My 40th Anniversary Restoration

Haven't really posted for a while but I've had my car for 16 years and its been used as a daily, Hartech rebuild at 58k and now 150k my personal view is they're cars use them. However the car was starting to show its age, still looked after by Hartech so great mechanically but cosmetically it needed work. I did research and found a local company in the NE who i thought did good work and paid them a visit. The owner Jon took the car in for a weekend and removed the undertrays, skirts etc Jesus ill post the pics latter, two choices get rid or sort? Well I'm kind of stubborn so I'm sorting it. didn't even attempt man maths so here's the plan an extensive 6 month restoration of the body followed by a 4.1 Hartech rebuild and then off to Centre Gravity for the Handling. I thought this would be a good journey worth sharing I totally get its not economically a great idea but its my retirement car to enjoy so I'm going for it, I hope you you enjoy what i post and hopefully it should be an informative journey Background on the car can be found in Total 911 Issue 112 a great day filming with a 30th and the new then 50th

Sounds mad, so your in good company on here, looking forward to the journey

Here we Go the car went in for an inspection over a weekend, I knew it needed a bit of love but this shocked me once the trays were removed I think I've View attachment GLEK2758.MP4 found just the place to save her, the owner Jon is old skool and cares Lets begin the journey

just viewed again and all I can say is the titanium wheel studs look fantastic

bit of an update, car is being stripped at the moment and I'm surprised at how much rust there is. as well as the larger areas there is little bits all over, I am either a really unlucky owner or there may be a few more 996,s need work

Think most are turning in to rot boxes now, following in the footpaths of their older brothers. I've just had a rear corner chopped out and sorted.

The cars are coming up to 30 yrs old in some cases, bound to have rust in places.

Just picked up a 40th myself and mine is a bit more worse for wear, I'd happily trade chassis haha. The worst of the rust has been addressed thankfully for now though. How are your headers? Mine look like I could rip them off by hand the rust is that bad. Trying to decide if I throw the topgear headers on, go aftermarket or buy a new set of headers from Porsche and eat into the rest of my budget.

just been to view the car which is now totally stripped and ready to start the long road back. Just my thoughts but these cars hide rust quite well, very little shows apart from wheel arches. Mine did have a few blisters etc but to be fair it just looked like it needed a bit paint. I am so glad the guy i took it to wanted the car for a weekend to remove the trays and liners to properly address the work needed. Even then the more that has been removed since, the picture is quite different. People may say it was unlucky and a badly looked after car but i disagree, yes im based in the NE and it was a daily so saw plenty of salt but i feel the same weak points are on most 996 Given the current price of the cars i feel quite a few will suffer and be scrapped. The good news is mine is now ready for fabrication and repair so no more horror pics of rust just nice new shiny metal

few years ago i replaced my system with a Kline, great exhaust

We’ve seen quite a few of these now, Rot is definitely going to be a problem from here on, they can look lovely and shiney from the top!

Little bit of an update, the car is now having the underseal removed and media blasting so the metal fabrication can start

...as I have said for a while now I'd not be buying any 996 with factory side skirts without a comprehensive inspection as invariably these will be concealing rust to varying degrees of ' concerning and expensive '! Good to hear you are digging in and not running away...

Some pictures, hopefully the next ones show upward progress and lots of new metal All the fabrication will be interesting to watch I have made a decision when this comes back no more winter driving, as this car has been used as a daily for 16 years

What underseal are you planning to use?

That is a proper job, I want ask what it’s costing, I can guess, having restored several cars in the past. Just glad you’re saving this one.

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Raptor tinted silver

well finally some new metal, more pictures to follow but both sills are being fabricated together with new jacking points

duly subscribed, another 40 anni owner

Im starting to plan to have mine done, full strip and put on a spit for underbody restoration. Are the arches being done? - who do you have doing the work?

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Yes rear arches are being sorted the work is being done by classic and retro autos

well a lot of progress, sills are being worked on and I've ordered rear repair panels from Design911. Jacking points have been a struggle ordered the fronts from Design911 but luckily managed to get the last rear in the UK from Wolverhampton Porsche. Still trying to find a rear right and currently trying USA Fabricator found a couple of cheap new panels on Ebay for the front, lots of panels removed blasted then zinc coated. I have to say this work is going so well and my baby is totally in the right place, proper old skool craftmanship

That some serious work going on there, never seen strut tops removed before!

Bit of an update now we are well into the restoration Pick a great guy to do the restoration that has to be number one and I believe I’m in great hands Next I would say give it time, speed means expense buying everything you need quickly is pricey Next where do you buy from, just my opinions Repair panels from design911 good but buying genuine panels from them is expensive Rear jacking point from Porsche uk £100 cheaper also delivery slow Porsche-apart-911 on eBay excellent some absolute bargains £125 panel £2k from design911 Porsche uk great located the last rear jacking poor in the uk and it was delivered in 2 days So just my thoughts the build is progressing and I will post some pics soon

Progress report from the fabricators was too large to post so I’ll take some pics tomorrow Also bought a 40th anniversary shell to use going forward Work progressing well but I know you all want pics leave it with me

You've bought another shell?

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I have seemed the best way to go

But you're still fixing up this one? Is the shell completely bare or does it still have things attached? What colour?

I'm tempted to buy the Turbo body shell that's on FB for £5k and just sit on it.

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Yes still fixing mine but using cuts from the shell I bought which is a 40th anniversary like mine

Wow, this really has turned into a job! Is the company in Sacriston near Durham? I recognise the name and they are only 20 minutes away from me. I currently need a bit of paint on the sides of mine (skirts have been painted on the car in the past and have pulled some paint when i've taken them off!) so might have to give them a shout. Ever a small world i think i may've been stood next to your new shell the weekend before last

Some pictures taken today Some new metal but lots more needed The new shell should enable the fabricators to really make progress

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Langley park industrial estate near Lanchester

@churny Which 911 40th did you get the shell from? Nr. 0638 that was being parted out?