OK, so I know I've been lax in posting on this thread recently, so time for some minor updates ...
Unfortunately getting the car to the stage where it was insured, MOT'd & taxed & then back home coincided with the onset of the abysmal weather. I attempted to take the car out for a short drive in late October for a preliminary asessment of the brakes/suspension/ etc but I'd got less than a mile from home when a horrendous rainstorm broke & I had to slow down to a walking pace because of poor visibility (due to the torrent of rain). I had no option but to return home ...
The brief trip had however highlighted a couple of problems - a fair amount of water was getting inside the car (I hadn't fitted any door seals at this stage) & a small gap at the bottom of the nsr inner wheelarch meant that mud/water thrown up by the wheel/tyre was spraying over the battery & MSD boxes housed in the 'hollow' forward of wheelarch.
Both 'problems' would be fairly easy to rectify however.
I had a long list of (small) jobs to carry out so decided that I'd attempt to sort these before venturing out again.
At this point it might be worth repeating my build aims ...
I want my car to emulate the look & feel of an original 904 that has been used over the past 35+ years & looked after sympathetically - not over-restored like many of the original cars I've seen close up (which have looked more like freshly-built replicas with everything appearing brand new/'fresh out of the box').
I know that some (many) people feel that my approach seems 'odd' - especially my attempts to prematurely age parts - but I don't care !!
It's also funny that with all the early 911's I've owned I've never been a stickler for originality (although I have nearly always tended to stick with period-correct upgrades) whereas with this car I've gone out of my way to try and track down original parts wherever possible.
The list of jobs to carry out over the winter included:
- re-routing/extending engine compartment wiring
- re-routing fuel supply to the carbs
- modifying area around MSD boxes/battery to waterproof
- make up/fit dummy Bosch CDI boxes/wiring in engine compartment
- source/fit correct interior rearview mirror
- fit 'bubble' vents to door windows
- add white racing roundels & period decals
- paint orange band on front & rear of body
- source/fit suitable door seals
- swap headlamps over to Marchals
plus many more including the on-going search for the correct seat material ...
Since the car was confined to the garage & the weather has been pretty dire, getting pictures hasn't been that easy but here are a couple taken early on
In the rear shot the more observant will have noticed that the megaphones have been replaced - this is my alternative 'civilised' version ... a copy of the Factory 'street' exhaust (which will be high temp powder-coated).
That's all for now - more in the next day or so ...