Fred's Backyard LE Restoration Options

[930cabman]

Better than new! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Fred gets my nomination for restoration of the year (maybe decade)

all being done in the outdoors

[friethmiller]

Better than new! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Fred gets my nomination for restoration of the year (maybe decade)
all being done in the outdoors

Ha! It’s certainly not that good but I appreciate the comments (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Thanks!

[bkrantz]

Looking great, Fred.

[friethmiller]

Looking great, Fred.

Thanks man! I might be doing some more painting soon. I'm still figuring out which way I want to go on this car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[930cabman]

Looking great, Fred.

Thanks man! I might be doing some more painting soon. I'm still figuring out which way I want to go on this car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

What spray gun have you been using?

[friethmiller]

Looking great, Fred.

Thanks man! I might be doing some more painting soon. I'm still figuring out which way I want to go on this car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

What spray gun have you been using?

I used a $70 dollar LVLP Gun made by Aero Tools - purchased from Amazon. It’s an excellent gun for the price. Fan pattern could be wider but it works great. I will likely switch over to my more expensive HVLP gun (Iwata W400) for the exterior surfaces.

[friethmiller]

Sound Deadening (11/8/2025):

With high winds forecasted for Sunday, I jumped in early Saturday morning to try and get a few projects underway on the LE. The first order of business was to add some sound deadening to the interior. Goal was to get a lot but not every square inch covered. I started in the seat area and moved back to the firewall. From there I moved forward to the footwell. While not exactly the hardest thing to do, you still need to clean, scuff, and re-clean each area before applying the mats. The whole process take a good bit of time. I will say, the grids imprinted on the foil top really help for sizing and cutting the butyl squares.





I decided to avoid the spaceship look and attempted to paint the mats. After a quick test, I determined the foil could be easily painted by scuffing the surface with 220-grit and ensuring the surface was clean. Photos show the firewall area and then the rest of the floor installed and painted. To do this, I used a semi-gloss enamel, applying it with a brush and a 2" roller. While the two blacks are very similar, I used tape to keep them separated. I think it turned out pretty good.







More to come shortly. Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[friethmiller]

Rear Glass Install (11/9/2025):

With the interior spaces painted I'm now able to install glass. I decided to start with the back window first. Here you can see I had two options: 1) use my spare window that I pulled out of a parts car a few years ago, or 2) use the nasty one out of the LE that had previously been tinted purple (since removed) and covered with butyl. I decided to clean up both pieces and pick the best one. As you can imagine, the one from the parts car cleaned up quickly, the other one took a bit longer. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) In the end, I picked the once "nasty" one from the LE. Note: I did use a water spot remover polish over the entire piece with a 3" orbital with a spacer pad.



After applying a pinch weld primer around the opening, I then applied the butyl tape. After inserting the small window blocks at the bottom, the window was then pressed into place. Later, I will apply black electrical tape to the bottom of the glass to help hide the butyl from view.

[friethmiller]

Engine Pad and Backpad Restoration (11/8 - 11/9/2025):

These two gems were salvaged from the LE. Unbeknownst to my wife, I've been storing them under one of our couches for the past 3 years. It was finally time to pull them out Saturday, clean them up, and then decide if they were worth using. Here you can see me cleaning the backpad (that goes on the inside of the upper firewall) and then the engine sound deadening mat that is mounted inside the engine bay on the opposite side.



On Sunday, I laid out the firewall pad and cleaned it with lacquer thinner and a 3M scratch pad. Not exactly sure what the original color once was but ended up repainting with a flat black out of a rattle can. Despite the wind, I was able to get full coverage with just two coats. Next, I climbed up in the engine bay and with 2 new engine pad fasteners, I mounted the pad. Think this will work! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)







Moving on to the backpad, I actually determined this piece to be usable, as well. However, it was definitely in a little worse condition. It had cracks in a few spots. Some being poorly repaired and others not all. I wasn't real sure I wanted to "glue-in" this piece over all my beautifully painted butyl. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) I didn't see the benefit. In the end I decided to just clean up the part for now and decide later to either use, discard, or resell it. Here's a few pics of sanding the adhesive from the back and the clean up and reconditioning of the outward facing side. I left the piece to sit for now. I will revisit / decide later. I will certainly take input from others on the matter (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[bkrantz]

Fred, one suggestion: put some masking tape X's on that rear window. It looks so clean you might not see it and forget you installed the glass. Seriously.

[friethmiller]

Fred, one suggestion: put some masking tape X's on that rear window. It looks so clean you might not see it and forget you installed the glass. Seriously.

Great idea! Will do!

[friethmiller]

Cleaning/Installing Vin and Chassis Plates (11/10/2025):

As the days get shorter I have less time to get things done outside. Here's what I lined up for today afterwork. Pics show the original chassis and VIN plates that I removed 3+ years ago, the clean-up, and finally the install. I used lacquer thinner and a piece of #000 and #0000 steel-wool. It seems like such a small thing to do but it's a big relief to get them back on the car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[friethmiller]

Front Glass (11/11/2025):

I was given this original SIGLA windshield about a year ago. Not sure when it cracked but it's unfortunately unusable. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) @914werke - I just ordered one from your site, fyi.

[Root_Werks]

That's a bummer about the windshield. Can only imagine originals are very hard to find.

[friethmiller]

That's a bummer about the windshield. Can only imagine originals are very hard to find.

Yeah, it was wrapped in bubblewrap and sitting in this guys garage for years. Could have been cracked before I even got it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) I never looked, just left it like it was, and stored in a spare room in my house. No worries though. I've already ordered a new one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sunglasses.gif)

[Puebloswatcop]

Fred, You rippin it buddy. Now I feel guilty for not getting much done on mine. Yours will be done shortly, and it looks fantastic. As for the windshield, I had the same issue with one of mine. It had what I thought was a small chip when I stored it in the garage. Of course in Colorado we would get substantial teperature differences, and when I unpacked it , the "chip" had grown to a crack that ran all the way over to the other side of the windshield....I was sad.

[914werke]

Front Glass (11/11/2025): Not sure when it cracked but it's unfortunately unusable. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) @914werke - I just ordered one from your site.

Your covered! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

[friethmiller]

Front Glass (11/11/2025): Not sure when it cracked but it's unfortunately unusable. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) @914werke - I just ordered one from your site.

Your covered! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

Thanks Rich, I just pick up the new windshield. It couldn't have been easier (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif) I'm just waiting on a few extra trim retraining clips inbound from 914rubber. This thing should go in on Friday! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[didenpx]

Awesome progress Fred!

[friethmiller]

Fred, You rippin it buddy.

Awesome progress Fred!

Thanks guys! I'm a month out from an endurance race I have scheduled in the WNC in mid-December. Might have to slow my progress as I ramp up my training.

@dlee6205 - I'm not sure where your 'rusty acres' are located but I'll be in Crowders State Park for the event.