"Wes 74" back on the road...

[Chris Morse]

Hi All,

Today isa GREAT DAY. My recently passed fathers pride and joy, "Wes 74" is back on the road again.
I take no small pride in recalling my persuasive efforts to get my dad to move from detroit iron to Porsche.
When his 68T was totaled, he bought a new 74 and it was his baby, although he was an engineer by training, he didn't work on the car.
He had others take good care of the car, repainting it the original sepia brown, getting the interior redone and having the wheels refinished.
Over the years, I had the great pleasure of sharing our enthusiasm and an "occasional" glass of Chivas with Dad. I recall sending him the Marchall headlights, the Dino steering wheel, the Drager tire pressure gauge and the Halon fire extinguisher.
Upon my inheritance of the "Fine German Racing Machine", I felt uncomfortable with the 74's high oil temps and installed a real front cooler & factory thermostat, changed to synthetic, did both axles and added the factory short shift kit.

Shortly there after, when warmed up, I had the thermostat pop up out of the block and dump 12 quarts of oil all over the back of the car in about 2 seconds, (somebody had inadvertently overtightened the tiny6 mm studs and "almost" striped them out).
Shut it down, got it towed home and proceeded to strip it down to the long block, cleaned up everything, replacing all fuel, vapor and oil hoses, repainting the shroud, blasting and repainting the fan and housing, removing all engine compartment electrical and rubber gaskets, rebuilding the alternator, disassembling the starter, then reassembling the engine, adjusting the valves, doing the front and rear main seals, testing the oil cooler, replacing the clutch disc, new rear pads, Tuneing up a used engine harness with a lot of new soldered connectons, heat shrunk a ton of stuff, and reinstalled the engine/trans.

We took the time to install "Stratoflex" kiler silicone and spun ceramic aviation thermal shielding on the fuel supply and return hoses , "while we were in there".

So, after about 10 K paid mechanic's labor and parts, (o for my time helping him),
"Wes 74" is running sweet and back on the road. The new 195/55-15 Dunlop Direzzionales stick like glue and tomorrow, i will wash my car and raise another glass of Chivas to my Beloved Father - I miss him a lot and rejoice in his car being back on the road, running strong.

If you look at my garage, i hope you will not think ill of me. I was able to acquire an old carb'd 308 with my father's help.

Thank you all for the help you have given me getting to this point, I have not the wit to recall all of your names, again thank you,

Chris

[James Brown]

You father is proud of you as we all are, thanks for preserving an important part of your life. And i'm sure you will think of him often when shifting through the gears on a twisty road! Great job.

[hcariss]

Great story, great car in a great color. More pics please.