356 restoration question

decapman · Post by **decapman** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:39 pm

I have read several times now that 356 body restoration isnt straight forward or simple.
Anyone care to enlighten me whats so different?

Lightweight_911 · Post by **Lightweight_911** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:31 pm

356's were essentially handmade & used a lot of lead to blend the curves where adjacent panels meet hence virtually everything needs to be 'fettled' to fit.

Hendrik Moulds · Post by **Hendrik Moulds** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:38 am

Thing is if you don't get the door and bonnet shuts perfect with even gaps etc then the car will look terrible.
Unfortunately this is very difficult and time consuming to achieve.
Also because the body is "on piece" in other words no seperate wings and lots of curves it's easy to get wrong. It's not that it's different particularily just hard (and expensive) to get right.

Rustbucket · Post by **Rustbucket** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:37 pm

I did all my own work and its all do-able.
I agree that there is a load of lead work on the original car but that basically means that the pics you see of these amazingly worked all metal repairs at mega bucks are actually better workmanship than what was on the car in the first place!
I've yet to really put my car together properly to check the gaps etc but for me its fine.
I think the main problem is there literally isnt a straight line on the body to work from other than the lower door sill. Most of it is by eye.
As for panels- The sill closing panel I got in was a good 4 inches too long..........scary!
D

decapman · Post by **decapman** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:38 pm

Thanks guys

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:06 pm

Marcus,

Very sensible points by these guys. It does come down to the fact the car is all curves and the body panels are not bolt on. The rigidity is because the body and chassis platform box sections are as one. The underneath and the amount of rust as no doubt you are aware with your early RHD 911S is also important from a working point of view. The body you can work around if you are doing the work yourself because you can get at it, Different case with the underneath! Now days these rotisseries are the thing to have makes life easier. I did mine using a full length pit and all sorts of lifting gear to get at the items to weld. ( and note that even though my car was actually in reasonable condition and still has original battery box, 70% of the original sills with their jacking points it was still a really long job and tiring!)

I now think the best way would be on the spit. So you can see really why people end up paying and just how many hours it can take.

I think most things can be achieved but you really have to want to do it if you are doing the work!

Below a picture of my car from above. It really shows the difficult curves.

[img][img]http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq15 ... CF0029.jpg[/img][/img]

As a test for me! I am now entering another photo of my dashboard to see if a second photo is up loaded okay.
[img][img]http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq15 ... CF0020.jpg[/img][/img]

Roy

rocket280 · Post by **rocket280** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:21 pm

I would say that the restoration of the body is more straight foward than a lot of classic sports cars when you consider the amount of repro panels available.

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:29 pm

I have to say with my Pre A I want to do it well and I want to do it once. Much like Roy's car..take the time invest in doing it well and it should reward you with years to come..

Not sure what FH thought I was doing with the car but I am really trying hard to get as sensible to orginal as I can..

at the moment the car is resting on it's side while I wait for warmer weather to get back into the floor resto.. not alot to do but taking my time .. the area I am worried about is this rear of the front wings on both sides a common place to rust.. for a car this old and to have SO very little rust I guess I can't complain really

but with out the spinny thing I made I couldn't do as good a job as scrabbling around under neath..

best thing I ever made I am sure some one will buy it off me afterwards..

funny thing is when it's on it's side it takes up less room in the work shop

roy mawbey · Post by **roy mawbey** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:31 am

Now that is the way to do it!!! I only wish I had that "spinny thing" in the 70's.! It makes everything so much easier. I am sure you will find someone interested in buying that when you are finished.

So right, spend all the time possible to get it to your satisfaction then when you look at it 5 years on its won't niggle you.

Bet that car will look nice when its finished.

Roy