Project 73 911 R/RS -- Week 1

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Got started on the project in earnest this week and I can't remember when I've had this much fun. And, all major appendages are still in tact after going through 4 wheels on the grinder.

here's what I started with, a rust free 73 roller.


first thing to do was pull the dash, instruments, and clean up the wiring. A Brother P-Touch labeler and Sharpie should work well when putting everything back together. I numbered/lettered the gauges and then stuck corresponding labels over the wires. Same for body plug connectors:


Next up was stripping off the hard fiberboard strips glued to the ceiling. 3 coats of spray-on EZ-Strip and many brain cells later:


Now for the fun stuff: cutting out the battery boxes, I used a right angle grinder with a 4.5 inch disc. Like butter.


who needs California when you've got propane. It got to be pretty balmy in their after only 30 minutes


To keep wiring out of the way, I tied to the rafters with enough play for back and forth play


the car is getting plastic rear SC quarters from Rennspeed. this was a whole different game. First I sketched a line with a screwdriver after laying the quarter up. And then a light line using the grinder:

What worked for me (the second time) was to cut the rear light cluster metal first, then start at the front bottom near the rocker, cut up and back. Stop, start again from light cluster and meet up, but pause with a 1/2 inch of steel to go through.l This made the quarter dropping much more predictable.






I made these cuts as "first cut guides" thinking we can always pull off more metal when we mate and bond the quarters to the body.

next up is stripping the entire car down to bare metal. the inside floor looks like it will be the most difficult, but preliminary testing with a heat gun looks like the best solution.

More to come.

[bob tilton]

looks like you had a fun productive weekend. can you fast forward and show us pics of of how you want your car to look? the "R" description has me interested.

[FA-18C]

Awesome!! I am humbled by your resourcefulness. Nice work, look forward to seeing the progress. Speaking of, haven't seen jpnovak on here in awhile - wonder how his rig is coming along?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by bob tilton
looks like you had a fun productive weekend. can you fast forward and show us pics of of how you want your car to look? the "R" description has me interested.

Bob, this car will be a product of 2 years of collecting parts and of those are R front fenders and R rear tailights which set the tone for the car. I also subscribe to the R weight philosophy, so as budget will allow, this will be as light a car as possible and will someday compete in GT-3S.

for bodywork, it with get the plastic SC quarters w/RS rear bumper, ducktail, R rear lights, plastic hood, front R fenders using early Audi A4 side marker lights for turn signal/driving lights and I've got an S front bumper for which I will attempt a homemade splitter using some carbon weave from a previous life.

I've got a 2 month, optimistic goal for completion.

[80sc man]

How are you planning on stripping the paint?? Also, what are you planning to do to the metal after it's down to bare metal??

[911r_parts]

Shaun
Are those front fenders extended and made of fiberglass(FG)?
If they are I have a FG bucket that is a repro of the original NSU one. I made them for doing my front lamp conversion and never planned to use them again, but a couple of guys with FG fenders wanted to use them to glue into the fender and be able to use my repro lense. If want some PM me.If you have older R lamp plates you may want to test fit them to the fender first, cause they don't fit very well.

Mike

[Chuck Moreland]

Wait. Is this your car?



Or my car?




Those pictures of the green shell in the small garage are dejavu (sp). I can still hear the angle grinder and smell the stripper.

Two months is a hell of a challenge. Keep the pictures coming, it looks like fun.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Just think how light it would be if you left the fenders off. I'd say that's a full weekend, I feel like a sissy, all I did was Wenol my Fuchs. What did you use to cut off the fenders, looks really clean?

[sundaypunch]

What kind of powerplant are you going with?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Chuck,

If my car turns out half as nice as yours, it will be beautiful! I'll be placing an order soon for the Elephant total suspension rebuild, but have to think about cage and paint first.

Matt,

Went to Sears and picked up an 11,000 RPM Makita right angle grinder that takes 4.5 inch disks. $65 I took the metal guard off which allows for a better sight line, but easy to take off an errant finger!

80SC Man

Using aircraft stripper. Brush on, let it sit, scrape it off. For the ceiling, used a spray can. This will be the hardest part especially because the body schutz is pretty resistant to change. After it's all done I am just spraying some zinc on it to hold it over until it goes to get painted.

Sunday

This is getting an 84 3.2, pulled apart and balanced, and a DTA fuel management system. Exhaust and cams TBD.

[timz]

What great fun! I'll look forward to following your progress. Keep posting those pics.

[Britain Smith]

Throw the heat gun out...it takes too long.

I am doing the same thing, but using a propane torch and a putty knife. All you have to do is heat up the area that your are going to strip and then start going at it with the putty knife. Then you can use the aircraft stipper to remove the primer to get down to bare metal.

It didn't take too long to get this far...

[bigbrotherjohn]

would any of you guys who are replacing your fenders w/ fiberglass or plastic consider selling your old fenders. I need these for repair of my partially rusted '67 912. I think these would fit, if i'm wrong then sorry.

[Britain Smith]

It is my understandind that the '67 SWB cars have different front fenders than the later LWB cars.

-Britain

[Rufblackbird]

awesome Shaun! I'm looking foward to more pics. I'll be doing the same to mine (whaddya know...it's green too) at the end of this year.