such the bolts are aluminum vs. steel for 70-71 bright anodized grilles with painted black top bars. But it's the same construction. For 68.5 to 71, Porsche only anodized the ribs and top bars, then painted the bars and rivet heads, then set the rivets with raw aluminum lower bars and black anodized mesh.










__________________
Tru6 Restoration & Design
Old 12-30-2022, 06:38 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #16 (permalink)
Slackerous Maximus
 
HardDrive's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 18,190
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins View Post
After 44 years of ownership of my 1976 Harley Sportster, I'm finding it harder and harder to blame the previous owner.
First, on previous owners, I did the first oil change on the 2014 Triumph Bonneville I picked up last week. I don't mean the first since I bought it, I am mean the FIRST oil change. WTF? Back tire was 10lbs low, front tire was 8 pounds high...kind of important schit on a motorcycle! Can't wait to see what the plugs look like tomorrow...

Second, @Higgins, my local shop took a 79 Sportster on trade for a new Guzzi. They were having a blast on this thing today. One of the owners was seriously thinking of keeping it. Made a really lovely sound.
__________________
2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor.
2012 Harley Davidson Road King
2014 Triumph Bonneville T100.
2014 Cayman S, PDK.
Mercedes E350 family truckster.
Old 12-30-2022, 02:34 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #17 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Higgs Field
Posts: 22,633
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldE View Post
I don't think there are many of us who would be greatly impressed by meeting our much younger selves.
Go ahead and blame that dumb SOB. I do it all the time.

Best
Les
Heh heh... one of the adages I drilled into my two young sons while working on our cars together was always "however you are going to do that, be nice to the next guy - I bet you know him".

So, yeah - I was that "next guy" on my old Sporty too many times. I finally learned to be nice to myself, about the second or third lap around that thing.

Quote:
Originally Posted by HardDrive View Post
First, on previous owners, I did the first oil change on the 2014 Triumph Bonneville I picked up last week. I don't mean the first since I bought it, I am mean the FIRST oil change. WTF? Back tire was 10lbs low, front tire was 8 pounds high...kind of important schit on a motorcycle! Can't wait to see what the plugs look like tomorrow...

Second, @Higgins, my local shop took a 79 Sportster on trade for a new Guzzi. They were having a blast on this thing today. One of the owners was seriously thinking of keeping it. Made a really lovely sound.
So, a good, running example then, I assume. Very cool. Fun old bikes, and a '79 has many worthwhile improvements over my '76. Might be worth looking into, just for something a little different.
__________________
Jeff
'72 911T 3.0 MFI
'93 Ducati 900 Super Sport
"God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world"
Old 12-30-2022, 04:12 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #18 (permalink)
LWJ LWJ is online now
Registered
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
Posts: 6,076
I bought a clapped out 65 MGB in 1991 that some dumbass put a 6v battery in.

Wonder why it didn’t run...

Old 12-30-2022, 06:39 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #19 (permalink)
Reply


 


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:05 AM.


 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2025 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page
 

DTO Garage Plus vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.