Restoration of my 69 911

[DaddyGlenn]

Very nice, John!!

[merbesfield]

Originally Posted by Fishcop

I'm a bit pleased with my work today...

To cut long story short, six fuchs (4x7" and 2x8") in various condition and a requirement for 5 (including spare) to look good on my car Almost 10 years to the day I restored them by removing the '80s chrome plating and then polishing them to a mirror finish with rattle can black... It was enough to get them presentable and the lasted remarkably well.

So an epic day today began with polishing the lips back to a mirror gleam and then masking them off. Next they were hit with #30 glass beads to remove the shine from everywhere else. More masking and then 2pac satin black over the petals and (this time around) the whole barrels inside and out for long term corrosion protection. Unfortunately the unpainted 7" fuchs isn't true and will need attention before it can be restored so I didn't keep going with it.

Once the paint has finished kicking and is fully set I'll be using Gibbs Oil to seal up and protect the exposed alloy, and then Michelin TBs will go on. I didn't really do much of a photo essay - They're not Harvey Weidman calibre but here's the results...

Hi John, funny, I am in the process of doing the same thing to 4-7's for my car. As you said, may not be to the level of Havey's but will be very nice. Tell me more about how you polished the rims and what you did to hold the line etc? Thanks, Mark

[Fishcop]

Hi Mark

I just used polish mops on my power drill (white and jeweller's rouge) to get the lips done. They'd been done years before and came back strongly. You may need to use some #800-1500 paper to begin the process on fresh wheels.

I used 3M "Surefine" blue tape in 5mm width to cut the lines - it's poly and not paper so can be stretched to conform to curves etc...

Paint is 2pac with matting agent.

[merbesfield]

When you polished the lip, did you tape a line before polishing or just keep it to the flat area by hand? Looking at pics it does not look like the line between polished and non is a hard line, but I know it is very easy to slip off the edge and polish where you don't want polish. Thanks

[Fishcop]

Polish without a line - that way you can slip over the lip a little without dramas. Then tape off a line over the polished area - the beads will then 'cut' a line against the tape edge and the polished area remains protected under the tape. At this point you can blast the entire wheel for a good paint key.

[merbesfield]

Ah, so you did the lip first then blasted? I was doing the blasting first. Did the fine line tape hold up to the media blaster?

[OZCarrera3]

The wheels look great John and the TBs are just the icing on the cake!

This is going to be one awesome looking car when you're finished.

[Fishcop]

Thanks Sheldon.

Mark, the Surefine tape held up really well (better than paper tape). Glass is less brutal than garnet and I had the pressure down to about 80psi.

[irl]

Really nice. Polish, blast, paint.... And then you spray Gibbs oil on the entire wheel? No need for a sealer on the blasted part? Correct

[Fishcop]

Originally Posted by irl

Really nice. Polish, blast, paint.... And then you spray Gibbs oil on the entire wheel? No need for a sealer on the blasted part? Correct

That's the process I've followed... It looks good, I just hope there's some longevity in the process. If the Gibbs isn't up to it, I can clean everything back up and lay a clear coat.

[Walko]

John
What sort/ size of blasting unit are you using (pics would be great)

Michael

[Fishcop]

Hey Michael

I'm using the generic Chinese made (I presume) "re-badged for everybody" 25 litre pressure pot blaster. I bought my particular one from Trade Tools Direct in Brisbane, but I see Radum/Hare & Forbes, and Glenfords all sell the same thing for about $150. I also have a small shelf mounted box blaster for smaller items.

In the case of the wheels, I couldn't fit them inside the bench top unit, so I used the pressure blaster out in the garden on a "total loss" basis... The glass beads are only about $20 and don't affect the garden Pressure was around 80psi.

[Walko]

Thanks John

Your car is looking awesome.

Michael

[Tspringer]

I have really enjoyed following your build - very inspirational!

Do you have any more photos of the car put together and on the new wheels? Can't wait to see final "finished" shots. I going to paint my project blue, not sure on dalmation, ossi or albert though.

[Fishcop]

Hi Terry

Sorry, I haven't been checking the thread lately. Thanks for the compliments and I suggest any of the blues you've got in mind will look great. I personally love Albert most of all, but Ossi is a great original colour to have.

[Fishcop]

So nearly 3 years on since I started this odyssey, I'm on the downward slope. The car is still some months off from finishing but I think I've concluded the "paint and panel" aspect of the resto. I guess I'll leave the thread here though. It might be nice to establish a "Restoration Gallery" for completed cars - no posts, just a brief and a photo essay...

My seats are now completed. Nurburgrings in perforated leather and 'Blackwatch' tartan, and they are fabulous

[DaddyGlenn]

The seats are PERFECT!!!

[Fishcop]

Hi Glenn

Yeah I'm pretty pleased with them. My butt plans to spend a fair bit of time in them, so I splashed out on the best fabrics and leather I could get.

For reference there's probably $1500 in the upholstery (inc labour) plus the initial purchase of the Nurburgrings which was about $1200 5 years ago.

[OZCarrera3]

Well worth the expense John, although the seats look (almost) too good to sit in mate!

I bet you can''t wait to get her back on the road.

[widespreadpanic]

Such a great post to read. The car is amazing John! Please continue to share the progress. This will be a reference for many to come. Including me.