Time to dig in...softie conversion

[speedo]

I found a neglected 1971 T targa a few months ago. It had been serviced at a local shop for the last 20 years. Story has it the son took the car out and met a tree with the right front fender. Owner didn't feel like dealing with the repair so he bought a 993 and the shop bought the damaged car. Car then spent some time outside...not sure how long, but it was a while...more on that later. The engine was complete and not seized, so I worked a deal with the shop where we agreed on a price, but I had no room so the car was going to remain an "outside dog" for a few more months beside the shop. I created some room in the shop recently and brought the car home.


The plan was to look the car over carefully and decide if it deserved to be brought back, or was a parts candidate. I knew that the numbers matched...but that does me no good if the car is too far gone. Once off the trailer an into the shop, I had the opportunity to look the car and damage over more closely.




The engine lid exists, but did not travel with the car as the missing lisence plate panel and bumperettes. I pulled off the air cleaner to check out the carbs and to see what the intakes looked like. Not great news as I saw "standing liquid in number six throat...hmm. How did water get into the carb and intake if the air cleaner was on? Anyway, the engine turns over and was going to need a rebuild.
From my initial inspection....
Numbers did confirm 1971T both engine (zeniths) and chassis
Perforated drivers rocker
Solid longitudinals
Surface rust on front suspension pan
Solid rear shelf (from underneath)
Decent steelies withspare and hubcaps
Trashed passenger fender with rusted doubler
Good targa bar and rear glass
Excellent targa top
Good doors,windows,chrome...trashy aftermarket mirrors
Decent hood and drivers fender
Nice H-1 headlights
Complete...but very average interior
Gas tank ok topside, but very dented bottomside
Correct and complete toolkit/jack etc
Acceptable turnsignal housings, lenses and horn grills
Fiberglass S front bumper (this will go away)
Nice rear bumper pair
Floors look structurally solid from underneath
Missing steering rack cover

Looks like a keeper, but I need to dig through to the next layer.

Speedo

[Scooter]

With your mad skills, this car is going to be great!

Contact Jamie Novak about the softie conversion.

[speedo]

This is always the most frightening part of starting a restoration. It is always going to be worse than it looks, but the question is, how much worse. And in the back of your mind you are hoping for the best...but bondo, paint, carpet and undercoating can not only hide rust, in some situations I have seen them actually provide structural rigidity when the sandwiched steel was completely compromised.
These cars actually come apart very easily and quickly if you plan ahead and use a penetrating fluid before you actually start to wrench. I am not a fan of shearing rusted bolts from their nuts. Part of a day and we get to this point.





Fortunately the rear shelf is very solid. Some surface rust at the base of the targa bar, and along the lower window ledge...no big deal. Rear inner walls are decent as well as the rear seats...whew! I found a new sandblaster that is closer and cheaper, and he has a window available in less than a week. I'm on a mission.


Hard to see in these next two photos...but the floors in the car have huge upward dents...like the car was dropped on large rocks. These will need to be massaged back in place. They will be more obvoius when sand blasted.


When I opened the smugglers box I was treated to a surprise. The good news was that there was zero rust. The reason for the zero rust was the bad news. This must have been "critter central" for the last many years. They had absolutely shreaded a Haines manual and "hauled in" mattress stuffing from somewhere. I also found a 25 year old can of flat tire sealer/inflator, a partially eaten road flare and all kinds of weird crap unassociated with cars...pretty nasty, so I will spare the pics of the carnage.

[BK911]

Wow, I love the look of those steelies on an early car.

Cant wait to follow the process. I am in the middle of restoring a Conda green 70T Targa myself. You have done more in one day than I did in over a year!

Please keep posting pics to give me and others motivation.

[speedo]

No more surprises in the removal of the rest of the parts that don't want to "meet the media". Floors are oxcidized, but solid and should clean up nicely as will the area under the pedal cluster. Strangely the car has an early SWB front suspension with a steering damper.

I have correct suspension to replace the "three bolt" ball joint struts...with 3.5 inch spacing for bigger brakes, so this will go to the parts bin.
Getting lighter by the hour.





And pretty much done...she'll be at tha blasters Saturday am.


I picked up the rear lid today, as well as the bumperettes which came connected to the armco bumper bars...nice. I'll send in an extra right fender that I will get blated too...but maybe I can salvage the front of the existing fender and graft it to a short hood fender using the turn signal boxes as donors. The front of the dammaged passenger fender is in great shape, so that may be an option.

The car is actually in very good shape to retore. Considerably better than some others I have brought back to life. The plan is to go black, with a red interior with E30 restored BMW recaros...fuchs (15x7s and deep 6s) or a set of TTDs that are refinished, but sitting in boxes. Engine is going to get a 70.4 crank, S cams and 2.2 S pistons with webers. Resuspension with 22-28 tbars, adjustable spring plates and sway bars...and lose some ride height. Oh yeah...think we are going to swap out the hard rear window for a softie

Cheers

Speedo

[SCWDP911]

here you go again! Looking forward to the updates...

[bkreigsr]

my guess is that the humps in the floor came from improper jacking and lifting over the last 39 years.
looks like it began life as Gemini Blue. - (same color I on ordered my 71 914)
keep us posted
Bill K

[dicklague]

were they Armco bumper bars? You got me thinking......I used to know those guys, and can't remember if it was Armco or something else..I mean a name close to that started with an A.

they were in Van Nuys as I remember.

AMCO that was it. they made luggage racks and bumper bars......they were the hot thing!!

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by speedo

"I said "take your clothes off"

Great attitude about it all, good luck with your project.

[jpnovak]

Another great project gets started. let me know if you have any SWT conversion questions.

[speedo]

Used the time to go over the peripherals...3 fenders, 2 doors, rear bumpers. I don't really see any issues that are going to be deal breakers.


I closed off the speaker opening on the dash to protect some of the wiring harness from the media

Small items for blasting end up in the smugglers box

The longblock looks worn. Looks like the muffler is in great shape...the factory heat exchangers will make way for SSIs.The engine will get attention when the car goes for paint.


Car goes on the trailer tomorrow and gets stuffed with ancillaries...fenders, rear lid, bumpers etc.
I like to intersperse small jobs with larger efforts. Next up are refinishing a crappy looking wooden shift knob

Rebushing a questionable pedal cluster...brake plunger held together with a nail

And rebuilding the axles.

Little items keep the juices going.
Looks like my drivers green tint window has suffered some scratches...so anyone with a decent targa extra...let me know. I will be posting some items for sale tomorrow that will not be returning to the car...fiberglass S front bumper, H5 headlamps, and 71 recaro seats with headrests, and door pockets. I'm not sure yet...but the 5 chrome steelie 5.5 x15 may be heading out too...if I go with the Torque Thrust Ds. Let me get them posted first please.

Speedo

[speedo]

Hmmm...how about warm media....or just the media blaster

We go from this
To this pretty quickly
"Honey, the car is packed"!

Funny...this shot reminds me of college. Coming home late after a "bender"..you are "all there, but feel a little crooked.


The seats are at the upholsterer...need to figure out a red vinyl that matches the early porsche red interiors...suggestions would be appreciated. I have never been a fan of the door pockets.

They will be deleted in favor of a "pouch" on the drivers side. These are in decent shape, so if you need a set, PM me as they will hit the classifieds shortly. The black exterior with chrome trim and red interior are going to be enough of a contrast to try to minimize "clutter" and keep things spartan. Door tops will be black as will the dash and carpets. No luck yet on early soft targa parts...so Yves, I guess we will be talking shortly.

Speedo

[Matt Monson]

How did I miss this for the last few days? While I am disappointed that project cabriolet isn't going to happen this is a worthy substitute. I'll have to come up and see it when you get it back from blaster. I assume this means you aren't racing this weekend?

[scottb]

Subscribing

[cnielsen]

Lars, did I ever get back to you about your red interior question?

Mine is from BMW I believe but Jaguar also has some nice reds. IMHO, the Porsche reds are look too much like lip stick.

The original Heragon carpet is also available in a great crimson red...that would look nice with a darker red interior with black door tops, dash etc... I've always thought red interiors would compliment a blue car nicely.

Keep up the great work!

[BottleNose]

PM sent on the pockets. I need them for my '73.5 Gulf Orange targa project:

Latest project: 911T Gulf orange w/brown interior. Keep it original?

[rennch]

Lars, any more updates on this? Hope you're well buddy.

[maresdesign]

I don't want to miss this!

[Fishcop]

Hey Lars

This is the factory red interior from the 68/69 targa brochure...


Chris is right - it's pretty "bright"

[daepp]

What a great project - can't wait for updates.