tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14151405050684861312024-02-19T14:57:00.061+00:00The Car List BlogShoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-89175067833053062882014-12-05T15:35:00.001+00:002014-12-05T15:35:01.775+00:00911T Project - Dansk Exhaust<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was dry and sunny last weekend, so eldest son and I popped up to Goodwood to see if anything was going on, and to take advantage of the last dry tarmac before winter sets in properly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a track-day going on, but we couldn't see any particularly interesting machinery circulating.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the way back - we took the scenic route towards Petworth on the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11203845/A285-stretch-is-UKs-most-dangerous-road.html">road of death</a>; a lovely section of fast 'A' road that twists up through the woods to the crest of the South Downs, then descends down along a valley for a mile or two before a sweeping, climbing left hander takes it up and over a final rise before it plummets down into the valley at Duncton. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a favourite bikers' route, which might explain some of the carnage, but not how this <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27975898">poor bloke</a> managed to go off so disastrously in a 30mph section.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I digress; I dropped eldest so off with a camera and he took some footage of the car. Apologies in advance for the poor quality; there's clearly more to this motoring video blog lark than meets the eye!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-84535235599614129072014-11-26T12:35:00.002+00:002014-11-26T12:35:45.574+00:00911 Project. Should this be aloud?<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mentioned in my <a href="http://thecarlistblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/911-project-running-in.html">running in</a> post that the silencer I'd re-fitted to the car was cream crackered. The internal baffles had worked loose - this might have been self-inflicted when I wire bushed the surface rust clean - and close inspection revealed cracks around one inlet and at the exit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The original plan had been to run with a 'three out' system. Essentially this adds two exits under the bumper overriders, and both can be closed off with removable metal caps when hush is desired. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original concept showing a '3 out' exhaust</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, research revealed that while this was possible, it would require a bespoke unit at a cost of around £800-. I tried various 'wanted' ads without success, and eventually chose a Dansk unit from Parts-wise.com. This was billed as a 'Non-TUV Sports Exhaust'. Even shipped from Holland, it was less than half the price of a 3 out unit, and had two fat 60mm exhaust tips either side of the centre line.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fitting it single handed was a bit of a struggle, and I did have to loosen the rear 'bumper' for some more wiggle room, but the fit was ok - never something to be taken for granted when it come to pattern parts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I'm a middle-aged bloke who generally doesn't like to make a lot of fuss as I go about my business, but I just love the new exhaust noise. It rumbles like a Nascar at idle, has that typical 911 rasp in the mid-range, and rises to a buzz-saw howl over 5000rpm. The car attracts quite a lot of attention anyway, but in town necks now snap around to see what's coming down the road. Even though, I judge it not to be offensively loud, in the way say a de-baffled Harley is, but it'll be interesting to see if I get tugged at any point. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the downside, there's a little droning, but this occurs around town - at motorway speeds and at a light throttle opening the Dansk silencer is little noisier than the original unit. I suspect it means Goodwood track-days will be a no-go, but hey, the place terrifies me anyway! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll work on getting a down the road video, but here are a couple of static clips I loaded onto Youtube:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before: <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/DTbXjcUDOHE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After: <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JclRfrlwm5o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span></div>
Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-81261411902371021092014-11-06T13:01:00.004+00:002014-11-06T13:03:10.117+00:00911 Project - On The Rollers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">I mentioned in my last <a href="http://thecarlistblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/911-project-running-in.html">update</a> that I still wasn't entirely happy with the way the newly revitalised motor in the 911 was running. Although a huge improvement on its previous incarnation, some 700 miles into the running in process it was clear by state of the sparkplugs the rate that the fuel gauge plummeted that it was running rich, the idle wasn't very stable and it was hanging onto revs off the throttle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">All in all, there were issues to drive around, removing much of the joy of driving. It was also something of a financial disappointment as I'd already spent several hundreds pounds supposedly having the carbs set up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">It looked as if I'd have to bite the bullet and find a local rolling road tuning specialist who was familiar with the intricacies of Weber carburettors (the US-made PMO's I am using are essentially an improved Weber IDA 3C), so I was interested to read in the latest copy of Octane magazine of the editor's good experience at Airey Tuning, over Petersfield way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">One Monday morning a couple of weeks later I was up early to take the 911 to <a href="http://aireytuning.com/">Cheriton</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">The weather was properly foul with wind, heavy rain and standing water, and I almost phoned to re-arrange, but I took a MtFU pill and headed west along the A27, up the A3 and along the A272.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">I'm glad I did; it was a very interesting morning's work. Tom Airey is a character from the old school with a stack of stories to tell, but more importantly, with over five decades of tuning engines under his belt he really knew his stuff. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> After lining the car up on the rollers in Tom's small workshop Tom climbed in (it's a two man job to 'drive' the car and operate the dyno) and we ran the car up through the gears to 4th to get some benchmark readings before making any changes. That first pull got us to just under 100bhp on the screen facing us, before Tom aborted. At that point - some 5000rpm - the engine was already starting to run dangerously lean. </span></div>
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As I half expected, the settings and jetting on the newly installed carburettors were all over the place. It was running far too rich at low and mid range, but leaned right off at high revs. </div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The remedy meant the main jets, located deep inside the carbs, had to be changed. To get access needed some dismantling so I helped take the air-cleaners and trumpets off and between us we eventually were able to remove the jets they appear to have been tightened in place by an angry American.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> Tom then went through a methodical process to improve things. He made some significant changes to main jets (up two sizes), the mid/low range air-correctors (down 4 sizes), plus a slight timing adjustment, changes to various other ports, bores, jets and bypasses - I'll admit the workings of an IDA/PMO are still mostly a mystery! He also fiddled with the various idle settings, and after putting things back together we went for a second run on the dyno. Now the dials showed 130bhp at around 5,500rpm with a better mixture and improved throttle response.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This time Tom pronounced it too lean, and we needed a slightly smaller main jet, so the air cleaners and trumpets came off again and he changed all six jets for a matching set, and after a bit more fiddling, we put it all back together. He also suggested using an additive in the fuel to raise the octane to 100, so we poured a suitable dose into the tank and ran it up the gears one more time.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> Now the number showing on the dial was just over 160bhp at around 6,000. This is what Porsche claim for a 2.4litre 911E, and was the level I had been hoping for. Fuelling was good all the way through, it no longer hung onto the revs off the throttle, and the idle was nice and stable. I examined a plug and it looked to be a bit cleaner than before, although Tom told me they were really a bit too fouled to clear themselves and should be replaced. I was then invited to take the car up the road and back. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">It was immediately obvious that there was a big difference in the way the car drove; pick up was excellent, the idle rock steady and off-throttle behaviour is much improved. There was also a lovely snap as I blipped the throttle on down-changes and - as you'd expect - the performance felt much stronger too. I took it easy as the weather conditions were still horrible, but even at 3/4 throttle it ran noticeably harder through the gears. The leaner mixture and petrol additives should help the running-in process; bedding the rings and reducing crank-case pressure</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">I'd been reluctant to spend more money on the car, but this was definitely excellent value. Returning to Cheriton I waited for Tom to complete the paperwork, and while he was doing so we chatted about stuff - I found out that as well as building superb flying model aircraft he's also an astrology nut, so I found myself having a 'free' consultation (I should be looking for an Aires partner apparently). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">Looking at the completed report later on, I was surprised to see he'd written 'Engine 205bhp at 5,500rpm'. The lower number I'd seen on the big dial in the workshop was an 'at the wheels figure', and 205bhp is the more normal measure of engine output - at the flywheel and corrected for losses through the transmission. I've learned to take dyno power figures with a largish dose of salt, but if it's anywhere near accurate its an excellent result; by way of comparison, the legendary 2.7RS with its longer stroke is rated at 210bhp. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">Conditions driving back (the scenic route this time) were biblical, so I had to take it easy. Probably the best thing I could say about the motor is that it now feels much more modern; I no longer have to drive around problems and it just gets on with its business, and is wonderfully sweet in the critical 3-5,000rpm range. The fuel gauge now no longer plummets, so all in all it's much more usable, and I feel happier about planning the car's first service and sorting out a new silencer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">A good result.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px;">SS7</span><br />
<br />Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-8019200011016980122014-10-24T18:05:00.000+00:002014-10-24T18:07:30.019+00:00911 Project - Running In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was always something of an ambition to be able to drive the old 911 to the annual Classics At the Castle event, held this year early in September, in Hedingham, Essex. A month beforehand that looked a forlorn hope; the car had no interior, bumpers, door & side glass, or effective brakes, and seemed a long way from being roadworthy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put the hours in, and with some help from the usual suspects got as far as I could, before biting the bullet and handed the car over the professionals. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVEeggVKN0OvUs7cq8P_EpvakDKPIZ2ad3DmX-kH23UV7HmRyeAAH8gVX9qYx3zcxygp28Ge9vnKPj3c2_xjg0gXywC0ayH2fvuyJcOaBBNkMSC1VrzigrrN9A-7BS9WqjHcOfsiOMsE/s1600/IMG_0717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVEeggVKN0OvUs7cq8P_EpvakDKPIZ2ad3DmX-kH23UV7HmRyeAAH8gVX9qYx3zcxygp28Ge9vnKPj3c2_xjg0gXywC0ayH2fvuyJcOaBBNkMSC1VrzigrrN9A-7BS9WqjHcOfsiOMsE/s1600/IMG_0717.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the ramps at Carrera Performance having 'stupid' <br />
removed. Son #2 points to bits I'd missed.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their brief included setting up the suspension, and carrying out a comprehensive nut, bolt and wiring check to ensure reliability and safety wasn't compromised by any stupid mistakes I had made. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A running Porsche engine</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was with some relief I heard there weren't too many of those; I'd assembled the gear lever incorrectly, and some of the suspension bushes upside down, but nothing too serious. So two days before Classics at the Castle I had the MOT certificate in my hand. First job was to head over to Garry at ClassicFx for some help putting the side decals on. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAX4AkZ-0AiPm1AN3U7gpy8wDsop_dEHcvJ99A6z4K1U7-kq4HIbaCx7UXCr2njFEQ8uLeDf5ZSoU3x-oOdW5cf-aBP9gORmm2biAPCWJn4HKgLzbF8OCOxncgD4vSEi_C_XZMSlzrXBM/s1600/IMG_0733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAX4AkZ-0AiPm1AN3U7gpy8wDsop_dEHcvJ99A6z4K1U7-kq4HIbaCx7UXCr2njFEQ8uLeDf5ZSoU3x-oOdW5cf-aBP9gORmm2biAPCWJn4HKgLzbF8OCOxncgD4vSEi_C_XZMSlzrXBM/s1600/IMG_0733.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You need the help of a fussy perfectionist to get your<br />
decals on straight</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They'd been part of the look I'd planned for the car ever since the it had been taken off the road back in January 2013. Even at that point I'd settled on the main body colour, and in May I'd asked Adidas designer Chris Jury to create one of the superb computer images he produces. I was looking for a hint of orange to compliment the Gulf Blue, but as so many of the Gulf inspired colour schemes are overdone I wanted to keep it subtle. After a lot of email discussion we decided to stick to using orange PORSCHE lettering against grey stripes. I thought I would look great.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I clearly wasn't the only one; later that summer I caught sight of Singer's 'Dubai' car, the eighth one built:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSlpouu4QUi2ZhuaygR6bUOKPIhTeC6kSKaawYDCIe7aSu8omK9BlarEvDlcf8PNtmz46q-Fq4Ghap6I13hHrgy4F42MuqoRi1rfmOtjSG2F1E2n4CnmpTDQh99rH_tHvKgH1cgsxM9A/s1600/16-singer-reimagined-porsche-911-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSlpouu4QUi2ZhuaygR6bUOKPIhTeC6kSKaawYDCIe7aSu8omK9BlarEvDlcf8PNtmz46q-Fq4Ghap6I13hHrgy4F42MuqoRi1rfmOtjSG2F1E2n4CnmpTDQh99rH_tHvKgH1cgsxM9A/s1600/16-singer-reimagined-porsche-911-1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great minds may think alike but fools seldom differ, <br />
as my Aunt Sybil used to say</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once on the road, initial driving impressions were promising. Even keeping a strict 3500 rpm limit for the first couple of hundred miles it was clear that the engine now has much more power and torque on offer than in its original low compression CIS tune. From inside, the experience is dominated by the induction noise from six open throttles, while although the flywheel is still completely standard, the way the engine responds to the slightest sniff of throttle suggests large chunks have been removed. The ride is on the firm side, but there is a decent amount of compliance. And the additional sound-proofing has reduced road noise significantly; previously the din at 70mph had made any motorway journey a wearing experience and it now appears hushed by comparison.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent the Saturday putting the carpet in along with a host of small touches, and next morning Boy#1 and I were up early for the drive to Hedingham; a two hundred mile round trip in a car freshly bolted together by an overambitious amateur.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN-UKp0YfCkZwTwJ0hTDnv5A9NDnwVyJ_rahnVOjEjtAGQujxJMrJ221rU_CvRO0n5sM_V_4fEnjCtzeBmcn-rmWZz5cccHEnAbFJr1ijw5ojadRkoQ7LJTNqyKxK3CC_zNPI6gSwzl8/s1600/IMG_0745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN-UKp0YfCkZwTwJ0hTDnv5A9NDnwVyJ_rahnVOjEjtAGQujxJMrJ221rU_CvRO0n5sM_V_4fEnjCtzeBmcn-rmWZz5cccHEnAbFJr1ijw5ojadRkoQ7LJTNqyKxK3CC_zNPI6gSwzl8/s1600/IMG_0745.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packed for Hedingham; sandwiches, tools,<br />
spare oil, credit card, mobile and AA membership card.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made it. There were the inevitable teething problems, most noticeable on a warm September's day was that no matter how much we fiddled with the controls the heater chucked out a roasting quantity of hot air, and after a score of miles the driver's side window glass fell out of its runner. On the outside, the engine cover wouldn't stay shut, and become more and more reluctant to do so the more miles we travelled, so we became used to acknowledging the worried toots and waves of other road users, and stopping ever few miles for another attempt at closing it. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWhyphenhyphenyMTh9HZvCcE8O9n-E5Glt0hl5zGeSfCUCdBWg61ZK3LJJTSO1PL_hMVYqyG0wrWIXn8R5RDSQ2YASUMrQMHUROnE-b2LWZTrHd2VnKiBBIAeNB2KAmS3lMECq3zaZ6Vee7dDO-PA/s1600/IMG_0759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWhyphenhyphenyMTh9HZvCcE8O9n-E5Glt0hl5zGeSfCUCdBWg61ZK3LJJTSO1PL_hMVYqyG0wrWIXn8R5RDSQ2YASUMrQMHUROnE-b2LWZTrHd2VnKiBBIAeNB2KAmS3lMECq3zaZ6Vee7dDO-PA/s1600/IMG_0759.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mission accomplished; old 911 on the<br />
Castle Hedingham lawns</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was also clear the initial settings of the PMO carburettors were some way out; the new engine hung on to revs on a closed throttle, and judging by the way a 50litre tank of Super Unleaded disappeared it was running very rich. While the car is surprisingly rattle free; the baffles inside the silencer have come loose, and from inside sounds like an old tin can filled with bolts being dragged along behind. As the daylight waned the headlights proved to be as effective as a candle in a jam-jar, and there are only a random smattering of functioning dashboard lights. But hey, it goes, stops, it was comfortable and it got us from West Sussex to Hedingham and back again!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfk2iDCSB_OwhutEWnYkNGx9SKHgYyMDsq9D4Gdfci75pegj6vrgXxXDMpahbSBOPVIRSa8e_59y80y0UkmRk8zVCsugvX9lPMCIM-4bRySyKSiDfbUX8_oNlurHuMec4qrdFMniDwy9U/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfk2iDCSB_OwhutEWnYkNGx9SKHgYyMDsq9D4Gdfci75pegj6vrgXxXDMpahbSBOPVIRSa8e_59y80y0UkmRk8zVCsugvX9lPMCIM-4bRySyKSiDfbUX8_oNlurHuMec4qrdFMniDwy9U/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The modern Recaros with a Retro-mod touch<br />
were well received</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl3VjmadS_smc8GU3_RcamDgZl4EMQ4iDpyP7n5V8dy3rYkInqt0LuJpAQPSn7FYwkvA-CAewRW5GJdOU8qbX6VE9w1mOJuKrAxdT6ymuUHEGbLNIQZOAgzOdhkE2PD8Mz2j4XrEc5sg/s1600/IMG_0774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl3VjmadS_smc8GU3_RcamDgZl4EMQ4iDpyP7n5V8dy3rYkInqt0LuJpAQPSn7FYwkvA-CAewRW5GJdOU8qbX6VE9w1mOJuKrAxdT6ymuUHEGbLNIQZOAgzOdhkE2PD8Mz2j4XrEc5sg/s1600/IMG_0774.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another stop to close the engine compartment and <br />
worry about ineffective headlights<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was a few weeks ago now. I'll admit that after the fraught (and expensive) month leading up the car's MOT the pace has slowed. The self-opening engine cover was sorted with a little fiddling, the window glass has resisted several attempts to get it to behave, and I've re-installed the old Becker radio and some other internal trim.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79r4iSd2r3VYv__uw6O1Kj8lEUSR2C9niD9e-OI5R6LrycnKASWlJkq5pU3nISS_0E3Pr3HZQUKaG8Y9xhSD8F8nmAzfop-cgiF8T2eUU7tLGwS5NbGSuVgAt4QXCVXero_3aPU-oS70/s1600/IMG_0995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79r4iSd2r3VYv__uw6O1Kj8lEUSR2C9niD9e-OI5R6LrycnKASWlJkq5pU3nISS_0E3Pr3HZQUKaG8Y9xhSD8F8nmAzfop-cgiF8T2eUU7tLGwS5NbGSuVgAt4QXCVXero_3aPU-oS70/s1600/IMG_0995.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friday chip run</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are now getting on for 700 post-restoration miles on the odometer, comprising mainly of trips around the South Downs. Although the initial slight engine smoking and high oil consumption seems to have eased as the oil rings bed in, the engine still isn't running as I'd like. To fix this, I booked a rolling road session for early next month, while otherwise the snagging list seems to get longer as the running-in process continues.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsaUJ3KJIVqUaac2_y6qDIB79Tn68Lp-zNbJCdF4SmzEjJZDP2yBUEyXhtkDzee5syQzwMHjshU7AFjk1R0uVQbOF9mgOOTx6Dl2727q4QMpTynx4YAt03vTLnue1lS0VQA2c7NtehPg/s1600/IMG_1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsaUJ3KJIVqUaac2_y6qDIB79Tn68Lp-zNbJCdF4SmzEjJZDP2yBUEyXhtkDzee5syQzwMHjshU7AFjk1R0uVQbOF9mgOOTx6Dl2727q4QMpTynx4YAt03vTLnue1lS0VQA2c7NtehPg/s1600/IMG_1005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basking in Autumn evening sunshine after another<br />
go at fixing the driver's window.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While its easy to focus on the things I still need to fix, I'll admit there are times when I do look at the car with a certain satisfaction. Just to remind you, dear reader, how far we've come - here's a picture taken on the day I spotted the car in the workshops of a small Floridan classic car dealers three years ago.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSE6LW1dyTnxo31cs34e583s96kuV_bcg7JtwdMzNZTE9AZToO_hV8YCVC8MWM_0Q13MXyxod7DUuLdtAov4KVSBA3DGJsKlMRnWH1m41eOJVRRAPqFgOUg5cydv1BmYWFY0Ynmd5eLc/s1600/911+in+Florida+Jan+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSE6LW1dyTnxo31cs34e583s96kuV_bcg7JtwdMzNZTE9AZToO_hV8YCVC8MWM_0Q13MXyxod7DUuLdtAov4KVSBA3DGJsKlMRnWH1m41eOJVRRAPqFgOUg5cydv1BmYWFY0Ynmd5eLc/s1600/911+in+Florida+Jan+2011.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January 2011, New Smyrna Beach, FLA. The<br />
old thing and I meet for the first time</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span></div>
Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-20239589610678046542014-09-16T21:21:00.000+00:002014-09-16T21:27:47.546+00:00Seating Plan<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've written about the importance I attach to engineering a correct driving position <a href="http://thecarlistblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/911t-project-seats-and-wheel.html">before</a>, and the 18 months it has taken to restore my 911 has given me plenty more time to think about seats. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1973, a Porsche 911T would have left the factory with a set of 'comfort' seats. While they might have been comfortable, these seats were probably better suited to a fireside in winter than doing the job of supporting an enthusiastically cornering driver. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOmJc9n-22UIfaERYy7PVwxKEtzNr0y8GMnsHfaly3z3tEI8Qwht56ezzZD3oLeMZYGdhdVArVSbSU-H3hVIy4zaBUzH_nVZXm5uYXF7h4U7mLFWiY_36CGlWVu8FLmAAGd2Su7aq9a8/s1600/used-1973-porsche-911t-911t-10241-12368321-91-640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOmJc9n-22UIfaERYy7PVwxKEtzNr0y8GMnsHfaly3z3tEI8Qwht56ezzZD3oLeMZYGdhdVArVSbSU-H3hVIy4zaBUzH_nVZXm5uYXF7h4U7mLFWiY_36CGlWVu8FLmAAGd2Su7aq9a8/s1600/used-1973-porsche-911t-911t-10241-12368321-91-640.jpg" height="282" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comfortable, but not good</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At some point over the last 40 years an owner of my car felt the same. Sadly, they chose to replace them with the cheap 'sports' seats that were in the car when I bought it. They were uncomfortable, badly made and installed so high up in the car that my head brushed the roof. They needed to go. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_DYrdRhVDVrR6x-3Unat6sUt2k-fn3lDus0ftxtu3K_XaMplM9VaNBL4PHARbK8wnU1-HLrA8nmECCb6B0MC-6hZtcQioCA8XEvo5jvr_XhDBMAD8c42I9Jej33pBQJV2fnwSJMSEIk/s1600/IMG_3136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_DYrdRhVDVrR6x-3Unat6sUt2k-fn3lDus0ftxtu3K_XaMplM9VaNBL4PHARbK8wnU1-HLrA8nmECCb6B0MC-6hZtcQioCA8XEvo5jvr_XhDBMAD8c42I9Jej33pBQJV2fnwSJMSEIk/s1600/IMG_3136.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sports seats prior to an appearance on Ebay</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in 1973, the original buyer could have opted for a sports seat made by Recaro (as are all Porsche seats) but these were expensive, and not many did - although if you'd been sensible enough to buy one of the 1,500 2.7RSs built that year you'd find a set when you opened the door - at least if you'd bought a 'Touring' version you would have. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouf3YX_89ipt521MAK7lnA2UGcBsKywUdv2BSECQuhsMEecrmIM7lF8Z2o88ELgWEoO0vV7LMO2RQcmt0s0aWMtR5cehXWVCjyAPTJPrVzQ68AfEGzhLgTudpEbbv3biy5ZdC-eTEg_4/s1600/porsche-911-2-7-rs-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouf3YX_89ipt521MAK7lnA2UGcBsKywUdv2BSECQuhsMEecrmIM7lF8Z2o88ELgWEoO0vV7LMO2RQcmt0s0aWMtR5cehXWVCjyAPTJPrVzQ68AfEGzhLgTudpEbbv3biy5ZdC-eTEg_4/s1600/porsche-911-2-7-rs-6.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recaro sports seats in a 2.7RS Touring</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Original sets of these are now unobtainable - or at least, obtainable only if you're prepared to hand over a kings ransom. It is possible to buy reproductions; they are expensive, and while I'm sure the quality is good, I did want to sit on a set of real Recaros. I've experienced Recaro seats in any number of cars in the past and always appreciated their comfort and support. My need for access to the back of the car in order to stuff luggage or small boys into the rear perches meant I needed a front seat that tipped forward. That ruled out many of the race inspired models with their fixed backs, but this was always going to be a road car anyway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent a lot of time on the 'bay chasing after typical 1980's Recaros, and researched the possibility of modifying a period Porsche tombstone in the same way as Singer have done, but that didn't seem very original. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9ZdTZbHWqnOKJPigUy2hcH1-T1Odtfm_Vd-w8yd-aLZwuqePihbEcMXxgdLTKPYAL7KX3nrV4KW4FZszokoVEaFMiO_LgimYgsUVoooWntyq2ZvtK-E23ViKb4yTKU67lH_sP_GBz90/s1600/2011-Singer-Porsche-911-White-Seats-1280x960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9ZdTZbHWqnOKJPigUy2hcH1-T1Odtfm_Vd-w8yd-aLZwuqePihbEcMXxgdLTKPYAL7KX3nrV4KW4FZszokoVEaFMiO_LgimYgsUVoooWntyq2ZvtK-E23ViKb4yTKU67lH_sP_GBz90/s1600/2011-Singer-Porsche-911-White-Seats-1280x960.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of modified 964 seats in a Singer Porsche</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few years ago Recaro produced a seat snappily called the Sportster CS. It's a high back design with good side support, slots for full harness shoulder straps, and a hard plastic back. Better still it adjusts for rake, and the back tilts. Recaro have used this design as the basis of many bespoke versions for manufacturers to fit in their sporty cars, so you'll find similar seats in hot Fords and Renaults, as well as upmarket vehicles from Aston Martin and Maserati. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now the Sportster CS is best part of £1,000 new, but I spotted a pair of the original aftermarket versions on the 'bay, and snaffled them up with a cheeky £900 bid. They had a slightly odd combination of grubby red Alcantara seat and squab with grey vinyl leatherette bolsters and head restraint, but they looked promising. When Tuthills Porsche were readying the car for its first UK MOT I asked them the install the seats. The first set of seat frames were too high, but a second version dropped them a couple of inches to the perfect height for my 6' 2", and I used them in the car for its first year on the road. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52wm5m3LwgrXqu9tcv0y9KPvhSuPGuzr7bciP_Q4-fPl6PEX1PCLIdVfxMCqZB0LaVqcXKrW_xiNRKDr9F02EKOiSQAprodYhMdArvjJrFMVOhifepnwdyVZe9x2xoBd3gfr-8oYyED0/s1600/IMG_4458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52wm5m3LwgrXqu9tcv0y9KPvhSuPGuzr7bciP_Q4-fPl6PEX1PCLIdVfxMCqZB0LaVqcXKrW_xiNRKDr9F02EKOiSQAprodYhMdArvjJrFMVOhifepnwdyVZe9x2xoBd3gfr-8oYyED0/s1600/IMG_4458.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sportster CSs as originally installed</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were many things about the pre-restored version of my 911 that were difficult to live with, but the seats were probably the best I've ever used in a road car. The colour though, didn't work with the otherwise black interior, or the yellow bodywork, and they were top of the list of things to change when I started the 'light' restoration. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm something of a non-conformist when it comes to car interiors. As evidenced by thousands of aspirational Mercedes, Jaguars, BMWs and Audis etc., it seems the great majority aspire to have their seats (and dash, door cards, centre tunnels etc.) covered in leather - creating a veritable womb of dead cow skin. Why anyone would choose to sit on something that's cold in the winter, hot in the summer and slippery all year round is beyond me; leather doesn't really appear to be a material that's at all suitable for car seats. If you look at the most expensive coach-built limousines of the 1920s and 19030s you'll see that while the hired help doing the driving made do with a leather clad perch, the wealthy owners in the back sat on rich fabric. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi4WWw0cixBM-4ObKNjYoxYyXA4lxIwrtBJA67x0fYEpPXbcFlPRnt6kt3gc4kU4pi430UfE9UMB3ToFc-D03hz3UrPaRTkLFUANdH4YvAfxGGGxmf8nxLgyRkAHsFHrGTdcqjoPWuv4/s1600/bugattiroyalecoupenapol+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZi4WWw0cixBM-4ObKNjYoxYyXA4lxIwrtBJA67x0fYEpPXbcFlPRnt6kt3gc4kU4pi430UfE9UMB3ToFc-D03hz3UrPaRTkLFUANdH4YvAfxGGGxmf8nxLgyRkAHsFHrGTdcqjoPWuv4/s1600/bugattiroyalecoupenapol+(4).jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sumptious fabric for this Bugatti Royale's owner</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm with the fabric sitters, so when it came to recovering the seats it was only going to be a fabric.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I researched the fabrics Porsche have used over the years. There's a wide range, from psychedelic checks that mess with your eyes, through wild tartans to utilitarian corduroys.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefu65vlhdYmivIg_vmW89rqc4qK6VmQhDfkPeu5GUXWFLxQkdpihMKny-xyIRy95SxkIJL7OjMo8BGrXvXT0gZBoZ5ZYKGHU-z85-jKjLUGl3x3TqiDg0n6Ibirbyj7gRkOCpliaiauE/s1600/500241-1000-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefu65vlhdYmivIg_vmW89rqc4qK6VmQhDfkPeu5GUXWFLxQkdpihMKny-xyIRy95SxkIJL7OjMo8BGrXvXT0gZBoZ5ZYKGHU-z85-jKjLUGl3x3TqiDg0n6Ibirbyj7gRkOCpliaiauE/s1600/500241-1000-0.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad trip</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually I chose a black and white houndstooth check known as Pepita in Porsche circles. This was used in the 911s from the late 1960s to early 1970s, and the two tones would unite the white headlining with the black vinyl door cars and would be mirrored in 'Salt and Pepper carpet. Sourcing an exact match to the original proved difficult and expensive, but there are options available that are so close only a Porsche geek with a ruler would know wasn't real. The small rear seats would use a combination of Pepita and vinyl that's close to original and matches the fronts.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rTX1LlVSOcJawfzpnSJ1EaiS7wyLIXOUP93Ku9Wa3zUVHM3ruEkaimDt62kSkuvK9jdJYGYJvzu3mTQkHx0TDkBKbyhiKKKnjUdAKC6chdC6fJH4kxqv48gpewDlfVRy6K2REknMK0c/s1600/comparo_of_730_to_pepita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rTX1LlVSOcJawfzpnSJ1EaiS7wyLIXOUP93Ku9Wa3zUVHM3ruEkaimDt62kSkuvK9jdJYGYJvzu3mTQkHx0TDkBKbyhiKKKnjUdAKC6chdC6fJH4kxqv48gpewDlfVRy6K2REknMK0c/s1600/comparo_of_730_to_pepita.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So seats and fabric was handed over to Joe at Trimdelux, and in the fullness of time he worked his magic and I put the transformed Recaros back in the car in time for the MOT.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCFoQU89FW3atr40z1VAXtUtP-nXvacWVWMPNgsLz7g3yxE2-4oJ-zZwEutVsjXI8ja8grfl2tPGQbkTiFHG2f6kIRYPNim78yziYbH36E_grfVU6Z8R4aVXYZ3YJ5Pqh15TGXUXIHhE/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCFoQU89FW3atr40z1VAXtUtP-nXvacWVWMPNgsLz7g3yxE2-4oJ-zZwEutVsjXI8ja8grfl2tPGQbkTiFHG2f6kIRYPNim78yziYbH36E_grfVU6Z8R4aVXYZ3YJ5Pqh15TGXUXIHhE/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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SS7<br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-2791536124812176282014-08-29T19:16:00.002+00:002014-08-29T19:16:28.942+00:00911T Project - The Light At The End of the Tunnel<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You might expect that once your project car is back on its wheels with the engine installed in the right place you are nearly done. The past weeks I've spent franticly working through a long work-list belies that; putting the glass in, sorting out lights, exhaust, bumpers, wiring, controls, interior and a host of other small tasks took all that time and more, but I'm finally about done.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was the nasty, cheap, smelly and suspiciously sticky carpets installed in the car when I bought that it really started me on the whole project. I seem to remember my initial objectives were to renew the carpets and fix the smokey engine, before it all snowballed into the restoration I've detailed here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, here is the old set laid out on the lawn for reference:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5-x9t69caoKVETRZGcatxxXAC6O3-aqNsZymCQxQoJ3LlBXuIhXY719LjN7eiFgDXWLiciNHhLno9tXImrYLPiMKZuYv-QGDTEwaELzkpd0-_DcdqQF-DxS7lRN_qzTNYrDRPt35JVc/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5-x9t69caoKVETRZGcatxxXAC6O3-aqNsZymCQxQoJ3LlBXuIhXY719LjN7eiFgDXWLiciNHhLno9tXImrYLPiMKZuYv-QGDTEwaELzkpd0-_DcdqQF-DxS7lRN_qzTNYrDRPt35JVc/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rancid carpet</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a couple of abortive attempts to order carpet from a well known Dutch supplier I decided (with the help of a trimmer friend) to make my own. It took eight metres of carpet, and a good couple of days in a hot workshop on the warmest day of the year to cut out the dozen or so pieces I needed. I've selected an original Porsche carpet known as Salt and Pepper. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHOXB4RjkUT3J6xI7NaJX8piQqS1dHcPraY9OuMX5Gc6xXc3AF2JqMfafaawuJq5c0_M35hIsY4N38PCLpeHe9kJFncaW0YV0lz4TjSZ9QdzM8fEppJHXwIcb_yhMn75SociTz3pMjs8/s1600/IMG_0583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHOXB4RjkUT3J6xI7NaJX8piQqS1dHcPraY9OuMX5Gc6xXc3AF2JqMfafaawuJq5c0_M35hIsY4N38PCLpeHe9kJFncaW0YV0lz4TjSZ9QdzM8fEppJHXwIcb_yhMn75SociTz3pMjs8/s1600/IMG_0583.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carpet template. <br />Right handed scissors + left handed user = sore hands</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This all needed to be fitted into the car, which took another couple of days breathing fumes from strong contact adhesives, but the end result is looking promising. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI99RN6vfOgWOno4ju7uBifKFlslGiuORmJWN-ibIPWn3j8pNnnytg4JLlvHp2ibBp9_FPHGv73PY40GVcgq6GA5zrKarQvS3TP-yQ-mrEk03nxYaOVjaiqbHZ74-QWljtExngmj2Ikq0/s1600/IMG_0706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI99RN6vfOgWOno4ju7uBifKFlslGiuORmJWN-ibIPWn3j8pNnnytg4JLlvHp2ibBp9_FPHGv73PY40GVcgq6GA5zrKarQvS3TP-yQ-mrEk03nxYaOVjaiqbHZ74-QWljtExngmj2Ikq0/s1600/IMG_0706.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Re-trimmed rear shelf, basket weave vinyl, and salt 'n pepper</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to re-use the exhaust that came with the car. A go-faster stainless set up is the ultimate goal, but this will allow me to get the car running. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj2ygGYnvAGKws6FH0HPjWRicXfpetwhXbLT_g3QzSLG7j9RL1zXcWLIQODQ5M4fqqHpWF6sQ0cs6Wh0jUdYGbbrKa_Xhq9fvZYDFqu2B6IP3Ik0sm-2dP0YY5Me2L9A5u8fh8YupfYE/s1600/IMG_4988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWj2ygGYnvAGKws6FH0HPjWRicXfpetwhXbLT_g3QzSLG7j9RL1zXcWLIQODQ5M4fqqHpWF6sQ0cs6Wh0jUdYGbbrKa_Xhq9fvZYDFqu2B6IP3Ik0sm-2dP0YY5Me2L9A5u8fh8YupfYE/s1600/IMG_4988.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow silencer</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the car was painted, back in the US, there was no attempt to mask the system, so the silencer was covered with yellow overspray. A few hours with the wire brush in the grinder and some light coloured high temperature paint sorted that out.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qleU4qOghk7jpUqQoyqIi2dxtZ0a6VmfqwJjmrPn9-Uux1hIzZrCENs0oyKaCaU6uwBj7OOslZNOH8Wj-gICl2Tp5KIsy5uIX-pMTsK3NQnnuu3RAIOLtb7oqdW3sFhx7BEr4w4uRWk/s1600/IMG_0600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qleU4qOghk7jpUqQoyqIi2dxtZ0a6VmfqwJjmrPn9-Uux1hIzZrCENs0oyKaCaU6uwBj7OOslZNOH8Wj-gICl2Tp5KIsy5uIX-pMTsK3NQnnuu3RAIOLtb7oqdW3sFhx7BEr4w4uRWk/s1600/IMG_0600.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grinder and wire brush; instant exfoliation</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAE-BdMTy0o3PGlYZlqsOzokPLHo2yhLXSkJaYZ2xHoesD52BZH-cJGPdmJ3ZktXro8AOP8MI5WMdsKa0stpInOwvxDvsYTkPFdP8aNmHHAHzgZaDZFs0NSos-TraHQpIolc2mWSAebM/s1600/IMG_0004_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAE-BdMTy0o3PGlYZlqsOzokPLHo2yhLXSkJaYZ2xHoesD52BZH-cJGPdmJ3ZktXro8AOP8MI5WMdsKa0stpInOwvxDvsYTkPFdP8aNmHHAHzgZaDZFs0NSos-TraHQpIolc2mWSAebM/s1600/IMG_0004_2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bright shiny exhaust straps, white silencer, waiting for the<br />rain to stop falling on my 'workshop'</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trying to source a set of bumpers was a saga in itself. The glass fibre RS style front and rear bumpers that were on the car originally were of poor quality, and I didn't like the RS front air dam without the matching RS ducktail. In any case they were wrecked when the paint was blast cleaned off the car.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmwdyUjkZ6ki4Qe80mkW0kCPBnzTNkEIsjbfAm5UspcZZxg3F2YyCPvkwMFdAzVWS5SWgsKccdnKo1Zu5wBthHLsAmSYSzQ1OgiWP837V9bnW-OUV-d1QeDuHg4bzkAhyuZ7Ix4r0Kys/s1600/IMG_5015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmwdyUjkZ6ki4Qe80mkW0kCPBnzTNkEIsjbfAm5UspcZZxg3F2YyCPvkwMFdAzVWS5SWgsKccdnKo1Zu5wBthHLsAmSYSzQ1OgiWP837V9bnW-OUV-d1QeDuHg4bzkAhyuZ7Ix4r0Kys/s1600/IMG_5015.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumpers V1.0</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Modern road conditions and my heightened sense of self preservation means I probably won't venture much above 90mph so I can live without a front spoiler. So </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sourced a standard, steel non-spoiler front item on ebay</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The car will</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> look like the 911Rs that were raced before Porsche really started to understand that air flowing under the car generated lift, and therefore needed to be stopped with air dams and spoilers.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IN1IVvZrFEKqjP6JVBC9cTVOZlEfmY2Dug0OrCAE6EFyEZ66YNSqToG9wU0q3aDiigpQLO51jg7Q0lp4FXeQoVbV-VwHENR3UUhtL0U9A4Kw8layllm2Wy5hZBA0YFYkaNeYKmrbrVI/s1600/50_years_porsche_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IN1IVvZrFEKqjP6JVBC9cTVOZlEfmY2Dug0OrCAE6EFyEZ66YNSqToG9wU0q3aDiigpQLO51jg7Q0lp4FXeQoVbV-VwHENR3UUhtL0U9A4Kw8layllm2Wy5hZBA0YFYkaNeYKmrbrVI/s1600/50_years_porsche_02.jpg" height="168" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 911 generating lift</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ebay buy was in good condition, so it just needed the trim holes filled and then painted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also bid on a cheap used rear unit, but when it appeared it seemed to be only good for scrap; certainly it needed more glass fibre repair work that I was capable of. I was about to order a new unit from one recommended supplier when they told me delivery would be delayed by a month while the workforce went on their summer holidays. I then tried another specialist, but when that one arrived it had none of the brackets needed to fit it to a car. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By this stage I had three of the damn things littering the place, and not one good enough to send to the paintshop. Then, while wandering around the local sailing club, I had a bit of a brainwave. I found a local chap more used to sorting out damaged glass fibre dinghies, took along the cheap ebay bumper, and a week later collected it looking almost as good as new. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the engine was in the car it became clear the the Carrera 3.2 specification oil pipes I'd so carefully cleaned and painted were the wrong length to match up to the earlier engine. So I estimated the dimensions of what I needed using some stiff wire and had a suitable flexible hose made up by a local hydraulics specialist. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBVw6aA5TJNdrt3twGof8iOcrNpRiSfPEhsODS156ZKP9egV-eZD3iFl7RDCdb3OiXc3tp7-BgDr-g1XPcGgBMHwSHBkc0sCv34sp418TEZw3uZN2pMEOxR46auQmQXZD9KXVVzI1JcA/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBVw6aA5TJNdrt3twGof8iOcrNpRiSfPEhsODS156ZKP9egV-eZD3iFl7RDCdb3OiXc3tp7-BgDr-g1XPcGgBMHwSHBkc0sCv34sp418TEZw3uZN2pMEOxR46auQmQXZD9KXVVzI1JcA/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">£50- worth of flexible oil pipe</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this stage, I needed to go and get the seats that had been sitting on the shelves of an understanding Joe at Trimdelux in Littlehampton ever since I stripped the car a couple of years ago. Over that time we've had long discussions over colours, fabrics and finishes, and the final decisions have been made. This gives an idea of what we're going for - a combination of traditional 911 materials, black leather, and modern seats.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwhuTPEdDwbD0qXpLv7bq9LqE6p5DYGh_I6TG_WutFFlH4I3g4bTVCA_TI57oXDXuNwfqLfvT_7B9aLbujUJBPUR7Yzk-T0DizNav8o8KoIyY9j5Y921ugrq7H4E-jAPjDiQzA12sRMI/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwhuTPEdDwbD0qXpLv7bq9LqE6p5DYGh_I6TG_WutFFlH4I3g4bTVCA_TI57oXDXuNwfqLfvT_7B9aLbujUJBPUR7Yzk-T0DizNav8o8KoIyY9j5Y921ugrq7H4E-jAPjDiQzA12sRMI/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear seats in progress</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx2hpGRF5oleeZ4hFq2tCAZhUXOGmWGhsFvgZVzSWmO0OHBGctW3wihkVLBl-AQMN66j3HNNFvW-Zy8GMO_biGfRhulb-S_upHbSXEz0_vOttHw4MJn2xFLdnAu0v6AReUIvOXiYfeu0/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPx2hpGRF5oleeZ4hFq2tCAZhUXOGmWGhsFvgZVzSWmO0OHBGctW3wihkVLBl-AQMN66j3HNNFvW-Zy8GMO_biGfRhulb-S_upHbSXEz0_vOttHw4MJn2xFLdnAu0v6AReUIvOXiYfeu0/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salt 'n Pepper, basket weaver, belts, extravagant<br />hide covered B pillars</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally I'd got about as far as I could with the limited facilities available. There's only so much I can achieve working outside on the driveway, and without an ability to get properly under the car even tasks that would be simple with a lift, like attaching the petrol pipes or fitting the earth strap to the back of the gearbox, are next to impossible lying under a car. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So earlier this week the car was pushed onto the back of another trailer and taken off to Jez at GCS in Horsham. He's been tasked with setting the suspension geometry and ride height, checking all the nuts and bolts are tight, sorting out any of my FUBARs and obtaining a MOT certificate.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStK2GeRSIKfMGwaNtd-FtuTP1v1UoZAMDdOXYHrEhwreIOQ0iPQ5yhQL2pVAP3paLD1VRXfT-7keale3U2FSiYKeXQkAOhMKn2PLX0NpTjiAQC9AOkx29VSF70J1dJNrUdaIGDHuu6jw/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStK2GeRSIKfMGwaNtd-FtuTP1v1UoZAMDdOXYHrEhwreIOQ0iPQ5yhQL2pVAP3paLD1VRXfT-7keale3U2FSiYKeXQkAOhMKn2PLX0NpTjiAQC9AOkx29VSF70J1dJNrUdaIGDHuu6jw/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off for the finishing touches?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I write, I'm waiting for Jez's verdict. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span><br />
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Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-43688419025460352232014-07-15T22:13:00.001+00:002014-07-15T22:13:32.463+00:00911T Project - engine update<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll just leave these here. Its the lovingly rebuilt engine from my 911T, complete with its new set of lungs courtesy of PMO in the US.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here it is again, back home in the car where it belongs:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-11037292909725598762014-07-15T22:07:00.002+00:002014-07-15T22:07:59.502+00:00Classic Le Mans 2014<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each time I travel across to France for the Classic Le Mans I worry that the specialness of the event will be subsumed under crass commercialisation and overcrowding. Well, in spite of the best efforts of the organisers to do just that, I still had a great time, and still rate it one of the 'must do' old car events in Europe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As in 2012, I took my son and we travelled in my 964, just back from having its original, not messed with, thrashed, tracked or neglected & completely bullet-proof engine completely rebuilt. Also travelling with us were various old Porsche driving friends, so we were nine in total at our Gites, some 10km west of the circuit. After years of camping in the Le Mans circuit wastelands, I'm at an age when a comfy bed, hot shower and good food are as important to me as the track action, so as far I was concerned the additional cost was well justified, especially as our host turned out to be an excellent chef. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 964 outside the Gite with a 1966 predecessor</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another improvement on previous expeditions was the decision to travel a day earlier, arriving on Thursday evening after taking the scenic route down from Dieppe. It meant we had to whole of Friday to wander around the paddocks in relative peace, and could get close the cars and even talk to drivers and mechanics before the bedlam that is the Saturday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even with a bizarre schedule that saw the first race only get under way at 5pm, it's still magic to see old racing machinery being driven properly on a track that lets big, fast cars really stretch their legs. Inevitably, our focus was on the later grids; four, five and six, where six, eight and twelve cylinder Porsches from the 1960s and 70's were out in force. Although the Saturday evening's races were affected by the weather, our successful blagging of access to the ACO's clubhouse meant we weren't. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33JW4esuYppJAWbLsAVvh7o60TKO3vWDvRmMtFYOzlbFRN9sfsMD2HzDNKNDI1PVtSahTE_Lmvq9VTLXh9PZoRUErYUpL9pJrr3Tqi-daCSpyltrOka2jFqUQ4mSjkOXhxNBqneHKBKM/s1600/IMG_0551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33JW4esuYppJAWbLsAVvh7o60TKO3vWDvRmMtFYOzlbFRN9sfsMD2HzDNKNDI1PVtSahTE_Lmvq9VTLXh9PZoRUErYUpL9pJrr3Tqi-daCSpyltrOka2jFqUQ4mSjkOXhxNBqneHKBKM/s1600/IMG_0551.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the roof of the ACO's clubhouse</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm no great photographer, but one of our party is, you can see some of his pictures from the trip <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lonefurrow">on his Flickr page here.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the Monday we left, but rather than head north back up to the ferry port with the others we decided to spend a couple of days seeing the Normandy D day sites, finally arriving back in sunny West Sussex on Tuesday evening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span><br />
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<br />Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-72220032344805691892014-06-25T11:44:00.000+00:002014-06-25T11:44:16.628+00:00911T Project - More Progress<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I started this project in January 2012, my intention was that the car was going to be back on the road for the summer. That summer; the hot one we had a year ago.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here we are, 20 months on and bits of the car are still spread over large swathes of West Sussex as well as in my garage, utility room, and office. Oh well; as the poet said: "<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 24px;">The best laid schemes o' mice an' men, </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 24px;">Gang aft a-gley</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">" </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my defence, my original plans that New Year's day involved no more than new carpet and a quick blow-over, plans which, in all honesty, have developed into a full-on restoration with a chunk of resto-mod thrown in.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's my way of explaining why I won't be driving the car to Classic Le Mans next month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, things are moving on:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSArZ9UFKnRmKN6mrSLlYnPVGOHe1wSIw8E-NdekRLXKzvbo3lAnIM14Bvl0HRV5gngnAEX0E8ipFqsfwnWaBq8wkrSV41CyNo8ojPUH31je_5tScnRVN3ucAEN6DrYZ4EWJTJzPr8ds/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSArZ9UFKnRmKN6mrSLlYnPVGOHe1wSIw8E-NdekRLXKzvbo3lAnIM14Bvl0HRV5gngnAEX0E8ipFqsfwnWaBq8wkrSV41CyNo8ojPUH31je_5tScnRVN3ucAEN6DrYZ4EWJTJzPr8ds/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cylinder heads have been comprehensively refreshed and re-worked. Originally<br />they had very narrow ports and a hole for the CIS injectors.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNHAjGY97mX0sv6hjq99Xgko7ZQoqZefF2YW7NTJzIKx1bCQBsFVZhyphenhyphenXeEiG1BwqaVdq62YbG2jZ3hgftlZeL-KcV1Qc4ykaXeoc2k-DbWcpJiQlucK4IgHeaHbeFIcnvMFGfXecS0Ps/s1600/IMG_0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNHAjGY97mX0sv6hjq99Xgko7ZQoqZefF2YW7NTJzIKx1bCQBsFVZhyphenhyphenXeEiG1BwqaVdq62YbG2jZ3hgftlZeL-KcV1Qc4ykaXeoc2k-DbWcpJiQlucK4IgHeaHbeFIcnvMFGfXecS0Ps/s1600/IMG_0447.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ports have been opened up to 'S' specification, and the CIS injectors<br />blocked off. Valve guides were replaced, seats re-cut, and the whole unit treated to<br />a good polishing. Flow rates are now up 50%</span>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKq_u8lP75PLWIpJxUcpGvh6cgukey_cvotJzFt4f9tUblFLiPsyozU3dUT6rOBjFULYIgyEitGCoX_D2zafC6PojQTqFIH_gceMr_glJ7BEB5WJLZu0Ie0rAWZswebA4Dot1ivXoYuaI/s1600/IMG_0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKq_u8lP75PLWIpJxUcpGvh6cgukey_cvotJzFt4f9tUblFLiPsyozU3dUT6rOBjFULYIgyEitGCoX_D2zafC6PojQTqFIH_gceMr_glJ7BEB5WJLZu0Ie0rAWZswebA4Dot1ivXoYuaI/s1600/IMG_0463.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new carburettors have arrived from California. They are made by<br />PMO and have an excellent reputation. Certainly they look the business -<br />it seems a bit of a shame to hide them in the engine bay.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYT30f5l8beEOnxzOnBhN-xwOeu7dUK5HI2hNofRZB7FdXQl5k4sItgauNvF3En1tWRA8rK9ru5YYSnkgXNG-MTzsY_GNWvvYw3So_0_4DxBR2_tskJyxNOCK5Q9SMYUivlWL860ta0w/s1600/Image+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYT30f5l8beEOnxzOnBhN-xwOeu7dUK5HI2hNofRZB7FdXQl5k4sItgauNvF3En1tWRA8rK9ru5YYSnkgXNG-MTzsY_GNWvvYw3So_0_4DxBR2_tskJyxNOCK5Q9SMYUivlWL860ta0w/s1600/Image+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the engine in build. We decided to take the risk of not splitting<br />the crank case as all looked to be in excellent condition. The eventual <br />power output is anyone's guess; anything between 150-200bhp is<br />possible. More important is a unit that behaves itself.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCJy8GwYBcA1AiX_BtWUU-wJw0RhqgW8De38_75kX0k0vhlMYodcUnZwrfJ8hjxHRWRifQk68DB1oKkhG3P4jbUUKlc86qj7LSK6nnwzaoxCTO0jxdNRzXWJDAf9Xddhi8eIsdus5kXc/s1600/IMG_8015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCJy8GwYBcA1AiX_BtWUU-wJw0RhqgW8De38_75kX0k0vhlMYodcUnZwrfJ8hjxHRWRifQk68DB1oKkhG3P4jbUUKlc86qj7LSK6nnwzaoxCTO0jxdNRzXWJDAf9Xddhi8eIsdus5kXc/s1600/IMG_8015.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A replacement dash was sourced. The condition wasn't great so it was<br />an excuse to get my mate Garry to cover it in leather.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_X1bUpgcB3bH9pkcTY1-k3-ZnMmMsp7hsSfSqiZdsoI-9Rm1agF4sbCEQkNRMphheePv6JQqQtzMgU5EClwmWfaSwxiFf9tICy52eIIULCkJm3As0rWujoCefVj6jXD9ixBod_vNsM4/s1600/IMG_8036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_X1bUpgcB3bH9pkcTY1-k3-ZnMmMsp7hsSfSqiZdsoI-9Rm1agF4sbCEQkNRMphheePv6JQqQtzMgU5EClwmWfaSwxiFf9tICy52eIIULCkJm3As0rWujoCefVj6jXD9ixBod_vNsM4/s1600/IMG_8036.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The car with a windscreen and bonnet. Words that take moments<br />to type, but a process that took several weeks and the intervention<br />of my Porsche guru to complete.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNPIvtx0L1zhSGAr1Bz_ZfEq1Ewuyv-2x3pZaHtnKgggy94aU3nxPkKzzFMO3MDnuI6bx7gD9LO9U-XrsTTBYrg0WxEs3RGcUz7SAejzFk4RBLz_ej0oCVq-tVJUi_SHx5RkGp-8jKf4/s1600/IMG_8039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNPIvtx0L1zhSGAr1Bz_ZfEq1Ewuyv-2x3pZaHtnKgggy94aU3nxPkKzzFMO3MDnuI6bx7gD9LO9U-XrsTTBYrg0WxEs3RGcUz7SAejzFk4RBLz_ej0oCVq-tVJUi_SHx5RkGp-8jKf4/s1600/IMG_8039.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Engine lid on, something that I learnt is much easier when you take<br />the grill out. Thanks for the tip Internet.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new completion target is September, but I'm not telling which year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span></div>
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Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-62637173962707787272014-05-22T11:39:00.000+00:002014-05-22T11:45:23.993+00:00Earned a beer<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm no great drinker, but somedays you really feel like you've earned a cool tinny. Fitting the oil pipes and cooler to the 911 turned out not to be the work of a moment. More accurately, it was the work of a fortnight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I faced a number of 'challenges' (as us rank amateur car restorers like to call major SNAFUs) to do with attaching 30 year old used parts to a car that didn't have them fitted in the first place. Firstly I had to enlist help to get the remains of the flexible oil hoses off the solid hoses, and galvanic corrosion between the steel pipe fixings and the aluminium diverter valve meant another £300- into Porsche's coffers for a new one. It also took me ages to find the correct adaptor for the oil cooler to replace the one I'd butchered freeing it from the old pipes.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQS2_0gVtZpGNuNdeTpN5NFpCqUHgi2FInx16mkvQwNZ9cQ7J4n8hCaIKu_xtdIuj8jh96jZrBdETDizYpV9EqM7Z0MZAGFnX76jamF9GaXcDHSWF0FB4XHGhXH9y8V8w6Nw8uSM8pvs/s1600/IMG_7974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQS2_0gVtZpGNuNdeTpN5NFpCqUHgi2FInx16mkvQwNZ9cQ7J4n8hCaIKu_xtdIuj8jh96jZrBdETDizYpV9EqM7Z0MZAGFnX76jamF9GaXcDHSWF0FB4XHGhXH9y8V8w6Nw8uSM8pvs/s1600/IMG_7974.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh aluminium gently reacting with steel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attaching the pipes and cooler without the benefit of the brackets, fittings and holes Porsche thoughtfully provided on the 911S and RS models (the ones with front oil coolers from new) took a number of goes and (oh the shame) <span style="font-size: xx-small;">a visit to B&Q</span> for the necessary hardware. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh927o6CA3kS6tnvW3qWeKJSyN8CnHO9uXL_ai_ASaxHe3xrGQpvMwVIBFA0GvJEIWVKUJerucT1sXDFOFq7ofYTivYKQid3Lbat5mMiWxQnzLeXkNN_2wSsYxl-0eAGNs00jlVXoAWqEw/s1600/IMG_7978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh927o6CA3kS6tnvW3qWeKJSyN8CnHO9uXL_ai_ASaxHe3xrGQpvMwVIBFA0GvJEIWVKUJerucT1sXDFOFq7ofYTivYKQid3Lbat5mMiWxQnzLeXkNN_2wSsYxl-0eAGNs00jlVXoAWqEw/s1600/IMG_7978.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B&Q's contribution; coach bolts</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used 50mm coach-bolts to fit the three shaped clamps under the sill, taking the positions from a photo of a un-messed with 2.7RS. I used a modified galvanised heavy duty shelf bracket</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to support the bottom of the oil cooler, and made a mild steel bracket (well, several, actually) to support the cooler at the top. There are metal/rubber bobbins at both points to protect the cooler from </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">vibration.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvG6Y7S-Up0ApuWjtq_T1wW4tGN4c9hzYdhJs2Y84ZZQdoL3JC4-xKshPb4-ZuRLw83CizXOy221iFVUt3HsiTLmquMr_cDuzo06tE2SsvU1zY6woP5SLFIG9BleKkH6O6KMBDYGIRV2E/s1600/IMG_7982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvG6Y7S-Up0ApuWjtq_T1wW4tGN4c9hzYdhJs2Y84ZZQdoL3JC4-xKshPb4-ZuRLw83CizXOy221iFVUt3HsiTLmquMr_cDuzo06tE2SsvU1zY6woP5SLFIG9BleKkH6O6KMBDYGIRV2E/s1600/IMG_7982.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mk7 oil cooler mounting bracket</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one fixing that was on the car. Thanks Ferdinand.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oddly, the captive bolt needed to support the pipes as they run under the rear wheel arch had been fitted when the car was built, and had spent 40 years sitting quietly waiting to fulfil its reason for existence. Oversight? Standardised assembly? In any case, it's now reached the top of Maslow's triangle, fulfilled and holding up the two pipes it was born for.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One week in, all flattering to deceive.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early 911s have two batteries, each held in boxes let into the front inner wing. The right hand one sits about where the oil cooler should go, so as I didn't want to make any changes that couldn't be reversed at some point, I had to fit the cooler in front of it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took many goes at getting the oil pipes in the right place without interfering with the wing, and at the same time placing it as close to the battery box as I could to stop any fouling on the tyres. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMpWHcTmN5zjfmhBn3Q9h-754EKQTBkRAZ62cQIIoqgCaVbQIUakbWnvaGLlFyRkTsCwdQoDwJ-cLzPTh8fd67OAGs2sJHUaxg0FYGI4rhrTUC7vU4Oh3zIBNcc9RcZgEbZyCnHv1-iY/s1600/IMG_7983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMpWHcTmN5zjfmhBn3Q9h-754EKQTBkRAZ62cQIIoqgCaVbQIUakbWnvaGLlFyRkTsCwdQoDwJ-cLzPTh8fd67OAGs2sJHUaxg0FYGI4rhrTUC7vU4Oh3zIBNcc9RcZgEbZyCnHv1-iY/s1600/IMG_7983.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sufficient clearance around the tyre</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That box does stop a clear airflow to the cooler from the horn grills under the headlight, but I reckon its going to be much more effective at keeping the expensive engine happy than not using one. Airflow from the front of the car into the wheel arch is turbulent in any case - spinning road wheels cause a build up of high pressure under the arch in all closed wheel cars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, after many, many test fittings the assembly was fitted. As an afterthought I fitted the front wing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its all looking a bit more car-shaped. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The beer was good. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7<br />
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Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-3257844069707109902014-05-07T12:11:00.002+00:002014-05-07T12:13:19.985+00:00A Very Sensible Hatchback<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">'Fast' is a very relative term. On a horse, 25mph is exhilarating while 500mph in a 747-400 all the away to Australia is literally soporific. Nearer the ground, I'm looking forward to being re-united with my Porsche 964 soon, its brawny 3.6litre engine punches out 250bhp, quicker than most cars on the road and capable of pushing the 911 to 160mph. But I was reminded how things have moved on since 1990 by a recent try in a 5 door hatchback.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">I have a vague recollection of handing over my details to a cutie on BMW's magnificent edifice a</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">t the Goodwood Festival of Speed last July </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">and asking about their 135i. There has been something of a buzz about the M-Light version of their visually challenged hatchback and I was curious enough to want to try one. Ever since then a persistent salesman from my nearest dealer has been on my case. He called me again recently and announced that he was able to offer me a car at a "silly price" so I thought I'd go along and waste some of his time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><br />I dug out some decent clothes and turned up at the dealership promptly at the agreed 11am. The forecast was for a bit of precipitation so I took the Golf, not the bike. At least that meant I was able to put some light go-faster shoes on - all the better for stepping lightly on an over-servoed brake pedal. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">There were a couple of new 1-Series sitting in the showroom when I arrived, so while the salesman was girding his loins for our encounter and the pleasant receptionist was rustling up a cappuccino, I had a good look around. I suspect this most recent iteration of BMW's smallest is a bit bigger than the 130i I looked at buying a few years ago. Unlike that car (which I remember as being an almost completely</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> pointless four doored two seater) this has near Golf space in the rear with the front seat in 'my' position - and I'm a lanky six foot one-and-a-bit on a good day. As expected the boot is shallow - what with a diff and multi-link rear suspension set up under the floor 'n'all, but the five doors would be a practical plus over the somewhat limiting three of my own Golf. At least that upside banana 'character line' under the doors has been banished - I always thought it made the car look as if its spine had been fractured - but even without that obvious flaw the 1-series remains slab sided and moonfaced.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><br />Inside, the steering wheel is a big chunky for my tastes, while the dash architecture is generic BMW - functional, classy and with some nice details. As some compensation the road wheels are relatively sensible 18's. BMW have even finally binned the inadequate sliding calliper brakes of 'M' cars in the past for a decent 4-pot set up in a fetching shade of blue. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">The two cars in the showroom were laden with options; both had the 8 speed autobox that <a href="http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=26529">Chris Harris likes</a>, a £2k nav system and a load of 'convenience' doo-dahs for people who are unable to operate their own wipers & lights or park(or change gear...). However, in contrast to BMWs of old the standard level of kit is generous and includes such niceties as Xenon lights, a large screen+mouse interface, a DAB radio and dual zone climate control. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">Sadly, this generosity extends to the nasty Dakota leather that also comes as standard - presumably this reflects UK buyers' misguided preference</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> for dead cow skin under their backsides. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">There is no cloth option.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><br />After a half decent cup of coffee (it wasn't as nice as the one Porsche Portsmouth give me when I pop in to buy four quids worth of parts) the determined salesman and I went out in their demonstrator, a black 5 door with that 8-speed autobox. Mr Persistent went first, demonstrating a nicely refined BMW approved driving style; 45mph through the village's 30 limit, binary pedal technique, seat nice and high, and a good arm's stretch to the steering wheel for the 'full Stirling' driving position.<br /><br />At the handover I levered the seat to the floor, pulled the fat wheel into my lap and raked the seat's back up. Much better.<br /><br />First impressions were dominated by the variable assisted steering rack; turning out of the handover car-park and the steering lock was noticeably not directly related to my input - the car adding exponentially more lock the further I turned the wheel. Not really very re-assuring and I ended up zigging and zagging down the road until I got dialled in. The assistance is of the electrical variety, and like some many of these systems it really only appeals to drivers who think </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">steering 'feel' means how the your fingertips like the cheap leather covering the rim. Any connection with the road surface that allows to you judge grip and balance is almost entirely missing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">The first few miles were busy 'A' road and second impressions were of a controlled but acceptable ride - even on the standard 18inch run flats - and a refined, even hushed lack of noise. In Comfort mode (alternatives are Eco and Sport - more later) the changes were smooth and plentiful as the box hunted for the highest possible gear. However, unlike my Golf's DSG system, it was willing to drop a gear or two (or three or four..) at a slight prod of the gas pedal.<br /><br />After a while we turned onto the fast sweepers of the dualed A24 north of Worthing, and as the road opened up I pushed my right foot to the stop.<br /><br />Feck me.<br /><br />BMW claim 320bhp, but my seat of the pants dyno tells me they're telling porkies. There's a lot of accelerator pedal travel, but get it anywhere near the floor and it feels almost as quick as the 991 I 'owned' for a week last year. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the thing grunts out well over 350bhp, meaning it would be knocking on the door of 170mph without the limiter. I wasn't about to confirm this on the A24 but 3 figure speeds were horribly easy to achieve, all accompanied by a delicious yowl from the straight six that's only partly synthesised through the car's ICE system. This is some sensible family hatchback.<br /><br />It was also pretty easy to waft along at normal motorway speeds, but after a few miles I left the open spaces of the A24 and joined a familiar A road heading back south towards Angmering. In 'Sport' mode the ECU delivers sharper throttle response and quicker changes, responding rapidly to commands from the paddles either side of the wheel. In fact I suspect BMW have engineered a little 'thump' into the system just like the faux racers from Maranello. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">The steering still felt a little numb, definitely the weakest part of the dynamic equation. I suspect traction in anything but perfect conditions would also be a challenge; even in the dry, more aggressive use of the available torque produced flickers from the ASC light on the dash as the car went light over brows and lumps in the road. In fact, the chassis seemed not quite up to the standards of the drive-train. It lacked an ability to flow over a road like the best fast cars; as the pace increased the body moved around more than felt comfortable, affecting my confidence to push very hard. Poorly specified damping? Lack of suspension travel? Mind you, even at 8/10ths we were travelling at speeds I wouldn't like to have to justify to a member of Sussex's finest. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">On the upside it was lovely to feel the balance of a rwd chassis again; get all the braking done before the corner, turn in and pour on the power and there's no sign of the Gti's perennial</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> understeer - in fact the little Beemer seemed to pivot gently through neutral into a slight oversteer attitude before the blinking light cut the power - I suspect any attempt to turn the electronic stabilisers off might have been greeted with some resistance by my now strangely subdued company.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;">A bit more of this and we were back at the dealership. I'd nearly forgotten the pushy salesman but as I popped to the loo (its an old man thing) I overheard him discussing our little test drive which appeared to have left something of an impression. I sympathise, I'm a poor passenger and I'd hate to be at the mercy of any test pilot who came into my showroom - especially one who fancied themselves as a wheelman/woman. I did apologise, and he claimed to have experienced much worse - in fact he was charmingly complimentary.<br /><br />Sadly I then had to put up with a lot of sales bullsh*t over the price. The stock cars are not the strippers I'd specify at £30k, but fully dressed £38k jobs. A lot of money for a 5-door hatch, even one that's borderline ballistic. Even at the 10% discount he inferred might be do-able - without much prompting on my part. While I *might* just have a word with myself at £27k, at a lot more than that I'll hang fire and buy one on a couple of years.<br /><br />On the other hand, if any of you want Cayman performance with hatchback practicality and understated looks I give you a shortlist of one. Oh, and I'd tick the box that removed the M135i badge and replaced it with a 116i one.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-27022758171371737542014-05-01T11:53:00.000+00:002014-05-01T11:56:29.726+00:00Eight weeks….<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well I must admit, even by my standards it's been a while. The muse had abandoned me for nearly six months, but as spring settles in Sussex here we are again. So I thought I let you have, dear forgotten reader, an idea of where I've got to with the old 911's light refresh.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old 911 sitting on its dolly tries to eat mechanic</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Before winter set in last year the car came off the metal dolly used to move it about when just a shell and landed back onto its wheels.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back on its wheels again after blast-cleaning and the application <br />
of lots of lovely Gulf Blue paint</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The suspension set-up now includes the new Bilstein Sport dampers, turbo-specification track rod ends, standard anti-roll bars front & rear, and big fat hollow 28mm Elephant Racing rear torsion bars. I've also replaced all of the bushes with stiffer SuperPro polyurethane. It was a shame the latter wasn't done by the specialist who had the car when I first had it - the rear set in particular were in a bad way. The standard brake callipers were rebuilt - one replaced when it was seen to be cracked - and with uprated pads, race-spec fluid and a trick pedal box should give power and feel. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7a1iB9f8PzQGKepGBQV20wh7SjWRoGhB1N2wM7ZiyosoDxnEV7l8Xa-1D7vfNVArLfz6uW1C17ZDqRL-n0zQ3yNVgnxZiJAJsIhWp7AO0IrlzuD3c3USAwUlC9yJMp0YIJDqA2CUVDc/s1600/IMG_0286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7a1iB9f8PzQGKepGBQV20wh7SjWRoGhB1N2wM7ZiyosoDxnEV7l8Xa-1D7vfNVArLfz6uW1C17ZDqRL-n0zQ3yNVgnxZiJAJsIhWp7AO0IrlzuD3c3USAwUlC9yJMp0YIJDqA2CUVDc/s1600/IMG_0286.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The engine takes up residence in a DDK workshop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM_pIMFvsepP__pMeaMKLqs_Pz4vy2u_Xc_LVOE-H9v-9_ZlshQX_Pj6NWtRbU2RpHOdUBDicBuCaS6-xu94QxgqhGx-1LxGETip0LpxTS_5zbdL3UoL-qOnuetVsZ9_XyaP-3pUZ334/s1600/IMG_7967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM_pIMFvsepP__pMeaMKLqs_Pz4vy2u_Xc_LVOE-H9v-9_ZlshQX_Pj6NWtRbU2RpHOdUBDicBuCaS6-xu94QxgqhGx-1LxGETip0LpxTS_5zbdL3UoL-qOnuetVsZ9_XyaP-3pUZ334/s1600/IMG_7967.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bigger holes; six of them. New JE pistons and cylinders with an 86mm bore<br />
will give a small increase in capacity (up from 2.3 to 2.5litres) and added 'zing'</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My original intention was to replace the engine with a larger unit from a later model, but a re-think was forced on me over the winter. Partly this was because expensive mechanical disaster overtook the 'other Porsche', and partly because steadily rising values of old 911s are dependent on their having the original engines in place. I was also helped immensely by the offer of help from some DDK mates with a re-build. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The challenge with the 1973 2.4T's engine is that firstly the specification was changed to make it cheaper to build, and secondly it was Porsche's first effort to meet newly introduced US emission regulations by adopting the K-Jetronic fuel injection system. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The result is a motor that, while under-stressed and delivering of good mid-range performance, has little of the early car's zingy top end. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mine also suffered from a poorly maintained injection system. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After much debate, the engine committee has agreed on an approach that keeps the original engine in place, but adds missing 'zing' while keeping a tight rein on expenditure. I was lucky in one respect, when the old motor was dismantled it was discovered to be in excellent condition; there was very little sign of wear to any of the major revolving bits. So good was it, that we've decided to take the calculated risk of leaving the bottom end untouched. The smoke that plagued me when on the motorway was the usual air-cooled problem; a couple of fairly minor leaks caused oil fumes to get into the heating system, resulting in a smokey interior. In hindsight I was doubly lucky that my earlier efforts to sell the engine were unsuccessful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The recipe will include high compression pistons in slightly larger bored barrels, camshafts from a 2.4E, heads that will be gas flowed and have the ports opened up, fat PMO carburettors and, should budget allow, a less restrictive exhaust. With a bit more luck that lot will deliver plenty of zing and knock on the door of 200bhp. Oh, and my run of good fortune extended to the gearbox, wear was limited to the synchromesh on 3rd gear, which meant the re-build was about as straightforward (and cheap - although that's only in context of old Porsche prices) as a 915 re-build gets.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW-mkMUOoTMruYN-h9pjscOlAqEiCR75ZMIrR1FxoPc_QN2dV7sTyVuzzx3VKnMAFRsD0PzGertHcdCUynzvXocY2XW_X0nWZtk-6X71I7NZzTNssBWqKoKvk2K7J-mrDOEgCb4GHFno/s1600/IMG_7374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW-mkMUOoTMruYN-h9pjscOlAqEiCR75ZMIrR1FxoPc_QN2dV7sTyVuzzx3VKnMAFRsD0PzGertHcdCUynzvXocY2XW_X0nWZtk-6X71I7NZzTNssBWqKoKvk2K7J-mrDOEgCb4GHFno/s1600/IMG_7374.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heater, tank and wiring</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile I continued to bolt all of the bits that were being stored around the house back onto the car. All of the wiring is in place, the dashboard and instruments are fitted, the heating system is in and the fuel tank now sits back in the front. Which was good as the thing was a perishing nuisance to find a place for.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyswu4EzGDZ9LTuBqxPetEEp3z80x_B3_500zj0FAl7lwyjij4kF4dQbZEOpvROITP6nSWkkqek90B4sZnCpTsdmJ2u6XgkVLpFprcIC8MT6zxtl2d1kziE88-Ez3hulNmAq5AD-55umM/s1600/IMG_7448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyswu4EzGDZ9LTuBqxPetEEp3z80x_B3_500zj0FAl7lwyjij4kF4dQbZEOpvROITP6nSWkkqek90B4sZnCpTsdmJ2u6XgkVLpFprcIC8MT6zxtl2d1kziE88-Ez3hulNmAq5AD-55umM/s1600/IMG_7448.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The superbly fitted headlining and 10kgs of sound deadening</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The latest area of focus is on the interior. I used many, many coats of POR15 to protect the floor and vulnerable areas around the rear seat wells and parcel shelf. To replace the sound deadening that I removed, I installed a good few kilograms of bitumen-based sheet around the interior, including the roof. The aim is to cut down noise without encouraging more corrosion in the longer-term, and many, many cans of Dinotrol have been exhausted down hidden box-sections to help that cause. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With some more help from the DDK crew, the headlining (white now - to lighten the interior) was installed and carpet is on order. When I found the car in Florida the interior was a horrible concoction of cheap after-market man-made materials that emitted the stale smell of oxidising plastic and damp carpet. I find nothing puts me off a car faster than an interior with a bad odour, so the new one will contain more in the way of natural ingredients.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYAy7mEZ0sPo1gqTaa1wYLiGHMQiAmFrL27VIz3edbWaUnWH3USz3TowcKA_uM4G7fUO70LV_KOvlChXXb19ygUJNPoZKxr5Xu_UsA2dTtuH8NwwxsLMdEjHS2KHauNrqA8JGgjwi1PU/s1600/IMG_7739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYAy7mEZ0sPo1gqTaa1wYLiGHMQiAmFrL27VIz3edbWaUnWH3USz3TowcKA_uM4G7fUO70LV_KOvlChXXb19ygUJNPoZKxr5Xu_UsA2dTtuH8NwwxsLMdEjHS2KHauNrqA8JGgjwi1PU/s1600/IMG_7739.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking car shaped with doors and wings</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">More recently, the panels that made my dining room look like a Porsche dealer's parts department store have found their way back onto the car; doors, sunroof and the wings were test fitted. After more debate I've decided to award the engine's new lease of life with some additional cooling. Oil pipes, cooler and thermostat were sourced via ebay from an mid-80s 911 and they will be fitted to the car. It represents a slight challenge as the spot where the oil-cooler would naturally want to sit is taken up by the early car's battery box, so a fudge will be sought.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDx8yThmVrCnCDPflCkYniqaFm_bVwc0ETQ4NDvL9FqvqtLZXz9nAFdzb-tZsCCWh2Bo5hk-KtqLbI0JEoVOQiX0CTeSqzuPRgwIDFfNGc3JGnh_vGZPGLRp0sTGA0Fni12hiKlhw8qbE/s1600/IMG_7747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDx8yThmVrCnCDPflCkYniqaFm_bVwc0ETQ4NDvL9FqvqtLZXz9nAFdzb-tZsCCWh2Bo5hk-KtqLbI0JEoVOQiX0CTeSqzuPRgwIDFfNGc3JGnh_vGZPGLRp0sTGA0Fni12hiKlhw8qbE/s1600/IMG_7747.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suspension and brake bling and trial fitting the oil cooler pipework</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">In a few sentences then, that's about where I've got to. Looking back it doesn't seem to represent much for nearly 18 months effort, it surprising how much time you can lose cleaning up bits and pieces, planning the next move, waiting for various specialists to do their thing, and for the weather to improve - a tiny garage means most operations involve wheeling the car outside.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy20TdQiYibF3JN7PUWyLgdrdzDdQ1jVtf3fa6gqUnbEwdVcILkin5zndfWi7F0ewkhrxqfwesUGMLD_bacDxlyoCyrbzLt4RdTDymiuD7yzSfe4Re124rBvmqUoy4jkad4lLUTVBKjS8/s1600/IMG_7954.JPG" height="240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Details, details; the engine shroud after removing the old yellow<br />
paint and revealing dull gel-coat</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy20TdQiYibF3JN7PUWyLgdrdzDdQ1jVtf3fa6gqUnbEwdVcILkin5zndfWi7F0ewkhrxqfwesUGMLD_bacDxlyoCyrbzLt4RdTDymiuD7yzSfe4Re124rBvmqUoy4jkad4lLUTVBKjS8/s1600/IMG_7954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After several hours with wet and dry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More bling; engine pulley and bonnet latches</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The eight weeks? Well, its now the beginning of May, and Classic Le Mans (and boy #1's summer prom) are both in early July. The race is on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-53166981803137357952013-11-26T11:08:00.001+00:002013-11-26T11:10:09.108+00:00My life in Golfs<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEJYMuIKnzG3cU-xJnSrVdM6DBqwe6MK8xWgu0RoqSo85v8AsM5Re6jBtRL07mXwEGpzhm0tHQ6LLR2taJcmVqEO7t1hN_1bWm20ljIWrrN2Q8lxaTQcabsv8daVRaQDjzp2vbZWd1mY/s1600/vw-golf-gti-7-front-static.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEJYMuIKnzG3cU-xJnSrVdM6DBqwe6MK8xWgu0RoqSo85v8AsM5Re6jBtRL07mXwEGpzhm0tHQ6LLR2taJcmVqEO7t1hN_1bWm20ljIWrrN2Q8lxaTQcabsv8daVRaQDjzp2vbZWd1mY/s320/vw-golf-gti-7-front-static.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick enough, and comfy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This summer, the 7th generation Golf Gti was released. I've not tried one yet (I don't trust myself) but press reports suggest that once again VW have managed to create a car that meets all the expectations of a demanding market; sensible fuel consumption, low emissions, lots of safety equipment, a dose of prestige, high levels of refinement, driver friendly DSG transmission & electric steering, electronically adjustable dynamics, and the connectivity demanded by the iPhone generation. At the same time, poke it with a sharp stick and there's plenty of performance, more than the small power increase would suggest as the adoption of VAG's new all-things-to-all-men MQB platform comes with a big weight saving over its predecessor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Performance and comfort; perfect for a middle aged family man like me with the odd ache and twinge, but who still likes to put the pedal to the floor occasionally (when the conditions are suitable and all within the legal limits m'lud).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It occurs to me that the Gti's development over three and a half decades has matched my own driving career.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1979 VW launched the Gti version of the Mk1 Golf in right hand drive form. Odd that we don't notice seminal moments until later on, but for UK enthusiasts it was the start of the hot-hatch revolution that came to define the next ten or so years. That Gti weighed a mere 850kgs, and had a wonderfully responsive 1600cc engine, great chassis and terrible brakes. It was a middle-class hooligan. The year was significant for other reasons too; it marked the beginning of near two decades of Conservative rule, there was a Muslim inspired revolution in Iran, the IRA assassinated Lord Mountbatten, Sid Viscous died, and at the tender age of 18 I entered the world of work - complete with brand spanking new driving licence.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7utAMwh2O_yEDfHWSZTQqHvJfVwl9VApSK5Xelb2oX_LWvv5yDjSZltf2hYO-KwJv7iccZFwZpY6iYhzSQ4Z4UdXQeLqCjAJdjmVDrc4EyVDbwxhsyBaQdHvqvzgjmqUaNQUfRFn_3Vg/s1600/VW-Golf-GTI-Mk-I-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7utAMwh2O_yEDfHWSZTQqHvJfVwl9VApSK5Xelb2oX_LWvv5yDjSZltf2hYO-KwJv7iccZFwZpY6iYhzSQ4Z4UdXQeLqCjAJdjmVDrc4EyVDbwxhsyBaQdHvqvzgjmqUaNQUfRFn_3Vg/s320/VW-Golf-GTI-Mk-I-lg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mk1 Golf Gti; perky and good with Pimms</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly, a Gti was way out of reach, but within my social sphere there were a few. A generous father bought one for his daughter - a bright young thing who made something approximating a living catering for smart dinner parties. From time to time I'd find myself squeezed into the back, dawn in the sky, as we returned home from a ball or party, balancing glasses of liberated Pimms or Champagne on our knees and the front seat passenger on steering duty while our driver took another sip. Possibly the bright young thing and I enjoyed a moment, possibly not, but I'll always remember her Lhasa Green Gti. My own car, a tired MGB, felt vintage by contrast, I remember an indicated 100mph requiring </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">all three lanes of the M3 when I tried it one quiet winter's evening. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv2GohmQyWuIiU2WnZMaK4v7fZngMPeh5lrK_UdnCiHc4GPr_UDqbcMrmcsvqho_ew79qoCVpk4bviXmn4GVu1_nUkDlqBfQ8RypBNFpntoiqJSihOmtn3FQiJVdivAYq7HEVkkOMRSo/s1600/VW-Golf-Mk21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpv2GohmQyWuIiU2WnZMaK4v7fZngMPeh5lrK_UdnCiHc4GPr_UDqbcMrmcsvqho_ew79qoCVpk4bviXmn4GVu1_nUkDlqBfQ8RypBNFpntoiqJSihOmtn3FQiJVdivAYq7HEVkkOMRSo/s320/VW-Golf-Mk21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mk2 16v; 139bhp has got to be enough, right?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the middle of the decade we'd all grown up a bit. In 1983 the mk2 Golf hit the UK's shores. Like me, it too was a bit heavier, a bit more serious, and a bit more sensible. At the time I was working in London, taking the first steps in a career in marketing. I lived in Battersea and had little money left over </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for expensive cars </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">after rent, beer, and food bills. Black, blue, red or dark green Gti's were ubiquitous in my slice of south London, sitting in summer traffic jams with Everything But the Girl, Aztec Camera or Duran Duran spilling out from the stereo. The VW dealer in Sloane Square must have had a very, very good decade. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Occasionally a friend borrowed cars for the weekend from the Surrey VW garage where he worked. I remember one Sunday afternoon heading west along the A4 towards Marlborough in a brand new 16v Golf, and being given the opportunity to get behind the wheel. I thought that it (with a full 139bhp) was as fast as any road car needed to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another time my brother and I hired one for a few days as a treat for the old man's birthday (we couldn't manage the hire fees of anything more interesting). It had the desired effect though, that Golf re-lit the blue touch paper of our father's long dormant motoring</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> interest, which had long been long subsumed by the need to pay school fees. Not long after he bought the first of his Porsche 924s.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">VW's next effort arrived in the UK in 1993. Like me, it had gone rather soft and pudgy. The Mk3 was produced in the face of a major recession and huge increases in insurance costs for anything that might possiblty be labelled as a performance hatchback. In this hangover from the party decade of the 80's, perhaps the third generation Golf did make sense, but the Gti, especially with the old 8 valve engine, was a long, long way from the perky Gti's of old. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bought one. </span><br />
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXlqtMrJvpePD0bQ6dVokpBpKnp8v4K0CE1bKEk8Mi8DK4M1rtr2RwOQ8bEhTLGlAseWuuPu50VvvklagYbdvSGh7muxDxO7zgsR0PZLXx73_H8SA4lkmD69dmcMf9sV5NWKn1r3KuAs/s1600/Golf_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXlqtMrJvpePD0bQ6dVokpBpKnp8v4K0CE1bKEk8Mi8DK4M1rtr2RwOQ8bEhTLGlAseWuuPu50VvvklagYbdvSGh7muxDxO7zgsR0PZLXx73_H8SA4lkmD69dmcMf9sV5NWKn1r3KuAs/s320/Golf_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middle aged, overweight, dull.<br />
The Golf I had was pretty good though.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a perfect family runaround now that I had one toddler and another baby on the way, and made a practical foil to the Caterhams and 911s that occupied the other half of my double garage. My wife liked that it didn't show complete surrender in the face of demands of motherhood, and while the torquey old 2 litre engine was no ball of fire, it could be persuaded to make decent progress. Ours was dark red, with the air-conditioning system that we suddenly discovered we couldn't possibly live without. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later on, two more Mark 3 Golfs entered the fleet; one a lovely low mileage VR6 that was supposed to be a winter hack, but turned out to be too good, the second a hybrid Mark 3 1/2 cabriolet that provided summer fun for a couple of seasons.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_mB4_fOUoTB9Zu5mYuO3JX166Pon62X9nGWeuz_zehSYV3MDHR-NBEA1JQJgmSdUE-nt3erhbF8E7ucqiqpqGnOW8UHhwqR7ommND-B4YTDCFRLWN5lTQ0aba4xrrqmu7qDLmgH5cjM/s1600/vr6_10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_mB4_fOUoTB9Zu5mYuO3JX166Pon62X9nGWeuz_zehSYV3MDHR-NBEA1JQJgmSdUE-nt3erhbF8E7ucqiqpqGnOW8UHhwqR7ommND-B4YTDCFRLWN5lTQ0aba4xrrqmu7qDLmgH5cjM/s320/vr6_10.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It might look dark red, but it was purple<br />
(with a matching leather interior)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGXITCnaWSbXmzSES7KEhbvDGJWncebUDfwd8-QAp1RoFVp3yEM7JeHcljhO9jzXA6TQAxeX6tjtZQVlwoFxC95Bcds-AguNWv2-5ketSMe-kCqDtACuBmqH22lirl8qOXWbBCYqMOMw/s1600/Golf+Mk4+Cabriolet+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGXITCnaWSbXmzSES7KEhbvDGJWncebUDfwd8-QAp1RoFVp3yEM7JeHcljhO9jzXA6TQAxeX6tjtZQVlwoFxC95Bcds-AguNWv2-5ketSMe-kCqDtACuBmqH22lirl8qOXWbBCYqMOMw/s320/Golf+Mk4+Cabriolet+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mk3.5 cabriolet; for West Sussex summers</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the end of the 90's I was holding down a consultancy job in a marketing services company North of London. I had clients in Yorkshire and Bristol, and as a result needed a comfortable, economical car, that would present a professional image in client car-parks but could also provide family wheels at the weekend. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enter the fourth generation of Golfs; my own Gt Tdi was one of the first cars that tried to combine Gti performance with the 50mpg a diesel promised. The quantum leap in interior quality the Mark 4 represented perfectly matched my new found executive status and grown-up tastes. I loved it. In hindsight, everything that made the Mk1 such a brilli</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">ant drive had long been developed out of the Golf. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PLx4dhYGYni0ecE8_f2CZkk50Y_UC5UxRLBW6TrNN1ROjqxpjxcHfpyFHA9M-r6x2_vJkgtRFfTMy-3qtMkg8T9iRKMEVyzzfeOmbKtQdPgQt2zo8f8kdNMPBI4gB7cdLrQzqdRZ5jc/s1600/mT-dsA-JgoGIOP6SfpEiR-w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1PLx4dhYGYni0ecE8_f2CZkk50Y_UC5UxRLBW6TrNN1ROjqxpjxcHfpyFHA9M-r6x2_vJkgtRFfTMy-3qtMkg8T9iRKMEVyzzfeOmbKtQdPgQt2zo8f8kdNMPBI4gB7cdLrQzqdRZ5jc/s320/mT-dsA-JgoGIOP6SfpEiR-w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red 'i', red 'd'. Middle manager wheels; the Mark 4 with the <br />
115bhp version of the Tdi engine </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few years later, I found myself starting a well paid nine month gig as a self-employed contractor - the only downside was that the client was located 50 miles away on the other side of the county. So I went on the search for a reliable car that would be able to soak up hours of all-weather commuting but still entertain when the mood took me. It also needed to be big enough cope with two rapidly growing sons and their kit, and present an acceptable image to clients and not remind them too much of my day-rate. The thought of pumping a clutch for more than three hours a day didn't appeal, but my experience of automatics transmissions attached to 4 pot engines in the past had not been happy. Whatever I ended up with also needed to be economical over the 500 mile a week commute, but I found myself dreading the thought of transit-like clatter on a cold morning, long warm-up cycles and the constant drumming companionship of a 4 pot diesel. I also needed to keep mobile if the weather took a turn for the worse - no work meant no pay - but didn't want a SUV.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enter my mk5 Gti, complete with a DSG gearbox. Its been perfect; suitable steel wheels and winter tyres proved to be a revelation when the snows came, and other than replacing the dampers when they became tired, I've not had to lay a spanner on it in 40,000 miles and 3 years. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUcC7dS48aYOVF_eQzoylBH9XEJW5U8KwNtslXdSB-RNWjOiyGVd2BMsHSpNM8SkMCdknsLOaodimIlnvgWY6You208diDzKlqOvbwVEdFj90jN3KicH9PJDi_wjfWTwHNmtV6mtVfF4/s1600/Golf+Git.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUcC7dS48aYOVF_eQzoylBH9XEJW5U8KwNtslXdSB-RNWjOiyGVd2BMsHSpNM8SkMCdknsLOaodimIlnvgWY6You208diDzKlqOvbwVEdFj90jN3KicH9PJDi_wjfWTwHNmtV6mtVfF4/s320/Golf+Git.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inoffensive all-year round mobility</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its difficult to build a strong case for replacing the car at the moment. Depreciation at 8 years old is now low, mileage is a reasonable 70,000, and the magazines (CAR was the latest) are fingering it for future classic status. Perhaps a growing list of mechanical woes will force an update. If that happens, I wonder what will replace it, 6 or 7?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-90049464547500275542013-08-24T20:03:00.001+00:002013-08-24T20:03:28.740+00:00911 Killers<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's forty years ago, and Hans is busy in Porsche's Stuttgart factory working on a silver 911T, one of several thousand he has already helped build that year and one of the last of the original shaped cars to roll off the lines. It is nearly the end of July and Hans is looking forward to next month when the factory closes down and he and his workmates will take their three week annual holiday while the toolmakers and production engineers stay on to re-fit the production lines for the new 1974 models - the ones with ugly bumpers and what would turn out to be fragile 2.7litre engines.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As usual, Hans was just putting the finishing touches to the headlining and rear parcel shelf area before starting on the carpets and trim. There's a hollow section running along the bottom of the rear window and before he fits the rear shelf Hans stuffs a fistful of cotton wadding up both of the open ends - all the better to prevent any foreign objects getting in and causing annoying rattles.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-G-jNIKTZ6mrYj5ugXfkLGdzaMsWusD1IOhOEvfp27S64yjD3tCbl1Ua_EESBE-aU2MvErGLNp6DUNWiWQfQcWnnq2Wbof50Mtdm78pgM5dhFIJ-rK4LYATLmu3fnOx9NFfR48Etj_H8/s1600/IMG_6547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-G-jNIKTZ6mrYj5ugXfkLGdzaMsWusD1IOhOEvfp27S64yjD3tCbl1Ua_EESBE-aU2MvErGLNp6DUNWiWQfQcWnnq2Wbof50Mtdm78pgM5dhFIJ-rK4LYATLmu3fnOx9NFfR48Etj_H8/s320/IMG_6547.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cotton wadding; perfect for destroying Porsches</td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The car was finished, signed off, and shipped to California where its happy new owner collected it from the dealer and drove off into the sunset.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the following few years, the car was cherished, but inevitably the harsh Californian sun worked on the car's rubber and plastic, causing the seals around the windows to harden and shrink. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In most parts of the world, the car's death warrant had been signed. Rain creeps in under the perished window seals and settles on the steel underneath. In particular, Han's cotton wadding forms a permanently damp compress, keeping the moisture nice and tight against the bare metal and producing a perfect rust nurturing </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">environment</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. The first thing any owner normally knows about it is when bubbles appear in the metal under the rear window, but most of the damage is hidden under carpets and sound proofing. Left untreated, the whole rear bulkhead can </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">disappear and eventually structural metal around the rear suspension mounts gets eaten away. Before early 911 prices hit the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">stratosphere that meant another old Porsche for the scrap heap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The silver 911T Hans worked on in July 1973 was lucky. The dry Californian climate and the owner's habit of garaging the car meant little rain got past the seals and the vulnerable metal stayed rust free. Over the following decades the car stayed in California before being taken off the road and becoming someone's RS replica project. Eventually the car ended up being sold by a dealer in Florida and shipped across the Atlantic back to Europe. After a year of being used for sunny weekend drives, the car was stripped back to the bare body shell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week I pulled the wadding out of the channel and stuffed half a can of Dinotrol Cavity Wax up there instead.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUERVJeWMBUHC92tqDATQyh79kk8ewoFuqHTGb7bbOWCSUTh7VLFx5m8YgO4Pdhwunz0wRp0PfR_oHWKKmK-wiqvyl1gsPMo-nyny2U3CXebhMzDmtQPdsVOkElUgT_YongxSZyR4jZv4/s1600/IMG_6588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUERVJeWMBUHC92tqDATQyh79kk8ewoFuqHTGb7bbOWCSUTh7VLFx5m8YgO4Pdhwunz0wRp0PfR_oHWKKmK-wiqvyl1gsPMo-nyny2U3CXebhMzDmtQPdsVOkElUgT_YongxSZyR4jZv4/s320/IMG_6588.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other fist full</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span></div>
Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-50628764179742922392013-08-24T10:33:00.001+00:002013-08-24T10:33:48.765+00:00911 Project Latest<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The school holidays mean I've been busy looking after the two boys, but in between day trips and sporting activities and days on the beach I've been able to spend some time on the car.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first stagegate is to get the car back on its wheels; that means suspension, brakes and various undercar pipes and wires.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iwmsp_nWRtWzfXvtVFmnhNLMJ6-2Bw1BNUivCFtXzWptLOvnSOTRwU4pM40XqR2Ze5t61R10JbnKJ0nqT_uj8QJ9JxpVwa9lT5HcmdgVk05zJAEbXFYftnngE8uJW8sG-TKgnLYnMSc/s1600/IMG_6426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iwmsp_nWRtWzfXvtVFmnhNLMJ6-2Bw1BNUivCFtXzWptLOvnSOTRwU4pM40XqR2Ze5t61R10JbnKJ0nqT_uj8QJ9JxpVwa9lT5HcmdgVk05zJAEbXFYftnngE8uJW8sG-TKgnLYnMSc/s400/IMG_6426.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front strut - Tuthill's had already replaced the tired internals with<br />nice new Bilstein dampers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwt0nnHBR0Ur6kfWJk5CLYeWq9grDctKdb5ESTU-iqXSr9T2r0ak_pSJ-IhG0SES-88UY2LEtIsxSNMdB1gy81wjhyphenhyphenRFBACq6Glcr-QNQpGHAVK0cjNU0UbdaInZQ9kXYRQSixP0yl0A/s1600/IMG_6430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwt0nnHBR0Ur6kfWJk5CLYeWq9grDctKdb5ESTU-iqXSr9T2r0ak_pSJ-IhG0SES-88UY2LEtIsxSNMdB1gy81wjhyphenhyphenRFBACq6Glcr-QNQpGHAVK0cjNU0UbdaInZQ9kXYRQSixP0yl0A/s400/IMG_6430.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After much (internal) debate I decided to keep the current brake set-up<br />for now, however the calipers looked scruffy and seals are sh*gged so<br />they went off for a re-build.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4_yu3O3BDGaeGkbxCATMZCjtbbgtskRTIcZN5qfRCAptT6LWcU3D7GRtBTFE4qrHOYj0VN4ogKKlGg673Ok9qd1sehEvXZKWSIcaQi68DMKCzjd-xp3E19E65r_84PNx5rI28WrdEeU/s1600/IMG_6571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4_yu3O3BDGaeGkbxCATMZCjtbbgtskRTIcZN5qfRCAptT6LWcU3D7GRtBTFE4qrHOYj0VN4ogKKlGg673Ok9qd1sehEvXZKWSIcaQi68DMKCzjd-xp3E19E65r_84PNx5rI28WrdEeU/s400/IMG_6571.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear suspension and brakes on - just waiting for some correct nylocs for the trailing arm and lower damper bolts. The rear dampers are also new Bilsteins. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXAhfL54R1fDF6vc0uH298UT9hA1jQ0vLoiBYa2v6xPyRcc25o08xmnIyi49bBTtpfae12gJuZdafO9iIuxJW_l9dtWMBSqWbftfNSZNlFke2k4qUwXjpVYZHjHSzWJi-MH1tKuiAjkA/s1600/IMG_6579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXAhfL54R1fDF6vc0uH298UT9hA1jQ0vLoiBYa2v6xPyRcc25o08xmnIyi49bBTtpfae12gJuZdafO9iIuxJW_l9dtWMBSqWbftfNSZNlFke2k4qUwXjpVYZHjHSzWJi-MH1tKuiAjkA/s400/IMG_6579.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of bling. One of the front calipers was scrap - the casting had cracked -<br />but luckily those nice people at Classic Car Automotive in sunny Macclesfield<br />who did such a nice job of the rebuild were able to provide a spare</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSS1-CEt6HGkEAlvTkeaqAURXXyLzINrGP922LdfXk0goCZPiojZzZe4oey1JCmsTmHzbQP6LEMh1t4D0Hs3ewfCv2OXtoslHENOMsV1RK8H6MeNJ5dYuVf61czOkNpGH_lnPkTi_7Bc/s1600/IMG_6585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSS1-CEt6HGkEAlvTkeaqAURXXyLzINrGP922LdfXk0goCZPiojZzZe4oey1JCmsTmHzbQP6LEMh1t4D0Hs3ewfCv2OXtoslHENOMsV1RK8H6MeNJ5dYuVf61czOkNpGH_lnPkTi_7Bc/s400/IMG_6585.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top mounts. I've replaced all of the suspension bushes<br />throughout with purple Superpro kit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_2PBXiJvyhlgFU-zFP_8IUiV8F1IlM_O4ahG-C0bXwgI_Fq_He0KYs7Au03vKV6l1Xe65vu58QqRASvDhRQcV9iD92SbYIXs1U2784HhfqouUuMJ1rLM-3EznssTvVzoPhLMcTCbZJY/s1600/IMG_6570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_2PBXiJvyhlgFU-zFP_8IUiV8F1IlM_O4ahG-C0bXwgI_Fq_He0KYs7Au03vKV6l1Xe65vu58QqRASvDhRQcV9iD92SbYIXs1U2784HhfqouUuMJ1rLM-3EznssTvVzoPhLMcTCbZJY/s400/IMG_6570.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Al Fresco restoration - as my garage barely big enough to get the<br />car in, I have to drag the car onto the drive for almost every operation. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-46610430758371793972013-07-09T13:37:00.004+00:002013-07-09T13:37:31.293+00:00Is Slow The New Fast?<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was struck by this recent <a href="http://blog.motolegends.com/why-slow-is-the-new-fast/#more-275">blog post</a> from my mate Chris. In it, he makes the point that the major motorcycle manufacturers have continued to obsess about speed, producing faster and faster bikes each year, failing completely to realise the implications of the changing demographics of biking. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy027ykPfq1oXst7ycpK60WQbsdVV8-nJh8bEpE58nAEDLSC-pPh-kDEDnJd0AyeSDNpgCgNqN68F1vPnVryqluAR4Q8t_QcPsP4mR8qM2ajhPlivSyFCKhQpPd85X8hcHLkzls8BaCQo/s1600/IMG_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy027ykPfq1oXst7ycpK60WQbsdVV8-nJh8bEpE58nAEDLSC-pPh-kDEDnJd0AyeSDNpgCgNqN68F1vPnVryqluAR4Q8t_QcPsP4mR8qM2ajhPlivSyFCKhQpPd85X8hcHLkzls8BaCQo/s400/IMG_0113.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two slow bikes yesterday</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He goes on to criticise those same manufacturers for their continued support of the increasingly irrelevant MotoGP circus, pointing out that modern bikers in their 30s, 40s and 50s are increasing unwilling to spend a hot day in a field watching bike racing, and that attendance at GPs will continue to fall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Chris' view, this goes towards explaining the huge increase in sales of 'slow' bikes like BMW's GS range, as well as the fast growing interest in resto-mod cafe racers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do take his point. Sometime ago I blogged about the futility of the modern superbikes, producing headline power figures that were to all intents and purposes utterly irrelevant for road use. After all, if your 1000cc bike produces its 190bhp at 13,500rpm, and runs gearing that means the bike's speed at the red-line with the throttle pinned is 90mph in first, 112mph in second, 134mph in 3rd, 153mph in 4th, and 169mph in 5th, when is the average-to-competent road rider really going to see more than a small chunk of the power he's paid for? Our society increasingly views high speed as irresponsible and dangerous - its pretty hard to justify 120mph on a country A road as 'perfectly safe' even if you do have 4 more gears to go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those are the real in-gear maximums for a BMW S1000RR by the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I don't think its a simple as all that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For one thing, that is somewhat of a UK-centric view. In someways the UK has long bucked the European sales trend for large naked and enduro bikes. It is something of an anomaly that the machines habitually topping British sales charts were racer-inspired replicas. A visit to my local biker cafe on a sunny Sunday reveals that grey and no-haired bikers still arrive in their scores, leathered-up and astride big, late reg. sports bikes, some with chicken strips as broad as your palm but still having enjoyed the ride. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What has happened is that the UK is moving to a pattern closer to our continental cousins; 2012's best selling 'proper' bike in Europe by far was the BMW GS, and Triumph's 1200cc Explorer GS-tribute led the UK charts. The only race-reps the top 10 sales lists dominated as usual by 125s and larger scooters were the S1000RR in Germany and Honda's Fireblade in the UK. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There may be an element of demographics in play but sales of bikes are heavily affected by economic factors, and European sales are all down. Job insecurity, reduced incomes, and the restriction of credit means the 1.9m motorcycle units shifted in 2006 across the EU had almost halved by last year. Its not surprising that when money's tight a £7,000 naked bike sells better than a £12,000 race-rep, but roll on a decade of economic growth and those superbikes will still have a market. After all, Rolex still sell watches waterproof to 100m, and your £70k Range-Rover can still ascend a Scottish mountain. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But right now, it's the economy that is forcing bike manufacturers to change their offerings; Honda's recent fuel efficient NC700 and budget 500s will sell - but because they are cheap to buy and run, not because they don't go fast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">also much more sanguine about the effort manufactures put into MotoGP. I applaud the efforts of Honda, Yamaha and Ducati to build MotoGP prototypes, in much the same way as I love the fact that Mercedes, Renault and Fiat still throw their millions into F1 campaigns. And those MotoGP efforts will still support big sales in the truly big world markets - those in India, Asia and South America, where a powered two wheeler is not just a thrill for Sunday morning ride-outs. And I think that all it would take to get the crowds piling into the British MotoGP would be a couple of winning Brit riders with the charisma of Simoncelli or Sheene!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing that does muddy the water is what has happened to the performance of 'slow' bikes in the last decade. A few weeks ago I spent a couple of hours trying out one of the new watercooled BMW GSs. Not only did it go like hell, but it also handled superbly, and I found myself travelling 10mph faster everywhere. Faintly alarming velocities were an easy wrist twist away - it takes a much more determined effort on my older generation Adventure.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8a8I5YeqRgF7kShGR2hYtG1Jj96Sy4qvG-VIfQ4L0IKCjgBKwSwapO3vwDKJPTawnSqAMIgK_dO18FROzyeYL0YCIrr831DFUa1jQQkLtpQoKkMiCuo0PwXPSh0OoHDZruSKi1_pQdg/s1600/IMG_0107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8a8I5YeqRgF7kShGR2hYtG1Jj96Sy4qvG-VIfQ4L0IKCjgBKwSwapO3vwDKJPTawnSqAMIgK_dO18FROzyeYL0YCIrr831DFUa1jQQkLtpQoKkMiCuo0PwXPSh0OoHDZruSKi1_pQdg/s400/IMG_0107.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BMW's 125bhp GS. As quick as a ten year old sports bike</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got home I had a close look at the new GSs performance figures. It turns out that BMW's sensible shoes big enduro/tourer offers the same power as a Ducati 996SP from a decade ago. The GS also has 30% more torque, an utterly dependable chassis, sticky modern tyres and blanket of electronic safety systems, all in a package that weighs within a few kilos of a 996. BMW aren't alone in this - the big Adventure big offerings from Honda and Triumph also serve up big power. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It turns out that we've embraced 'slow' bikes because they go just as fast as the fast ones used to go. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Style and the expression of personality is always going to be a big part of riding bikes. Bikers are getting older, and we're all having to be a lot more sensible about money, but for an awful lot of riders, bikes are still about going fast.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just not as fast as all that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-74872063603363614292013-06-30T19:16:00.000+00:002013-06-30T19:16:30.980+00:00911 Bits<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been making slow progress on putting the 911 back together. I make a start each sub-assembly, and things progress smoothly for a good 2 or 3 minutes before I realise either:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/ I needed a fixing that's disappeared, or hasn't been cleaned/painted or got missed off the last order from the fixings supplier or</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2/ I can't quite remember how it came apart and not one of the ~600 photos I took when taking the car apart quite captured the angle I need, so I have to ask the long suffering DDK types (if consulting google and the Porsche PET diagrams proved fruitless) or</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/ There's a seal or a gasket or a bracket or other consumable that got consumed on disassembly that I haven't ordered yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a result its still a long way from being car shaped. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But here's a couple of pictures anyway:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjsmcky0NyVd40nLAftvxerS2PWCZby_jq336Bo0850MW0eMX05ZJUH6ALzNKXAbRiy29h5JvxNhrg49Vjkcapsg79gbN3O2JSoJerGCejxju1CwHzgwrfyhBX8iz7bWqPHDAwlUHqd0/s1600/IMG_6238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjsmcky0NyVd40nLAftvxerS2PWCZby_jq336Bo0850MW0eMX05ZJUH6ALzNKXAbRiy29h5JvxNhrg49Vjkcapsg79gbN3O2JSoJerGCejxju1CwHzgwrfyhBX8iz7bWqPHDAwlUHqd0/s320/IMG_6238.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heater flapper boxes; before and after refurbishment</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoto-ltRYRwKYRpbcdtaU7T-PHCuD7uqhzH1ft_uL5jlNgFbmjnRIch8EFagHeUIeNgqUAu36nA1jIaH6esu-dElpOp9WUNXqRnvQPISwwpwd0KPMIAJvNTijduOxqr1xehoEdLmtbxWA/s1600/IMG_6240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoto-ltRYRwKYRpbcdtaU7T-PHCuD7uqhzH1ft_uL5jlNgFbmjnRIch8EFagHeUIeNgqUAu36nA1jIaH6esu-dElpOp9WUNXqRnvQPISwwpwd0KPMIAJvNTijduOxqr1xehoEdLmtbxWA/s320/IMG_6240.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right hand flapper box installed</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tvXjxUjIavfmTzQfSm3WvQNfCcQzosHR2vXCKCNIx0tBnmsm4iuvekddhNjN2Cf0kgSK3xOBCsjwpEIVsnWnJmVzZdrDAm9uKYxoblIpafed84XJNz30nlB-zVvKru4RTzVPth37N-Y/s1600/IMG_6241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tvXjxUjIavfmTzQfSm3WvQNfCcQzosHR2vXCKCNIx0tBnmsm4iuvekddhNjN2Cf0kgSK3xOBCsjwpEIVsnWnJmVzZdrDAm9uKYxoblIpafed84XJNz30nlB-zVvKru4RTzVPth37N-Y/s320/IMG_6241.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left hand etc.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKTOsAFL01IN1ezLDFsO0Cgxg9XlgH2R-v1g70cuWCxNHemh9y_wQv4hik2WHQ3-uavNz1RKowDNjeLzSKfUsL8gOjrqxd5JizrKp4ZTckPSeXdodZMnO5_-JKZyUx53oTMXkFpw3uRU/s1600/IMG_6243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKTOsAFL01IN1ezLDFsO0Cgxg9XlgH2R-v1g70cuWCxNHemh9y_wQv4hik2WHQ3-uavNz1RKowDNjeLzSKfUsL8gOjrqxd5JizrKp4ZTckPSeXdodZMnO5_-JKZyUx53oTMXkFpw3uRU/s320/IMG_6243.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front anti-roll bar gorgeousness that will be completely<br />invisible once the car is wearing wheels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-51197882835260627832013-06-27T19:17:00.001+00:002013-06-27T19:17:10.447+00:00Revealed<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I struggled with the choice of colour for my 911 project for a long time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, it would have been simple (and probably financially optimal) to return it to its original colour (silver) but firstly the car is already a long way from being standard (bodywork, interior, engine), and secondly I don't think the world needs another silver Porsche. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main stipulation I set myself was that the colour would have to be period correct. Thankfully, Porsche's palate from the <a href="http://www.356-911.com/modelinfo/911colours/911colours7173.htm">early 1970's</a> was nothing like as limiting as the variations on grey, silver, black and white of the current range, so I had a nice wide choice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ruled out the white/creams on the basis that I wasn't trying to build a RS rep. Black was out for reasons of practicality, and the metallics I excluded on grounds of their additional cost and the problems of future matching. Some of the brighter colours like viper green and blood orange have had quite a lot of exposure recently - I didn't want to follow a trend that might possibly date. Similarly, I ruled out pale yellow as a mate has an original RS in that colour, and the reds are just a little too mid-life crisis. I'm also quite happy to admit I bottled some of the errrrr... <i>braver</i> colours like aubergine (which can look brown in some lights) chartreuse (limey green) fraise (pink) and the browns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking around the cars at <a href="http://thecarlistblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/essen-2013.html">Essen</a> it was noticeable that cars painted in the more pastel colours appear to have less aggressive <i><a href="http://www.waywordradio.org/down_the_road_graphic_1/">down the road graphics</a></i> that the brighter shades, something that is become more and more important as we move into an anti-car age. In its current <a href="http://thecarlistblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/porsche-911t-project-more-cosmetics.html">yellow/black</a> form the reaction from other road users is somewhat polarised, I can see hackles rise amongst some - and the planned exhaust system probably wouldn't help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What eventually swung it was a plain 911T I saw in one of the outside courtyards in Germay, it was in a lovely period colour, one with classic Porsche resonances, worked well with the 911's curves, and even when combined with some well chosen accents couldn't been seen as aggressive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I briefed Charlie the Paint on my return. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks later the car re-appeared on my drive-way:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDm8-XvaoRP7tMbf_efYvvImFI_O99u_VSJrN_TndZL9sM6RkRaTTkfESu0FR2dwV1jslTPd9Ik5F-8B14Pk_b4dOxMnLnv3igqSLYfkpL8PEbSV3V4olUvtiGclKuFNGgwjDv_Jg0DI/s1600/IMG_0088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDm8-XvaoRP7tMbf_efYvvImFI_O99u_VSJrN_TndZL9sM6RkRaTTkfESu0FR2dwV1jslTPd9Ik5F-8B14Pk_b4dOxMnLnv3igqSLYfkpL8PEbSV3V4olUvtiGclKuFNGgwjDv_Jg0DI/s400/IMG_0088.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porsche Gulf blue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> SS7</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-35989253861490665472013-06-12T14:48:00.002+00:002013-06-12T14:48:32.025+00:00911T Project - Update<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd <a href="http://thecarlistblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/blast.html">mentioned</a> that the 911 had been sent along to the blasters to have the old paint cleaned off. Well it's back and in the paintshop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's where we've got to:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZXydcrBL_ANCR-PUE0-wS-ALkwdb0BKOBir30YwweQwQK2uZOcxQASLFYIVs98mgydZwJCYmiIbuEIJQRbJV61re4iqAsQI3s8f_hRt0PnfNC-wzSXjQeXotaIPkJy6uw68YjncrYS8/s1600/IMG_0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZXydcrBL_ANCR-PUE0-wS-ALkwdb0BKOBir30YwweQwQK2uZOcxQASLFYIVs98mgydZwJCYmiIbuEIJQRbJV61re4iqAsQI3s8f_hRt0PnfNC-wzSXjQeXotaIPkJy6uw68YjncrYS8/s320/IMG_0062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blast cleaned and coated</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7lN6WT8zHeSpFa3MzsZmi-dQ14rKIAKQ91g9VrOfXPGE48UY_pcY73Dlue2vjKyAcWM0oBEc0g7ZVCxufgHMcRPNIetmu9feuJygmM9SBCeA8ssHCZN8i1xHp0enY1vAlRitBIMzVmw/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7lN6WT8zHeSpFa3MzsZmi-dQ14rKIAKQ91g9VrOfXPGE48UY_pcY73Dlue2vjKyAcWM0oBEc0g7ZVCxufgHMcRPNIetmu9feuJygmM9SBCeA8ssHCZN8i1xHp0enY1vAlRitBIMzVmw/s320/IMG_0063.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Re-profiling the rear arches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcOYgWEJ0HNXMLcVbWL_Ke3S_CN0sb3XjtF4tbP3bgU8A_6MoVpc-MLgy-tlhfRWevaLKnPeAiFTgzP8_Wo385Teu1Trp10komKvCj52J1Qjv8pjHpsdLhey6EVPypYBFdTtH6MRtRF0/s1600/IMG_6055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcOYgWEJ0HNXMLcVbWL_Ke3S_CN0sb3XjtF4tbP3bgU8A_6MoVpc-MLgy-tlhfRWevaLKnPeAiFTgzP8_Wo385Teu1Trp10komKvCj52J1Qjv8pjHpsdLhey6EVPypYBFdTtH6MRtRF0/s320/IMG_6055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoothed and ready for paint</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3ZxgDe4mJs_z-esVcMBuJZrP1IAGsjHKb6TGReqxdm2FB6yMr2GQXsCrO9FpDF6gqfmFgPLp4EQ4P3r7X_qW_h1RYDb2xIez8Y96ZP8eMXCfelHwF1UC-8Lqpcj6-qQPFekIqPtj6kk/s1600/IMG_6056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3ZxgDe4mJs_z-esVcMBuJZrP1IAGsjHKb6TGReqxdm2FB6yMr2GQXsCrO9FpDF6gqfmFgPLp4EQ4P3r7X_qW_h1RYDb2xIez8Y96ZP8eMXCfelHwF1UC-8Lqpcj6-qQPFekIqPtj6kk/s320/IMG_6056.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other side (and shy paint genius)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile I've been busy at home:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Th7gGTvCTzgynFksxKVPoUhmP-mwzOhbHTlrh08WyD_NbYkdrGTcfCJ8-2tUf_uNb_HESq1pXbJ0x1R1vmtEEmNVbsvzISeB9kCF2VG2lKpUIw3Y7-Uhj8k5Z1LRU7tINKAfa5xMhU4/s1600/IMG_6022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Th7gGTvCTzgynFksxKVPoUhmP-mwzOhbHTlrh08WyD_NbYkdrGTcfCJ8-2tUf_uNb_HESq1pXbJ0x1R1vmtEEmNVbsvzISeB9kCF2VG2lKpUIw3Y7-Uhj8k5Z1LRU7tINKAfa5xMhU4/s320/IMG_6022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot air gun to remove the underseal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-qu6Phsjt-ZiH6vUiaDF_4ch2m5oe2pQcQRiOQAWzWneSlRgzrb-pxB7yUnAk0TA0Lwn0XkJ5Sj07HM4cAPWkEFyHZ0oz9yZIM5ATWAVhl6tDeGljhxvdDt37zegEihBDOfMWMJHP0Q/s1600/IMG_0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-qu6Phsjt-ZiH6vUiaDF_4ch2m5oe2pQcQRiOQAWzWneSlRgzrb-pxB7yUnAk0TA0Lwn0XkJ5Sj07HM4cAPWkEFyHZ0oz9yZIM5ATWAVhl6tDeGljhxvdDt37zegEihBDOfMWMJHP0Q/s320/IMG_0056.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wirebrushing the tank clean</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d5IDv3S3azDsXPPSUfhDP5WSTSfgPpD2ISO32pEDWlhU7ku5hNDtuBNmSgqHeqLStr0DvbhXFjCwuPrammsatc71L6_SptNzFIfGsUhB5vvD13pFb8CVcoub42D5NHn7t__YmY16MGo/s1600/IMG_6053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8d5IDv3S3azDsXPPSUfhDP5WSTSfgPpD2ISO32pEDWlhU7ku5hNDtuBNmSgqHeqLStr0DvbhXFjCwuPrammsatc71L6_SptNzFIfGsUhB5vvD13pFb8CVcoub42D5NHn7t__YmY16MGo/s320/IMG_6053.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After two coats of POR15, a sealant and a <br />good plastering with stone chip </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL987lm2CtCft6zk0HgGZiyTUr6EQwsHImMUD5phm5tKrED6l4I8hgs0u4dzwNDylapenmFiNixnZ6CFntXjN73MFqPIP6Kio8-Z0gKC525JT5ypXgTj2iQdvPPdIRqU-oOyBizx0fphA/s1600/IMG_6046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL987lm2CtCft6zk0HgGZiyTUr6EQwsHImMUD5phm5tKrED6l4I8hgs0u4dzwNDylapenmFiNixnZ6CFntXjN73MFqPIP6Kio8-Z0gKC525JT5ypXgTj2iQdvPPdIRqU-oOyBizx0fphA/s320/IMG_6046.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clean front wishbones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1w3Jj6lk9PX85maM7b1m7JmtEEvv-grTtcpMGg2B7u5K9zdCUWjmFyYCs271FqhpZHBJd-6EU7L4reRQtlYVXkplbKJO0pyCCTsRlBvEMWq-BXt2HoWOnjjnjNOAJ_bMQ41BYzvVO74/s1600/IMG_6048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1w3Jj6lk9PX85maM7b1m7JmtEEvv-grTtcpMGg2B7u5K9zdCUWjmFyYCs271FqhpZHBJd-6EU7L4reRQtlYVXkplbKJO0pyCCTsRlBvEMWq-BXt2HoWOnjjnjNOAJ_bMQ41BYzvVO74/s320/IMG_6048.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clean rear trailing arm......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKF0Wa9oMublzJ8f8fRPRLB6U23VMV0DicBpbSSkgczn5BrFMkEm678lzaz1zPzIMM4WSRQ3W8QpsdjIzNItOGaao31olpFtnCqwJZj-REBHZ1UthLr15GfFaK2G8woebMfYgC_AF3WQ/s1600/IMG_6061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKF0Wa9oMublzJ8f8fRPRLB6U23VMV0DicBpbSSkgczn5BrFMkEm678lzaz1zPzIMM4WSRQ3W8QpsdjIzNItOGaao31olpFtnCqwJZj-REBHZ1UthLr15GfFaK2G8woebMfYgC_AF3WQ/s320/IMG_6061.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">......painted</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlcvhd0CDF1LGeQ_0FLuhz-HttpUDgAgQcc4B306D49wWJhZB33reMoUWbC5Ez863T1sCHfIHH7S708Tbp5na0YIueiQ_Mlzwpc5hXRJntBUfmBVD2QPb-sZbXsSd-WLpok0uexSbJvQ/s1600/IMG_6049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlcvhd0CDF1LGeQ_0FLuhz-HttpUDgAgQcc4B306D49wWJhZB33reMoUWbC5Ez863T1sCHfIHH7S708Tbp5na0YIueiQ_Mlzwpc5hXRJntBUfmBVD2QPb-sZbXsSd-WLpok0uexSbJvQ/s320/IMG_6049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oil tank - its copper coated steel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e-kZo_CyPNfr8wHbpGjwtXbjqrgh9fW-LAyMh53jx7mDx0MTkrUBYKaXI7OjmVFO7jhL_zXeyPKm_B6qFK5vK6LAE9Pfdr3NMWzXEfdN-RA_Ngxup8AUq0Sg79kVw-S1HLaMI4uYrLA/s1600/IMG_6064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e-kZo_CyPNfr8wHbpGjwtXbjqrgh9fW-LAyMh53jx7mDx0MTkrUBYKaXI7OjmVFO7jhL_zXeyPKm_B6qFK5vK6LAE9Pfdr3NMWzXEfdN-RA_Ngxup8AUq0Sg79kVw-S1HLaMI4uYrLA/s320/IMG_6064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oil tank after a first coat of POR15</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lhN8i9cthLSgpEPhLxr4z1m2t6ABqo18FCH7r-TLqRAdb-audSvpyHPTcb_-SFQab_pA-k5CV-XWMqIBLHbaz2tAchoZIQJNhADjPqeTpmRaJ4Oe3lzSCjpFywnWMgprVOtm7ixY3M0/s1600/IMG_6028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lhN8i9cthLSgpEPhLxr4z1m2t6ABqo18FCH7r-TLqRAdb-audSvpyHPTcb_-SFQab_pA-k5CV-XWMqIBLHbaz2tAchoZIQJNhADjPqeTpmRaJ4Oe3lzSCjpFywnWMgprVOtm7ixY3M0/s320/IMG_6028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front struts cleaned</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF-fAbepJsi2OK3q33EJriH2_gjUgKAiqA0h_MPoU_rCtq_Z5lm5PIN3cqD-yAakjdh8KSv1t4yHJCQcvoEAjh1rqcLoU1nBGlR7HFi84LOwN9UuZq418QhSOZxYG0eZ95aqXI6lTT3E/s1600/IMG_6119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWF-fAbepJsi2OK3q33EJriH2_gjUgKAiqA0h_MPoU_rCtq_Z5lm5PIN3cqD-yAakjdh8KSv1t4yHJCQcvoEAjh1rqcLoU1nBGlR7HFi84LOwN9UuZq418QhSOZxYG0eZ95aqXI6lTT3E/s320/IMG_6119.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front struts painted in a jolly green, <br />approximating the Bilstein originals</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnhenFr7PWdRPfx1mlr5Yd_c6KYlvZbPP8rM81dxRdTJEoVAKysVcGrDne0O1QcZkkBxgEHZrlxKZdNzaKGTpUwN9twc4jEIpBRKjKzK3pJrK7dAUp4fPin9Xjgph4iBcAznljwk1ct8/s1600/IMG_6121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnhenFr7PWdRPfx1mlr5Yd_c6KYlvZbPP8rM81dxRdTJEoVAKysVcGrDne0O1QcZkkBxgEHZrlxKZdNzaKGTpUwN9twc4jEIpBRKjKzK3pJrK7dAUp4fPin9Xjgph4iBcAznljwk1ct8/s320/IMG_6121.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assorted bits blast cleaned....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj50mSJ5m_T5JOR9htGoFZBxsPIZ9PJXITjnZ5hjtUhr8NFRKYN7qWribbaOhB9NdJKZk_eXsojykkQ_jacDVm7Ln08zdc0JkrcRvzkA3rDs77PO6yWkBa-U8yxVEuW0Wx9v3cqmCaK0/s1600/IMG_6127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj50mSJ5m_T5JOR9htGoFZBxsPIZ9PJXITjnZ5hjtUhr8NFRKYN7qWribbaOhB9NdJKZk_eXsojykkQ_jacDVm7Ln08zdc0JkrcRvzkA3rDs77PO6yWkBa-U8yxVEuW0Wx9v3cqmCaK0/s320/IMG_6127.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....assorted bits painted</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqRz57CnmUQ6JgR-E0WQ6pb8iNiw1WAfbzqfBO5GSJnrL23iJZuNbZoJsGX-UuCh9hx39L4Eo3cpjO_V8GlJyQ8W8xB-0EdgE5ecRgmdl7fV9FgSolx1QB1rbQL7MUvm1lfhw1jZxiLI/s1600/IMG_6128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqRz57CnmUQ6JgR-E0WQ6pb8iNiw1WAfbzqfBO5GSJnrL23iJZuNbZoJsGX-UuCh9hx39L4Eo3cpjO_V8GlJyQ8W8xB-0EdgE5ecRgmdl7fV9FgSolx1QB1rbQL7MUvm1lfhw1jZxiLI/s320/IMG_6128.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More assorted bits after paint.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Toodle pip,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-447422100036961672013-06-12T14:05:00.002+00:002013-06-12T14:06:37.894+00:00Essen 2013<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDgbDyPgHQBEHgdQyZlF7bG-7rVb8fh4p4JjREFoiPq5XMGzyU52UAkLibeNYjM_LrR9NFGTCZhv3FmRAydBcZCnTdr4kz20ih7A2mIXriGAIqxcjIdwyK0zu-ybT8YWSvxfEW9J2ims/s1600/Plakat_UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDgbDyPgHQBEHgdQyZlF7bG-7rVb8fh4p4JjREFoiPq5XMGzyU52UAkLibeNYjM_LrR9NFGTCZhv3FmRAydBcZCnTdr4kz20ih7A2mIXriGAIqxcjIdwyK0zu-ybT8YWSvxfEW9J2ims/s1600/Plakat_UK.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago a DDK mate called me to ask if I fancied a road trip. He and a friend were planning to drive over for the big classic car show in Essen and had a spare seat. Did I fancy it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought long and hard for 1/10th second and said "Yes". Not only was I going to be at a loose end for a few days, but I was also in the middle of trying to decide on a colour for my 911T project. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After all, where else could I almost guarantee to see old Porsches in every </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">available</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> colour than at Germany's biggest classic car show in the 911's 50th anniversary year?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Techno Classica Essen (to give the show its full name) is certainly the most important, if not the biggest classic car show in Europe. Its been going for 25 years, and around 200,000 old car nuts turn up for each one. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In contrast to the UK's strictly amateur hour event at the NEC, Techno Classica enjoys major support from the home manufacturers - not only a recognition of the importance the Germans place on their heritage, but also a reflection that for a long time the centre of gravity of the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">European</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> motor industry has lain just to the west of River Elbe.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWI8ixsdIu6E5wx_J9tbWg8QeiVYGxmj9SVO7SL3zYD1d6WSofu3yhaEydHOS9nzlIyDbuCdb6yfeXDpK3WGJAIV3BOYG0y5-U6YaMaNFr7_Em4esZVqN1xXlXtIZ0FlAzfSBp2RTonhw/s1600/IMG_5795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWI8ixsdIu6E5wx_J9tbWg8QeiVYGxmj9SVO7SL3zYD1d6WSofu3yhaEydHOS9nzlIyDbuCdb6yfeXDpK3WGJAIV3BOYG0y5-U6YaMaNFr7_Em4esZVqN1xXlXtIZ0FlAzfSBp2RTonhw/s200/IMG_5795.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BMW Motorrad celebrates the ditch pump</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We travelled up on Thursday afternoon, took the Eurotunnel (who else remembers how far away France was before they dug that?), and overnighted in a Belgian hotel before completeing the drive to Essen the next morning. It would have been completely painless had we not spent a lot of time driving around the exhibition centre trying to park before throwing in the towel and ending up at the Park & Ride, a full autobahn junction away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It really is big. There were four massive exhibition spaces, and a whole series of smaller halls, corridors, nook, crannies, basements, mezzanines and courtyards. Every taste in old cars is catered for, from Pebble Beach grade Bugattis with a price tag that would fund a BBC pension to tatty 'Youngtimers' at money you could almost afford. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHyG_7wzurkQzPF140lsWjfobD3XV7XXBflqte-VDFaqm_ITKOeycQA3Wqvh2iUsZYSH5mE7ebkF2-sXjPTaOoFAJawbCAJs7p2hqT_kRkpGICn8Yxem0vbi869kzJJy5AUbTKxFPpwY/s1600/IMG_5960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHyG_7wzurkQzPF140lsWjfobD3XV7XXBflqte-VDFaqm_ITKOeycQA3Wqvh2iUsZYSH5mE7ebkF2-sXjPTaOoFAJawbCAJs7p2hqT_kRkpGICn8Yxem0vbi869kzJJy5AUbTKxFPpwY/s320/IMG_5960.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve McQueen's 911S; $1.4m to buy and<br />
then restored to within an inch of its life. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I say 'almost', but you would have to be very, very keen or a recent Lotto winner to buy anything at Essen. A mass hysteria overtakes vendors, and everything is marked up to an incomprehensible level. I took lot of pictures but bought hardly anything other than a sustaining Wurst mit Bier (or two). </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shame, really. I hadn't travelled equipped with a shopping list, but the very least I'd hoped to find was a 1/43rd scale model 911 in my chosen colour.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9O-Uf4eLV9OhZiXLLyX3-8_o6SeuorYD9cBuT82hLOWOmocTu3Tj5z11hoQFpevr0QoWWI2vReduB-Idl3dIqd4uqhMNP9Y_22ffmuxza9iC4Bf3UQUkDszDPp8cWTysM_iWzPkm1g0/s1600/IMG_5924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9O-Uf4eLV9OhZiXLLyX3-8_o6SeuorYD9cBuT82hLOWOmocTu3Tj5z11hoQFpevr0QoWWI2vReduB-Idl3dIqd4uqhMNP9Y_22ffmuxza9iC4Bf3UQUkDszDPp8cWTysM_iWzPkm1g0/s320/IMG_5924.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Germany and great automotive art, going together<br />
like pizza and pineapple for 25 years</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eye-watering prices aside, everything automotive related was available at Essen, from dodgy art to rare parts, including any sort of clothing and memorabilia.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> All of the top flight European dealers take space, plenty of UK based firms come over too, along with a huge range of restoration specialists. It really does take a couple of days to see it all. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugCKXxou-aCODOhs22Mz5gNzwGjeESNEGKSKXUnduxfWLfxZGPaoBzFBWp5VBgHKAJv519rm8_IIfKn0r7AfqMKWo3el7r8DOYpQ3XvDpW3PmmZeUubhisRMXxDzI5JG9iqQ5_7A40wA/s1600/IMG_5753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugCKXxou-aCODOhs22Mz5gNzwGjeESNEGKSKXUnduxfWLfxZGPaoBzFBWp5VBgHKAJv519rm8_IIfKn0r7AfqMKWo3el7r8DOYpQ3XvDpW3PmmZeUubhisRMXxDzI5JG9iqQ5_7A40wA/s320/IMG_5753.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How would Sir like his hotrod?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later on we booked into our colourful and reasonably priced hotel on the other side of town, and spent the evening in a pizza restaurant where we enjoyed dinner and</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the sort of conversations that would provoke sighs of sad incomprehension in mixed company. Next day, e</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">schewing the joys of parking miles from the halls, we used the inevitably clean, cheap and punctual public transport system and spent a second day at the show.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The signs of domination by the three big German car combines were subtle but easily seen. As a Brit proud of our industrial heritage, it was heart breaking to see Monte Carlo winning Minis celebrated in the BMW hall, and a 1926 Le Mans team Bentley sitting proudly in the middle of the VAG display areas - along with vintage Bugatti's and (whisper it) Porsche's classic arm. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPblh3Dbox7NxkWfs-Or9alCwMeMCTfa0nDxBDHem3KErJsEqh2ghbV1PpzK8_1do2asHr-8BjDiSfWb3SVFIsFoXq6j0PGFkaoy3LBfkRAOLZqO3uiGWizai13n6nCq1hOUjuqcYwB4/s1600/IMG_5909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPblh3Dbox7NxkWfs-Or9alCwMeMCTfa0nDxBDHem3KErJsEqh2ghbV1PpzK8_1do2asHr-8BjDiSfWb3SVFIsFoXq6j0PGFkaoy3LBfkRAOLZqO3uiGWizai13n6nCq1hOUjuqcYwB4/s320/IMG_5909.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porsche's stand in the VAG hall; not rammed with <br />
jewels from their museum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcrSMqdxAlDpX2fSlsD7HRYpfeqrk3UMoqT0Lt4nROOJEPj0H5RRh2VUYZ_UPbScDd7NaFgP4xO8d0Km7iNLWBMpv2fleb4PKrAwAdcBxkiwjdmWHCXGKLa3-8hU4sv_sQNu-y1N855c/s1600/IMG_5958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcrSMqdxAlDpX2fSlsD7HRYpfeqrk3UMoqT0Lt4nROOJEPj0H5RRh2VUYZ_UPbScDd7NaFgP4xO8d0Km7iNLWBMpv2fleb4PKrAwAdcBxkiwjdmWHCXGKLa3-8hU4sv_sQNu-y1N855c/s320/IMG_5958.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More VAG heritage, a 1926 Le Mans <br />
team Bentley</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Funnily enough, although I expected to see the choicest selections from Zuffenhausen's museum at Essen, the company thought fit to bring only a few cars, one of which was a 2013 vintage 991. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVREb56LsPgvf5qhKIvYT1MtFcctZ89zJM8s4j7p9rPE9QIWLbsX4G-JRaF0NID-9BjMXd7ax_AqgxcymCOrPC4rVQQLNLPzOpfzVo0zRqc5wnLQbjQY3vPfMoNemEVMqV17PcT58n4sA/s1600/IMG_5972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVREb56LsPgvf5qhKIvYT1MtFcctZ89zJM8s4j7p9rPE9QIWLbsX4G-JRaF0NID-9BjMXd7ax_AqgxcymCOrPC4rVQQLNLPzOpfzVo0zRqc5wnLQbjQY3vPfMoNemEVMqV17PcT58n4sA/s320/IMG_5972.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now there's an idea.....</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But it wasn't a worry, old 911s of all varieties (and colours) were present in abundance, so I had plenty of opportunity to choose the ones I liked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The third of Germany's automotive Goliaths, Mercedes Benz, had a hall the size of a First Class Cricket ground all to themselves, and laid on an incredible display fitting for the company that invented the car.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81ymSdun-DQiXG75CZhrB57CizCM45LwLN5j5C1-FnyrA1Ih_i5DdUy7r-J9c0MQAlOVaWe-A84zlyS8iP-Ai1WojhZKIP84GndJIn12SpG4WRyZLF5J12vc1H1zsj9VyqgJb6GfDTwM/s1600/IMG_5917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81ymSdun-DQiXG75CZhrB57CizCM45LwLN5j5C1-FnyrA1Ih_i5DdUy7r-J9c0MQAlOVaWe-A84zlyS8iP-Ai1WojhZKIP84GndJIn12SpG4WRyZLF5J12vc1H1zsj9VyqgJb6GfDTwM/s200/IMG_5917.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">VW making a splash of the<br />
7th generation GTi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two full days were enough; after having covered endless miles on foot, rummaged through countless stalls, stared at priceless classics, gawped at lunatic prices, and pretty much decided what colour 911 I wanted it was time to head back to the UK.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qiryQoP1_sKqSagXKnKOVh3FINKEVaUGqrCLapvEWUTzkXs_wm7vl6UD4JKA2lzpBufDz4caL-P_lphrwMJe8yDCzIRK8DmLifyrsUR99VGP-dKdbrkfFj7_ir9pYXFeL0F5SlWO8gs/s1600/IMG_5984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qiryQoP1_sKqSagXKnKOVh3FINKEVaUGqrCLapvEWUTzkXs_wm7vl6UD4JKA2lzpBufDz4caL-P_lphrwMJe8yDCzIRK8DmLifyrsUR99VGP-dKdbrkfFj7_ir9pYXFeL0F5SlWO8gs/s200/IMG_5984.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The DS, amazing motorshow crowds for 63 years</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTD5aHMtIg9wFWhuOJUljsbAqexohhl48vzfoMlDksgFfIO2G9nEdHI_2Fov1htEW7D5y3ilv2YtwS_aHwuQVdkXsfaaSEudqsIh-7bAclmIqPOoZVoz1vQGGs_xZE4yCRG_htVYuwOPA/s1600/IMG_5855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTD5aHMtIg9wFWhuOJUljsbAqexohhl48vzfoMlDksgFfIO2G9nEdHI_2Fov1htEW7D5y3ilv2YtwS_aHwuQVdkXsfaaSEudqsIh-7bAclmIqPOoZVoz1vQGGs_xZE4yCRG_htVYuwOPA/s200/IMG_5855.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alfa booked a corner to display their<br />
stunning Tipo 33s</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">After a civilised breakfast on Sunday, we loaded up the </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">lumpen riding (but abstemious) SportLine Audi A6 and r</span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eturned along Belgium's poorly maintained autoroutes to Blighty. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the Audi's occupants leavens his patrician Porsche habit with a rootsy enthusiasm for old Dagenham dustbins, so we stopped in a scruffy field off the M23 where a 'Classic Ford Car show' was taking place. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The shaven headed, heavily tattooed Ford enthusiasts with their modified Escorts (baseball bat not quite hidden behind the front seats) and Sierras couldn't have been a bigger contrast to their fellows over the channel, and the vendors sitting behind trestle tables proudly displaying rusty, oily and unidentifiable components were a long way from the slick dealers at Essen ("Original works 917 steering wheel? Certainly sir, we have one in stock, a snip at 14,000 Euros"). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">It was ironic then that those Kentish traders proved to be a happy hunting ground for valuable Porsche bits at below market prices. We left clutching a set of 356 horns, a rare 911 Sportomatic gear knob ("Any idea what its off </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">guv? No? How about a fiver then?") and a 1/43rd model of a 911 in just the right colour.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Excellent trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-80438495164821078212013-05-29T18:33:00.000+00:002013-05-29T18:33:17.872+00:00A Little Width on the Hips<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Romans knew a thing or two about roads. They built over 50,000 miles of high quality stone-surfaced roads across their empire, enabling the rapid movement of their armies, and allowing trade and commerce to link distant outposts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have one in our neck of the woods; Stane Street. It's 56 miles long, and links Chichester (or Noviomagus Reginorum as the Romans snappily called it) to London Bridge in more or less a straight line. In fact, like many of the Roman Roads in Britain, much of the route is still used as a road, bar a section over the downs near Halnaker where walkers can still tread the original 2,000 year old stones poking through the grass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being of a pragmatic mindset, the Romans standardised the width of their roads around the need to allow a couple of carts or companies of soldiers to pass by one another without interference, and decided that 24 feet (in the context I make no apologies for going all Imperial on you) was a sensible dimension.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7wlqaYr-cNAURQ3sQEYA-li-y7bhoRITzzSqY1nEYQTPGD0A8hOGDUpXqhTWJrt-nB6kk_sD3ivB0aSVwLmqtvPStAP1J2nkITRdN-xPnS3GAcyCPAWo_xJ71zQJtj3Kc0qb9NHzQ-o/s1600/Walks-And-Walking-West-Sussex-Walks-Slindon-Estate-National-Trust-Walking-Route-Stane-Street-Roman-Road-500x375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7wlqaYr-cNAURQ3sQEYA-li-y7bhoRITzzSqY1nEYQTPGD0A8hOGDUpXqhTWJrt-nB6kk_sD3ivB0aSVwLmqtvPStAP1J2nkITRdN-xPnS3GAcyCPAWo_xJ71zQJtj3Kc0qb9NHzQ-o/s320/Walks-And-Walking-West-Sussex-Walks-Slindon-Estate-National-Trust-Walking-Route-Stane-Street-Roman-Road-500x375.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stane Street on the South Downs</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oddly (or not), 2,000 years later, the UK Highways Agency's standard width for a two lane road is still 24 feet. This is for the same millennia old reason; two horses side by side are about 5ft wide, as is a cart or carriage roomy enough to carry two seated adults between it's wheels, so to allow them to comfortably pass each other, a road width of eight yards is required.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When motorcars replaced horses and carts, not much changed. Karl Benz's Patent Motorwagon from 1886 was a couple of inches under 5ft wide, and by 1959 Ford's 100E Popular family saloon still measured only 5ft 1inch across. The original Porsche 911 spread a little; 5ft 3inches, while Jaguar's seminal E Type was 2inches wider. Just the 2 inches mind you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These thoughts occurred to me when I saw photograph of Jaguar's new F type next to its 1961 predecessor; the F type is a girdle busting 6ft 4 inches across it's arse, nearly a foot wider than the E. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iY2BLpBjsJsfAAhimTuwl_88tVEd1Lw-a89Z9o0BeAFrWgbpqO-nTQTWlScveYjcX79JU-fwrcvuLFe1QYVBcXdp9VtGYsZHqpc3RK98uSjqvqFOedRakMZwfHAl7bk5gdaFXF3Llzw/s1600/Jaguar-E-Type-Jaguar-F-Type-Heckansicht-19-fotoshowImageNew-1c145d3-653655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iY2BLpBjsJsfAAhimTuwl_88tVEd1Lw-a89Z9o0BeAFrWgbpqO-nTQTWlScveYjcX79JU-fwrcvuLFe1QYVBcXdp9VtGYsZHqpc3RK98uSjqvqFOedRakMZwfHAl7bk5gdaFXF3Llzw/s320/Jaguar-E-Type-Jaguar-F-Type-Heckansicht-19-fotoshowImageNew-1c145d3-653655.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One is designed for Stane Street, one for I95....</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In its latest incarnation the svelte 911 has expanded to 6ft 3inches in 991 C4 form, and the Ford Popular's successor as family transport, the Focus, has grown 13inches to 6ft 2inches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're all supposed to be getting fatter, so its not really surprising cars are. But at least in a UK with a roads infrastructure based on a 2,000 year old EU standard, its not surprising that there's just not the room to have fun that there used to be.</span></div>
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<br />Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-54672458097301673422013-05-17T13:39:00.005+00:002013-05-17T13:39:44.715+00:00Gearbox latest<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I few weeks ago I took my <a href="http://thecarlistblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/911t-project-gearbox.html">gearbox</a> to Jez at Carrera Performance. I knew synchromesh on 3rd gear was very tired, and his brief was to open the unit up, and let me know what was needed for a rebuild. I've been on tenderhooks ever since; bits for these units can be very expensive, and severe wear can render the casing scrap. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it was relief I learned this week that the gearbox internals were in good condition, and all it need was a few synchromesh rings - in fact about the least I could have hoped to get away with. It should be back with me in a couple of weeks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An aside I was interested to hear a comment Jez made when we were inspecting the 'box, comparing the weight favourably to the later G50 units. From what I'm able to tell, the various weights as follows;</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">G50 gearbox used in the later Carrera 3.2s ~70kg</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">915 gearbox with aluminium cases used in the SCs and first 3.2s ~58kgs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">915 gearbox with magnesium cases used in the '72 and '73 911s ~50kgs</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The stronger aluminium cases were adopted when Porsche started to worry about the torque of the bigger engines, but from what I can tell from other owner's experiences, with sympathetic use the mag alloy cases do just fine. Certainly losing 20-odd kilograms from the tail of the car can only be a good thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-73244295315815255402013-05-17T13:13:00.003+00:002013-05-17T13:13:48.702+00:00Blast<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I removed the final few bits and pieces from the car and it was ready for cleaning. The yellow paint coating the car appeared to be a single stage acrylic that was either applied by an amateur, or a dealer looking to give the car a cheap once over for a sale. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In any case it was a poor job; there's overspray everywhere and preparation around the door shuts etc was woeful. If I was ever to achieve a decent end result i</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t all needed to come off </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mechanical methods are too time consuming and really only used where the bodywork is very fragile or extremely precious. I was left with a straight choice; blast cleaning or dipping. The latter involves dropping the shell into a foul caustic concoction that will remove anything that isn't metal; underseal, seam sealer, rust, paint all disappears leaving clean, fresh metal behind inside and out. The shell is then rinsed, and once any repairs are completed. is dipped again in a rust proofing base coat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Im sure there are companies out there doing this very well, the problems arise when the capillary action takes the acid up into seams and between panels deep in the structure of the car. There it lurks, and often doesn't reappear until much, much later when your freshly restored car starts weeping rust from the seams.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blasting on the other hand also has disadvantages. Obviously it won't touch the inside of any box sections, and a heat generated by heavy handed operator can distort panels, easily wrecking a shell. The media - generally a dry, fine sand - gets everywhere too. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnNMj2nPnaBXC1IQHKnI3AFf6HYEz26ltIyp4mI8gwzgkuF9aTPodKuAp075OpyKMwkimOTWbAT5m4LZRn-LkZtxaeG_9qHpQx4C7xz_RDfpwnek6McO63LHZroRwo0LBWajmKD_c-sI/s1600/IMG_5682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnNMj2nPnaBXC1IQHKnI3AFf6HYEz26ltIyp4mI8gwzgkuF9aTPodKuAp075OpyKMwkimOTWbAT5m4LZRn-LkZtxaeG_9qHpQx4C7xz_RDfpwnek6McO63LHZroRwo0LBWajmKD_c-sI/s400/IMG_5682.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end I decided to use a blast cleaner recommended by a DDK mate; De-Corrosion Services in Chertsey, West London. They've done a couple of old 911s - in fact they'd already cleaned the panels I'd taken off the car earlier. Their offer to collect and deliver the shell sealed it - finding someone to move wheel-less old cars isn't easy. So one sunny day in April the shell on its dolly was strapped onto a trailer and taken away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It would very different the next time I saw it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-29276630943004429982013-05-13T15:18:00.001+00:002013-05-13T15:19:11.210+00:00911 Project Update<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well the telecom companies have finally managed successfully to install broadband into the new abode. Much like hangovers, the pain and nervous exhaustion brought on by every house move is enough to make me swear never to do it again. I didn't make things any easier this time by dismantling the old Porsche before moving it from garage to garage. Not only are a dozen crates full of components littering the house, but body panels decorate almost every room. And the only option for moving the 'car' - in reality a bare rolling chassis - was for me to push it down the road while one of the younger SS7s sat on a wooden box and steered. The proximity of the 'new' house to the old one - 400m at most - was a definite bonus. As I write, 200kgs of 911 engine still sits on the floor of the old garage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The actual project - removing only the glass and parts essential for new paint, and refreshing the mechanicals - has progressed to a full blow restoration. My reluctance to take the final step of stripping the car of its wiring loom, braking system and all of the running gear wilted in the face of determined opposition from the DDK crew. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a picture of the car. Its on the driveway sitting on a dolly ready for the next stage of the project.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz-lQgrgh2lmFJod2TZUe3Wz5g-sPwYzDyjRosxhWXkzP1ic-nNYBTnuEq7Lz0T6f0pmgz_1501r23pMMWyGyeGK6AFaHROUl6JD01pAe6tuDKMGiFYItU-fbdw_vJq0g12kls6i8OFo/s1600/IMG_5568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz-lQgrgh2lmFJod2TZUe3Wz5g-sPwYzDyjRosxhWXkzP1ic-nNYBTnuEq7Lz0T6f0pmgz_1501r23pMMWyGyeGK6AFaHROUl6JD01pAe6tuDKMGiFYItU-fbdw_vJq0g12kls6i8OFo/s400/IMG_5568.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More next time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS7</span></div>
Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1415140505068486131.post-17666384549175706572013-04-16T11:56:00.001+00:002013-04-16T11:56:13.416+00:00It's not me.....This time the lack of posts isn't down to my usual sloth and indolence, but BT's inability to provide a phone line or broadband to the new SS7 towers for 2 months.<br />
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Normal service will resume soon.<br />
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SS7Shoestring7http://www.blogger.com/profile/05161973838647063685noreply@blogger.com0