2.2E restoration progress - Day 2

[nick-moss]

Things are progressing quickly in the garage. Today I stripped the interior completely, the rear suspension and got most of the heating and ventilation system out.

Some of the interior bodywork has the worst rust in the whole car. I would guess this is due to the car being shipped over from the US, then left to sit in the salt air for a bit at the docks, a bit of rain, then the car is put into storage in a damp garage for 10 years.

The rear parcel shelf is severely coroded on the right, the problem is that it is a fancy bit of pressed steel, which apparently is not available as a repair panel. Both seat pans are rusted through, again no repair panels available. The floor by the pedal need replacing, but otherwise the rest of the interior is fantasic. Look at the inner rear wing panel, it's like it just left the factory.

[RichMason]

I had an early 911 with the same rear parcel shelf damage. You can ge a donor piece out of a later car but drilling the spot welds is a pain. If the firewall is intact (mine was gone) you may want to just use regular sheet metal as you can't see either side of it once the interior and engine sound pad are installed. I believe that race cars sometimes have all of this replaced with removeable panels so they can access the engine more readily.

[nick-moss]

Rich, I think you are right, a flat sheet would be very easy to do, and it will be completely invisible. Nobody, apart from the all the Pelicanites and the guys who follow a couple of British BBSs will know. :-)

The firewall is perfect

[RichMason]

I ended up removing the entire piece from my car from the rear of the pan to the top of the parcel shelf before I gave up on the project. Once I started drilling the spot welds on the donor piece I decided it was better to give up. I also had rust in the narrow piece above the rear trunk lid and I felt that it would be too difficult for a novice welder such as myself to replace. Keep the pictures coming.

[nick-moss]

More pictures from day 2 can be found here

[Jack Olsen]

Wow, you're moving pretty fast on this. Good work!

[nick-moss]

Hey Jack, has work on your car stopped?

[1974carrera]

Looks like a pretty solid car all in all, Nick. How's the Carrera coming along?

[Al G]

Nick,

What was the original colour?

Is that some shade of mustard yellow in the door area?

I hope that you will be going for some groovy obscure '70s colour during the incarnation, as opposed to another red 911.

Al G

[911nut]

The only problem with replacing the original panel with a flat sheet is that the sheet will resonate due to road and engine vibration.
It might be better to patch up the holes after further rust removal (soda blasting or dipping).

[nick-moss]

Al

The original colour is 2424 burgundy, but it has been resprayed gold, then guards red. I haven't decided for sure, but I am tempted by black, or the dark grey like the Meeks 911T

[Jack Olsen]

Mine's getting its cage and a panel to cover where the rear seats used to be.

The old dark non-metallic gray is a really cool-looking color.

[David Bahr]

Nick -

Great site. I'm glad the Porsche world has guys like you to save cars like these. One question: what's a kidney bowl? You said this car's kidney bowls were in pretty good shape...

Thanks!

[nick-moss]

Hi David

This is the "kidney bowl". It adds strength to the structure and is a renowned rust point and very difficult to diagnose without taking the outer rocker cover off.

[maxnine11]

hi Nick, hope you don't rule out painting it the original color (colour ) Burgundy looks 'classic' on the early cars!! max

[nick-moss]

Max

Very nice, very tempting. But that decision is a couple of months away yet.

[RichMason]

I can't produce an example but Olive is by far my favorite early 911 color - its fairly rare as well.

[Glasgow 911SC]

I agree with Max. That burgundy is beautiful.

[nick-moss]

Rich, thanks for the suggestion. This is out of Peter Morgan's book "Original Prosche 911"



Not to my taste

[David Bahr]

Thanks for the answer, Nick. The picture was a great bonus, as even I couldn't misunderstand!

Good luck with your restoration!