This is what it looked like when I got it:
Now before I get to describing what I'm aiming to create and where I've got to so far, I need to set expectations of the pace of this project. I intend to try and do the vast majority of the work myself because I enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of the hands-on nature of the work (esp. compared to working in IT for living). I also want to understand how everything works so that I can continue to fix it. I think it might take me getting on for 1000hrs (because I'm slow & meticulous and only modestly proficient on the tools)...and I'm only talking about the hands-on work so excluding the vast amount of research and learning I've got to do. I reckon if I get 250hrs done (in my "spare time") per calendar year then that'd be quite good so I'm looking at 4-5+yrs to finish this with a fair wind and no unforseen significant interruptions
. I tend to get less done in the longer, warmer days because I don't feel like locking myself away inside the garage but on the many dark, cold and miserable Scottish evenings the garage is where you'll find me. So, there may not be so much progress for the coming few months while I make the most of the better weather.What I am after building is something really classy, traditional-looking narrowbody along these lines:
Colour - Underneath the 80s red paint, I've uncovered the original colour. It's a kind of royal blue sort of colour and from researching MY66 912s colours I am fairly sure it is (dark) Gulf Blue (#6603) like the example above. At present I am thinking of putting it back to that original colour.
Wheels - by default fuchs will look great but I might try and go for something a bit different that maybe hints a bit more at the hotrod nature of the car but this decision is a long way off yet.
LWB - one perhaps controversial point is that my car came as a LWB (due to the '73 RSR look) so with LWB trailing arms. I want to stick with that because I like the slightly flared rear quarters of the '69 911/912s. I've done some reading up on Pelican Parts Forum of the ins-and-outs of a SWB->LWB conversion. It's been done and seems doable with modest fettling. I'll focus on this point specifically later on in a subsequent post but early thoughts/warnings welcomed!
Engine - haven't got too far with plans on this yet but would like to ditch the MFI in favour of electronic fuel injection - such as Jenvey Heritage kits - but otherwise keep it fairly stock but probably E cams (DC30 cams maybe?). Really haven't figured much of this out yet though.
Next post (in a few days or so) I'll describe where I've got to and the blocker I've hit that I need help with.
