Okay gang. Time for the promised update....
Last we left the many and varied hairbrained schemes of our Chief, we had got caught up in a 'War Of The Worlds' theme posting....
Well this time we are just going with the facts.
After putting paint on many of it's underneath body parts it was time to get back to welding and grinding again. The next phase was one I was not looking forward too. This being the side sills and front and rear aprons. There was going to be a lot of measuring, fabrication and head scratching.
Sooo the 914 has had whopping steel arches fitted, now that is not delicate by any means, however the car is slim waisted much like the famous Lamborghini Muria....
Right, so the key here is not to extend those massive arches into the lower metalwork and make them look bulky.
Now the metal sill panel fits against the body at about a 15 degree angle. The arch the extension needs to be at a different angle otherwise the gap from the arch to extension would be huge. This means making up the panel at a jornty angle! I first cut the sill down and pressed a step into the panel to allow me to puddle weld the new piece in place.
After some more welding and grinding we start to see where I was heading.
finished one, then had to replicate it for the other side which is seen above.
A few pictures of how I constructed the 'Shoes' as I have taken to calling them.
Here you can see the odd angles that have to be created.
Now onto the rear valance. This was tricky as it fits the body very differently to the side sills.
You can see here the shape I have managed to achieve. Keeping that slim waist into the ground.
I de-constructed the strengthening structure around the exhaust exit and welded in a blanking piece.
Next phase was the beaten to death front valance. The one I have was very, very poor, but you cannot find these things anymore.
You see what I was up against!
Well, cut out the bad, then weld in the good!
New wider, stronger fitting brackets installed.
Again, delicate is the way. So very slim wasted 'shoes' here...
TADARRRRRRRRRRR
Finished body parts fitted.
Next, with all the construction finished. Time to clean paint and seam seal.
After the sealer was on it was time to mask off all the fitting point for the suspension. We don't want stone chip to interfere with parts fitting after paint.
At the moment (when PeterS popped in to see progress) i'm bagging up the body for stone chip tomorrow (Saturday).
I'm going with the 3M stone chip which has cost a huge amount of money, but I feel only the best will do. Although after paying for it i'm starting to question that decission!
Wish me luck for tomorrow as I prepare to spray 30 bags of 3M's finest.
Peace out,
Chief
