86 Targa backdate build
07-21-2015, 10:32 PM
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86 Targa backdate build
The time has finally come to have a little fun! A few hours ago, my new to me '86 Targa arrived and WOW is she ugly. It looks like the 80's threw up all over it and no one bothered to clean it since then. Seats are torn, carpets are beyond nasty, cigarettes in the ash tray... i could go on, but I think y'all get the picture! I'm starting this thread up to not just force myself into documenting it correctly but hopefully provide some 
for all of you.
I had been looking for a long hood Targa for about 2 years now and I wasn't able to find one that i thought was worth the restoration. I couldn't justify spending 30-40K on a T that needed 100k to be done right and I figured I wouldn't drive it the same way I rarely drive my RUF. So i decided about 6 months ago to find a 3.2 to backdate. I could do whatever I wanted and not worry about adding miles or doing anything that wasn't reversible as well as more power (and creature comforts). I'm planning on having TRE here in LA go through the entire car before making final decisions on what i need exactly, but i have a list going already (subject to change):
Center fill gas tank
Center exhaust
Leave the 930 flares, but work them a little to reduce about 1-2 inches
Rennshift shifter or Wevo
Singer style head lights
Ducktail (shorter than the factory duck)
Boxter brakes
Full suspension upgrade TBD
GTS Classics Monte Carlo seats
With all of that said, I'm having issues deciding on color combinations. I love Gulf orange/black interior, but I think its way more on the "look at me" side. The other option is to go Stone Grey Metallic with a red interior. Im a sucker for red interiors (see RUF build in signature) but its definitely the more subtle choice of the two... ill need to decide soon too so i can order the leather weave i want for the seats...
I'm ready for suggestions/criticism/motivation so please don't hesitate to chime in. Obligatory before pics in the next post.
Thanks for reading!
for all of you. I had been looking for a long hood Targa for about 2 years now and I wasn't able to find one that i thought was worth the restoration. I couldn't justify spending 30-40K on a T that needed 100k to be done right and I figured I wouldn't drive it the same way I rarely drive my RUF. So i decided about 6 months ago to find a 3.2 to backdate. I could do whatever I wanted and not worry about adding miles or doing anything that wasn't reversible as well as more power (and creature comforts). I'm planning on having TRE here in LA go through the entire car before making final decisions on what i need exactly, but i have a list going already (subject to change):
Center fill gas tank
Center exhaust
Leave the 930 flares, but work them a little to reduce about 1-2 inches
Rennshift shifter or Wevo
Singer style head lights
Ducktail (shorter than the factory duck)
Boxter brakes
Full suspension upgrade TBD
GTS Classics Monte Carlo seats
With all of that said, I'm having issues deciding on color combinations. I love Gulf orange/black interior, but I think its way more on the "look at me" side. The other option is to go Stone Grey Metallic with a red interior. Im a sucker for red interiors (see RUF build in signature) but its definitely the more subtle choice of the two... ill need to decide soon too so i can order the leather weave i want for the seats...
I'm ready for suggestions/criticism/motivation so please don't hesitate to chime in. Obligatory before pics in the next post.
Thanks for reading!
07-22-2015, 07:01 PM
#5
Gawd... that car should have been canceled in 1993.
I'm the resident crusty purist, and normally don't like hot-rodding collectable cars, but this one is so far gone, I wouldn't be afraid to get rid of everything... (except the red instrument faces, of course).
First question, are the flares metal or glass (they look like bondo). If they are factory 930 metal, I'd find a way to keep them... if not, rip them off and do what you want... it'll cost less and look better in the long run.
If it were a coupe, I'd be tempted to simply do an RSR clone, but for a Targa, just let your imagination go and build what you want.... doing a long-hood conversion is not that big a deal, as you need all new fenders, bumpers, hood and engine cover anyway.
Also, I wouldn't be afraid to do the body in fiber... its never going to be a concourse winner, and fiber gives you a lot more freedom for a lot less weight and money, and if done well will look fantastic.
When asked how he did sculpture, Michelangelo said "I envision the final piece, and simply remove the excess material."
I'm the resident crusty purist, and normally don't like hot-rodding collectable cars, but this one is so far gone, I wouldn't be afraid to get rid of everything... (except the red instrument faces, of course).
First question, are the flares metal or glass (they look like bondo). If they are factory 930 metal, I'd find a way to keep them... if not, rip them off and do what you want... it'll cost less and look better in the long run.
If it were a coupe, I'd be tempted to simply do an RSR clone, but for a Targa, just let your imagination go and build what you want.... doing a long-hood conversion is not that big a deal, as you need all new fenders, bumpers, hood and engine cover anyway.
Also, I wouldn't be afraid to do the body in fiber... its never going to be a concourse winner, and fiber gives you a lot more freedom for a lot less weight and money, and if done well will look fantastic.
When asked how he did sculpture, Michelangelo said "I envision the final piece, and simply remove the excess material."
07-22-2015, 08:24 PM
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Amber Lamps- I'll check them out, but whats the biggest difference?
JCP911S- They are the factory 930 flares but they weren't butt welded and there is a good amount of bondo in the area. The way I see it, most of the paint will be stripped off anyway to make sure its done right. I don't really have a specific look I'm going for and I won't even pretend to call it a Singer clone but when the Singer Targa pics popped up a couple weeks ago the picture was way more than a thousand words! I'm going to mix and match a lot of different pieces and build myself a fun driver, that simple!
Thank you both for chiming in.
JCP911S- They are the factory 930 flares but they weren't butt welded and there is a good amount of bondo in the area. The way I see it, most of the paint will be stripped off anyway to make sure its done right. I don't really have a specific look I'm going for and I won't even pretend to call it a Singer clone but when the Singer Targa pics popped up a couple weeks ago the picture was way more than a thousand words! I'm going to mix and match a lot of different pieces and build myself a fun driver, that simple!
Thank you both for chiming in.
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09-07-2015, 07:02 PM
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86 Targa backdate build
All- been a while since I posted an update. Couple of Engine out pics and a few shots of the interior stripped out.,. I want this to go faster!
I have an idea
