Discussion
In many ways this thread is the benchmark for me when it comes to Reader's Cars.
I'm in awe Gary...you tackle major mechanical and bodywork repairs yourself, your posts are interesting and well written, and to top it all you take great photos. Oh, and the subject matter is brilliant too!
Your thread was the inspiration for me to start writing up my time trying to restore a Facel Vega. Unlike you I can claim neither mechanical aptitude nor photographic skills, but the process has been quite cathartic, so thank you!
Having been for a drive in a 1971 911E last week, the Porsche itch will have to be scratched at some stage...but 'sensible me' says the Facel needs finishing first! Sadly, I think 'sensible me' is right on this occasion.
I'm in awe Gary...you tackle major mechanical and bodywork repairs yourself, your posts are interesting and well written, and to top it all you take great photos. Oh, and the subject matter is brilliant too!
Your thread was the inspiration for me to start writing up my time trying to restore a Facel Vega. Unlike you I can claim neither mechanical aptitude nor photographic skills, but the process has been quite cathartic, so thank you!
Having been for a drive in a 1971 911E last week, the Porsche itch will have to be scratched at some stage...but 'sensible me' says the Facel needs finishing first! Sadly, I think 'sensible me' is right on this occasion.
scottos said:
Those arch liners are awesome, I really should make some for my old BMW at some point after seeing those!
Always enjoy seeing updates on this one.
Cheers, I was reading your 2002 thread earlier, great to see an evolving project like that Always enjoy seeing updates on this one.
Arch liners are just cut from flat sheet with a lip seal on the side, nothing fancy, certainly you could make the same for your car.
Without them can you imagine the mud and mess rammed up inside the B pillar and around the oil tank/pipes if they weren’t there!? Makes me so much more confident to actually use the car in (almost!) all weathers without worrying about it. I’ll clean and wipe an oily rag over the exposed areas and inside the arch lips before rebuilding it just to stop any undue build up of nasty stuff.
theadman said:
In many ways this thread is the benchmark for me when it comes to Reader's Cars.
I'm in awe Gary...you tackle major mechanical and bodywork repairs yourself, your posts are interesting and well written, and to top it all you take great photos. Oh, and the subject matter is brilliant too!
Your thread was the inspiration for me to start writing up my time trying to restore a Facel Vega. Unlike you I can claim neither mechanical aptitude nor photographic skills, but the process has been quite cathartic, so thank you!
Having been for a drive in a 1971 911E last week, the Porsche itch will have to be scratched at some stage...but 'sensible me' says the Facel needs finishing first! Sadly, I think 'sensible me' is right on this occasion.
Thanks for the compliment, it’s nice to have a ‘diary’ for the car, the eventual death of the conventional forum due to Faceplant is not going to be a high point in the development of social media! I'm in awe Gary...you tackle major mechanical and bodywork repairs yourself, your posts are interesting and well written, and to top it all you take great photos. Oh, and the subject matter is brilliant too!
Your thread was the inspiration for me to start writing up my time trying to restore a Facel Vega. Unlike you I can claim neither mechanical aptitude nor photographic skills, but the process has been quite cathartic, so thank you!
Having been for a drive in a 1971 911E last week, the Porsche itch will have to be scratched at some stage...but 'sensible me' says the Facel needs finishing first! Sadly, I think 'sensible me' is right on this occasion.
As for the 911 itch? If you can afford it alongside the Facel then go scratch it. We are a long time dead to put things off.
gary71 said:
It’s been a while
Beautiful day in the Welsh mountains
Managed to grind the front spoiler into the tarmac and cover it in mud. Exactly as it should be
Shamelessly leaving this image in my quote. I was so pleased so see the car in this spot.Beautiful day in the Welsh mountains
Managed to grind the front spoiler into the tarmac and cover it in mud. Exactly as it should be
Edited by gary71 on Sunday 5th June 13:59
I've just caught up with this, and its an outstanding piece of work, not just the build itself, but the accompanying documentary.
There was an interesting comment earlier in the thread, this has not only been an account of your life over the last few years, but all of ours as readers too. I can't quite believe that it's so long since I last checked up on it (2021 I think, it was in primer) but that was intentional. I wanted to wait till it was done, so that I could sit down and see the reassembly through to completion.
I must admit that I read on with fear when you said at one stage that there had been some highs and some lows. Heart was in my mouth that you'd marked that wonderful paint!
Hat duly doffed, and wishing you many more trouble free enjoyable miles!
You should compile a post with all the previous pictures at the spot in this quote
). Is that in Wales?gary71 said:
Cheers, I was reading your 2002 thread earlier, great to see an evolving project like that
Arch liners are just cut from flat sheet with a lip seal on the side, nothing fancy, certainly you could make the same for your car.
Without them can you imagine the mud and mess rammed up inside the B pillar and around the oil tank/pipes if they weren’t there!? Makes me so much more confident to actually use the car in (almost!) all weathers without worrying about it. I’ll clean and wipe an oily rag over the exposed areas and inside the arch lips before rebuilding it just to stop any undue build up of nasty stuff.
Top pistonheads from you both, the 911 and 2002 are some of the best readers accounts on here.....bravo to the both of you!Arch liners are just cut from flat sheet with a lip seal on the side, nothing fancy, certainly you could make the same for your car.
Without them can you imagine the mud and mess rammed up inside the B pillar and around the oil tank/pipes if they weren’t there!? Makes me so much more confident to actually use the car in (almost!) all weathers without worrying about it. I’ll clean and wipe an oily rag over the exposed areas and inside the arch lips before rebuilding it just to stop any undue build up of nasty stuff.
gary71 said:
Cheers, I was reading your 2002 thread earlier, great to see an evolving project like that
Arch liners are just cut from flat sheet with a lip seal on the side, nothing fancy, certainly you could make the same for your car.
Without them can you imagine the mud and mess rammed up inside the B pillar and around the oil tank/pipes if they weren’t there!? Makes me so much more confident to actually use the car in (almost!) all weathers without worrying about it. I’ll clean and wipe an oily rag over the exposed areas and inside the arch lips before rebuilding it just to stop any undue build up of nasty stuff.
Ah thanks, i made the mistake of saying "nothing needs doing this winter" and it in fact turns out everything needs doing, wont make that mistake again!Arch liners are just cut from flat sheet with a lip seal on the side, nothing fancy, certainly you could make the same for your car.
Without them can you imagine the mud and mess rammed up inside the B pillar and around the oil tank/pipes if they weren’t there!? Makes me so much more confident to actually use the car in (almost!) all weathers without worrying about it. I’ll clean and wipe an oily rag over the exposed areas and inside the arch lips before rebuilding it just to stop any undue build up of nasty stuff.
I'll do the arch liners as a little project sometime this year then i think, its worked so well on yours!
I still have the location of your welsh mountain valley photos saved. I managed to find what i thought was a similar location in the North Pennines yesterday but it looks very flat in comparison!
rallye101 said:
Top pistonheads from you both, the 911 and 2002 are some of the best readers accounts on here.....bravo to the both of you!
Thank You, very flattering to be mentioned with Gary's 911!To help you on your way the plastic was the 2mm thick version of this:
https://www.plasticstockist.com/ABS-Sheet/Black-Re...
The edge trim was this:
https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1364-mud-flap-pus...
Hope that helps!
https://www.plasticstockist.com/ABS-Sheet/Black-Re...
The edge trim was this:
https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1364-mud-flap-pus...
Hope that helps!
gary71 said:
To help you on your way the plastic was the 2mm thick version of this:
https://www.plasticstockist.com/ABS-Sheet/Black-Re...
The edge trim was this:
https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1364-mud-flap-pus...
Hope that helps!
Thanks Gary, you're a gent!https://www.plasticstockist.com/ABS-Sheet/Black-Re...
The edge trim was this:
https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1364-mud-flap-pus...
Hope that helps!
Awesome picture too.
Finally we have parts! I called in at Porsche Silverstone to get an oil filter on Saturday as the first one Porsche Wilmslow sent me was for a 997 and the replacement seems to be lapping the globe three times before it gets to me.
The new main oil feed to the tank and the little connector to the outlet arrived as planned so last night I pulled the tank out so I could get to the hose connection on top.
Old hose looking a bit worse for wear and leaking at both ends.
Found another leak from the oil level sensor so sorted that (fingers crossed!)
New hose aligned and fitted to the tank
Carefully back in the hole. Hate this part with all that precious paint around!
Connected to the back of the filter, hope it stays this clean this time!
Not going to miss this filter! I preferred these OE filters when they were black.
Just as a note this was £5 cheaper from Porsche direct than the same OE part from Design911, always worth checking!
Going to try and finish off a few more bits tonight then I can get some oil back in and see if any of the leaks have gone!
The new main oil feed to the tank and the little connector to the outlet arrived as planned so last night I pulled the tank out so I could get to the hose connection on top.
Old hose looking a bit worse for wear and leaking at both ends.
Found another leak from the oil level sensor so sorted that (fingers crossed!)
New hose aligned and fitted to the tank
Carefully back in the hole. Hate this part with all that precious paint around!
Connected to the back of the filter, hope it stays this clean this time!
Not going to miss this filter! I preferred these OE filters when they were black.
Just as a note this was £5 cheaper from Porsche direct than the same OE part from Design911, always worth checking!
Going to try and finish off a few more bits tonight then I can get some oil back in and see if any of the leaks have gone!
Engine is back up and running again now, no leaks from the bits I’ve fixed at least! Still going to dribble from elsewhere of course…
As my starter only engages about 50% of the time and I’ve already rebuilt it twice over the years it’s time for something new.
I’ve bought an aftermarket unit that combines a modern Denso geared started into an adaptable case. Got it fitted last night, the physical difference to the original is a bit off putting at first, but it fits and is half the weight.
To increase clearance (ie get some!) to the top of the the heat exchanger I rotated the mounting flange by one position, but other than that and rerouting the wiring it bolts straight on. It’s a clever design that allows this starter to fit everything from a ‘65 SWB to a 959, or maybe that just says something about the pace of Porsche development…!
The speed it turns the engine over is something else, at least double, it engages instantly and it pulls oil pressure before it fires!
Fingers crossed for long term durability, but all good for now.
Adjustable mounting flange
Little start up video, previously this was like a laboured tractor limping into life…
http://www.suggate.co.uk/Internet/startup.mov
Next up new tyres, wheel balancing and making the brake lights come on at pressure levels below an emergency stop
As my starter only engages about 50% of the time and I’ve already rebuilt it twice over the years it’s time for something new.
I’ve bought an aftermarket unit that combines a modern Denso geared started into an adaptable case. Got it fitted last night, the physical difference to the original is a bit off putting at first, but it fits and is half the weight.
To increase clearance (ie get some!) to the top of the the heat exchanger I rotated the mounting flange by one position, but other than that and rerouting the wiring it bolts straight on. It’s a clever design that allows this starter to fit everything from a ‘65 SWB to a 959, or maybe that just says something about the pace of Porsche development…!
The speed it turns the engine over is something else, at least double, it engages instantly and it pulls oil pressure before it fires!
Fingers crossed for long term durability, but all good for now.
Adjustable mounting flange
Little start up video, previously this was like a laboured tractor limping into life…
http://www.suggate.co.uk/Internet/startup.mov
Next up new tyres, wheel balancing and making the brake lights come on at pressure levels below an emergency stop
Nice to see your car at Combermere this morning!
There were some great cars there, but yours was my “car I’d like to take home apart from my own” particularly knowing from this thread how much work you put into it’s restoration. I admit that the DB5 was rather tasty too but I suspect that it wasn’t restored by the owner.
There were some great cars there, but yours was my “car I’d like to take home apart from my own” particularly knowing from this thread how much work you put into it’s restoration. I admit that the DB5 was rather tasty too but I suspect that it wasn’t restored by the owner.
I've been emailing a friend of mine about linking up again soon, he's doing a '69 hotrod type build at the moment and had mentioned doing some arch liners. I linked him to this thread and the links you gave me for the parts, turns out you camped next to each other at Classic Le Mans, such a small world!
scottos said:
I've been emailing a friend of mine about linking up again soon, he's doing a '69 hotrod type build at the moment and had mentioned doing some arch liners. I linked him to this thread and the links you gave me for the parts, turns out you camped next to each other at Classic Le Mans, such a small world!
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