911 Speedster Project

[graham m]

As per Geoff's teaser in this months PP, my 993 Speedster project is gathering pace! Having recently bought all the relevant 964 parts, sourced originally via LA Dismantlers, then to St Helens (someone elses abandoned project), all the new steelwork, bulkhead top, 'A' posts etc have been bought from Wilmslow OPC.
Yesterday I bought myself a well spec'ed, full history, 97 - 993 Cab. in Ocean Blue with full black leather trim.
The strip down and rebuild will go full steam ahead next month - still debating whether or not to go full wide-body, a-la C2S - will add another few £K to the project! Or smooth 'RS' look! Decisions, decisions!
I'll keep you informed!
Graham

 

[GeoffB]

Have to say for what its worth i do like the wide body look![]

 

[graham m]

And this one! A 993 Version!
http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/showDetails.html?lang=en&id=119881045&pageNumber=1&__lp=1&scopeId=C&sortOption.sortBy=searchNetGrossPrice&sortOption.sortOrder=ASCENDING&makeModelVariant1.makeId=20100&makeModelVariant1.modelId=3&makeModelVariant1.modelDescription=993+turbo&makeModelVariant1.searchInFreetext=false&makeModelVariant2.searchInFreetext=false&makeModelVariant3.searchInFreetext=false&vehicleCategory=Car&segment=Car&siteId=GERMANY&damageUnrepaired=ALSO_DAMAGE_UNREPAIRED&export=ALSO_EXPORT&customerIdsAsString=&categories=Cabrio&tabNumber=2

 

[graham m]

Well after a few months of work sourcing all the bits, my project is in full flow - hopefully ready for next Spring!
Can you tell what it is yet!

 

[GeoffB]

Graham
Good to meet you on Friday, thanks for putting post on here , have been watching progress on 911uk forum. Very keen to see end result,It will be stunning[]
Geoff

 

[Steve Brookes]

Good luck Graham.....looks from the pic like you've got a very willing work force all lined up []

 

[graham m]

Another week has gone by - and the shell is nearly complete. Hopefully next week it'll be off to get acid dipped and e-coated! Just be like new then!

 

[graham m]

Well the shell is now ready for the acid dip and electro-coating process before getting a fresh coat of paint. Hopefully it should be back before Xmas!

A fabricated frame has been bolted in to avoid any twisting of the shell during the various dipping processes.
Graham

 

[graham m]

All my cars are keepers....................................................until I get bored and sell them!
Had the same wife though for 24 years and 8 months - this is 'our' Silver Wedding present! (It's a surprise for her tho' - so don't tell her!)
Graham

 

[vitesse]

Graham,
I was just beginning to think it was a funny rollcage,then I saw the tractor & realised it was part of the hydraulic lift mechanism-Presumably,the acid dip is to etch the galvanised surface followed by the electrostatic application of an etch primer system-Presumably there is no bare metal or have you had that zinc coated using Zilch sticks.
Looks to be really interesting & I do like the "agricultural " garage atmosphere.

cheers ,
Colin.

 

[graham m]

Hi Colin
It's amazing how many people keep noticing Marc's tractor in the back ground! It's actually a David Brown, hence he refers to it as his Aston!!
The 'cage' is a 'transit' strengthening structure fabricated to ensure that the in the next stage of its gestation no damge can be done through rough handling. The 'cage' is bolted to the front & rear suspension mounts, seat belt mounts and screen bolt holes and is sacrificial - as is the frame beneath which picks up on the lower mounts.
The whole shell is being dipped into various acid baths to remove all paint, sealant, underseal, muck & rubbish to reveal the bare galvanised metalwork. It is then neutralised through various other processes before being e-coated to factory standard before new paint work, stonechip and underseal is re-applied.
Have a look at this!
http://www.surfaceprocessing.co.uk/for-cars.html
I'll be able to post the 'after' pictures in about three weeks time!
Graham

 

[graham m]

Well I got my Xmas pressie! Just before Xmas I picked up the freshly dipped and e-coated shell, all ready now for seam sealing, rubberised underseal and fresh paint.
The car still has the 'transit frame' in place ready to mounted on a spit so as to access all areas! This way the car be fully 'flipped over' without flexing the shell.

 

[Peter_Bull]

Hi Graham - that looking fabulous. It will be a stunning car when its finished and I hope you enjoy it too. Different than your beautiful Aston - but hey - you will now have a dilema of which one to drive!!

The video of the galvanising was really interesting too. Just wish they had put on some talkover.

 

[graham m]

Thanks guys - the original galvanising isn't touched, the various acid dips and washes removes everything to reveal the bare galv tub -

And then washed off -

And then it was electro coated - full immersion dipping

As for colour - the trouble is when you have a full spectrum of paints to go at, and starting with a blank canvas, it's decision time again!
I'm keeping my 'sparkling silver' Aston, so ruling out that (plus my 993 C4S and 997T were both Artic). I like blue cars, and the shape deseves a 'strong' colour, so at the moment it's destined to be Cobalt Blue - with a little extra metallic! Plus titanium highlights for the mirrors and grilles - like the original special edition 993 C2 S.
Graham

 

[graham m]

All the roof mechanism & hump has been trial fitted, and the body internals scuffed ready to go into the spray booth next week!

Graham

 

[GeoffB]

Looks superb Graham well done
Geoff

 

[graham m]

Thanks - yes Aldo I've got the magazine already, and have been communicating with the guy who's car it is; Jager, since last July!
Also met & spoken with John who wrote that particular article - he's actually photographed my car in its early stages of gestation and it may yet feature in a future edition!
Graham

 

[graham m]

I was 'playing' with the roof on Wednesday - what a faff compared to modern cars![8|]
Undo the catches, lift the front, release the hump, side to side around the car.... etc - you know the routine! Suppose it is an 'Emergency' roof and will spend most of it's time down - I hope[]

So - a general Speedster owner question - do you do it yourself - or with a 'friend'!!
Graham

 

[graham m]

So all the internals have been seam sealed and primed - outer given first coat of etch & primer. Doors & wings re-fitted.

 

[graham m]

The car was/is a 6 month project, and the dates discussed with 9M were that the car would be ready to go back on to the road in Spring. Now Spring starts 21 March and ends at the end of May; so there is a bit of leaway!
There are 2 events in March that I would have liked to take the car to - the RS Track Day at Oulton - 12 Mar, and the 993 Register Day at Cornbury House - 14 Mar. So that's 6 weeks time.
It may be feasible??? But it wont get rushed for the sake of it!
I will probably have to give the 993 Register Day a miss now - I had booked 2 places, but as the Club wants confirmed guarantees with deposits as the event has been oversubscribed, I'm not going to waste a tenner reserving a couple of places and preventing other people from attending when it's hit or miss if the car's going to be finished.

I've had back some of the interior panels from the trimmer - which look fantastic, trimmed in a combo of black alcantara and nappa leather. The seats (993 hard back sports version) and still with him, and will not only be re-trimmed but also fitted with 2 stage heating.
The rear seat area is being flat decked for stowage and all new carpets have arrived.
Most of the interior plastics have been renewed as have the hydraulic struts for the hood & hump mechanism - had to buy a new release cable as it was kinked and kept sticking - this I suppose is the benefit of the pre-assembly.

I hope we dont have too many electrical issues as we've dispensed of the electric roof operation which was linked into the alarm and full closure operation. The switch gear has been cleaned and lubricated ready and I have a new Becker radio with ipod and bluetooth which should connect straight up to the Porsche amplifier.

So most bases seem to be covered - but you never know what's around the corner to bite you!

Graham