DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

I've discussed this with Gary when I went to se the shell a month ago.
When I re-did my 911 I used thin caulking, 3m stuff and every gap grew by a 1mm or so. The bolts will not evenly squeeze the mastic out and the mating surfaces will not remain flat but will belly between fixings. I regretted it.

Gary has internal splash shield on this car like the plastic ones on a modern car which will stop a lot of wheel spray, and silicon on the top groove of the inner/outer wings will seal well, the rubber bonnet seal should add to that but also will hold water caulking or not.

IMHO, I'd go for the panel gap which on this shell has to be seen to be really appreciated.

Talking of gaps… I’ve not touched the car recently, but had a couple of hours this afternoon and finished the build of door #1. I need a new chrome trim but apart from that it’s fully built.

I temporarily fitted the door seal and then pulled the latch back in a mm to get it back flush.

Happy with that

I think you know more about this than me, but when I worked in Body in White (in the late '80's) the 'measure' of seal compression was to trap a piece of photocopier paper between the seal mating face and the panel closing on it and when latched to get the body surfaces true the paper should be a good pull to remove it without tearing it.

If the paper tore then the door could bounce out without latching or go to first safety.

This ensured the door closed with a 'Honda Thunk' as Chrysler/GM used to tell me.

At the time the Honda Accord was THE benchmark in the USA.

Xmas coming Gary, max attack!

It’s certainly got the Porsche ‘clang’ at the moment needs a bit more trim before getting a clunk

I’ve been distracted this morning by replacing the window lift on my wife’s TT. Had to send my son on an emergency mission to the local Audi dealer as plastic clips and 2DegC don’t mix!

Then finally did the wax injection this afternoon, right up inside the quarters, down the back of the kidney bowls inside the parcel shelf, you name it, it got injected!

After a bit of a wipe down I fitted a few grommets and I’m now ready to get the wing back on tomorrow before pulling the other one off and repeating the process.

On mine the doors are really loose without the rubbers but the rubbers are very firm, so once added the door close is really positive and requires a surprisingly hard slam.

Got the LH front wing and fuel bowl all done today. I’m not entirely happy with the wing finisher, but it will do for now until I get around to buying another.
I’ve not put any sealer in the join as I didn’t want to mess the alignment, so a thick layer of Dinitrol both sides, then poured some more (maybe too much ) into the gap before a bead of sealer to finish. Other side tomorrow.

You going for black bumpers now then Gary?

That’s the plan, never going to rot

Gary71 wrote:That’s the plan, never going to rot

… love an optimist

Won't rot in his/out/my life time!

Wish I had done the same 2 years ago, but used the caulking tape, big mistake for me. Gaps grew 1mm and the tape picked up on all the course thread bolys and dragged lots of it out of the panel gap.

Guess it's meant to do that to give a primary seal on the bolt before the fibre washer takes over.

Got a week to yourself almost now Gary, press on!

Done the LH wing this morning, so both fitted for good now

Just dug the fuel tank out of the shed, needs a bit of external TLC, but clean inside.




Our Xmas plans have been cancelled (thanks Covid…) so I will give myself the present of a few hours on the car

Painting in the same garage as your fresh shell… what could possibly go wrong?

Tank was a little flaky in places where it’s scuffed the floor and around where the foam seal sits so cleaned it all back and gave it a coat of Raptor.
Or more like three coats as I had a whole can to use up

Great to see Gary….the green is such a cool colour….

Finally it has a face!
Fuel tank painted this morning and fitted, headlamp looms installed and then bolted up the lights and grills this afternoon.
When they went back exactly as they did before paint it makes the 50+ hours I put into the fitment, including realigning a headlamp bowl, worthwhile.
Still lots to do on the side/indicator housings and fit all the seals before they are done, but you get the idea.

Looks like a car again now, stunning!