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Time to dig in...softie conversion
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.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281049826.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281049853.jpg 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. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281050397.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281050430.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281050459.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281050489.jpg 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 |
With your mad skills, this car is going to be great!
Contact Jamie Novak about the softie conversion. |
I said "take your clothes off"
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. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281052323.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281052349.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281052373.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281052399.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281052423.jpg 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. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281052686.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281052746.jpg 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. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281052776.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281052801.jpg 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. |
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. |
Almost stripped...
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.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281053626.jpg 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. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281053809.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281053833.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281053857.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281053891.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281053918.jpg And pretty much done...she'll be at tha blasters Saturday am. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281053981.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281054001.jpg 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:D Cheers Speedo |
here you go again! Looking forward to the updates...
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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 |
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!! |
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Another great project gets started. let me know if you have any SWT conversion questions.
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I got bumped forward a day on sandblasting...
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.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281225113.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281225148.jpg I closed off the speaker opening on the dash to protect some of the wiring harness from the media http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281225264.jpg Small items for blasting end up in the smugglers box http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281225349.jpg 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. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281225477.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281225547.jpg 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 http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281225848.jpg Rebushing a questionable pedal cluster...brake plunger held together with a nail http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281225932.jpg And rebuilding the axles. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281226037.jpg 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 |
Heading to the beach...warm sand...
Hmmm...how about warm media....or just the media blaster:p
We go from thishttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281745681.jpg To this pretty quicklyhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281745760.jpg "Honey, the car is packed"! http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281745807.jpg Funny...this shot reminds me of college. Coming home late after a "bender"..you are "all there, but feel a little crooked. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281746220.jpg 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. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1281746478.jpg 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 |
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?
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Subscribing
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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! |
PM sent on the pockets. I need them for my '73.5 Gulf Orange targa project:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/484707-latest-project-911t-gulf-orange-w-brown-interior-keep-original.html |
Lars, any more updates on this? Hope you're well buddy.
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I don't want to miss this!
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Hey Lars
This is the factory red interior from the 68/69 targa brochure... http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1287210953.jpg Chris is right - it's pretty "bright" ;) |
What a great project - can't wait for updates.
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Not you again Speedo! :-)
I know this will be good.. I'm in! Paul |
I want to see this car go back together! Subscribed.:cool:
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Sent you a msg on one of your threads but guess you did not get it. Am not far from moving forward on my soft window conversion. Any news on parts or is the gent in Montreal still the best source for spares? Glad to see more people going the soft window route! Thx, Joe A |
Inide door
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Near the very top you can see a flash of blue, so I think it's a trick of the light...
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been a while...yeah, that is red
Thanks for the heads up on the red interior info John...that is bright red. Surprisingly the car is still at the sandblasters...long story, but may be coming home next week. I have been immersed in career study for the last 2 1/2 months (with another 2 months to go) and kind of let the project slip to the side. Sandblaster's slow progress was an excuse not to stress, and focus on acquiring parts. I now have a nice set of soft window handles, and leads on the rest of the assembly. Found some decent later targa windows. The seats will get the "red" go ahead shortly as soon as I pick material. I sourced some stock 15x6s for the front, and will squeeze 15x7s in the rear. I also picked up a set of adjustable spring plates. And am looking for some 21-27 tbars. Kind of excited to see what the chassis looks like naked and full of sand.
Pics to follow...later this week. Speedo |
Sub'd
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Bout damn time... to update
My other obligations got in the way...for several months. I have a respite, so I am back at it. Dragged the car back from the sandblaster after 4 months...suffices to say that he has since stopped sandblasting...he figured he was not the best one in the business. So there is one less sandblaster in Longmont Colorado. He didn't do a bad job...it actually looks pretty good. His D- grade is a result of taking too damn long. So the car looking somewhat naked
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291767763.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291767822.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291767890.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291767938.jpg Sand sand everywhere...felt like I was at the beach. Generally, the body is in great shape. Rear light pockets have no rust...no rust around the window lip on rear shelf, seat buckets are solid and the front suspension pan/gas tank support is good. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291768144.jpg Floors are solid...no rust but for a small area on the rear passengers longitudinal, but they have other issues than rust. More on that later. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291768327.jpg |
Good to see you back at it, Lars. Looks like everything survived the fire ok...
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This is where I will be spending some time...
I knew the drivers rocker was perforated. Now I can see whether I can patch or replace.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291768512.jpg From this angle a serious cut and patch would work...if the cancer has not weakened the steel more on the inside than the outside appears...all depends on what is behind this bondo http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291768724.jpg I pulled out the grinder with the wire brush...eek http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291768848.jpg I found this...2-3 lb chunk of bondo hiding in the hole. The shop that did this repair kept filling the hole with bondo until it "took hold". http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291768997.jpg It gets better. The lock posts had some bondo as revealed by the sandblasting...lockposts don't need bondo...do they? http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291769101.jpg I might not have given the shop that did the work on the sill enough credit. They did manage to cram several pounds of bondo into the drivers rocker. However, how they managed to seal up the lockpost was amazing! Several layers of fiberglass on the inside of the quarter panel behind the lockpost, created a nice base for the glob of bondo needed to seal this up http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291769314.jpg I am sure the other lockpost is the same...I destroyed the wire wheel on my grinder de-bondo-ing this side, so the otherside will have to wait. I ordered drivers outer rocker and both lockposts. |
Different meaning of "floor it"!
Somewhere in this car's previous life...it must have been airborne. Most of the early cars have dents/scrapes in the bottom of their gas tanks, and some have floor scrapes. I have seen the results of cars moved with fork lifts too. I have never seen a car with floor pans so deformed upwards before. There are two serious dents and two smaller dents that could only have occured if the car was dropped onto something...like large rocks. Hardto tell from the pics, but these are 1-1.5 inch vertical deformations.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291771555.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291771624.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291770600.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291771668.jpg I put the floor jack underneath the car and used a variety of shape and sized boards to brace the floor so I could use my metal working hammers to massage the indentations back. Dented sheet metal is stretched sheet metal, so working it back took some time. But here we are back to factory...pre-flight . http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291770722.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1291770755.jpg I have been able to source two sets of soft window latches, but no bows. The one set of bows I found, I considered them to be too rusty to use and they were on the east coast. Shipping rusty blanks did not make sense. I scoured the local shops hoping to find some bows forgotten on a shelf. No luck..till yesterday when I stumbled across a local guy who is restoring an early S softie. I begged and pleaded (there will be a debt of fine wine I sense) and he agreed to let me borrow his bows to reverse engineer a set or three. I will pick those up tomorrow, and source the steel tubing at the same time. Based on how difficult it was for me to source a set, I will be making extras. So if you are in need of bows, PM me and we'll work something out. I also have the extra pair of latches that may be available. The timetable is tight for the welding work. I need to get the car ready for the painter by the end of the month. I will give him the car and two months. That will give me enough time to sort the mechanicals, finish the upholstery and rebuild the 2.2T engine into something...more. We're going black on the outside with red on the inside...maybe a red tartan for the seat inserts...or maybe not. Speedo |
The whole "fiberglass on the back and bondo on the front" was typical quickie repair procedure on 356s and 911s in the 1970s, from what I've seen. They just weren't worth enough to do it better, I guess, and people probably thought the repair would outlast the car.
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maybe the pan is bent upwards because somebody once tried to use it as a jack point?
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Nice to see you progressing Lars. |
Lars,
This project is now ready to begin. Glad to see a naked targa shell. I see latch panel replacement in your near future. |
Hello Lars,
I followed you great "911R" thread and am looking forward to this one. Are you considering welding in additional reiforcement along the inner sills, especially around the area at the rear of the door to stiffen up the Targa shell? |
Finally, a project that will help me through the long, cold swedish winter. And given your pace in the past, there will be no shortage of updates. Subscribed.
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Lock post sheet metal arrived...
And I started on the passenger side...supposed to be the easier repair. Sandblaster revealed more bondo than was originally anticipated.I started at the top...not to late to save the new lockpost and patch it
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292894181.jpg The more bondo I eliminated, the worse it got. Previous repair was a hack job at best and brazed steel in where old steel was rusted. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292894365.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292894431.jpg Yuck...lockpost is outta here http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292894500.jpg I will need to fabricate the last 6 inches of the quarter panel where it joins the outer rocker http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292894578.jpg The shrapnel http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292894656.jpg These repairs need to be made before the lockpost is sealed up http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292894719.jpg Done and sealed...waiting for my new spot weld tips to proceed with the lockpost. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292895125.jpg |
While waiting...I borrowed some soft window bows
A very nice local gentleman lent me his bows for his 67S. I had scanned the PP threads (thanks jpnovack) for the installation/conversion of their targas to soft top... and tried to source an reasonably priced pair. Bows are hard to come by, and my gut told me they could be reverse engineered if I could find a set to work with. Need some steel tube
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292895638.jpg The hardest bow is going to be the rear bow as it follows the contour of the rear window base...is two pieces and has imbedded nuts to capture these $16 monsters (the eyebolt on the right...I will fabricate these using the bolts like the left) http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292895764.jpg Here we go...cut , bend and fit and repeat 25 times. Dialogue isn't needed here. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292895965.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896029.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896072.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896122.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896159.jpg Then join the two haves with a sleeve http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896203.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896263.jpg |
A bit more...
I said the back bow was more work...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896389.jpg The halves http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896464.jpg I now need to install the nuts to retain the eyebolts http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896546.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896621.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896674.jpg Done.. smaller targa bar hoop is going to be easier http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896740.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896776.jpg Embedding the nuts for the attachment brackets that the handles capture http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896890.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896930.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1292896961.jpg |
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