356A Coupe restro

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stichill99
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by stichill99 »

Top quality workmanship on a beautiful car. What colour is it going to be this time?
greg356a
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by greg356a »

With regard to colour love the new 911 sport classic heritage car, which is “Sportgraumetallic – M7M” and the stripes are painted in “Sportgrau-Hell – M7L” Interior is Classic Cognac with black pepita centre panel. I was amazed that Porsche Customer Consultation Factory Restauration department took time to respond to my email questions and confirm the colours. May even see some leather samples.

Pete's latest updates
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I believe the rear engine surrounds are available as new metal pressings. We wanted to keep the original 60+ year old sheet steel including all the pitting underneath.

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1963 Karmann Ghia
1959 356A Coupe Outlaw
1957 3.2 Speedster replica
roy mawbey
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by roy mawbey »

Greg,

It may only be small but that 'wired' repair you made and welded in was very nice. Never had to do any wing wiring thank goodness I know there is a machine around that does that, saw it once on a google search . So pleased mine are okay!!
Roy
RHD 356A coupe super 75 106954
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by greg356a »

More updates from the farm, Pete has nearly finished the metal work repairs.

The first batch of repairs is around the engine bay mostly where the past 60+ years of mud and dirt sat.

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Onto the front headlight surrounds, again trying to save as much original metal as possible

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As would be expected the near side is the worst condition

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About 15 years ago I added a couple of switches to the dash, thought it best to ask for the holes to be filled in again. No idea where to put the switches next

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I think Pete is looking at the bonnet next. There is a dip between the scuttle and the bonnet same as my speedster had. With metal of course a pie cut and little pressure should bring the two panels level.

So getting close to moving to body and paint. I believe the guys are looking at lead loading, really looking forward to watch them work with lead
Last edited by greg356a on Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
1963 Karmann Ghia
1959 356A Coupe Outlaw
1957 3.2 Speedster replica
greg356a
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by greg356a »

Think we are on the home straight for metal work repairs.

The following pics cover all the tiny detailed repairs around the front and rear screens. Obviously a few decades of water sitting in and around the rubber seals has caused a lot of corrosion. These areas actually took a lot longer than anyone would have thought.
Before

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After
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No repair panels available for the type of work Pete completed, this is just a small taster of the work
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Last edited by greg356a on Wed Sep 07, 2022 11:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
1963 Karmann Ghia
1959 356A Coupe Outlaw
1957 3.2 Speedster replica
greg356a
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by greg356a »

So the latest update pics show some final repairs. Areas like the ends of the dash board cover, nearside inner arch area, front offside inner spare tire area, have all been addressed. As before host of before and after shots

May have been cheaper to purchase a replica dash part, but we are trying to keep as much original metal as we can
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Not surprisingly the near side inner arch was quite lacey, given 60 years of muck. We actually used left over parts of other panels - front inner wheel arch. Real shame to have to carpet over the finished result.
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Back in the 1960's the then owner managed to drop the car into a ditch causing quite a lot of frontal damage and bent the steering wheel. Also noticed on his driving license which was left in the car he was convicted for speeding :)
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Next task is a little bit indulgent. Massive fan of all things Rod Emory so Pete is working on modifying the front (new) and rear (original) bumpers so that there is an even gap matching the body contours. This small change should make for a clean look but you just cant work out why.
1963 Karmann Ghia
1959 356A Coupe Outlaw
1957 3.2 Speedster replica
sladey
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by sladey »

Nice - I'm also a fan of those subtle changes that make it look better
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young but I'm just backdated yeah
roy mawbey
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by roy mawbey »

Greg, some super photo's there. That metal guy who started all that time ago on your car must by now feel attached to it? He really has done well with many awkward jobs to do. Really shows what rust can do! But it will look great when finished and you have all the proof of what was corrected.

Roy
RHD 356A coupe super 75 106954
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by greg356a »

Hi Roy,

Pete is a freelance metal basher, who is a massive VW fan and took the job in part to work on the 356, and has stuck with it despite the difficulties. :)
1963 Karmann Ghia
1959 356A Coupe Outlaw
1957 3.2 Speedster replica
greg356a
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by greg356a »

Front bumper looking correct with a 10mm gap;

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1963 Karmann Ghia
1959 356A Coupe Outlaw
1957 3.2 Speedster replica
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hashman
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by hashman »

Looking lovely Greg.
How's the engine build going?

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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by greg356a »

Latest picture update.

Still collecting engine parts but items left are all available if a quite expensive

When we originally bought the car there were some parts missing, namely the front seats. Garry at FX Classic has sourced a set of 356B seats but the fixing methods is different and also these are not available via the usual places. I sourced the early 911 rails and 356 runners hoping they would function correctly. Despite approx 10 years difference in the part manufacture and design the 911 rail brackets will work well and look OEM, however, Pete made some inner brackets to support the rail.

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The Talbot mirrors needed some further modification so that the passenger side could be angled to the correct position without leaving a large gap. If you look at the top one the hole is much smaller
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The rear of the car will be carpet only I know very Emory style but I have always liked the look. Again Pete filled in the holes on the rear fire wall which were there for the rear upholstery fixings
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The factory sound proofed the engine fire walls but covered up some fantastic sheet metal engineering. I plan to leave all this on show in body colour. Dynomat or similar should work sufficiently on the inside.


The car gets closer to paint by the week. Its been cleaned inside and out ready for black epoxy before a long period to allow the paint to settle and dry. But its back on the wheels for the first time in months and months
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1963 Karmann Ghia
1959 356A Coupe Outlaw
1957 3.2 Speedster replica
roy mawbey
Put a fork in me, I'm done!
Posts: 1852
Joined: Thu Dec 25, 2008 2:28 pm
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by roy mawbey »

Greg,

A lot of work carried out now on your car some of it not easy work at all. Tell me were the rear suspension shock absorber top mountings in sound condition under the rear wings? You had the interior side panels cut out and replaced with new metal what did the mountings look like okay I presume?

Well done on the effort!! and the photo's !!
Roy
RHD 356A coupe super 75 106954
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by greg356a »

More update pictures on progress. Starting to get into the body prep and paint phase. Its now had 3 coats of anti-corrosive primer which will be left to cure over the next few days. Next task is lead loading around the windows and skim polyester filler around body,

Roy - The shock mounts were ok, no signs of tin worm. I actually did them a few years ago.

Fresh air:
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1963 Karmann Ghia
1959 356A Coupe Outlaw
1957 3.2 Speedster replica
greg356a
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Posts: 860
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:16 am
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Re: 356A Coupe restro

Post by greg356a »

Now at the exciting stage of colours, go the original silver/ red combo, look at period colours that were available, pick a new colour pallet. Maybe not so exciting, more indecision confronted with a whole paint box to choose from. The original paint was long gone many decades ago, so not sure how important originality of the colour really is anymore. Over the years the car has been many colours, silver, blue, red, white, aquamarine, back to silver.

From the 2023 992 sports classic
Sportgraumetallic – M7M Main colour - Modern interpretation of Fashion Grey (61H/modegrau)
Sportgrau-Hell – M7L - wing top triangle racing style stripes
Cognac leather seats, centre pleats black/ white pepita, cognac head rests, oatmeal square weave carpet including whole rear area.

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Colour changes in lighting conditions;
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Really like the period look the colours project, very subtle metallic finish gives a twist to a period colour.
1963 Karmann Ghia
1959 356A Coupe Outlaw
1957 3.2 Speedster replica
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