1987 3.2 Carrera Backdate project - Sladeys hotrod

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:59 pm

I will try to do so - havent set up the family holiday yet but will bear that in mind - should be do-able

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:54 pm

More progress.......

and

Engine cover, bonnet, rear bumper all on - front bumper on and being fettled. Unfortunately it was jacked up again when I went down which was a pity as changes the look.

I took about 10 pictures this time but half of them were blurred as I kept shaking!

I reckon I should get it by the end of the week

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:44 pm

Well done mate it looks fab. You have got done what most take months to do... I am supprised you didn't for a duck tail on the rear deck. But I love the car I think's great and it looks a nice neat job too..

Well done enjoy your new drive home......with the biggest grin...

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:12 am

Er... it HAS taken months - I put it in the garage on the 5th September!

Anyway it's moving along brilliantly now & thanks for your comments.

I've never actually liked the ducktails, until I saw a very early video of an RS going through some curves - then I could see the appeal. However I just really love that line down the rear of the car, starting from the roof and going down to the rear bumper, and anything that breaks that up does not do it for me. Just my own opinion.

I am sooo looking forward to that drive home. My only regret is that because it's taken so long it may be hard to judge how the car has changed - it will be a lot lighter without the heavy bumpers, and the Fuchs are loads lighter than the old wheels but the tyres are higher profile - it would be good to be able to assess all that in a back to back driving test. Whatever, that's nitpicking and I know it will feel brilliant after 4 months driving a Nissan Micra.

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:16 am

Nice one!

I'll keep an eye out for you, do you ever cross the M1 border and enter sunny Derbyshire?

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:24 am

Not if I can avoid it!

Actually no I don't come across very often - but I might do a bit more after this - there are some great roads in derbyshire.

I actually work in Sutton in Ashfield which is just across the border - & that's where the car is being worked on

Cheers

Mark

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:29 am

I work in Kirkby in Ashfield!

Its a dismal place on Lowmoor Road, guess you'll be driving it to work then I guess.

impmad2000 · Post by **impmad2000** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:13 am

Hard to believe it's the same car really

Looks Great

Cheers
Tim

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:45 pm

Thanks for those pics Tim - I've laminated one to take down to the garage as they were interested in seeing before & after shots

Just been down now and the front bumper is on - it's looking good

However I'm not entirely happy with the bonnet fit at the front:-

There's too big a gap at the side. I think this is accentuated by the black horn grill - I think that is set too far back which makes the gap bigger. The bonnet can't be moved as it's all in line at the top end

Also I think the bonnet is sitting too proud at the lower edge but they said they can't lower it any more as it won't close because it's against the wing rubber.

Anyone got any tips or suggestions in this area?

Mark

Some more pics:-

impmad2000 · Post by **impmad2000** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:23 pm

A friend has spent many hours trying to get this right on his, as you work back from the very front of the car, the first fixed point of reference that you get to, is the back edge of the door ! He found that to get the alignment spot-on, a lot of fiddling was needed right from door, front wing, Bonnet and front bumper ! Not easy I'm afraid, quite happy to be told I'm wrong though.
Tim

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:30 pm

Hi, My '72 is much the same after I had it painted.

I found it to be the replacement horn grilles. They are slightly smaller than the originals and didn't line up anywhere near as well.

After spending several hours aligning the grilles using washers under the fixings I called it 'character' and stopped worrying about it!

You can just about make it out in this shot.

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:33 pm

Thanks for those replies

MdR · Post by **MdR** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:24 pm

Mark
That looks fecking fantastic, I love it.
But then you knew that

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:09 pm

I second Gary's motion: it's those blinking repro grills: if the bonnet lines up around the scuttle, and down each wing then the only two possibles can be the curve of the bonnet (not tight enough) or the grills.

Like Gary, I spent ages trying to get mine to fit (on my 911T), and also left it as character

Looking good!

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:12 pm

The idea of character is growing on me - I'll space those grills out though