Reason for my motivation, I'm calling her done for now - Photo Shoot Options

[BPic]

My father had a 1927 Model T and a 1952 MG TD when I was growing up. They sat in the barn and he would always say “I’m going to rebuild them” “We’ll start on them soon”. Well that never happened. They sat for many years and we only drove the MG once and it blew an oil line and was parked. He sold the cars when he moved to Florida. I decided then that I would never have a classic car project that I didn’t have the ways or means to complete it.

A few years ago, my father was diagnosed with dementia and it has gotten progressively worse. He still talks about the cars and wonders what they would be worth if he still had them. We look up prices and he just say’s “shoulda kept them”. This is a weekly occurrence. Dementia sucks, but because everything is new to him, he’s the happiest guy I know. Give him a cold beer and he'll tell you he hasn't had one in years and how good it tastes. It really sucks for my mom and the rest of us to see him like this and to have to watch him constantly.

Last April I started disassembly of my 72 914. I have since replaced the inner passenger long, inner wheelhouse, inner and outer firewalls, passenger engine mount and suspension mount, tunnel, floor boards, battery tray, seat hinges etc. At least once a week I have my mom and dad over for dinner and I always take him out to the garage to show him the car. He always seems amazed that I’m doing it and it’s always the “first” time he’s seen it. After a few months of showing him the car something happened and he started asking to see it before I showed him. He remembered my car. Then he would say “you gotta take me for a ride when your done”. Talk about motivation! I have since sped up the build working 10 hour days every weekend. Week nights are spent researching, planning and buying. I even took 10 days off from work and did nothing but work on this car during my time off. My wife is a saint.

My plan was to post photos of the build as others have here and was planning on taking 2 years to get to the point I am now. Now the only plan I have is to finish it before he forgets everything. So, I haven’t even taken many photos of before during and after. I just get in there to get it done. However, I’m not skimping on quality.

Many of you have assisted in this build, so far, whether you knew it or not. From the build threads to directly answered questions and purchases I have made from members; the assistance is greatly appreciated. I’ve called some of you about parts, engines and other items to purchase and may have sounded like I was interested and then either didn’t respond or just emailed you saying I found something else. I hope I haven’t offended or put anyone off in any way by doing this. I just have to make decisions quickly and I always have the unknown time frame in my mind. So, if I have left you hanging without a response, I apologize. And thank you to everyone here for the assistance thus far. I’m sure I will have lot’s of questions as I enter phase II.

Hopefully it will be in the body shop for paint in March and I’ll start all of the other part reconditioning for the assembly when she returns.

I Can’t wait to take my dad for that ride! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[BPic]

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

Once I got the longs done and the structure sound I had to find an engine mount. I'm surprised that these aren't reproduced by RD. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) @peteyd So bought a used one from AA that looked like this...



After a few hours I had it cleaned up and it looked a lot more respectable.




The suspension console was nerve racking to make sure it was in the correct place. I took about 10 different measurements before removing the old on. Firewall was so rusty I didn't trust that it was not in original specs hence all the measuring.







I also added Cary's Super In Laws kit to tie everything together. Hint on this, make a paper template. It will save you hours of cursing. I'll try to find a photo of the completed suspension console or take a new one. Luckily all my measuring paid off and it landed in the correct spot.

Repaired a few smaller holes in areas I was unwilling to buy new parts for. This is the front footwell behind where the tunnel attaches. It's just roughed in when the photo was taken I did some grinding and filled pin holes and its almost not noticeable. It will also be covered with seam sealer for the most part.





I received a large parts order from RD and a tunnel from Rich at 914 Werke. Tunnel cleaned up real nice. When I saw this sitting next to the car my first thought was"Oh crap what have i done!"



Before starting to add any of the new parts I completely stripped the paint. It was really nice to see her naked! There was only 2 places that had filler and that will be dealt with when she goes for paint. I used a combination of chemical stripper and mechanical sanding with a little glass bead in the tight area. My goal was to turn her over to my paint guy with bare metal. I did some research on flash rustand found a product called Picklex and man this stuff is amazing. Shes been naked for going on 4 months now with zero rust. It is expensive at $200 a gallon but you don't need much and you mist it on, wait a few minutes and wipe it. The only real precaution is to not use a self etching primer over it. My paint guy is now using it and also loves it.

I'll add more later and bring up to speed to where I'm at now... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)

[peteyd]

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

Once I got the longs done and the structure sound I had to find an engine mount. I'm surprised that these aren't reproduced by RD. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) @peteyd So bought a used one from AA that looked like this...

I have that piece scanned and am slowly working on the design of it too.

Pete

[SirAndy]

I have that piece scanned and am slowly working on the design of it too.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)