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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 44,405
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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. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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Tru6 Restoration & Design |
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: secure undisclosed locationville
Posts: 24,312
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heli coil?
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1971 R75/5 2003 R1100S 2013 Ural Patrol 2023 R18 |
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Location: Cambridge, MA
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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.
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Band.
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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.
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1983 SC Coupe 1963 BMW R60/2 1972 Triumph Tiger 1995 Triumph Daytona SuperIII |
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Almost Banned Once
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A well restored car is about getting the details right. The worst is "modified wiring" and "economic body repairs".
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- Peter |
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G'day!
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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.....
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Old dog....new tricks..... |
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Location: Los Angeles
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Quote:
People will do just enough to get by. That's the way it goes. |
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Model Citizen
Join Date: May 2007
Location: The Voodoo Lounge
Posts: 18,965
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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.
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"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" |
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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.
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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 |
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Higgs Field
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After 44 years of ownership of my 1976 Harley Sportster, I'm finding it harder and harder to blame the previous owner.
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Jeff '72 911T 3.0 MFI '93 Ducati 900 Super Sport "God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world" |
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Kantry Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: N.S. Can
Posts: 6,846
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![]() Go ahead and blame that dumb SOB. I do it all the time. Best Les
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Best Les My train of thought has been replaced by a bumper car. |
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Charlottesville Va
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Hear ya, brother.
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Greg Lepore 85 Targa 05 Ducati 749s (wrecked, stupidly) 2000 K1200rs (gone, due to above) 05 ST3s (unfinished business) |
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Preferred pronoun:Maestro
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Group W Bench
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When in doubt, use overwhelming force. |
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Location: Cambridge, MA
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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.
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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.
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Slackerous Maximus
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 18,190
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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.
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2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor. 2012 Harley Davidson Road King 2014 Triumph Bonneville T100. 2014 Cayman S, PDK. Mercedes E350 family truckster. |
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Location: Higgs Field
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Quote:
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:
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Jeff '72 911T 3.0 MFI '93 Ducati 900 Super Sport "God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world" |
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
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I bought a clapped out 65 MGB in 1991 that some dumbass put a 6v battery in.
Wonder why it didn’t run... |
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