Seahawk 356 project:

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by speeder

OK, I used *etching type* mag wheel cleaner that they sell at every FLAPS in the land. It's the one that warns you not to use it on chrome/clear coat/paint/anodised or basically any type of finish other than raw alloy. It's basically acid in a spray bottle. You simply spray it on, scrub w/ stiff bristle brush and then rinse. (Quickly). It will etch your driveway and anything else it touches, so precautionary measure must be taken and lots of rinsing.

Thanks and will keep my eye out for it.

Joe

PS What does "FLAPS" stand for?

[speeder]

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[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by speeder

Friendly
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Jeez thats easy. Thought it was something to go with slats, spoilers or airbrake!

[Rich76_911s]

Awesome story guys.

Shameless little plug here. I'm helping a friend sell two of his 356 books. He actually did a cross country trip in his 356 last summer.

1) Secrets of the Inner Circle $200
2) The ABC's (and 912's) of Porsche Engines $100

Just if you are looking for some literature on them.

Keep up the good work, and look forward to further updates.

Rich

[speeder]

Here's a couple more small items that have been done. The clutch cable snapped right in front of my house last week, (talk about luck- it gave no warning of failure and just broke while I was parallel parking). It's not too bad of a job w/ jack stands and proper tools but it would be no fun in the middle of the desert or on the interstate somewhere w/o a spare cable. "While I was in there", (famous Pelican last words), I cleaned-up and lubed all of the linkage and adjusted the throttle cable. (It had a ton of slop). I also got the hand throttle working again, it is for warming-up the car since it does not have conventional chokes.

Here is a shot of the pedal assembly, the "bracket-looking thing" w/ the spring on it is the business end of the hand throttle. It also works great as a cruise control on the open road:


I've also been gradually trying to fix the bent sheet metal on the bottom of the car. The jack spurs are squished on their bottoms beyond repair, (although the jack point inserts still work fine), I've had good luck with the seams and I'm going to very carefully try to tap back the dented floor boards from inside. Here is a before and after shot of seam damage on bottom near rear swing arm, vice grips and patience works wonders:

[speeder]

Also took the inner door panels off and cleaned and lubed the window regulators and inside of door latches, etc. Windows go up and down like new now, before they were real sticky.


Cleaned up the beautiful chrome vent windows while it was apart:



Put on the new original shift knob, (it had a hokey old aftermarket one):



And it was off for a test drive to the coffee shop.

[nostatic]

original black plates - be still my heart.

I still remember my '67 Bug = UFV 866

[Racerbvd]

Very COOL Dennis, we know what you do with wood & old homes, but is there any thing you don't do well??? That will be a great trip...

[YTNUKLR]

You are doing an awesome job!

[speeder]

Thank you both. This is what I enjoy doing.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by nostatic

original black plates - be still my heart.

I plan on keeping them...used a Cali address to register the car. I've got more relatives in the Bay Area than Jerry Brown. All our cars had either black or blue plates growing up. I'll pay more in insurance, but the cost is worth it.

With a retired military ID and a bit of sense, I see few problems.

The black plates, oddly, played into my decision to buy this car...I'll keep them for Scott.

Concerning the comments on Denis and his skills, I would not have done this without him. He spent a month working on my house here in Maryland so I got a sense of his ethic and mindset. I asked him back to help on other projects and he did, with the same outstanding results.

I am very much a straight ahead guy: build the schedule, find the right folks and execute and adjust as required.

Denis sees things I don't, has more of an artistic bent to his mechanical/professional endeavors. We flourish(ed) because we appreciate each others point of view, never clash and will take the time to reach consensus. We listen to each other.

Back to the car. I had time for the car to undergo Denis' tender mercies (we both felt it important to drive the car as much as possible locally to find the weak points before heading across the country): he gets to turn his attention in the manner he feels wise, I get to learn from him and benefit from his OCD

[VincentVega]

Excellent. If you need a co-pilot, or pretty much anything, in MD let me know.

[targa911S]

You need a rest stop at The Lucas Lodge?

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by targa911S

You need a rest stop at The Lucas Lodge?

Does cold beer come with that? If yes I may follow!

[speeder]

Here's a quick, gratuitous shot of the backside of one door jam. This would be one of the first places that these cars rust in any kind of damp climate. This is one dry California car.

[speeder]

Just noticed that the inside of the door of my 1983 Nissan 4x4 Kingcab truck is in the shot as well, looking pretty clean.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by targa911S

You need a rest stop at The Lucas Lodge?

If you would be so kind...it is on the way and I do know how to get there

You may get both of us, btw.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Does cold beer come with that? If yes I may follow!

sure, why not. ya'll come.

I'm thinkin' steak for dinner and biscuits and gravy for breakfast.

Maybe they will both keel over from cholesterol and leave the car here.

[Zeke]

Need a tab welded on or fix a cracked something, let me know.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

If you would be so kind...it is on the way and I do know how to get there

You may get both of us, btw.

your reservation has been booked. open ended of course. i can put ya both up.