DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

As promised, some pictures of the right hand front sidelight renovation.

As it came with the car



Drill the back off the screw tubes and use a soldering iron to melt away the lens tongues on the back and voila



I masked off the chrome then glass bead-blasted the surfaces. Three coats of white primer and then three coats of Simoniz Chrome Spray.
I was quite pleased with the result. I will now have to see how well it lasts.



On with the new lens.



I am using a transparent sealant to seal it and hold it in place. Like MT I am using proprietary screws and I bought 20 Spire captive nuts for £3 off Amazon.

Ian

I am very conscious that I have not updated for some time. I admire the tenacity of those restorers who keep 'on top of it'.
Work has progressed both at base and in the bodyshop.
Major work on the left hand side had been done using the door that was on BSC 3B when I got her. It was not original due to the earlier accident and when we started to look more closely it was obvious that it would be better to use the more structurally sound door off the Yellow Canary. However, although the door frame was good it looked as though the skin had been attacked by either a Pieterbuilt or a Gattling gun so that needed replacing. So off with the skin.



and on with the new. I am assured that it was not as easy as that. The Dansk skin was a bit of a pig to fit.



But on it went and seems to line up well.
Next was the front wing. Again it was not the original original one but we decided to use it and rework it with the headlamp bowel and indicator housing off the 912 as the rotworm had been active around here.







Coming on.



Then onto the right hand side.
Initial lining up looked good.



Transformed into reality using a front section wing repair panel and new lock panel as before. That's where we are at for the moment. I am trying to source a RH indicator housing (fingers crossed I have one) to back date the front wing which will have to have its (lack of) wing flare seen to as it is actually off an early LWB car.





Me, penny pinching!!!???
Hey - needs must and the whole intention was to use as much original and pieces that were period made in this rebuild.

Next time the oil tank, heater flapper valves and engine grill refurbishment.

HI Ian

Looks like the car is coming along nicely - keep it up.

Good update Ian. Nice progress.!

Hi Ian,

good to see progress - looking good.

Can I ask are you doing any of the welding yourself?
Still toying with the idea of doing some of the welding on my project myself.

All the best
Andrew

Hi Andrew, This job was too big and specialized for my self-taught welding skills. Also the Celette was a must so it needed a place with more room than I have.

Ian

Hi Ian nice to see the car coming on keep up the work and reports.

Hi Ian,

nice to see the progress coming along! best regards Rich

I did not get over to the workshop today but look at what happened!
















And the '65 arch was put in to back-date the better quality '69 front wing. Back-date headlight bucket and indicator housing next.





More soon,

Ian

Lead -loading!
GOOD MAN!

It was Valentines Day when I last submitted progress!!
But things have progressed with the patient. She is now looking much more healthy and I can forsee a full recovery.
Much work has been done to her delicate skin and all grafts seemed to have sealed perfectly.
Here is a series of shots showing the progress to the right-hand side. New lower rear-part of the front wing was created and the previously trimmed-down lip of the wings have been rectified to correct width. Leading followed to perfect the shape. The door had been dented badly but John was able to heat/speed shrink it back to shape and replace the poor section at the lower rear corner. No filler (or 'loy' as he calls it) has been used except for the meerist skim. If I refer to 'bondo' it drives him mad.
Ah - the skill of the man!















The oil tank has been refurbished.



The engine grill has been done. Bit fiddley but my son helped me. So many parts!! The T-pieces came from the States. I actually have done two grills as I want a spare engine lid to carry a period luggage rack (which I have).

Before


and after


Not forgetting the bit in between.


The engine board has been done. It once looked like this...


...and now looks like this. Blue Bosch label has since been added.


I have purchased one of the Australian Pierburg/Bendix pumps. Anyone had any experience of them? I have also reworked my original Bendix pump which seems to work OK but I have no filter for it so maybe an in-line filter is the option. Unless someone knows of an alternative in-body component I can use.
Also I made up an alternative 3-pin CDI board like MT as I had a CDI unit and I like the idea.

Solex carbs have been rebuilt by Chris at Fenn Lane Motorsport. I feel like putting them in a glass case on the sideboard until they are put to use. Lovely job!

More anon

Bit more. Here are the FLN rebuilt Solexes I mentioned.



The gear lever and handbrake have bee refurbished. The leather covers came with the car. Bit of a throw-back to the earlier model but Porsche were using up what stock they had I guess.



The heater valves were of special interest. The ones that originally came with Blue Belle were of a later type and were obviously newer than the car.



They even had the original sticker on them! Still got it tucked away in my file!



But this kind were fitted to post '68 cars so there must have been a problem at some time and they were changed. Interesting as the earlier type were a lot more robust than the later ones. But the later ones were a much cheaper item to make I feel sure.
Luckily the valves on the Yellow Canary were very sound (even if crudded up) so I have used those. Here are the two types side-by-side pre-restoration.







So i managed to get some paint that very closely matched the Koni colour (which is near as dammit to the colour of the valves (?!!)
and refurbished the whole lot (old type and new).







Internally the Yellow Canary ones were in good condition bar one side of the flap-valve. Luckily I had one spare valve so I was able to make amends.
(I didn't need the margarine tub-top for this car Mike!!).

If anyone is stuck for a set of original refurbished post '68 valves then contact me as I am quite willing to sell the spare set I have.

What to do about the wiring harness is a problem. Basically it is complete and relatively good though a bit 'hard'.
Should I get a new one or to go ahead with the original?? Any advice welcome.
I see there is a place in Sandiacre, Notts in the UK who say they make one but otherwise it looks like the continent to me (and lots o' readies'!

More anon

Nice Carbs Ian.

Kroon wiring in Holland are reasonable on a SWB harness comparded to the LWB harness quote i received.

Dave

Just to say the project is still continuing even if a bit slow. Change of jobs and relocation has delayed progress but we are under way again. Right hand side is complete and work is now continuing on the left side. Getting the indicator/horn grill to line up perfectly and look perfect is paramount - so many seem to not line up very well. Once that wing has been fitted to satisfaction, it is back onto the rotisserie to tackle the scuttle drain and lower centre section inside where it meets with the centre tunnel (rust-rat holes).
Should be advancing more rapidly now. Fingers crossed.




Forgot to shut the door!





Just wondering if a finished shell will be my Christmas present...fingers crossed.

However, I have not been idle. I am rebuilding a Vincent Rapide from a big end roller up.... It last ran in late 1970's

I remember one of those indicator housings. Glad it was of use

Looking good. Keep up the good work.

Sean