Olympic Blue / Silver metallic 1972 US Import 1.7L

[LMR]

Thank you Darren. I might take it home and have a relaxing evening sorting it. Okay, I admit it, I need to get out more

Chief, iPhones are expensive, and need replacing more often when exposed to dust or white spirit fumes....... As you know, everything in the potting shed gets bagged up!!

[LMR]

Roll on tomorrow. Work has been going on with my car, I can't wait to see it.

Also, my postman has been busy this week. It wasn't a deluge of valentine's day cards, it has been many parcels of parts

[LMR]

So, lots has happened this week

I forget sometimes how far my car has come. This was how the fuel tank area was after the tank was removed



And it now looks like this



Rear boot



Boot floor close up



Engine bulkhead



Battery tray



Bulkhead



Front luggage compartment (look at the reflection!!)



Mark has once again worked his magic with the spray gun. And I am a very happy owner!!

[chief]

It doesn't get much better than that!
Well done Phil, brilliant effort.
I'll be over to inspect!!

[Mr Pharmacist]

Looks fantastic!

[LMR]

More work today. Paint to the floor of the tub. It could have been done with the same paint as the rest of the car, but no one will ever see the area again, it will get covered with sound deadening and with carpets, and I had paint from another project. That is my excuse and I am sticking to it!



I will also be doing some areas matt black to avoid silver showing through between various bits of trim.

I am working through my stored parts to make sure they are ready to fit. The shroud that goes over the steering rack to column joint had clearly seen better days. I have checked with my OPC and the part is no longer available.



I tidied up the edges with a dremel, used a soldering iron to "weld" some mesh to bridge the hole. I then used a JB weld two pack product to bridge the hole. The mesh is to the left of the photo



I was about to send the alternator off for reconditioning, but remembered it was seized solid. I thought I really ought to inspect it to see it's condition.

Nothing was shifting, and my bearing puller couldn't get purchase, so I made my own puller



After a bit of spannering, grunting and moaning, I had to apart on the bench



I cleaned up the faces, and reassembled, and it now spins freely, so I will send it off to be reconditioned

And I have had several deliveries this week, all of which will make reassembly easier



I like shiny stuff!!

[chief]

More fantastic work Phil!
Cracking to see these cars having some proper love and attention lavished upon then. It's a credit to you sir. I doth my cap

[Darren C]

Great work

It's a nice time now in the restoration. All your hard work is paying off. The cars going to be a little gem.

[911hillclimber]

LMR:
You have pm from me.
Thanks.

[LMR]

So, I spent my Sunday like lots of the population and vacuumed my car today. But obviously it being my 914, it wasn't carpets I was vacuuming. With all the work that has been going on, I figured it would be worth ensuring all of the cavities are as clean as can be, and any grindings or arisings from the bodywork are removed. So I went through my cupboards and found various diameters of hose which I then attached to my vacuum and got into various cavities.



I appreciate this is somewhere between good preparation and OCD, but hey, it makes me happy and keeps me off the streets!!

I also squirted some of this in



The car will get a good dose of Dinitrol when it is more progressed.

I also stripped the non functioning blower fan, found a dry joint, soldered it, and it now works - result!! It does look pretty second hand at the minute, so I reckon its a candidate for a strip and rebuild.

[chief]

Is that out of your hair dryer Phil?

[LMR]

Chief

As you well know, I have little need for a hair dryer. The gentle breeze created in the short walk from the bathroom is enough to dry my hair! But I do want a car with heating, so the fan is mega important.

Darren

Yes, you are right, this is a great point to be at. I hope some parts will start getting refitted over the next couple of weekends. Albeit I am now worried about scratching the paint. I reread my first post the other day. My intention was just to get the car back together and run it in a shabby state. Where did I go wrong.......

[Darren C]

Yep, where did you go wrong

Have a good look at the fan bearings. When I did mine I had to shim out the end float as the fan was rubbing on the casing under load. Had to turn a shim washer to fit under the impellor.

[LMR]

Darren

Mine isn't rubbing, it is locked when screwed in to the housing. The issue is partly down to the fan having "grown" with corrosion. I will be cleaning it up and will then look to see if I need to shim it. Thanks for the tip!

[LMR]

I have a few questions;

I have read the debate about master cylinder bore sizes. Before I by a new M/C, has anyone successfully rebuilt their current one? I am going to strip mine and inspect it.

Brake discs. Where to buy from? UK, main land Europe, or USA

Brake pipes. Make my own or source pre made? I was about to start making some then noticed Pelican Parts do a pre made kit.