1987 3.2 Carrera Backdate project - Sladeys hotrod

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:41 pm

I then started the cutting (this is obviously before any strengthening went in).....

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:44 pm

And a bit later once strengthened and painted

Now you see that stud at the top of the radiator? That is meant to go through the back of the headlamp bowl and is also fixed to the radiator itself by means of a rubber block.

No matter how much I tried though I couldnt’ make it work with the wing. The hole was in the wrong place and when I moved it over a bit, it was at such an angle that you couldn’t bolt to it

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:47 pm

The bracket itself was useful and meant that the radiator what held in by 3 rubber insulated brackets - so I wanted to use it. - but it just wouldn’t work with the wing in place.

In the end I decided on an alternate solution

It wasn’t quite finished here - but I’ve got it bolted to the inner wing.

I replaced all 3 of the mounting bolts for the radiator and also gave it a really really good clean while it was out. The amount of crap that builds up is unbelievable

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:49 pm

During this period I also found time to fit the under tray I’d bought on impact bumpers - nice piece of kit

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:51 pm

Before fitting the wing I knew I’d got a bit of surface corrosion near the bottom of the windscreen - I’d just need to clean that up a bit and all would be good

However when I scraped away at the ‘surface rust’

Oh bugger....

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:52 pm

I ended up spending a good few hours sorting this out

Using two pieces of the right profile welded together

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:53 pm

I eventually got to this

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:53 pm

And finally this

It’s not wonderfully pretty but it is solid

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:55 pm

Fitting the wing wasn’t without it’s problems

It was looking full RSR at one stage

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:57 pm

But eventually I ended up with a fit I was pleased with for the time being

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:59 pm

Eventually I got to the day of the MOT (ignore the sidelights and horn grills - I’ve just thrown them on for the MOT)

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:04 pm

Now I had 2 issues leading up to the MOT. Firstly I’d only remembered the night before that the rear number plate lights weren’t connected up.

So I made all the connections and just cable tied the wiring into their engine compartment - because I’d fitted a carbon fibre engine lid I needed to cut new holes for the number plate lights.

The second issue was the oil pipes - if you remember I’d bought two new ones. When I went to screw them onto the thermostat I expected them to be 36mm nuts (I have a custom 36mm persuader which I am very proud off) - however the persuader wouldn’t fit and I ended up using a big adjustable spanner.

They didn’t seem to be winding on well - it didn’t seem to have gripped the nut well and it was stiff so I was a bit worried that I’d crossed a thread somehow.

So my worry was that I’d have a leak.

On the way to the MOT:-

Oh Bugger.

I also wasn’t happy with the sharp of that wing - it flares out too much (I’ve now revisited it and it’s much better)

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:07 pm

Did I mention that the MOT was 2 days before the Spa trip?

Anyway I got to the MOT station and explained my two issues - the oil leak was the more serious one but I suspected (hoped?!) it just needed nipping up.

I got the call later on to come and collect the car

Balls!

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:10 pm

By this stage I had to face facts that I wasn’t gong to be able to take the porsche to Belgium. However plan B (The alpine) wasn’t so bad and it performed very well on the trip.

On the morning I was due to leave I thought I’d have a look at the offending oil pipe. The guy at the garage said he hadn’t got a spanner the right size either. I thought this was a bit odd.

I jacked it up and had a look at it

I noticed that some black had come off the nut. I got a razor blade and piggled away at it - I eventually though the black must be a coating

I went and fetched the persuader and a hammer. I found I was able to hammer the 36mm persuader on really easily - it took off the coating in the process and gripped the nut beautifully.

I wound it down a bit and saw that the threads were absolutely fine. I was then able to properly tighten both nuts.

I’d been stressing about this the night before - convincing myself I’d stripped the threads and would have to buy a new thermostat - so being able to sort this out felt amazing.

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sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:15 pm

When I got back from Spa I was able to have another day fettling the rear number plate lights until they worked. Also sorted the front indicator and sidelight s (just a fuse), and took it back to the garage

Get in!

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DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker