1978 5sp #107 just arrived - aka the restoration of Minerva
11-08-2015, 02:10 AM
#196
Rob, I have thrown out so much early car stuff in the last 16 years this is just heartbreaking to watch you be so careful with the original pieces.
Mostly the early 78 I have was longer very original, and at that time, originality was not a focus, nor as "important" as it has become more recently.
I do still have some small pieces, however. I'll have to take a look to see if any would be a help here.
Mostly the early 78 I have was longer very original, and at that time, originality was not a focus, nor as "important" as it has become more recently.
I do still have some small pieces, however. I'll have to take a look to see if any would be a help here.
11-08-2015, 02:45 AM
#197
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The Ugly and the Good:
Spent 2 hours working on Minerva with William tonight, continued the demolition.
Oil pan off- kinda wish we'd run some motor flush through it for a couple of minutes, pretty sludgy inside:
Got the front of the motor apart, all the gears are square tooth and in great shape, WP came off without a hitch, the coolant passages are pristine. Pulled the cam towers and heads without incident, and the bores and cylinder rims are perfect. Phew!
Not sure what flavor head gasket this is, I think it's a factory gasket as there's an embossed 928 part # on it, but it has fire rings in it. In any case, both head gaskets are in great shape- will have to look for a date code on them, I have to imagine they'd been replaced at some point.
Spent 2 hours working on Minerva with William tonight, continued the demolition.
Oil pan off- kinda wish we'd run some motor flush through it for a couple of minutes, pretty sludgy inside:
Got the front of the motor apart, all the gears are square tooth and in great shape, WP came off without a hitch, the coolant passages are pristine. Pulled the cam towers and heads without incident, and the bores and cylinder rims are perfect. Phew!
Not sure what flavor head gasket this is, I think it's a factory gasket as there's an embossed 928 part # on it, but it has fire rings in it. In any case, both head gaskets are in great shape- will have to look for a date code on them, I have to imagine they'd been replaced at some point.
By 1980, the factory added those silicone beads to help with water/oil migration. Note both the rusty and oily studs. While you might think the head gaskets were great.....that fluid migration tells a different story.
Also note that early oil pick-up rubber seal. That only lasted a few years until it got changed.
11-08-2015, 09:48 AM
#198
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1978 5sp #107 just arrived
Originally Posted by William A
Wheel Repair Specialists, found them online and then before I called them (I had a few names to cover) I received a recommendation.
http://www.ocwheelrepairs.com/
Nice turnaround time, communication (they put up with my OCD), and follow through. Turns out that the machine shop who is doing my '72 Tii motor is close by in addition to a good option for paint. Might be spending more money in Santa Ana, lol!
I just noticed your stable, do you have Dan H's Turq car? That is a stunner!
http://www.ocwheelrepairs.com/
Nice turnaround time, communication (they put up with my OCD), and follow through. Turns out that the machine shop who is doing my '72 Tii motor is close by in addition to a good option for paint. Might be spending more money in Santa Ana, lol!
I just noticed your stable, do you have Dan H's Turq car? That is a stunner!
Yes, I do have Dan's "Turq". It is a great car.
11-09-2015, 12:38 AM
#199
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Almost certainly original head gaskets. Only '78 and '79 had head gaskets without the silicone sealant applied around the edges and the studs.
By 1980, the factory added those silicone beads to help with water/oil migration. Note both the rusty and oily studs. While you might think the head gaskets were great.....that fluid migration tells a different story.
Also note that early oil pick-up rubber seal. That only lasted a few years until it got changed.
By 1980, the factory added those silicone beads to help with water/oil migration. Note both the rusty and oily studs. While you might think the head gaskets were great.....that fluid migration tells a different story.
Also note that early oil pick-up rubber seal. That only lasted a few years until it got changed.
In the meantime, William and I managed to tag-team the rest of the deconstruction today. I assume that whoever decided to bolt the front shift rod bearing bracket to the body in '78 was re-assigned to the potmetal door handle account, those two nuts are a PITA.
Anyway, there's more bits to strip off the engine compartment but all the two-man jobs are complete. Interior comes (out) next, though a lot more of the '78 interior is just sorta glued to the body. Need to think about the plan of attack.
11-09-2015, 02:44 AM
#200
Looking at Rob's pictures make me crazy, excited, and a bit nervous all at the same time. For sure Rob and I have some organizing to do. It amazes me when I see cars apart how many parts go into them.
The plan all along was and remains to keep as much as possible original on Minerva. I imagine the assembly of this car 38 years ago, and so many of the parts we are evaluating and cleaning have date codes I am committed to reinstalling whenever possible.
The plan all along was and remains to keep as much as possible original on Minerva. I imagine the assembly of this car 38 years ago, and so many of the parts we are evaluating and cleaning have date codes I am committed to reinstalling whenever possible.
11-09-2015, 02:49 AM
#201
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I probably should have straightened up a bit but was amused by the bomb-blast ambiance we created. Next couple of days is all cleaning and parts-washing.
11-09-2015, 06:18 AM
#202
Like I say to the grandkids when they're over and they've made a mess similar to this..."whatever you don't pick up and put away... (slight pause for low eyebrowed theatrical stare)...it's going straight in the trash".
I'm still not understanding the chairs roll in this operation, sure doesn't seem like anyone gets to sit down on this crew...lol.
And, I'm still trying to wrap my head around Williams comment about "just doing what needs to be done at this point". Can only imagine what things would look like if you guys "were doing what didn't need to be done at this point."
Looking good so far though, and I know this is probably quite a ways off...or maybe you guys will have it knocked-out and driving this car by the weekend at the rate you are going...but what about the front ride height, are you guys planning on doing anything to lower it? That's the only thing I do not care for with the older 928's, they seem to high in the front for my taste...and they offer no adjustment. I saved the front suspension of the disassembled car and plan on playing around with shortening the coil some, saving the originals of course.
Anyhow, two thumbs up on the progress so far.
Brian.
And, I'm still trying to wrap my head around Williams comment about "just doing what needs to be done at this point". Can only imagine what things would look like if you guys "were doing what didn't need to be done at this point."
Looking good so far though, and I know this is probably quite a ways off...or maybe you guys will have it knocked-out and driving this car by the weekend at the rate you are going...but what about the front ride height, are you guys planning on doing anything to lower it? That's the only thing I do not care for with the older 928's, they seem to high in the front for my taste...and they offer no adjustment. I saved the front suspension of the disassembled car and plan on playing around with shortening the coil some, saving the originals of course.
Anyhow, two thumbs up on the progress so far.
Brian.
11-09-2015, 11:31 AM
#203
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Hi Brian-
At the risk of putting words in William's mouth, I think the overall goal is to have a car on which _everything_ works the way it's supposed to, and that he can hop in and drive it 1000 miles and not have to worry about not making it home. So on a car with 160K miles that means head gaskets, valve guides, rod bearings, doing bearings and seals on anything that rotates, anything made out of rubber, shocks, etc. And it means TT bearings and a transmission rebuild. And the vacuum locks and headlight adjusters need to work.
If this were the NCRS forum and we were talking about old Corvettes, we're shooting for a Performance Verification award. It's not to make a concours car that you'd be afraid to drive, quite the opposite. It's basically what we did on Anderson's Cobalt GT, though Mark (and Greg) deserves most of the credit for actually getting things to work. I just cleaned stuff.
At the risk of putting words in William's mouth, I think the overall goal is to have a car on which _everything_ works the way it's supposed to, and that he can hop in and drive it 1000 miles and not have to worry about not making it home. So on a car with 160K miles that means head gaskets, valve guides, rod bearings, doing bearings and seals on anything that rotates, anything made out of rubber, shocks, etc. And it means TT bearings and a transmission rebuild. And the vacuum locks and headlight adjusters need to work.
If this were the NCRS forum and we were talking about old Corvettes, we're shooting for a Performance Verification award. It's not to make a concours car that you'd be afraid to drive, quite the opposite. It's basically what we did on Anderson's Cobalt GT, though Mark (and Greg) deserves most of the credit for actually getting things to work. I just cleaned stuff.
11-09-2015, 11:33 AM
#204
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RE: the front suspension, I don't know whether William wants to be able to alter the stance or if he's going to insist on using all the original bits. My guess is he'll pick door #2.
11-09-2015, 11:58 AM
#205
knowing how catastrophic a bottom out incident is to these cars, and keeping with the spirit of originality, I don't imagine the front will be lowered from stock. One of many visual improvements that made my old GTS so attractive was the all business stance.
I just realized how odd it is that I end up with another car with height stance "issues." The BBi has long been criticized for too much room between the rear wheel and well opening, and I must say when other owners lower them it looks fantastic. Of course the BBi has the same problem of key components very low to the ground.
Sure is a talking point! I would hate to deprive the 911 guys of a little ribbing: "is this an Audi Quattro?
I just realized how odd it is that I end up with another car with height stance "issues." The BBi has long been criticized for too much room between the rear wheel and well opening, and I must say when other owners lower them it looks fantastic. Of course the BBi has the same problem of key components very low to the ground.
Sure is a talking point! I would hate to deprive the 911 guys of a little ribbing: "is this an Audi Quattro?
11-09-2015, 12:56 PM
#208
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I would recommend adjustable Koni's and a modern wheel/tire package on the BB.
http://www.foundonthestreet.net/2015...-boxer-bb512i/
I just realized how odd it is that I end up with another car with height stance "issues." The BBi has long been criticized for too much room between the rear wheel and well opening, and I must say when other owners lower them it looks fantastic. Of course the BBi has the same problem of key components very low to the ground.
Sure is a talking point! I would hate to deprive the 911 guys of a little ribbing: "is this an Audi Quattro?
http://www.foundonthestreet.net/2015...-boxer-bb512i/
I just realized how odd it is that I end up with another car with height stance "issues." The BBi has long been criticized for too much room between the rear wheel and well opening, and I must say when other owners lower them it looks fantastic. Of course the BBi has the same problem of key components very low to the ground.
Sure is a talking point! I would hate to deprive the 911 guys of a little ribbing: "is this an Audi Quattro?
11-09-2015, 01:14 PM
#209
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Is it in plans to paint this car while it's apart ? T
Yes, the question is to what degree. The engine compartment and wheelwells could use some attention, so I'll likely strip it down to a tub, just to make the painter's lives easier.
A bunch of a '78's interior seems to be glued directly to the body, not sure how to approach that, with conservation in mind- e.g. the vinyl glued to the body just inside the rear hatch, where the tool panel and lower hatch latch reside- do I pull that out, or leave it in place and just tape the hell out out of it during paint?
11-09-2015, 01:38 PM
#210
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Hi Tony-
Yes, the question is to what degree. The engine compartment and wheelwells could use some attention, so I'll likely strip it down to a tub, just to make the painter's lives easier.
A bunch of a '78's interior seems to be glued directly to the body, not sure how to approach that, with conservation in mind- e.g. the vinyl glued to the body just inside the rear hatch, where the tool panel and lower hatch latch reside- do I pull that out, or leave it in place and just tape the hell out out of it during paint?
Yes, the question is to what degree. The engine compartment and wheelwells could use some attention, so I'll likely strip it down to a tub, just to make the painter's lives easier.
A bunch of a '78's interior seems to be glued directly to the body, not sure how to approach that, with conservation in mind- e.g. the vinyl glued to the body just inside the rear hatch, where the tool panel and lower hatch latch reside- do I pull that out, or leave it in place and just tape the hell out out of it during paint?