54 356 light resto NZ

[buzz808]

thanks for that,thought i would get more time on it,never seems to happen,hope to get a big chunk done soon though,will keep you up to date
alex

[buzz808]

hi all
cant believe it was february since i last posted,to be fair we i was caught up in this earthquake in NZ,so slowed me down for a bit,but i have just managed to get a bit done over the last few days,i stripped the bonnet and removed the skin,there was a little previous accident damage plus a little rust one the bottom edge,a lot easier to repair once the skin is off,now ready for epoxy primer and back together,also managed to get the jacking point and sill back on,managed to retain the original outer part of the sill,as shown before made new inner parts,happy to also reset up the door good gaps now,bit of finishing around the rear of the sill to guard area then i can start the other side,a few pics,plus thought i would add pic of an rsr i am just finishing just because i love it

[buzz808]

at last managed to get some time on the 356,dosent help i am also doing a 67mini cooper and a 69 911 hotrod at the same time ,plus doing this work for a living,still i am commited to getting the 356 metal work done by christmas,and had a good start this weekend,nothing to exciting,but i have now got the l/h side sill and jacking point on and sorted out door gaps,luckly this side was not as bad as the r/h side again i have managed to retain the outer sill which was mostly solid apart from front section,just dented,new long and jacking point and top of sill section replaced,pics also show rear of car had a lot of damage from whent the car was in the container plus i managed to push the car into a post but a few hours with hammer and dollie came out a treat,now all thats left is the front,let you know how it goes
ps just a heads up for anyone who see this there is a good chance i will be back in the uk early next year,it has been a hard few years here with starting a business then being hit by the earthquake,making christchurch a difficult place to live in at the moment,so we are planing to haul every thing back and i would like to continue with porsche restoration,so if i can help with any upcomming projects,356 or 911,let me know
alex

[cubist]

Lovely job Alex as always... coming back for good? A major upheaval again. Hope it all goes well for you. May well need your services if I don't sell the bugger beforehand!

[buzz808]

mate
if we come back i dont think i will ever move again,its a right game moving your shite around the world,didnt plan on doing it twice,plus i have more cars now if you still have your car more than happy to help,will be nice to do all the shows though,bit slim on the ground here,should know for sure when we are back in the new year,just going to enjoy the summer here
more updates soon
alex

[buzz808]

just a quick update really nothing to exciting,but this does mean just the front to sort now,which is a big job but have a bit of time on the car now over the next few weeks,so hopefully some good results

[roy mawbey]

Alex,

Hope all goes well for you. You do some really lovely work on bodywork. Not many can do that, you really deserve to get work back here. I hope you get settled soon.

Roy

[buzz808]

well what can i say,things just didnt pan out last year as planned ,hardly touched the 356,but did manage to get my other 2 projects in paint,i cant believe its been over a year since i last posted anyway at last managed to get back on the old girl,again redoing some old repairs not to bad but i have gone this far now,all blue paint now removed back to bare metal and in epoxy primer,next week hope to hang doors again for final assemble of front panels again 95%of welding now done,just bits and pieces to go,cant wait for it to be back in one piece again
as for me trying to get back to blighty,who knows its been a trying few years in christchurch the effects of the earthquake are going to be felt for a long time here,but work is good for what i do here so better the devil you know,i know so little of what the uk is like now,maybe a visit back sometime this year,thanks for all the feed back on this car over the last few years,heres a few photos
http://s4.photobucket.com/user/buzz808/ ... ort=3&o=38
http://s4.photobucket.com/user/buzz808/ ... ort=3&o=36
http://s4.photobucket.com/user/buzz808/ ... ort=3&o=25
http://s4.photobucket.com/user/buzz808/ ... ort=3&o=16
http://s4.photobucket.com/user/buzz808/ ... sort=3&o=9
http://s4.photobucket.com/user/buzz808/ ... sort=3&o=2
http://s4.photobucket.com/user/buzz808/ ... sort=3&o=0
http://s4.photobucket.com/user/buzz808/ ... sort=3&o=5

[Gary71]

Good to see the project is still progressing!

Sorted the links for you:

[Bootsy]

Good to hear from you Alex and that NZ is working out. Must be tough to recover from the quake. Easy to to forget about it all when sitting on the other side of the world and assume all is fine.
Good to see the car progressing. That light resto has gone a bit deeper!

[buzz808]

its been a while since i have been on photobucket,this is the best i can do,i dont know how to turn them back into photos,never had a problem before but now photobucket seems to have changed alot supposedly for the better anyway if you can change them again gary much appreciated
thanks also for the encouragement on this project bootsy i need it ,we are now going into winter so hopefully many late nights ahead on this car,sorted a few bits around the front area and r/h wheel well now welded in,final adjusting of doors next step is fitting of front panels,the end is in site but still a bit to go
until next time a few photos
alex

[buzz808]

hooray,at last we have the front back on,and what a mission it was,i have to admit had a help here from a good mate (cheers ola)and top panelbeater(oldskool) i just run out of time to much other work,just a few bits around the front to do,fender braces ,headlight buckets and a bit of gap finishing,then on to the primer stages,at lask,its been a long haul,but this is a major step done,i have interior samples on there way from usa,will be going with original yellow interior,tan carpet /headliner,should look a little different,
thanks for the support
alex


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/b ... CT1137.jpg
http://s4.photobucket.com/user/buzz808/ ... sort=3&o=8
http://s4.photobucket.com/user/buzz808/ ... sort=3&o=2

[roy mawbey]

Well done Alex, there has been a lot of work done there. Photo's always make it so easy to do!

Probably the correct decision to stay where you are, a lot of hassle to move all that so far.

Roy

[buzz808]

wow i cant believe how long since i have been on this site,nothing much to report on the 356 really its kind of stalled,but i have an excuse was finishing a few other projects,my hotrod 912>3.0 screamer is about finished and sold,also managed to finish off a 71t with a s spec motor(gemini blue metallic)but also sold,so left with my old trusty 74 911,just a quick tidy up,lose the sunroof,no other real welding,just about 10 coats of paint to remove,paint into lime green,rs inspired interior,job done,a few build up photos below,i just might keep this one for a while,or at least until 356 finished,
so thats my excuse for lack of 356 progress hopefully next time will have some better news
alex
nz

ps info on photos ,white car started as 912,now finished with 3.0 carb motor and singer inspired interior,in photos stripes on bumpers are to wide this has all been sorted now
the blue car 71t with s spec motor and recaro spots seats,started as the copper coloured car
lastly the red car 74 911,my keeper car(for while anyway)now lime green,rs inspired interior

[jjeffries]

Lovely quality work, the 356 metal repairs and the 911 paint. John in CT (USA)