1983 SC Cabrio revival/wake up

[hotaru]

As i mention before I bought a 1983 Red SC Cabriolet.
The previous owner wanted to part it out, but lucky I bought the whole car.
(originally with no papers, but I was able to get papers for it).

The car has been sitting for over 10 years or more.
It has no rust on body (so far only rust i found is on the back seat . It has no top so it had quite a lot of water, all the seats, under seats, carpets were soak with water.
And most of the bolts/screws are rusted. Body - perfect, original paint.
It is 100% original and has 34,300 km.

My plan is to get it running and take care of all problems after all these years sitting... and enjoy driving it

photos when i went to look at the car and got it:

[hotaru]

Since I was very exciting about getting this car - I got it on the spot.
Then I brought it home ....
and started checking it.
Initial findings:
- no top (frame and canvas)
- very old gas, stinks as hell, tar about .5 inch at bottom of the tank
- all carpets are wet, rotten and falling a part
- front seats leather soaked wet on cushions and hard dry on top
- rear seats water still sitting
-dashboard warped
- seal on front window crisp/dry
- tires , thread is good but all dry and cracked
- engine missing fuel distributor
- oil S hose cracked
- engine sound insulation crisp dry and all over engine
- brakes are stuck
- and many other small things
But:
- it still looks good and powerful

more images from my garage:

[hotaru]

My plan of action:

A. Water
1. take care of all the water in the car
2. remove all rotten/wet carpets and insulation
3. dry everything

B: Fuel
- drain old gasoline and try to clean the tank
- replace fuel lines
- replace fuel filters (tank and engine bay)
- replace injectors
- find fuel dist
- replace rubber fuel lines by engine
- check WUR
- check fuel accumulator (not sure how)

C : Engine
- take out engine
- clean
- replace gaskets
- clean all injector lines
- replace bad oil lines
- inspect/replace clutch
- and probably many more...

D: brakes
- remove and clean
-replace brake fluid
-replace brake lines
-replace rotors
-rebuild calipers

E: put engine back and hopefully start

After cosmetic things.

More photos coming soon.....

[canamfan]

It sure does look pretty good considering it's been sitting outside with no roof/cover, glad you saved it! First year of the S convertible, Fuchs, guards red with red & black interior, damn...it needs to be restored, it's a beauty! Congrats & good luck!

[rekstein1]

may I ask what you paid for it?

[hotaru]

I am in Japan. Pricing here is different than other parts.
And anything you need to do - very expansive.... (unless you do it yourself).
So at the when, when i finish - should cost me about the same as market price here
but I do enjoy working on cars and it keeps me busy

[hotaru]

I took all carpets and heavy duty rubber?/horse hair/padding .
There was a lot of standing water - but the only rust was under the rear seat - just surface.
Probably will not reuse any of the padding - install something new age, better for sound and thermal insulation.
The asphalt insulation was braking in pieces and quite easy to remove.
After that - 3M spray for removing glue.
Same spray to clean the super crazy strong glue used for rear seats insulation.
The leather rear seat is in good shape - needs recoloring.

photos:














and computer/controller under passenger seat - FULL of water ...

[JJ 911SC]

Nice move to save it.

What is the VIN? If you don't feel confortable by posting it, e-mail it and it would be dealt in confidence.

[hotaru]

Door panel removal:

- need to make new ones , old are bend and rotten on bottoms. Leather can be saved (good condition), but needs refinishing.

[hotaru]

Gas tank removed.
It has dried tar on the bottom - after trying to clean it, impossible without splitting tank or cutting access hole .
(need to find a thread with access panel from marine tank - maybe with this mod it can be saved).

Anyway, got a tank from parts car - but needs cleaning and repainting.
Wow, old gas stinks - whole garage and house stinks .... need to move the tank outside.

new/old tank: (after a lot of scraping/cleaning old rubber paint)







After POR-15:








After will apply POR primer, and Wurth Rubber coating (black - grey not available in Japan).

[hotaru]

and preparation for engine out :

1. rear bumper removal

[hotaru]

Thanks to excellent Pelican members I was able to locate and buy:
- complete Cabrio top in excellent condition ( with all trimming, seals etc)
- and new Fuel Distributor

[JJ 911SC]

I'll send you the "Test Plan" for the top, it has all the adjustment spec.

[hotaru]

Engine removal continue:

Broken S-oil pipe:




Oil pipe:





Axel disconnect:








Disconnect rusted heat control boxes:

[hotaru]

JJ - thanks a lot, I heard it is quite complicated to fit the complete top.
Sent pm with my email address.

[hotaru]

Engine drop continue...

Disconnect wire harness plugs:

[hotaru]

continue:

Disconnect fuel/oil/breather lines:











Disconnect accel link:



Remove sway bar:

[hotaru]

engine drop continue:

Disconnect shift coupling and speedometer sender cable (corrected thanks to Dennis)
(forgot to slide back the rubber boot - got ripped during engine drop!)





Disconnect starter wires and trans ground strap:





and finally drop:

[beren]

Did you get new door cores? My door cores are shot and they are linen white. Difficult to find new door cards in anything but black.

[hotaru]

Door cards - will make new ones from hardboard ( local home center).
3mm thick, waterproof - used for kitchen wall paneling.
Problem is to cut to right size - old ones are very wavy and rotten...