Panel stiffness, Door metal thickness Options

[porschefile2010]

I wouldn't mind some input from the USA if possible.
Down here in NZ 914's are a rarety and my 75 2.0 is the only one I have really been close to and there are no others handy to check out.
I am bare metalling the car to go back to original- so paint strip, rust kill, etch prime etc.
I have noticed when I have been scraping the paint off the panels ( it's had three repaints)that the door panels have a hell of a lot of flex. The rear guards have a small amount, the fronts not too bad, but the doors! Are they all like this. There doesn't seem to be any side bars inside and they flex probably as much as 1/4 inch in the softest patches.
The doors are absolutely rust free and original paint right back to the first coats so it doesn't look like there has been any bodgy repairs.
So, question is this normal and if so filling and fairing must be tricky as it seems a difficult job bogging a flexi surface and then boarding it down to a fair surface?
Thanks

[Tom_T]

Yes, the relatively flat & thin panel skins were/are notorious for flex, & therefore prone to door dings, folks leaning on deck lids, push starts using the edge of the rear trunk/deck lid, etc. It's what helped keep our 914s around 2200 pounds!

I'd suggest using minimal pressure & lots of care when sanding on those door skins & other panels - or better yet, use a media blasting or chemical stripper which won't require your hand/arm pressure. If you need to push areas out, the sand-bag/beanbag technique is one that the best body guys use on them (I am nowhere near a master nor practitioner of the craft, but have seen it done expertly).

BTW - great work by your All Blacks last Fall! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon_bump.gif)
... although the rucking has sure changed from my days in the 1970s-80s & looks more like loitering now!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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