restoring my new 72 -- as told by an amateur

[313green]

I've decided to spend some time and money to spruce up my recently bought 72. This forum has been helpful in the past so I thought I'd share some pics and my really slow progress. Here's my plan. I will post updates and pics over the next several months. Advice/critique always welcome.

-speedo fixed -- done
-new 195 tires -- done
-repolish/repaint wheels -- started this week (one done, three to go)
-install new seats -- spring
-reupholster steering wheel -- spring
-install recently acquired 73 Frankfurt -- spring (see past posts for pic)
-install recently acquired turn signal stalk-- spring
-repair ac -- spring
-disassemble/prepare for repaint (same original brown). I'll be disassembling; pros will do the painting -- summer --need advice on bare metal or not. Paint is bad. Milky white spots, fading, stone chips, etc.
-new seals, etc --summer
-new carpet --summer
- engine ?? Runs great. 111,000 miles. Rebuild, but when?

[GaryR]

Looks like a great project on a solid car, I applaud you for keeping the paint original as most would do a color change. My guess is the body shop will tell you bare metal and I will also. It's the only way to be sure what is under the paint and will give you the best result over time. You can do a lot of the stripping to save money (depending on the shop) but it's a nasty job regardless of how you do it..

[Carrerax]

Looks like a good car to start with. Here is a thread on my restoration for a little motivation. My only advice is to take the budget that you set and double it (or in my case, quadruple it). Looking forward to following your project!
Here is my new/old project.....Lilly

[al lkosmal]

looks to be a great starting point. I spent 2-1/2 years on the resto of my 71E. I had it taken down to bare metal. Gary gives good advice...."It's the only way to be sure what is under the paint and will give you the best result over time." I stripped everything out of the car, towed it to the media blaster and then to the painters, then back from the painters to my garage. Other than the painting, I did 95+% of it myself. As you proceed, post your progress and ask questions. I'll be glad to help where I can.

Regards,

Al

PS: search the tech forum, using my name "al lkosmal" to find posts of my resto.......for reference.

[Carrerax]

Listen to Al, He was a huge inspiration on my resto.....soon to be complete

[313green]

Great advice. Thx.

Al, my plan was to disassemble exterior and soda blast, then take to paint shop. I've never disassembled but was told I can do it ... with a little patience.

I'm in Detroit so there's blasting shops everywhere. Should be affordable. We'll see about respray....

Thx!!

[ddubois]

Looks like you are about to embark on a similar 71T project I did last winter. Looks like a similar solid car and as others have said, plan on spending twice what you plan now.
I had the painter take it down to bare metal after I disassembled the car. We talked about blasting/chemicals and the painter convinced me the best way to do it was by hand with a case of sanding pads. I let him do the whole thing and seeing the mess was glad I did. In addition, if there are paint problems afterwards it can't be blamed on my poor prep work.
I'm not sure I would 'reupholster the steering wheel'. Since the photos in my link, I scrubbed off the 40 years of hand grime, which tore out the stitching, then restitched it myself followed by several applications of leather cleaner/moisturizer. It comes out with a nice patina.

[al lkosmal]

313green,
Yes, you can disassemble it yourself. Taking it apart is the easy part. I took mine down to a bare, windows out roller, rented a tow dolly and towed it to the media blaster. This worked very well. Here's the handy tip for disassembling your 911 and everything else you will do during your resto. Take lot's of pix, label everything and get a lab book to keep a resto journal, so that between the three methods of recording your progress, you have a decent chance of getting it back together correctly..... without undue drama. This holds especially true for the wiring harness. I would also get a large dry-erase board for the garage. It's a handy thing to have to note down questions, as they occur to you, things you need from the hardware store or Pelican or ........get a big one.

Most of all...............it's supposed to be fun.....when it becomes more like work and you get mad or impatient and start to break things......step away from the Porsche, relax....breathe deep, meditate, medicate, repeat....try again.

Regards,

Al

[313green]

[313green]

Removed old carpeting, ready to install new carpeting.

Next up - disassemble the exterior and prep for paint. As I was cleaning the trunk and door jambs, I found a few "issues". Do you see any major concerns?

Note rust on door jamb, under sill plate.

Also, when I pulled the stripping off the trunk I noticed dirt and rust flakes in the channel. Looks like a black sealant/adhesive material was originally used.

Thanks for any tips.

[robmog]

i might be mistaken but is the brown paint a color change?
the floor pan looks yellow.
the repaint would explain the current poor condition.
what's the paint code on the drivers A pillar?
also the steering wheel like it has been recovered already.
take the cover off, it might be nice underneath.
the trunk channel should be cleaned and scraped of old glue residue.
changing the seals should be on your "to do" list.
i see overspray on the wiring and on the gas tank, definitely a repaint.
finally, that B pillar rust is a common problem.
remember ,visible rust might be the tip of the iceberg.
check the jack point and try to visualize the inner sill.
if you're lucky that area can be patched.
looks like a great car.

[ossiblue]

The area around the gas tank looks to have been sprayed with red rustoleum-type paint, IMO. I'd suggest a thorough scraping away of the paint to see what's underneath--looks a bit flakey around the battery.

Definitely clean away all rust around the fender seal and possibly consider removing the fender. You clearly have a rust-through in the seal channel which likely spread in the unseen area where the fender meets the body. The only way to know is to move the fender away from the body and inspect. You already have a welding job at the hole, peace of mind dictates you should check out the entire seam between the fender and body.

Remove the door seal completely and inspect the channel by the B pillar where the rust has been treated. Grind away all the rust until you reach clean metal. You probably should cut out the bad part at the bottom of the jamb and while the hole is there, take a look at the inside of the rockers.

Remove the rubber sound padding that covers the back seats--this is an area where leaking water can hide. Inspect the bare metal of the seat bottoms and rear parcel shelf.

All in all, it looks to be a great car with very little work to be done prior to painting. Now is the time to resolve all potential rust issues even if it means a little extra effort. Leave no suspected rust untouched.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by 313green

Please tape the lug recesses. You do not want paint in there.

Lugs won't torque properly and may not stay torqued.

[313green]

It is an original sepia brown 911. The yellow is leftover glue and carpet residue. Once I have the car disassembled, I was going to have it soda blasted. I wasn't planning on blasting the trunk area, but maybe I should?
Thank you very much for the advice. When buying the car, I was told it had insignificant rust. An inspection didn't uncover anything major. I haven't seen anything significant... but I haven't pulled of the trim, bumpers, etc. I will keep everyone posted. Thank you!

[RWebb]

have you seen the long term maint. thread?

[313green]

you mean this thread? Long term & Commonly Neglected Maintenance

i haven't seen it .. until now. is there something in particular I should note? thanks.

[RSTarga]

don't install new carpet until after repaint. this should be one of the last things to reinstall. Have that rust taken care of. Check for rust in area around batteries and under batteries under the car.

[313green]

RSTarga - thanks for the tip. i wasn't planning on painting the interior. i was originally going to do a bare metal respray on the exterior only. i may now include the trunk too, but the interior looks to be in good shape (no rust). only rust in the jamb.
is that why you suggested installing the carpet last - because I should paint the interior? thanks.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by 313green

you mean this thread? Long term & Commonly Neglected Maintenance

i haven't seen it .. until now. is there something in particular I should note? thanks.

nope - if you did all the safety items & have it back on regular "short-term" maint., then just browse it for fun

[Dan J]

Good for you keeping the Sepia. It's a great color