1973 2.4E Restoration

Darren65 · Post by **Darren65** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:41 am

Having found JohnM's excellent restoration thread such a source of inspiration and knowledge that has changed the route I'm taking I thought I would start my own. So here goes:

After many months of searching for an early 911 project - Destiny!

You would have had to be quick to get this one -

Advertised late Saturday evening November 13th 2010 -

Spotted 8:00AM the following morning -

Phoned to discover that offers had already been made! Viewed a few hours later, bundles of notes changed hands and all documentation taken away for safe keeping -

And finally -

In my garage later that evening - ALL MINE!

Darren65 · Post by **Darren65** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 11:01 am

After several months of research, talking to people, searching for and buying a few bits it was time to find out what I have:

Not quite an RS.

But a sound looking car all the same.

Interior needs work.

Although the floor looks good.

Some rot as expected. Sure I'll find lots more!

Inner wings not too bad.

After crawling around underneath things looks promising - the eternal optimist!

jtparr · Post by **jtparr** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:29 pm

Darryn

keep on going, its a uniquely rewarding experience....dont loose the optimism...anything can be fixed,its just a mater of time and budget, which can be spread over years...

regards
Jonathan

Darren65 · Post by **Darren65** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:53 pm

Thanks for the support Jonathan,

Things had stalled over the last few months and I wasn't sure how I wanted to proceed, it was then suggested I look at JohnM's restoration thread and this focused my attention - a few calls and emails later and I have a clear plan going forward.

More of that later - at the moment it's pure excitement!

Cheers,
Darren

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 8:07 pm

we love a good resto thread

911hillclimber · Post by **911hillclimber** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:39 pm

Too true, this one is looking easy though.

Lots of pics please!

Darren65 · Post by **Darren65** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:03 am

Cheers guys. I hope it is easy - still going back to bare shell though and doing things properly.

CoA confirms original spec as:

911 E Coupe Sportomatic
Light Ivory / 1111
Black leatherette, seat inlays pepita
Stabilizer front and rear 15mm, 3-point safety belts, rear apron, additional high beam lamps white over bumper, antenna speaker suppression, fuel tank, coloured windows

This is how I'll be returning the car albeit its had a 915 manual box fitted at some point and a set of Fuchs and these will be retained.

The car is booked to go into the workshop in two weeks time and then things will really start moving.

Can't wait!
Darren

johnM · Post by **johnM** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:11 am

Hi Darren good to see you have started a resto thread. Your car looks solid at the moment. Seems that quite a few light ivory cars are coming out of the wood work. I am sure you will find the forum a great help and great entertainment, I really enjoy the social get togethers as well. Keep up with the progress reports.
Kind regards.

Darren65 · Post by **Darren65** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:28 am

Thanks John,

It was you that provided the encouragement and your thread that totally changed the direction I was going and I'm really thankful for that.

Looking forward to seeing how your car progresses and hope I can reach an equally high standard.

All the best,
Darren

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:24 am

Always good to see a new restoration thread

.

Good luck with the strip down Darren

.

o j thomas · Post by **o j thomas** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:25 am

Yes, good luck with it all. I'll be following with interest. There do seem to be a few light Ivory cars about at the minute and I've just found out my own '73 2.4E project car left the factory in light Ivory as well. Maybe they had a good deal on the paint in '73

Darren65 · Post by **Darren65** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:05 pm

After 10 glorious days spent with family and friends in sunny Crete, eating (lots), diving (lots) and drinking (lots more!) it's time to crack back on with the project with a busy week planned.....

The trailer I borrowed previously wasn't exactly road worthy and with no one hiring them locally and much shifting planned over the next few weeks I decided to add one to the rental fleet.

Collected today from PRG trailers near Crewe, looking extremely sturdy and very shiny - it pays for itself if I get it hired a couple of times a month!...

Safely strapped on to the trailer, this is the first time the car has moved since last November - the full set of straps including wheel chokers were purchased from The Ratchet Shop (online) for only 54 quid inclusive of VAT and postage - Bargain!

I'll soon be adding to this pile of bits....

The car is now with Matt at Essential Vehicle Services in Swindon for the engine and gearbox to be removed, it's then back to our workshop for the final strip and onto a rotisserie to remove the underseal before going off for media blasting next week - hopefully Barry will be visiting this week to assess what he'll be doing with the body build....

An exciting couple of weeks planned - HOPEFULLY it will all go to plan!!!

Darren

Darren65 · Post by **Darren65** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:44 pm

A busy couple of days:

Engine and gearbox have now been removed.

We all know where the weight is! - a big heavy chair and some straps stopped the car tipping off the ramp!

It is the original engine, the engine shroud was previously painted red - I think this was the extent of the engine mods!!! - you can just make out the green where it's scraped.

Now back to our workshop for the final strip and onto the rotisserie:

We just have to build it first!

All done and looking the part - This should get plenty of use in our bodyshop so not just for the 911.

Can't work this one out?

I keep digging and it still seems solid - media blasting will reveal all!

Another day done - A little slow today and not quite where we wanted to be for Barry's visit tomorrow - looking forward to his professional assessment on condition.

Darren

Darren65 · Post by **Darren65** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:01 pm

Barry kindly visited today to offer his expert advice:

He quickly set to work discussing his requirements with Rich in the workshop:

For others though the long journey was just ssooooo tiring!

As expected the rear quarters had to come off:

These had been patched one or two (probably 10!) times previously:

Underneath though most things continued to look promising:

Even the inner sills look good:

Obviously not all is perfect:

Final prognosis is that I have a good solid original shell that should be straightforward to make perfect - who's a lucky boy then!

A few adjustments and finally got the car onto the spit:

Now just the last items to strip and clean the underside before it goes for media blasting next week and then on to Barry so he can work his magic.

Very exciting.
Darren

johnM · Post by **johnM** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 6:49 am

Looking very promicing.