Targa Backdate and Restoration - Completed !

impmad2000 · Post by **impmad2000** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:53 pm

After a nearly a year not going anywhere, my Targa project has taken a massive step forward. At the hands of DDK's very own Barry, I now have a very solid Backdated Targa shell

Here's an overview of the work that has been needed on a what appeared to be a good condition early galvanised RHD Targa shell. Which to my relief, turned out to be at least straight !
With this sort rust around the rear cross member, both rear wings were removed

Only to find that this was the right decision !! The boot release cable had been a platform for the mud to collect with the inevitable consequences...

Generally though the rusty bits were quite limited and cutting back didn't need to go too far. Typically like this.

All still good an clean inside the box sections

The base of the targa bar had just started to weaken, and was cut out and replaced with hand made panels. Where there was rust , the metal was cut out and new fitted.

Some typical IB rust trap areas!

But going backdate, the bumper mounts were removed and flattened off and a new (recovered) slam panel was fitted.

and the wing top areas were given the cut out and let in procedure. The Offside needing significantly more work !!

Pleasing result eh !

The offside opened up for all to see

Not too bad as it turned out. I'd been prepared for new inner and outer silll, and a whole new jacking point and reinforcing plate.... Only the reinforcing plate was used in the end, along with a genuine 993 sill and a replacement kidney bowl

The 993 sill did require the depressions taking out first though !

The bottom of the inner wheel arch

given the treatment

As was the B post lock area

and where it joins top the sill.

and the near side boot release...

Like the door fit too

And on christmas eve, this is how it left to go to the paintshop.

Many thanks to Barry. I cannot speak too highly of the work and skill devoted to getting another 911 back on the road.

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 2:56 pm

Nice one Tim

Excellent work as usual Barry

Be good to see it back on the road soon

What colour are you going for?

impmad2000 · Post by **impmad2000** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:27 pm

It's going to be black... with lots of chrome

Tim

GP911 · Post by **GP911** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:53 pm

Great stuff. Great job.

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:09 pm

looking good Tim

Last time I saw you in a Porsche was the old Targa @ Cadwell

Barry, your work is outstanding as usual

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:11 pm

Thank you Tim: it was great working on the car

.

Hope you don't mind, but dug some pics that 'resolve' two of the problem areas you illustrated above.

Thanks for the comments (as always) chaps!

N/S rear inner wing area after completion, you can just see the very end of crossmember with a new section let in. The haze over the metal is POR Metal Ready. This etches into the metal, and protects it until the etch primer proper is applied. The English Wheel was putting some crown in the rear-most repair, basically the area that sits behind the CDI box, some 5x14 inches.

N/SF Inner wing:

Finally, the N/S/R inner wing repair in:

Gilbert '71 T · Post by **Gilbert '71 T** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:24 pm

Now that looks great Tim, and of course super work as always from Captain Resto, Barry

.

Nice colour choice too

Ready for the Highlands run?

Ian Gunney · Post by **Ian Gunney** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 8:29 am

A nice way to end the year - good to see progress Tim.

Barry if you get bored at all, you can always pop down to Wales to help finish the '14 - since the arrival of my 4 month old little boy, not a lot has happened to it!

Ian

jtparr · Post by **jtparr** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:38 pm

nice one barry, another car see's the light of day

tim
enjoy the re-building......

impmad2000 · Post by **impmad2000** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:29 am

I found these, they show the repair to the ends of the rear crossmember better.

Cheers
Tim

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:55 am

Excellent news Tim, good work Barry

Keep the momentum going

Ian Donkin · Post by **Ian Donkin** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:36 am

Excellent as always and I'm sure the pictures don't even begin to do the job justice

.

It will be great to see Tim back on the road in a 911 in 2007

.

impmad2000 · Post by **impmad2000** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:28 pm

This is an interesting series of photos on the fine art of panel beating...

well done Barry !

fourteener · Post by **fourteener** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:39 pm

Barry do you use shrinking/stretching jaws for the flanged piece?
I love seeing these kind of 'black-arts' repairs

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:38 pm

Actually I've not got either a shrinker or stretcher (although I've just ordered a small shrinker to save time in the future), so everything's formed by hand.

I go on the basis that they didn't use shrinkers or stretchers years ago, and I've got similar hand tools to those that would have been available 50-70 years ago. Therefore the only missing bit is the skill

. The basic principle for all of this sort of thing (heavily shaped, small repairs). Paper or card pattern, rough out in steel (1st picture), tidy up by beating upon something with correct shape held in vise (2nd / 3rd pictures), weld in, linish up and home for tea and toast

.

I have to say though, I did put this bit off for most of the job, until I had thought about how I would do it. There were lots of tricky issues to overcome; getting the panel to end up at the right size, after it had had a lot of shape put into it, the overall shape was compound-curved, and getting the flange to align with the original, and then blend in. The whole thing took a big chunk out of one day: so not a quick thing.