Restoration Thread

In the (perhaps futile) hope that we can stay vaguely on topic, I thought it might be interesting to have a thread where people could post pics of past and current restorations of interesting cars.

I've done 2 days on the Penske and have the rear end broken down and sidepods off. Front left wheelnut is siezed at the moment (on account of having the wrong hub with a left hand rather than right hand thread, so various people have been trying to undo the nut with extreme torque, all the while tightening it). We will have one more go with a torch to heat it and a 3/4" rattle gun, otherwise I'll have to cut the nut with a die grinder.

Then the front end has to come off, the tub goes away to be repaired and I'll get all suspension parts stripped of plating and crack tested. Then the re-finishing and reassembly can start. I'm especially looking forward to polishing the tub to as-new appearance.

2nd pic is chassis 06 being built in 1982. We have full set of photos thanks to racecars.com
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Got in a good number of hours on the dismantling this weekend, have the tub completely stripped and ready to go away. Crack testing is next for every major part that came off, then bits divided into 3 boxes for powder coating, anodising and chroming.

It's really interesting finding labels written and engraved on various parts. e.g. on the back of the boost guage "Mears test Atl 8/83". Atl = Atlanta
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We bought a fresh short motor from the US 2 years ago. Can Am cars have a guy who does them for half the price of a local rebuild, with a very good reputation for quality. All the expensive external bits were good on the engine that came with the car, oil pump, intake plenum, ignition, etc. That motor had blown a main journal, we'll eventually repair it as a spare.

 

what can you do, a 250 engine is worth more than a complete 250GTE. Shouldn't be that way, but it is. Everyone is a hypocrite about replicas. Had an interesting discussion with Spencer M at the McKay rally, he drove Piper's P3/4 in the 70's, he was amazed that it's now accepted as real.

What's more correct, a 250TR with period parts and a 1962 GTE engine, or a "barnfind" chassis with a Classiche engine made in 2010? I suspect 80% of barnfinds are BS, just a way of creating a legend for a recreated chassis.

Also look at historic race cars with Cosworth/Hewland drivetrain. The engine and transaxle are already worth more than a complete car and are getting more so every passing week. In a few years people will be breaking up perfectly OK cars just for the driveline.

 

box of control arms, chrome stripped and ready for crack testing.

Only problem with restorations in Sydney is the amount of time you spend driving to the outer western suburbs, where all the heavy industrial places are. Just had a 3 hour return trip to Villawood, not much fun.

Will have to do it many more times before this project is finished.
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Penske F1 and Indy cars were made in Poole, Dorset. They were shipped to the US for final testing and then went racing. Some american parts, the Hillborn injection, various pumps and valves but otherwise british. The boost guage is off an aircraft, probably a twin engined WW2 era, they wanted 2 needles as the boost is measured at the turbo and on top of the plenum. Not sure why, possibly to warn them when the plumbing was about to let go.

 

Yes, Jim H is doing it, a recommendation I got thanks to Blackjag, who connected me to Bob M.

The gun guy here in NSW is booked solid for 2 years!