Ant tips for removing rivetted/fibreglassed rear flares

[obrut]

Hi All,

I bought a "project" 911 a couple of months back. It has a 1970 911T tub, 2.4E/915 drive train and 3.0RS body work. The plan is to redo the bodywork in 911ST style.

The rear (widebody) flares are fibreglass and it appears they are attached to the tub by rivets that were then glassed over. It looks like most of the rear quarters were cut away except for about a 1 inch strip below the rear window - which is were the flares are attached.

Any idea how best to remove the rear flares/quarters? I can see the position of the rivets from below and I assume I can drill them out. However, how do I break the bond between the flares and the tub? I would prefer to not trash the flares.

Any and all tips appreciated. Here's some pics of what I'm starting with.

[evill]

Drill out the rivets and then heat the bond area with a heat gun to soften the bonding agent. You should be able to peel them off without damaging them. You could also try running a thin putty knife between the the flare and body metal and shear the bond. The heat method usually works better.

Ed

[obrut]

thanks ed

it looks like the bonding agent is the fibreglass - will the heat help to break that bond?

[evill]

Yes, heat will soften fiberglass, epoxies and bondo. It will also soften the fiberglass resin of the flare itself, so be careful not to over heat it. I would recommend heating it from the back side, heat the metal as you pull the flare away from the body.

Ed

[aftermath]

car looks great, leave it alone in my humble opinion

[Kroggers]

Ryan, If you decide to do the backdate, and are looking to replace those mirrors then I would like to express my interest - I have been looking for a pair of those ;o)

[obrut]

ed - thanks again

paul - no problem, i'll let you know when the mirrors are off

[ruf-porsche]

Car looks great, leave it alone. Lots of barn yard and garage finds started as someone project car that was never completed.

[obrut]

the plan is to redo the bodywork first, then maybe convert the mechanicals in order to logbook it as a historic race car. the current bodywork is ineligible (and with a 2.4, the car is a sheep in wolf's clothing...)

[Kroggers]

Originally posted by obrut
paul - no problem, i'll let you know when the mirrors are off

Thank you Ryan!!

[quattrorunner]

Can't you sell it to someone who likes the style of the 3.0 carrera and find another one closer to your end result to start? Someone put some effort into it and I like that style. Why change when there are others out there?

[obrut]

lots of reasons:

1. picked up the car for cheap
2. the car is ineligible for competition as is (and not worth much having post 74 bodywork on a pre 74 tub)
3. underneath all the wideboy poser fibreglass cr@p is a mostly intact factory RHD 'early' 911 (i'm in australia, RHD is a big deal)
4. in light of 3, the car is much more valuable with a body in (any) pre 74 style
5. after a tune and a few bits and pieces - the engine and gearbox turned out to be very very good
6. ST's eligible for historic racing down here
7. i should be able to sell the 3.0RS bodykit, the wide wheels etc and recoup some cost

[jester911]

8. It will just look good putting it back to long hood as it belongs.

[quattrorunner]

Well, I agree with the getting a car back to where it belongs but it looks costly andif it were me, I must admit that I am not that socially responsable If the car is cheep enough, it can all be worth it and I understand when things get even more complicated like correct rhd and such.
Well good luck on a cool project, let us know how those fenders turn out.