1965 RHD 911 restoration started

[210bhp]

Nice progress Ian. Things are looking much better. That donor has been a godsend and to think it nearly didn't happen.

All power to your guy, he looks like a very methodical worker and must enjoy his work.

Keep the updates coming. Have you found that snorkel yet?

Regards
Mike

[911hillclimber]

Great thread, and great working to recover the car. I know how much work is going on!
Keep the thread coming and all the pics.

[DEEMAN]

The most recent trip to the 'patient' shows she is recovering from further surgery. This time the right hand rear inner wing has been parted off and the remaining edges are part prepared for the intended graft.
Love the use of the spade!! Most people use a broom handle don't they? And that fence post - well why not?


The workshop may not be quite so organised as Barry's new place (wow!) but good work comes out of it.

Overall, the metal is not quite so bad as the left hand side. Even the original heater tube will be used with a minor repair. Notice the size of the pipe support plate (cum reinforcement?) - it's massive.

The inner lower wall needs repair but the whole longitudinal is actually very good.


The parcel shelf on the 911 was really good - bit unusual from what I have picked up and even the orfice for the rear screen heater tube was surrounded with good solid metal.


The engine mount is servicable and only needs a small amount of work unlike the left hand one which has more or less disintegrated and demanded replacement with a new one from Porsche. £55 [*]


Can't wait for the replacement inner wing to go on. Getting close to the day when she will go for her CAT scan (total media blasting) so we can see the depth of the future problems.

My consultant is confident of a full recovery!!

[210bhp]

Pity you didn't mention the engine mounts Ian, I have a few.

I wonder, if you get time, if I could have a close up picture please?

Is there a chance I could get a close up, both from above and below, the rear secret corner apertures for the screen demister tubes (without the tubes fitted) so I can see the location and shape of the 'hole you have created. If you are past this stage and it's too late, no worries.

Keep up the progress. It's great to see it coming along (massive strides since I saw it)
Did you have any luck with the snorkel?

Regards
Mike

[DEEMAN]

Hi Mike, I will try to do as you ask re pictures - I am not the best photographer in the world as you can see.
As yet I have not found a snorkel. There is plenty of time even if there are not plenty of snorkels!! I'll make one if I need to!
See the Solex air cleaner on Evilbay? He wanted £1800 and got bids up to £550+. The price some people attach to parts is very questionable isn't it. £60,000 for an incomplete unknown 901 engine! £32,000 for a pair of 901 crankcases bare!! The list goes on. What planet do they live on?
Do you have by chance any white/white sunvisors of 65/66 era? Mine got mouse-chewed!![*]

Regards
Ian

[210bhp]

Sorry Ian, no sunvisors but I will keep a lookout.

No worries on the photos if you can't manage. I am just looking for the size and location of the aperture on the back shelf so a measurement may do just as well. No rush in any event.

Regards
Mike

[MT]

Not wishing to hijack the thread, but are these any use Mike? From the Doctors car resto

[210bhp]

Mick

Very helpful. I was wondering what shape the aperture might be. Almost round? Did that look unmessed with? How do the tubes get fixed into place (which seem to be round going to a squashed flute)? Are the tack welded into place?

Regards
Mike

[DEEMAN]

The 'squished/round tube' has a lip on it that clips onto the window surround. The hole is circular and there is a largish rubber grommet that locates the circular part of the tube.
Bet Mick will come up with a picture as soon as I've finished typing. A picture speaks a thousand words eh?

Ian

[DEEMAN]

And Mike, if you want a couple of the tubes I can help. They are a set as they are handed.

Ian

[210bhp]

Hi Ian

Thanks for explaining. A picture would help because I have a pair of tubes but I definitely don't have rubber grommets. I'd like to see a picture of those especially.

I also have a pair of the foam tubes which connect to the demisters in the engine bay but one is orange and one is black so I am on the lookout for another to make a pair (orange one preferred).
These seem to fit directly onto the demisters with cable ties!?

Regards
Mike

[DEEMAN]

Here you go Mike


Hope this helps. unfortuneatly I cannot help with the fexible foam tubes. I have one set of orange ones and I'm needing those[*]

I've not forgotten the bumper mouldings - hope you have not either

Cheers

Ian

[MT]

Ian/Mike,

No picture of the grommet, but I have one somewhere I could dig out when I get back from a spot of golf in Scotland. Hole is circular, and the grommet is standard design, with about 8-10mm of rubber around the circumference of the demister tubes. As said above they have a little lip on the back of them that goes on the rear window surround and is grabbed by the rear window seal. Re the tubes I made some out of heat resistant foam tubing and painted it orange. Worked fine.

They were held on with white cable ties top and bottom. Didn't know cable ties were invented in 1966, but they were!

Mick

[210bhp]

Ian/Mike,

No picture of the grommet, but I have one somewhere I could dig out when I get back from a spot of golf in Scotland. Hole is circular,


And about 4 and a half inches in diameter and a bugger to get the ball into from three feet,



and the grommet is standard design, with about 8-10mm of rubber around the circumference of the demister tubes. As said above they have a little lip on the back of them that goes on the rear window surround and is grabbed by the rear window seal.

This explains why I have been flummoxed. I bought two demister tubes and the tabs to which you refer are both missing


Re the tubes I made some out of heat resistant foam tubing and painted it orange. Worked fine.

They were held on with white cable ties top and bottom. Didn't know cable ties were invented in 1966, but they were!


And that's what worried me, surely they werent available in the sixties I thought.......




Mick

Regards
Mike

[DEEMAN]

It's been a lovely long summer so other things have taken priority. Not to say nothing has happened.

Bodywork-wise. well not a lot to report. The rotesserie has been modified with new mountings using the rear bumper mounts rather than the engine mounts. The whole assemly is then to be adapted to take the rolling jacks for easy transportation for the whole monocoque which is going to the media blasters this Wednesday prior to re-setting on the Celette and subsequent recontruction. (co-incidental that my daughter is doing her dissertation (thesis) on Cosmetic Surgery!!!!).

I managaed to source most of the missing parts. A Solex intake 'trumpet/snorkel' and undertary (thanks Robert), a rear engine tray to take the twin Peirburg pumps (thanks Brendan) and a set of suitable 4 1/2 steelies (thanks Glynn). Does anyone have a pair of 65/66 ivory sunvisors available? Mine are mouse-chewn and need replacing. Or does anyone know where I can get them recovered like original new?

The engine(s) and gearbox(es) are now with Mike Bainbridge for refurbishement. I use the plural as there are the '65 units and spare(!!?) '68 units. If something is u/s in the '65 then the '68 could be useful.











The Espace was somewhat overloaded but surely two engines and boxes are not heavier than seven adults and luggage are they 'Hofficer'. The M6 Vehicle Check was closed -Boom boom,

Some very delapidated brake callipers were left with Lee at Classic Automotive after a somewhat troublesome interlude with a broken exhaust.


But we made it and continued the next day to collect a rare Gilera 125cc Crono motorcycle (producing 264 bhp per litre and made in 1991) for my son and to see the National Motorcycle Museum near Birmingham (a MUST for anyone -amazing) before going on to Louth in Linolnshire to collect a 1949 998cc Vincent HRD Rapide. (they produced 45 bhp per litre) But..Pow! what a machine.

Some two days eh?!!

Anyway, time now to concentrate renewing other components. the starter motor and alternator are away being refurbished. My grit blaster is operational once more now my compressor has been repaired with a new valve plate assembly. I am about to try my hand at plating whilst some other parts have gone to the powder-coaters.

Bit by bit my Blue Belle is coming back to life..............(with its 65 bhp per litre!)