It's aliiive !!!!

Not yet, but soon....
If you go back to post #4 you will find the beginnings of this project.

A 1974 Targa with a few ex-shops to its reputation, a couple of mystery engines that run up a tab at the towing company and some paint job that look more like bad cosmetic surgery than a show stopper.  But now it is here......and wait until they get a hold of me........

For 10 years I have been the operations manager her at Axiom Motorsports, and for 10 years I have seen this ex Targa come in and out just wishing. 

I am led to believe that some body rubbed that bottle the right way because for the last few months dreams are becoming a reality.   Picture this, you roll into the biggest parking lot anywhere and park.


You will never see another car like this in that lot or any other lot.

Sure, for the amount of money one can sink into a project like this, you can just go and buy a new car, then what?  when you go to a show there are 300 just like it,  maybe the color is different, oh! you might have a different exhaust.

But let's go back to the nitty gritty of the re invention of this 74 ex targa.

The body was treated to an 930 look along with some mods to provide air to the inter coolers hidden it the quarter panels, after that was done, we gave it a bath of triple black single stage paint, let that rest for about 6 weeks and then it was cut with 1000 grit sand paper to kill all imperfections and then another bath of polyurethane clear to bring the color to its highest resolution.

 
A 6 speed with steel synchros in first to fourth was adopted by the targa body that has been reinforced to the gills to cop with the 600 HP  ( that we are expecting) and torque.

Cosmetics like 993 gauges and interior are being accommodated for comfort and I have to admit,  some bling.

Go back to the first picture,  the headlights are custom made, the result of the 3 volunteers lamps and some bought on impulse made the angel eyes by xenon projection headlamps possible.   Later I will tell you about the evil eyes......

This 3.1 twin turbo will breath through KnN filters and 3' pipes, the wrapped custom headers will keep the charge at maximum velocity and will exit through the a high chamber custom muffler stuffed with 4 pounds of stainless steel wool that hug the exit perforated stainless steel pipe all the way to the carbon fiber muffler tips.

Coil on plug set up will have this beast's heart beating at a sequential level, making the pump gas or E85 burn rubber with a passion.

I 3 weeks time, it shall roar through the streets of L A and annoy his neighbors.........

The Bare necessities ....

Finally !!!!   a plain Jane stock paint job....

Or is it???
Even though a new project comes in as a stock, nothing out of the ordinary, there are always a few little surprises waiting for us.

From Santa Barbara to our shop......Let's get busy

First things first,  all panels, trim and glass has to come off;  All rubber  will be replaced

Next:  that mid 80s respray job will have to come off as well.  It would be difficult to guaranty a high end paint job without going all the way to the bare metal

And since we are in luck,  this is a 1979.......galvanized metal........To some it is a great thing, but to painters and body men, it could be a nightmare, all thanks to EPA  that banned the use of some great products that did not meet Los Angeles standards.

After striping the body and found only some waves and door dings,  looks like we are in pretty good shape,  we will apply our direct to metal primer and then our surfacer.   Next will be the prepping and disassemble of it to give it a bath in Grand Prix White.

If it walks like a duck .....

and dresses like a duck.......

Who knows if it's a duck.......    The Boss owns a 1974 Carrera RS.......Original Ducktail.  This Black 86 wants one.

 For years I have been complaining about the poor quality of duck tails that we install but I have never been asked to do one, until now.  Metal based and fiberglass top to mimic the original one.

 

And I must say, what a paint in the rear.  I do understand now why the more affordable ones are of such poor quality,  the hours that are involved in a project like this are not cost effective.  Once you move one thing, everything else changes angles.

So, for us to make this a production item is not a reality, but we do have a couple of orders, some of our clients are very dedicated to their cars and want to have a duck tail made specific the their car.......and that is something to brag about.

Rude Awakenings

Time flies.....even if you are not having any fun....

Imagine this, you don't drive your car for a month........and then another month goes by and another;  Next, you find yourself wondering if you can go another month, like trying to kick a bad habit you dare yourself to do it

Soon you discover that months have turned to years and when remember that is going to be a decade, well, now you start to realized that some things are going to need changing and that is going to take money,  will have to wait a little longer.

In all the years that I have wore the grease monkey hat,  I have seen this many times.  it is a work in progress,  I'm in no rush, not enough money, not enough time  and so forth

So here we are, July 2012,  when I hear from my boss, there is a car coming today, it hasn't been started in a while...................License plate has tags of 1991, the gasoline in the tank went back to be crude oil,  the top notch lacquer paint job from the 80's help up pretty good, but it was no match for the galvanized coating of this upgraded 69 ex-long hood.


Time can be cruel to rubber and plastic and after replacing and repairing and refreshing the necessary parts, we were able to check the vitals and presto !!    purrrr like a kitten.   It has been given a lot of love and I think we are in the right track to recovery.

High standards

Quality is not a matter of money.....is a matter of pride......I read this phrase somewhere.....true to a point...........

But.......what if you don't have any talent !!

Some people claim that they have high standards, but, again, what if they're short and distance is not the same as those of others.

Anyway, after countless hours of redoing everything that was not period correct on this 74,  we are finally on the last stretch, every panel, from the roof to the wheel wells have been detailed with the correct, color and finish.

All the extra holes were plugged, every piece of wire was cleaned and every piece of hardware was change to match the correct shade of cad plating.........soon we. will be judged !!!

Wish list

When it comes to restoring a Porsche 911

We usually get a big list,  sometimes it is all the matching numbers and sometimes it is all the mods to be made...

In the case of this 1972,  it is going to have some serious mods to take the 3.8 engine with a monster air injection and a 6 speed. 

So, this body will have to be reinforced:
1:  stitch weld the tub.
2:  reinforce the shock tower.
3:  rinforce the jack points.
4:  double the inner rocker panels.
5:  weld in strut braces.
6.  weld in section for power brakes.
7:  remove rear tray and fab custom one.
8:  remove rocker panel and fab stainless steel oil lines.
9:  remove rain gutters for a slick look.

151:  prepare for a tripple black paint.

201:  polish to the highest shine...I want to see myself !!

Looks like we have a lot to do yet, but it is coming.
Once the gaps and lines have been matched, it's all down hill from there.

Stay tune...........

It's a wrap !!!

There was a little debate about the pros and cons of wrapping headers.....

Of course, as with every gearhead discussion, things can quickly get out of order...........Last I heard was "I don't want to have a fire hazard in my engine bay"   Trust me, I put fire to this thing, it does not burn.   Any how, after talking to our experts and getting some info from the net,  this makes sense:

PERFORMANCE:  The goal of headers is to make it easier for the engine to push exhaust gases out of the cylinders.

TEMPERATURE:
The titanium wrap will keep the hot air inside the header, allowing for cooling air intake:  cooler intake produces more horsepower, as cooler air contains more oxygen, which aids the burning process in the cylinder.  Wrapped headers can reduce the under hood temperatures significantly.

VELOCITY:
In theory, wrapped headers help contain the heat, making the exhaust gases move more rapidly away from the engine and towards the exhaust pipe.  This increased exhaust velocity increases potential horsepower by evacuating the cylinder more quickly and allowing the piston to move upward with less resistance.

 SCAVENGING:

The gases velocity also helps with the scavenging, or the removal of combustion waste from the cylinder more efficiently.  This makes for a cleaner and faster burn of the mixture of fuel and air on the next piston stroke. 

All them pretty horses

Will drag you away....

When the National Geographic Channel was filming this car for their show "Break it Down  Porsche in Pieces

They wanted to see the owner drive away into the sunset.........Fat chance, we where so far behind and there was no time to even align  and corner balance it.  For safety reasons, this was a must.

And even though nobody saw big red burn rubber or doing a zoom zoom dance up and down the 405 Freeway. it was worth the wait.

After getting a big intercooler and installing  a e-boost controller from TurboSmart, the gates opened and all the horses got out, all 436 of them and at 14 lbs of boot they created a lot of torque

Horror stories

They do happen from time to time

If one researches a shop, or one is recommended to one,  why is this the result ??

A 1974 911 that is in need of some TLC goes to a shop,  a promise of an excellent job is made and price is agreed.   After months and a lot of unhappiness, the result was not what was promised, sad to say but it was just make up.

I know I've had my shares of mistakes throughout my years of grease monkey, but to put 4 different bolts to hold the engine lid.....really, the most basic of things.

The horror of it is that the suspension pan was just tacked, I was surprised that the suspension did not fall off.   As luck would have it, our customer finally found TRE Motorsports and they recommended us to take care of Greenie,  we were supposed to take care of the suspension area and a few small things.

This car is special, it deserves the proper job and my customer said, I want the car the way it was on July 30th of 1974.

Stay tune..........

all geared up....

Man !!  why is it taking so long.......

Well,  let me explain;  Some people call themselves gear heads, or weekend wrenchers,  they love that kind of stuff.....

I don't ,  we are just good at it, and on top of that, a really good deal came on this six speed transmission came along,  how can you say no,  limited slip, steel synchros on first, second, third and forth and geared to do 200 mph with no problems,  this thing was built for racing, and/or going on a trip to the Sin City.

Now, let's clean the air that is going to be forced into the turbos

Space is becoming very scarce once more elements go into this engine bay,  at this point we have to use flex 3 inch hose to be able to maneuver around  the other items that were invited to this party.  It won't be long.........