1987 3.2 Carrera Backdate project - Sladeys hotrod

[KS]

I was quite flattered by the interest in my car, unfortunately some prat had parked some blue boy racer thing in front of it all weekend.....

[sladey]

Gone a bit quiet over the last month. This isn't and indication of any lack of activity with the car though - since getting back from CLM I've been driving it to and from work every day and gradually working down my snagging list

This included:-
- fitting the rest of the interior bits and bobs (door frame seals, rear cappings, footrest etc etc)
- fitting the high level rear light (this time a proper FIA one to replace the two crap maplin ones that died after just a few goes - still working OK
- cleaned all the bits of polish splatter that I could find
- fitted fuel breather tank and connected it up
- connected the aerial to the radio - which was great until I hit a pigeon with it. Now ordered another aerial
- sprayed dinitrol on the underside and then wax on top. Then sprayed wax into the sill cavities. Also painted the oil pipes black
- refitted my lokari wheel arch liners (these are on their last legs - they attached rubber seals to alu liners with steel staples - what did they think would happen? The alu is crumbling away) - they will protect the wheel arches for another year though
- and today I've checked and adjusted the tappets. A few of them had moved a bit but not much. Mike told me I'd need to do this when I got back from France

It's surprised me how many jobs still needed doing

Currently awaiting delivery of a new single out custom backbox from turbo Thomas which should be a bit quieter than the current one - hoping to get that fitted before the Scottish trip.

I've also picked up some cheap insulation from B&Q to replace stuff I removed from under the carpets in the rear footwell - aiming to do that before the Scottish trip

Yesterday I popped down the see chris at centre gravity. The car went to him a years ago to sort out my elephant racing front poly bushes. Unfortunately they were fitted on the wrong sides after - they functioned fine but it meant the nipples snapped off. I contacted chris about it a year ago he said it was not problems and let me know when I was ready for him to sort it out

Been a bit busy for the last 9 months so took it down yesterday. It quickly became apparent that the old nipples weren't coming out without some careful pillar drill action so Chris took the bushes off his own car and let me have those instead. Whilst there he checked the settings and found one of my rear wheels was way out for toe in. Chris adjusted this - (and the front toe in) and then took me on a test drive to make sure it was OK. He wouldn't take payment for this extra work and apologised for the original mistake.

Chris is a pleasure to deal with both as a really nice bloke and also as an absolute perfectionist.

While the car was up on hyenas ramps I was as able to go over it carefully and note stuff that still needs doing - things that aren't normally visible. None of it urgent and nothing to worry about.





I was already happy with how it was driving but looking forward to driving it again now - really looking forward to the Scottish trip part this week

[sladey]

Forgot to add - also became a media tart in 911 & Porsche world



Apart from calling an SC and saying I built the engine myself (it was down to the sage of the lakes with me bolting a few bits in at the end) it's a nice article by uncle Keith - the kids were impressed which is no mean feat.

[DustyM]

Nice update Mark, pretty soon though you'll have all the jobs done, what will you fill your tinkering time with then?

[sladey]

I've got the interior next! Pair of seats to dye, new carpet throughout, soundproofing, and doing something with. The dash and gauges to make them more retro

Actually, before that I've got to fit my hot rod peep mirror - that's the next job

After all that, maybe another look at the suspension - front monoballs need a rebuild and the elephant racing bushes are a little tired.

Then brakes

Then induction system

Then who knows?

The car is definitely a forth road bridge job though - there's always something I want to do to it

[KS]

Forgot to add - also became a media tart in 911 & Porsche world



Apart from calling an SC

These late-models all look the same to me...

[jury]

Nice update Mark, and the magazine article is a fitting tribute. Might need to get myself a copy

[sladey]

Forgot to add - also became a media tart in 911 & Porsche world



Apart from calling an SC

These late-models all look the same to me...

My eyesight's deteriorating too Keith

[sladey]

Nice update Mark, and the magazine article is a fitting tribute. Might need to get myself a copy

It's not about my car as such - it's just discussing the different routes to take if you choose to restore your car. Mine is given as an example of one road and Darren's as another road

[sladey]

Quick update:-

The Scottish tour came and went. The tour was magnificent until I broke down just north of the northernmost point of the tour!

I badly grounded the front of the car (the skid plate behind the fuel tank) and the force of the impact dislodged some crap into the fuel pump, blocking it. There followed a day and a half long, 5-lorry relay back home.... I'm still married, which is nice.

The starter motor had also started playing up during the trip so the next week-end I installed a new fuel pump (getting a petrol manicure in the process.....) and removed and tested the starter motor. It tested fine on the bench but once back in the car it wouldn't engage - just a loud whirring sound. This is one of those edge high torque jobbies.

We tested it a few times and couldn't suss out the problem - the engine/gearbox is properly earthed. I took it apart a bit and cleaned/regreased the solenoid end and the hi-torque gearing but still no joy. Eventually ordered a rebuilt stock starter which I fitted last Thursday. Works perfectly. No mess, no fuss. Also had to order the proper allen-headed nuts - the top fitting is too tight to take a normal nut and if you use one you can't get it tight enough so eventually it slips back a bit and chews your ring gear (not something I'd recommend) - another one to chalk up to your friendly neighbourhood porsche 'specialist'. The proper nut tightens up a treat with the help of a cut down allen key.

Following the rebuild I was having real difficulty in engaging 5th (and to a lesser extent 3rd and 1st wasn't great either). JohnM suggested on the Scottish trip this might be an adjustment issue and the more I thought about it the more this seemed to make sense. Sure enough now I've put it back together carefully it's changing gear really nicely again.

Had a great run out to Classics at the Castle yesterday - the car behaved really well - even to the point that the clock appeared to heal itself - it's not been working since the rebuild and has suddenly started keeping perfect time. Marvellous

At Headingham I also collected a bonnet prop that Andy (Haasad) very kindly made for me (beautiful piece of work - expect pictures to follow), and bought another replacement aerial (third so far)

The oil light has come on again but the pressure is fine and the oil level hasn't moved since the rebuild. Think I'll replace the sensor (when I find out which one it is...)

Oh and I think I've finally got a name for the car. 'Wip' - as in Work In Progress. We'll see if the name sticks....

Cheers

Mark

[sladey]

Since last update I've still been working on the car - but now it's every Saturday only.

Fitted a new aerial, replaced the front monoballs (they've been knocking for the last 2 years) with super pro ones.

This week I found the rear light weren't working at all; on Wednesday the knob flew out of the handbrake and on Friday night the drivers window stuck in the down position.

Rear lights just took new bulbs (LEDs); the handbrake knob just screwed in; still having trouble with the windows but they are working for now - believe I've got a dickey switch.

So that's the housekeeping done, now for some fun stuff

I bought one of these in the summer


And yesterday was my first chance to fit it



It normally fits by grub screws going through the two holes and gripping the door frame. I didn't want that and had my eye on the two existing screws in the top of the door frame.

First job is to cut off the right angled bit - which you can see I've done in the above piece

I then welded on a new piece of steel, and ground it smooth so I was left with this


This fits into place nicely


Then drilled the holes


Then using a punch to recess the hole a bit (it's resting on a small socket)


Then started chamfering the holes


This is part way through the trial fitting - still not chamfered enough


Here's the finished bracket before paint


And then fitted




I'm pretty pleased with it. The fitting looks neat, and suitably 'hot rod'. It's also quite useful and covers my blind spot (and also makes it legal!)

[haasad]

That's really nice. Might nick the idea.

Andy

[sladey]

Thanks

[Ralph]

What LED lamps/bulbs did you use? I am just about to sort my R lights and have not yet sorted the lamps.

Cheers,

[sladey]

I can't remember what I used for the brake lights - I ordered them online, but the ones I got on Saturday were from Halfords - they only sell 2 festoon white LED ones and I bought both (a 4 LED and a 2 LED - I fitted the 4 LED one)

EDIT - here's the link

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs- ... bulb-white