Mihai's Progress Thread!, One more. Options

[mihai914]

Once things are cleaned up this it how it looks. I did check where it was solid metal on the rocker and went over around six inches just to make sure plus I'm limited by material, basically I can't go over that door sill bracket.

[mihai914]

So much crap falls out when you're repairing rust!

[mihai914]

Took some exploratory picture in the long, there some rust in there but then again where isn't on these cars, since it's solid I'll clean up and spray something inside. I tried to remove the heater tube but it won't pull YET from up front.

I'm still thinking of removing the tube on the passenger side, the blower in the engine isn't even connected with it.

[mihai914]

At least the upper part is nicer!

[mihai914]

Since my metal fabrication skills are not up to the task, I had some made (the shiny pieces) and bought a replacement panel since it was available.

[mihai914]

I wasn't expecting that the part that was pre-fabbed was made of two layers of metal. And since while poking around yesterday I found more rust than I would of liked on the suspension console I'm leaning towards patching the area around the exterior ear mount which is solid and at a later time redo the whole area.

I can still use the reproduction part as a template to make my patch.

The suspension console (inner part) seems pretty solid to be repaired for now, when I had those two pieces of sheet metal made I had to drive the car to the shop. The car held good and the wheel didn't collapse, and this on our shitty roads which the only equivalent I've seen is Detroit!

[mihai914]

I forgot to mention, while at the metal fabrication shop, they had seen an repaired a couple of 914s. One of the shop guys tries to play smart and asks me if I knew what a 916 was, I go yeah sure. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/screwy.gif)

He tells me they had one for repair and that they did both rockers and a front valence??? Wow that must of been some 916... Tried to explain to the guy that it wasn't a real one but he just kept going!

[mihai914]

QUOTE (Quebecer @ Jul 26 2005, 12:41 PM)

Mine also need some TLC in the longs area, but not as bad as yours, at least I don't think it does. We should have a Montreal area get together sometime! Thanks, Dan

That's what I thought also, but like someone said, whatever rust you see on a 914 multiply by 10!!!

Yes we should get together, there's a bunch of us in the Montreal area but we don't even get together once a year (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mad.gif)

It could be as simple as going to the Orange Julep, Serge is trying do get something going, c'mon people!

[mihai914]

Some little progress today, first I decided to remove that heating tube. It's in good shape and still useable. I may not put it back though.

[mihai914]

Took a better look inside the long and with the tube out I will be able to do a better cleaning and prepping job. You can't see it but all the way up front there is a mouse nest, I guess it wanted to be in first class way up front. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

[mihai914]

I then finalized the drilling of the holes on the long for the roll-bar and test fitted the whole thing.

No clearance issues, it's tight to get to the rear targa latches though.

The passenger seat has to be way up front.

[mihai914]

Worked some more this week on the car and advanced things. I made some extra patches for the car to get strenght and cover holes. I decided not to use for now that lower wheelhouse panel and to make a patch instead aince I have a nice template. These are what I made from the thickes sheetmetal I could bend on a vise and with a hammer, 20 ga.

[mihai914]

I'm particularly proud of the triangular piece since it took me a good four hours of labor.

[mihai914]

Removed the door and braced and extended the car.

[mihai914]

I treated inside the long with some phosphorous acid, rinced with water and when dry I gave it a shot of weld through primer. Doesn't look bad.

[mihai914]

Clean up front.

[mihai914]

As clean as I could get in the back, notice the damage near the outer suspension ear, in 2-3 years I'll redo that portion with the proper reproduction part.

[mihai914]

Replacement panel prepped for welding, it will tie from the engine support mount to the inner long. Sanded, ospho and primed before of course.

[mihai914]

Tied to the rear. this is where I started the welding, I had alot of difficulty to get penetration since the contact area for the wire wasn't the best. After a little more sanding and welder tweaking I got it there pretty solid. Not the nicest welds but they hold very well.

[mihai914]

Up front same story, went over a long portion to be sure everything is good.