Time to dig in...softie conversion

[SiberianDVM]

Amazing.

I removed, reshaped, and recovered the rear parcel shelf on my Targa and it took me all weekend. I was going to tackle putting in new brake pads next, but now I feel unworthy.

[speedo]

So I got to thinking as I look at these grills (I know...sorry guys, I will move on, promise) that we went from the early SWB grills which are noticeably unique, to the 69 grill which is also "different", to the 70-71 grills which were the same grills up till the factory went to the black plastic grills with the T handles. I am not a huge fan of the plastic grills, (with no disrespect mind you) as they just appear to be a cheaper plastic formed version of the nice multi-part "assembled" early grills. Anyway...there is little differentiation beteen the 70-71 aluminum grills and the later 72-on that wear their respective 2.4 and 2.7 emblems...other than differences in the finish annodization (polished or black)
Well that's not really fair, is it. So let me get this straight...if you aren't a 2.4 or 2.7, then go back and take a seat...we'll call you if we need you. Hmmph! Some would argue that the little 2.2 is a more pleasurable engine to drive than the 2.4. AND...the sweet upgrade to a 2.4 is to swap in the 2.2 S pistons for a pickup in compression ratio (geez, I would never do that...). I'm not smelling any love. We're going to have to fix that. There should be a nice 2.2 badge for the 2.2 cars. All I need is a couple 2.4 badges to start with...these will do. This one has been painted a few times, and one of those times was red...yum.

This one was removed from a grill at some point

I was curious how the numbers were attached. There are little pins/rivets on the back side which with a careful hand can be gently worked loose..voila!


Now to work the other numbers loose from the grill

And then from the backing plate

Funny, all this time I thought the badges and numbers were just glued with adhesive.
This is what I was after...my 2.2, and I'll have the extra numbers and badge ready for my 4.4 engine build!


I need to decide whether the backing plate will be black or lighter,
affix the numbers to the plate, polish them. and re-attach the completed emblem to a refinished grill. At least it looks better with the black removed...

"Getting the respect it desrves". I'm gonna be really pissed if someone chimes in that there is actually a factory 2.2 badge...and I was asleep that class.
Ok, ok, no more grill stuff for a while. Maybe primer car pics tomorrow...I think the painter gets another 6:30 am wakeup call.


Speedo

[arrivederci]

There isn't a factory part, but Pelican will have one made for about $50. Well done. I like your approach better.

Porsche 911 Exterior Trim - Page 2

[speedo]

Hmmm, well let me try...
1) We're supposed to get some rain over the next couple days...hey we live in a drought state.
2) The fresh 15x7 fuchs are getting new Yokos
3) I found nice rear silver edged lenses...(still looking for fronts)...thanks Alan
4) Sourced some good black targa carpet...thanks Alan
5) My upholsterer bailed on redo-ing my 380mm and gave it back to me...doesn't seem like good news, but it is back in my possesion...I'll finish it.
6) My experimental 2.2 rear emblem is done (details at 6:00 following the news)
7) Trailer sorted, wheels balanced...and it is hungry (Mr. painter?)

Bad news is a follow up to #7. Marginal improvement on car.
I need to see at least my $$ deposit worth of work before I yank the car...not there yet. Promise number 36 is that the car will be done Monday...sure
Here are the update pics...be nice





Not sure what he has accomplished...looks like he has just moved the filler on the body around a bit. I keep repeating item #7 to myself.

Speedo

[speedo]

And I work for 7 cents an hour.
I promised no more grill posts. So this is a follow-up to part of a grill post, a related post per se. I need small successes, and this is small.
Remember these little guys?

Time to finish them up. Everything is drilled and fitted...backing plate looks nasty here, it'll clean up.

But the backing plate is too long on the left side

Needs to be trimmed and then the plate needs to be a black background...at least that is where we will start


Assembly and voila!

Against a polished grill

Or a black grill

Polished wins

And where we started...stink'in 2.4 badge has noth'in on us

There...I vented a bit. Everything is better. Maybe some weekend paint updates with the help of the good fairy....

[herman maire]

The polished grill is nice. Why dont you just paint it yourself, its seems your doing everything yourself anyway. To be honest, rebuilding a engine is more difficult than body work. I prepped and painted my car and it turned out very, very nice even though everybody said I would make a mess. Just get a good pressure fed air mask.

[D@vid]

Really LOVE this writeup, great story, excellent work!

[speedo]

I have some progress on the body. Not much progress, but some. This time the excuse was that the hearse took priority...and he HAD to show me pics of the hearse. Big deal. Long black Cadilac with a lot of chrome that dead people get to ride in. Why on earth people want to collect stuff like that is waaay beyond me. To each their own money pit. On the other hand...if someone wants to restore and collect "a" hearse...that is a bit twisted for me. If that same individual wants to restore and collect multiple hearses...I am beyond words...really
So just a few pics to update...



Lets seal this puppy up!

[img]http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads20/IMG_0172133804138
And now for a bucket of primer...



Almost starting to look like he has earned my first deposit (yeah I did say first deposit...more on that later)


So he has now purchased a paint booth...vs renting a booth. I actually saw it, or parts of it assembled in his shop. To me, it looks like a poorly designed ice fishing hut with windows that is falling apart. He was very proud of it...as he should be. Now that he has the car in primer, and will attack the car as he blocks it, I want to make sure that he has enough $$ to put paint on the car. No guarrantee that any further contribution from me will go towards purchasing paint...but there is the chance that if I DON'T give him any further money, that paint will not be purchased. So against my better judgement...I gave him another advance. He promised that all he needed was 7 more days, so a week from yesterday. He swore up and down that my car was the only car he was going to work on this week. Call me gullible. Hey, what is a week after waiting 6 months?

Speedo

[merbesfield]

Maybe you should have gone and bought the paint yourself that way you would know that was where your money went . Hope it works out for you. I think 99% of all painters, at least house painters, are drunks. For those of you painters that are serious craftsman, I apologize and do not mean to offend you.

[rennch]

Originally Posted by merbesfield

Maybe you should have gone and bought the paint yourself that way you would know that was where your money went . Hope it works out for you. I think 99% of all painters, at least house painters, are drunks. For those of you painters that are serious craftsman, I apologize and do not mean to offend you.

I love it. You should have said "I'm just sayin", or "no offense, but", which are the two phrases that are usually flanked by hyperinsulting statements.

"No offense, but that dress makes you look like a cow in a curtain".

Heh.

[merbesfield]

Originally Posted by emptyo

I love it. You should have said "I'm just sayin", or "no offense, but", which are the two phrases that are usually flanked by hyperinsulting statements.

"No offense, but that dress makes you look like a cow in a curtain".

Heh.

Agreed, No offense to the non drunks

[Duckworth]

Nice find btw.



...Appears to be solid.

___________

80 928
77 Spitfire

[Laneco]

So....is it painted?

angela

[4495]

So, I guess that this project hasn't gone beyond the primer phase? Let us know what's happened since May.

[speedo]

So my car is going into it's ninth (9nth) month at the painter. Whoaa you say...not like me to let things get sooo out of hand. Well, the car is ready for final paint and it will get there...I just get excuses. Basically I have paid the guy up front (a large chunk) which I'm sure was spent long ago and the painter is supporting himself with small jobs. His business partner has confirmed this in a round about way. The car will get completed when the painter gets far enough ahead to spend time on my car. Why am I not fuming? Because I am biding my time working on this...

914World.com - A Porsche 914 Community / Forum / Club
I am not productive when angry. And I was getting angry at the repeated delays and a myriad of lame excuses. So...I decided a few months ago to chill....and devote my energy to something positive. So basically the targa is benefiting from inside storage (out of my shop) until paintwork is completed...and I have free storage. This gives me room to work on the teener6...and get it's engine rebuilt.

Speedo
Not a perfect plan, but a plan nonetheless

[speedo]

Almost twelve months. Insane. Bad ending with the painter too. I won't go into the $$ fleecing, Weld Co sherrifs deputy, Colorado DORA, BBB and the lien on the car. I sucked it up, grabbed a buddy (Ferg) just in case, and headed up with the trailer this morning hoping for the best...but prepared for the worse. We arrived, everybody was friendly, paid the ransom money, got a "paid in full" invoice, loaded up and left.
Ready to make our get-away



He even gave me my tie-downs back. Money sure brings out the best in people

I don't feel like I wasted 12 months. I feel like I wasted 12 months AND got a great learning experience. Let go man, just let it go.

Ok...I'm past it!

Ok, so the good news is the car is now safe and back home. And although it amazes me...(and I really deserve this)...the paint looks really good. Color is dead-on Gemini Blue Metallic. See what you think...




I've got to get the car off the trailer and into the shop...got some work to do.

Speedo

[mikeferg75]

Glad I could ride along, and things didn't get hostile and yes it does look really good.

Gemini is not an easy color to get "right" this targa nailed it

[arrivederci]

Looks good...glad to hear you have it back and that you are happy with the end result! Hopefully my '72 gets through paint a little more quickly (not with this guy!).

[Matt Monson]

Good to see it home. Once I get the interior back in my car I'll have to drive up and compare colors.

[Laneco]

Actually that looks like a NICE job. Always hard to tell in the pictures but the previous pics showed alot of blocking/sanding, etc.

This was a huge pain for you, but if that paint is as good with solid body work underneath it, then it was worth it!

I LOVE the work you're doing with this car!

angela