1987 3.2 Carrera Backdate project - Sladeys hotrod

[sladey]

That’s a fair point Andy but I quite liked the fact that it could still be fitted back onto an early car as well. In hindsight I like it so much that it’s pretty irrelevant as it’s a keeper

Presumably if I wanted to do that I could just grind off those bigger rivets?

[Lightweight_911]

Yes - the only reason for possibly retaining the existing splined centre may be that it imparts some 'rigidity' to the wheel.

With it removed & the steel centre bolted directly to the Momo hub it might be liable to 'flexing' ...

[sladey]

Well as I’ve made my special tool now I might as well leave it like it is. Thanks for the info though

[murph2309]

Sladey, you are a legend. I love what you do to the car. It's an evolution - part of the fun is it's a lot of work.

Still remember the race to get it ready for clm 14.... can that really be nearly 4 years ago...

[sladey]

Thanks Rich - yes I often think back to that time - it was pretty manic.

Next project will probably be the dashboard.

[sladey]

OK so probably time for another update. This one will take a while though as its going to take me a while to finish it.

Ever since the backdate I’ve always wanted to do the dash and instruments - always a bit of a giveaway. About 18 months ago I bought some aluminium trim just for this purpose from a guy in America

This is the stuff



It’s uncut so you can cut it to what you need.

I’ve had the stuff for so long because it’s yet another job that fills me with fear. I don’t know how all this stuff goes together, when you work on a lot of it you’re lying on your back at an angle with the seat digging into your back, and it generally involves electrics, , which is the work of the devil.




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[sladey]

Before we go any further - this is basically what I’m aiming for



I’m not slavishly following that - won’t be using the super-expo leather basket weave. I was thinking of making it red to match the rest of the interior, but I’m not convinced I’ll be able to dye the air vents like Singer do.

So I don’t know how many of you know this, but the later dashes were ‘modernised’ by basically sticking thick foam onto it so the first thing you need to do is pull that off - this is part way through.






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[sladey]

When you take a bit more off it looks a bit of a mess



However some thinners and a LOT of rubbing and you can clear all the crap off



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[sladey]

Cleaner version


This is one of those jobs that properly involves opening several cans of worms.

One of the first one was when I was trying to loosen off the heater controls. There is a bolt on the bulkhead which you apparently ‘just loosen’ - however mine just kept turning.

After doing this for a while, and looking into the frunk, there was nothing for it but to go into the frunk and remove the whole heater box to reveal the locknut on the other side



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[sladey]

I didn’t want to have to remove the heater box every time so I wanted a solution held the nut in place without having to weld it.

In this pic the slot is where the bolt comes through, and the silver hole is the rivnut I installed as part of my cunning plan




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[sladey]

I then made this - captive nut on one end




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[KS]

Is there no end to your imagination and capabilities?

[sladey]

Which then fits on like this



This was just one gotcha. Other stuff I’ve yet to sort:-

The glove box I bought from an early car doesn’t fit. the profile of the old and new glove box doors are different profiles

I’d like to fit the hazard warning light that I removed from the entire console when I took it out. However I’ve got to extend all 8 wires by about 2 feet, and then I’ve got to mount it in the dashboard in a new hole without obvious means of keeping it there.

There are a couple of holes that need filing in

The various things sticking out of the dash are designed to stick onto 10mm thick foam so they all need re-aligning.

The other stuff I’ve got to do includes making a radio fit. And the new heater controls are made differently to the earlier ones I’d bought - the new version is one plastic moulding - the earlier one is metal and a separate chrome edging. I’d like mine to use the chrome edging.

There’s more but I’m tired. I’ll update next week-end when I make some more progress


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[sladey]

Here are the two glove box lids

the old one - catch in the middle and the trim was stuck onto it


The later one (that was on my car) - Catch on the left hand side, and the whole thing is recessed to make room for the thick foam dash padding.


This is the earlier trim held against the later door - looks to be too wide here as well so some work is needed

[Lightweight_911]

.

- looking forward to seeing how this turns out Mark ...