Love letters

When I finished my first restoration, I remember telling my customer to drive the car for a month or two, then come back for a final polish, he came back and brought a list of things that needed fixing............I was disappointed because I had missed so many little things, I gave myself a very low grade that day.

Many moons later , they still come back for the final polish and they still bring a list,  socializing with other colleagues made realize that, it's OK, it is normal,  I mean if you pay your hard earned money to get your toy souped up, you have to see if you got your money's worth.

Nowadays we call those lists love letters,  some are long, some are short, and there has been the occasional...."you've got to be kidding me".

But, customer is always right.....how many times have you returned a steak because it wasn't what you expected.

This Viper Green came to us via TRE Motorsports from our Nation's Capitol.

We were hired to install RS flares and a rear fiberglass bumper.....but that thing called "While you're there," took this little 73 into a whole new dimension......

Let's get rid of the old fiberglass duck tail and replace it with one made with the metal backing, cibie lights on the hood and while you're at it. a new interior.

So we took the body down to bare metal. took care of some rust and lead poisoning, then we  started building the green machine you see now,  first the trunk compartment:
RSR strut support, and passenger side battery box mod, plug all holes clean up of the wire harness and repaint.

After it was completed, it's owner flew down from DC to participate on the California Targa Run in early April, after that shake down, now it's back with us, and yes...there is a love letter.

Patch job

What we have here is a case of excitement....
The kind of excitement one feels when buying the first Porsche.

Next, you bring out the Porsche bible "1001 Projects for your Porsche" 

Your weekends are now filled with the little details that need to be addressed.  Save a little money and revamp the interior,  maybe a set of new wheels too. 

Next, the inevitable....more power,  a 3.0 liter with a little zing to it will do for now,  and why not....a body kit and a paint job .....woo hoo   time to enjoy.

Let me get this straight,  you got a flat tire and when you jack the car you saw the seat go up but not the car....oh boy !!

A typical case of hidden rust repair, what to do now, so much money time and energy has already been invested, but the options are very few.

Ditching the car is out of the question, and replacing the floors are not cost effective......

The Plan :

Make it last a few years until a new body can be found, and avoid any kind of The Flintstones scene.

Provisions:

Enough sheet metal to form new floors, and stock metal make anchors and support brackets , maybe some new and improved jack points.   We'll keep you posted.

Break it Down (National Geographic)

" It's Show time " 
Hello Porsche fans.......Just a little reminder about the TV show,

National Geographic will airing and episode of the series Break it Down, featuring LA Porsche Dismantlers.

There will be no red carpet, but the US Premier will be on May 12th 2011 at 7 pm and 10 pm.  other times and shows are listed here.
http://dedeporsche.wordpress.com/category/porsche-in-pieces/

 This Red Beauty is the first generation 911 that is part of the three Porsche in the show, it came to us in pieces (no pun intended)     

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/break-it-down/4877/Overview

Though the film crew wanted to see the owner take a ride in it and burn some rubber, it was not possible.   After all, the body and all the parts came separately from L A Porsche Dismantler and have to be put together at a couple of different shops.

We were the finishers, that means, the ones with the most amount of work, and the least amount of time.

If we have any bit of doubt that any vehicle is not safe.....it will not hit the streets.

Under Construction

Since August of last year, this former 1974 Targa has been going through its re- invention, or at least that's how its owner sees it.  All the changes have been, at times, a challenge as well as an emotional journey.

Once the entire body was shot with several coats of a single stage triple black paint, we let it dry for a week or so, then  it was color sanded and re sprayed with  2:1 clear.

We assembled all the parts just to keep them together,  at the same time, we'll see if any of them is out of place, or if we need to redo any of them, they will polished individually and then with new trim, this Black Pearl will get its final assembly.

It's been months since a tow truck with a broken down black targa arrived, today only the  color remains the same, (kind of)  it looks happy being outside.

Porsche attitude, Hot Rod personality and a little bit of Road Warrior,........... we will soon hear its roar.

I will build the muffler myself................and we also will give our client a bit of a hard time about those fuzzy sheep skins......

Reconstructive surgery

 So we continue making our rounds,  the patient, a 1970 S that has been in a coma for the last 14 years.

A physical examination reveled that the front suspension pan needs to be replaced, no donor parts for this procedure, they have to be brand new.

We'll start this operation by removing all that's in the way, the gas tank has been sent to the boilers, and new filters and gaskets have been ordered.  With all obstacles out of the way, we start cutting all rusted metal, and get it ready to fit the new metal.

We have done this many times, but it's never safe to say that it takes this much time, after all, a 41 year old may have been around the block a little.

During the operation, we found that it has kissed a light pole, though the damage was repaired, the removal of the old part is going to take a little more loving.



 When it comes to parts, every one has their loyalties,  some to brands, some to names, and I always hear that they all fit real good............If the car was an inch narrower ....maybe.

But this is what we do,  we'll make it work.

Deconstruction of an S

 This is how the story goes, one day in 1997, the previous owner drove this 1970 S in the garage, left the door open and the car kept running until it ran out of gas, then he raised it up and left it on jack stands. 

2011, it was put on a trailer and started the journey to Los Angeles.  Its new owner is now going to attempt a resurrection.

But this was no Sleeping Beauty.  time did left a scar on it.  at first glance, the suspension pans and parts of the structure have gotten rust,  and they need to be replaced.  A frozen fuel pump and dried up fuel lines are not going to be delivering the liquid gold this 2.2 liter needs to scream.

Today we pulled the engine  out, and it's not looking too happy,  the mechanical injection is going to need surgery.

The good news is that the interior is in fairly good condition.

Tomorrow....we operate.

Love to be topless

 When the decision was made and the budget was written, the first order of business was   "make it a cab"  since then there has been many changes, but one was a must......roll bar..after all, accidents do happen. donated by a  Boxster that no longer needed it, it was modified  to fit our purposes.

 Another change that became a must, was  to ditch the single turbo and go twin.....why ?  well, a couple of weeks ago, our client wondered.. 

All that great looking engine kind of gets cover by the intercooler ?

Yes

How can we avoid that ?

We can put it under the quarter.

Which one?

Why not one under each quarter........

With twin turbo in mind, we need to give it a meaner look, this boy is going to pick some fights.