Motivating Picture

[swapped]

Clearing the clag out of my phone, I found a picture that has done just the job I needed to ramp-up my motivation for some more welding this evening...

Taken on the day I went to get it - Saturday June 10 2006. Look at that sunshine. As I sit here, I've had the 914 for almost exactly 10 months - I think I just set my self a new target for completion of 4 weeks, getting me a dose of driving over the Bank Holiday weekend, and back on the road well ahead of my first anniverary of ownership.

I went down to Poole thinking I might drive it back up (350 miles!), but knowing what I know now about the state of the engine / exhaust / floorpan, I'm glad the handbrake seized-on and I called Green Flag in.



Carl

[912uk]

I remember that car, it was the one the teacher was selling. I was interested in that in a small way.. only cos i wanted to own a 914 to say I had one.. ( should have bought Darrens one )

Never mind mate you will get there. is there much welding to do?

Oh am I right in thinking I need to call you ref Zent cart ops can you pm me your number again sorry.

shame your not closer I could do a trade for some welding for you..

[swapped]

Hey yourself.

Seller was a teacher, yes - Boomy was / is is login, I think.

The welding has been the usual story - MOT due, so had a poke at the bits of the sills that looked a bit dodgy, and I've ended-up replacing much of the floorpan under the driver's side, re-constructing a seat mount, replacing / fabricating the area around the hand brake tubes through the firewall...

I'd never touched a MIG wedler until the last week in February! And as for any concept of fabricating shapes from metal sheet...

All that's left now is what I thought was required when I first prodded the sill - the 'dogleg' (at least, I think that's how it's referred to), which is made mostly of confetti currently, but that will start to get better tonight, plus a couple of small patches around the other side, and it'll be ready for it's (overdue) MOT.

I thought the squeeking over bumps was a dry bushing, you see - until I put strength back into the chassis, and the squeeking stopped!

And my driver's door opens and shuts beautifully now (the first thing I ever welded in anger was a door brace!).

Things would progress more quickly if my novice status didn't require that I spend almost as much time staring and scratching my head as I do welding.

I have some (very poor, very unclear) photos, but you're not getting to see their evidence of my welding learning-curve until I've got that MOT certificate safely in my hands.

I'll PM you my number - but don't rush on my account.

Carl

[912uk]

Sounds like you are making progress so that's the best bit..

Arr welding even I had to call Barry as I had to re teach my self..

I used to do welding all the time years back Stick and Arc Tig alsorts of stuff. when I look back it was a great leaning time.. BUT it was all big heavy stuff and some / most was structual so it had to be welded 100% right or it would fail..

but a car is light and thin so I had to go back to basics and also learn a few things from Barry.

upgrade my welder and buy some Argon gas.

Now life it sweet and welding is easy again.. who ever buys my 65 912 will get a nice sorted car so it's a good one and I enjoyed making sure I did it right rather than do a quick patch..

all good fun.. But avoid welding a 911 under the steering rack area boy oh boy what joy to make that panel..

[boomy]

im still here....lurking....


....didn't know you had had that many probs mate ....dont like the sound of the squeeking chassis !!


I did however sell it for over £1000 less than I bought it the year before and had spent another £1000 in that time sorting the brakes and some other welding....bought it from dynosoar - is he still here with that black retro 911 ? Never heard how that finished...

Anyway, having been driving round in a T3 for the past year, getting the urge for another fourteen or maybe a 912 - but that will have to wait til next year - funds and all that !

Great living in Cornwall, but there are NO early Porkers - well VERY few and even worse, no one to fix anything when it goes wrong !

Have fun driving your fourteens - im ... J E A L O U S

Mark

[swapped]

im still here....lurking....


....didn't know you had had that many probs mate ....dont like the sound of the squeeking chassis !!


I did however sell it for over £1000 less than I bought it the year before and had spent another £1000 in that time sorting the brakes and some other welding....bought it from dynosoar - is he still here with that black retro 911 ? Never heard how that finished...

Mark

Hi Mark - nice to know you are still out there!

I've told you off before about apologising for selling me the car

The work I'm doing at the moment is simply down to the restoration work done before you owned the car (and before Dyno, for that matter), and the fact that it was done quickly and cheaply.

My welding / metal work is more in-depth than I had hoped for, but also more simple in some ways, as pulling apart a rotten panel is far easier when it was only spot / tack welding on in the first place - and I'm seam welding everything (as required by todays MOTs).

I completed the driver's side sill today, and alng with the floorpan work, there is a satisfying lack of squeeking, groaning, door-dropping or any other signs that the car will need welding again in the next ten years.

Carl

[boomy]

Mark