73T - Brake and Suspension Refurb - Recap

Highfield · Post by **Highfield** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 3:45 pm

I have today got the car to the position where it can be lowered on to all four wheels, nearly one year on from the DDK Welsh run and the holiday week that followed to take the car off the road and get the brake and suspension refurb started.

It has been a really good journey, starting from this :-

and going to this :

Along the way I have spent hundreds of hours (and many more pounds), had cuts and bruises, but really enjoyed what I have learnt.

Parts are too many to list. but here are some of them :-

Powder coated everything that I could
Passivated everything that I could
ER Polybronze bushings throughout
ER A-Arm Brackets
ER Front and rear monoballs
ER Strut Brace
New 19mm and 26mm Torsion Bars
SAW Adjustable Spring Plates
Wevo E-Z Pins
Refurbished aluminium crossmember and rear control arms
Refurbished Bilstein Struts and new custom valved inserts
New Bilsten Sprint rear shocks
Refurbished and powder coated oil tank
Carbon-12 4 and 6 pot calipers
Carrera rotors
Ferodo DS3000 pads
Turbo Tie Rods

If you want to follow the posts, just do a search for author 'Highfield' and a title of '73T - '.

Although nearly there, the car needs to be trailered to Tuthills for them to double check all my work and to fully corner weight, align and setup the handling as per their fast tramac cars.

It will then be returned to me, ready for a few winter jobs before going off for some minor paint refresh and factory race striping.

Ian

Dakota · Post by **Dakota** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:33 pm

Wow
this has been up for over a day and so far no remarks about Tuthills have been tacked on , your handiwork looks very effective , Bill.

Dakota · Post by **Dakota** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:36 pm

Me again
you didn't mention the turbo tie rods , nice easy cost effective mod and where did you source the rear shocks ? Bill

Highfield · Post by **Highfield** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:17 am

Dakota wrote:Wow
this has been up for over a day and so far no remarks about Tuthills have been tacked on , your handiwork looks very effective , Bill.

Bill

I personally have no problem dealing with Tuthills, as I am sure do many others, both on this board and elsewhere. I bought the base car from them, and they ahve advised me on parts and then supplied them to me. They have provided lots of 'free' advise and help, and are more than happy to collect the car from me, inspect it and fully set it up as they would for a fast tarmac rally car, and then return to me - with an MOT.

I will then do other odds and ends and then have the paintwork done.

Ian

Highfield · Post by **Highfield** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:18 am

Dakota wrote:Me again
you didn't mention the turbo tie rods , nice easy cost effective mod and where did you source the rear shocks ? Bill

Bill

My post updated with the Turbo Tie Rods

Tuthills supplied custom revalved front inserts and the matching rear sprint spec. shocks.

Ian

ian cox · Post by **ian cox** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:35 am

Hi Ina,
Absolutley top draw work.
It shows what can be achived with some patience and your own time.
When I did the same to my 2.7 RS the handling was transformed.
Once it is lowered, geometrey done and then corner weighted you will need more power. Another project then?

911hillclimber · Post by **911hillclimber** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:09 pm

Looks great and will drive better.
Just got to keep it looking that good!

Early 911's are so simple and so effective,

Remember to fit really good tyres to compliment the mods.

Highfield · Post by **Highfield** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:48 pm

ian cox wrote: Once it is lowered, geometrey done and then corner weighted you will need more power. Another project then?

Indeed the power issue is one that will need to be addressed, but I need to give it close thought - budget is very low now

A 3.0SC will drop in and could be used as a temporary powerplant whilst something was done with the original engine (keeping it more period).

Would love a 2.5SS or 2.7RS spec. engine but $$$

Ian

Highfield · Post by **Highfield** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:50 pm

911hillclimber wrote:Looks great and will drive better.
Just got to keep it looking that good!

Early 911's are so simple and so effective,

Remember to fit really good tyres to compliment the mods.

Keeping it clean will indeed be a challenge - that is why I have so many photos, to remember it as it was, once it is dirty.

I would like to go to a set of 7R spec. rear wheels, and then change the tyres as a set to fit 6 & 7 X15 - say 195 / 215 ??? but will need a budget first - as with everything, it comes down to £££.

Ian

ian cox · Post by **ian cox** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:20 pm

Hi Ian,
I am in the process of rebuilding a 2.2S motor and a 2.5ST with MFI for my replica.
I know the costs involved and you are looking aorund £10k for a standard mfi rebuild if B&P's are needed and £20k+ for an ST like motor. Rebuilt 2.7 RS motors are around £15-£20k I guess.
Your T engine is on 7.5:1 compression so getting the compression upping to S or higher specification would surely be the most cost effective may to go.

johndglynn · Post by **johndglynn** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:45 pm

Looks great mate, a 3 litre in there will kick ass on track.

My '71 T gets here next month. It has a 2.2E motor but I plan to go 3 litre, so I'll be leaning on Tuthill's expertise also.

Looking forward to swapping cars and comparing notes when my longhood's up and running

Highfield · Post by **Highfield** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:20 pm

John

Knew you were thinking of taking the plunge - well done.

Ian - yes engine prices are scary. A 2.2S piston set, E/S/Solex cams and 'S' ports would really make for a nice upgrade to mine, but would need all the labour as well as parts.

A job for 2010 / 11 perhaps.

I would be prepared to pop a 3.0 litre in as a temporary power plant.

Ian

Highfield · Post by **Highfield** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:55 pm

Spke to Paul at Tuthills and the car should be collected next week, so it can be checked and returned for when I am back from the US.

Final few jobs today were to bleed the brakes, sufficiently that they at least stop the car, torque a few nuts and fit the correct length caliper bolts. Cleaned off the wheels and then drove the car all of 25m.

Here it is off the ramp and looking rather nice - although pictures don't show the poor paint on the luggage lid

Ian

johndglynn · Post by **johndglynn** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:27 pm

Yes mate, that front end looks peachy keen

scalino65 · Post by **scalino65** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 2:37 pm

Ian,
Any idea on what a 3litre motor would cost including getting it in there? I've been looking at this route myself in relation to potential purchase. Couldnt really get a clear figure myself. One from a scrapper seems to be 3k.
The other concern was in relation to making the car "non-matching" numbers by going to 3 litre. Would you keep the 2.4 or sell it on? I suppose i'm slightly hung up on building something i want vs. concerns over whether i'd be de-valuing a car. Maybe teh solution is simply never to sell!
Car looks great. By the way, I think I met you at Tuthills on the day you picked it up (September-ish 2006?)
Cheers.