356B Outlaw full restoration by DC Customs

[DCCustoms]

Front end panels starting to go together

[jtparr]

Excellent to see, as Sladey says...do love a detailed restoration thread...especially as you go to the trouble of loading the pictures into the thread directly...can't be doing with these links to Flickr or YouTube sites....well done ......keep it coming
Jonathan

[Bootsy]

Excellent to see, as Sladey says...do love a detailed restoration thread...especially as you go to the trouble of loading the pictures into the thread directly...can't be doing with these links to Flickr or YouTube sites....well done ......keep it coming
Jonathan

What he said!

[Kneeslider]

I recognize that car. I went to look at it before buying my SC, but decided to pass, as I was after something a little more stock.

I bet your glad you passed on it now lol

Um. Think that I dodged a bullet there. As well as wanting something more stock, I was really after a C rather than a BT5. I was thinking when I looked at it that it could prove to be a heap of bother, and as the old car buying adage goes, if you don't get the right feeling about the car, then don't buy it. I did have a brief drive on a private road, and (for all that I knew about 356s at the time) it seemed to drive OK, and everything worked.

The when I looked at it the PO told me that it had had work to the floors, and underneath, and quoted some of the better names in the business, so I assumed that all would be well in that department. Just goes to show that you should always inspect everything, and come to your own conclusions.

Still, the new owner will have a cracking car with the work you have done, and I only hope that he didn't end up paying a vast amount for what turned into a full restoration project.

My 356 restoration has hardly all gone smoothly, neither to plan, or budget (what does?) but I feel a little better about all the work I have had to do on my car, compared to what I would have got into had I bought this one.

[DCCustoms]

Sorry for lack of updates recently, mega busy in the workshop as usual.




Checking everything lines up as it should


The old front end tacked back in place to ensure all new panels were perfectly lined up prior to replacing the nose, then the new nose panels were overlaid to mark out where to cut.

[DCCustoms]

Nose panels were just tacked in to place to make sure they fitted as they should, cut, panel beaten and re-welded where needed before being removed again to seam seal and paint the insides and all areas that would be seen again







rusty sections of the front wings were replaced prior to the front end being welded back on



welds all painted in primer to protect the bare metal from rust prior to being lead loaded



Now this was the back seat area when we got the car, amazing how someone thought this was how you repair cars.


Rear 1/4 panels cut out and repairs started


more small repairs


rear bulkhead cut out and 1/4 panels in




bulkhead in

[DCCustoms]

More repairs to over gearbox panel. This area was all taken back to bare metal, rust treated and painted prior to the new luggage compartment panels and undr back seat panel going in


posted in the wrong order but this shows how much has been cut out




And the under back seat panels in place.



Engine bay sides and tray also got replaced due to damage and rust


brackets all welded in to place under the bonnet. Notice all areas painted in stone chip before the top panel gets welded in place while we still had good access and could do a proper job and leave no areas un-touched


Bonnet bottom lip replaced




And thats it for the metal work, or the bulk of it at least. I wont bore you with the countless small sections that needed replacing. On to the body and filler work next

[jjeffries]

Sir, you make this all look so straightforward...beautiful workmanship...normally 356 rebuilds seem like more tortuous endeavors. Again, true professionals make the difficult look easy. Are you happy with the quality of the replacement panels? I saw the left wing needed a cut and fill behind the headlight, and I realize these cars were handbuilt to start with, but is there a big variation in quality from the different suppliers of repair panels (like there is in 911 panels)? Great to watch this project. John in CT/USA.

[DCCustoms]

Thank you for the kind words, I think seeing it in photos always makes it look easy but in truth it rarely is, its just hard work and sticking at it, measure 5 times and cut once lol. Its basically just one giant jigsaw puzzle, taking the car apart seam by seam in a certain order and rebuilding it to a better than new condition as we go

Most panels have been ok but they are never or very rarely a perfect fit. Most have been Stoddard panels which are good but need tweaking to fit correctly in most cases, the best panel though has been from Trevors hammer works which is the under back seat panel. This went in without any modification, I wish we had used more of his panels to be honest.

The car should be finished in the next month, its now on the final assembly. Hopefully get this featured in a few magazines and get a few more Porsche's of all models through the doors then for body work, services and full resto's

[911hillclimber]

Only just realised you are 10 miles from me!

Do you/can you/ would you paint parts of a 911 in cellulose? (front wings and engine lid) supplied loose in bare steel needing some tlc after my DIY master class rust repairs?

I diy painted my 911 in 1989 in cellulose so it has faded a bit/lot from the Champagne Yellow it started with so some colour matching needed. Could bring the car to you for a looksee/ estimate.

[jjeffries]

Sorry for the hijack, promise it will be brief and just a request for English:American translation...
Mr. Hillclimber, when you refer to cellulose, is it actually cellulose, or what in the US we call acrylic lacquer? The properties sound the same (ease of use, forgiving, but not durable) Best, John.

[DCCustoms]

That's a good coincidence you live so close 911 Hillclimber, yes painting the 911 panels wont be a problem at all but as you guessed I could do with seeing the car really. It sounds like it could do with a good detail polish to get the colour back as well for a good colour match but we can have a look and go over it when you come over. If you give me a call on 01384 636459 or 07852 744911 we can arrange a day and time.

Jjeffries, no problem on the hijack, cellulose is a single stage, 1 pack system whereas the Acrylic lacquer is a 2pack requiring a hardener/activator. I'm guessing it is the same cellulose you may have over there but I think they fazed it out a long time before we did over here. Not used over here much anymore unless you are colour matching old cellulose like hillclimber is as its just not as durable as 2k and requires as it more polishing a looking after.

[squirejo]

Terrific to see this. I followed rod Emory on Twitter the other day. I think I need a hot rod. A 356 hotrod.

[KS]

Hopefully get this featured in THE magazine

There, corrected that for you...

[DCCustoms]

Hopefully get this featured in THE magazine

There, corrected that for you...

haha brilliant cant wait! I'll give you a shout when were nearer to finishing it to make arrangements. Hopefully the first of many to come your way