GT Build; flares add flare |
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GT Build; flares add flare |
Bates |
Jan 8 2018, 07:39 AM
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#1
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Bates Group: Members Posts: 68 Joined: 27-December 13 From: Madison, Virginia Member No.: 16,800 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
After several years of planning and a few 'false starts', I am back working on my 914.
My name is Bates McLain, I live in Madison, Va, and I have always been a car guy/motorhead or what ever you want to call someone who gets pleasure from making old cars beautiful again. I purchased an ex race car because I figured it was easier to civilize a racer into a street car than fix a pile of rusted seams and 50 year old parts, either way I knew the car needed to come apart pretty much totally to have the finished car suit my plan. I owned two 914s previously. First was a 73 1.7 I bought used from the local Porsche/Audi dealer in 1978. I loved the car, incredible fuel mileage, nimble and never a problem with the Alaska Blue Metalic beauty. I was working as a mechanic at a 'foriegn' car repair shop at the time, where i serviced lots of 914s and other cool cars. I sold that car to a customer about 1980. I missed the car afterwards, somehow the Toyota SR5 pickup didnt actually live up to my expectations or Car and Driver's description, "If BMW made a pickup, this is what it would handle like". I bought my second 914 in 1983, a 1974 2.0, Delphi Green, appearance group, gasburner wheels....and again, like new. I only owned this one about 6 months before my plans changed due to purchasing business that would allow me to double my income and work 4 days a week! So another beauty got away, and was back driving a pickup, but I didnt forget how great those little cars were. In 2013 I found a 73 racecar, with fiberglass flares, already had 5 lug suspension, it was a roller, but it had near zero rust. A near blank canvas to build myself a GT. Here is one of the first pictures I took of the car after I flat towed it home; A friend had just purchased a 'Dustless Blasting' system, and his first auto paint removal was my new car. I wanted to see the bare metal of the underside and the known rust trouble spots. We found some rust, but very little. She would need some repairs and alterations, but now I could now see what was under all the darned black paint the P.O. had sprayed on the interior and both trunks and engine compartment. Why do people think race cars need to look like a dark cave inside? No bother all the black cave paint was GONE!! |
Bates |
Feb 1 2018, 12:24 PM
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#2
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Bates Group: Members Posts: 68 Joined: 27-December 13 From: Madison, Virginia Member No.: 16,800 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
After grinding off all of the layers of crappy reinforcements that were stacked on rust, partial welds etc, time to make some pretty repair panels;
Now lay the panel on , start plug welding in the middle and work out. Now reinforce the top of the rear suspension above the console. The previous owner had cut out the rear trunk floor along with the rear suspension console cross member. The arched sheetmetal box section at the rear of the engine compartment opening, and replaced it with 1.5" x .120 wall tubes that were paerially welded in place. This triangle had been 'bugging' me since I bought the car. I had guessed the triangle was heavier that the origional structure and since tthe triangle was only partially wellded ( they welded where it was easy to access- total lack of planning on the part of the welder) You can see the square tube I welded in to the rear diagonals of the roll cage. Just in case things want to tweak. So finally get to see how much the weight difference is.... Stock floor is the lighter in weight. and no doubt stronger, look at the lack of weld on the diagonals; Next reattach the floor and the cross brace. I'll be making my own rear floor section. |
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