74 Restomod

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
I’ve got a 1974 3.0 CS that I will be fixing up over the next few months. My plan is to install following:
M30B35
headers
Weber 38/38’s
Megajolt ECU (Ford edis, GM coilpacks)
Alu radiator w/ electric fan

While I’m at it, I will have the the following done by Axiom Restoration in Virginia Beach:
Engine bay repaint
Under carriage paint
Battery relocated to under rear seat
Rewiring the car with Coach Control wiring
Stainless exhaust

I initially told Kyle at Axiom that I was considering going to manual steering and he said why not R&P. I said that not many have done it without a lot of fab which is not in the budget, but he managed to convince me that he could do it with the existing subframe and using non-BMW parts. I’m skeptical, but at the price he quoted, I decided to give it a shot.

I’m also going to try re-dyeing my leather seats and door panels. Because I don’t have the budget to repaint yet, I am thinking about a vinyl wrap. Don’t lambaste me yet, it’s not a done deal, and even if I do, I will keep it conservative.

For now, here are some pics of what I am starting with. I think it is fairly dry/little rust. I took a scope and peeked into the box under the A pillar; everything looked good, will treat that area with cavity wax and say my prayers. Another bonus was that the undercoating really did it’s job. Not sure if this was factory stuff, but you can see that where it had rubbed off were the only places where any rust is evident. I am going get the entire the underside blasted and epoxy coated with in the factory color (Polaris).
 

Attachments

  • E55DB066-C5A8-479D-AD30-E2C06DA8DA51.jpeg
    E55DB066-C5A8-479D-AD30-E2C06DA8DA51.jpeg
    297 KB · Views: 439
  • 7B9C27BC-FE3D-46D9-AAAE-0B5A3CCC7614.jpeg
    7B9C27BC-FE3D-46D9-AAAE-0B5A3CCC7614.jpeg
    264.5 KB · Views: 439
  • D7CB30C2-DE1B-4025-A129-DD646BB22271.jpeg
    D7CB30C2-DE1B-4025-A129-DD646BB22271.jpeg
    339.6 KB · Views: 423
  • 0F5A7D54-0D1C-42FE-8B3B-4CDA29B0674C.jpeg
    0F5A7D54-0D1C-42FE-8B3B-4CDA29B0674C.jpeg
    300.8 KB · Views: 445
  • FFA605AC-6A51-4503-907B-E3D61737CF7D.jpeg
    FFA605AC-6A51-4503-907B-E3D61737CF7D.jpeg
    321.9 KB · Views: 421

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Undercarriage
 

Attachments

  • 8615FF4C-779C-4161-9414-E0F9ABF8A1F2.jpeg
    8615FF4C-779C-4161-9414-E0F9ABF8A1F2.jpeg
    287.1 KB · Views: 449
  • 1555188E-7CE1-4F2C-8FFE-1FEF728986F3.jpeg
    1555188E-7CE1-4F2C-8FFE-1FEF728986F3.jpeg
    251.8 KB · Views: 420
  • 403890B0-E6B5-45A9-BB42-7163A9330F50.jpeg
    403890B0-E6B5-45A9-BB42-7163A9330F50.jpeg
    263.7 KB · Views: 403
  • CF03AB99-E569-4846-8BF8-EC37D3246971.jpeg
    CF03AB99-E569-4846-8BF8-EC37D3246971.jpeg
    240.7 KB · Views: 417
  • 443439EB-E35C-4FEF-B1F1-6CD470274CED.jpeg
    443439EB-E35C-4FEF-B1F1-6CD470274CED.jpeg
    227.8 KB · Views: 423

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Wheel wells
 

Attachments

  • 35EDE086-EE25-473D-89D7-EB8867E671E7.jpeg
    35EDE086-EE25-473D-89D7-EB8867E671E7.jpeg
    333.7 KB · Views: 420
  • 9997FAED-2EC2-41F6-BBDA-5776211C4114.jpeg
    9997FAED-2EC2-41F6-BBDA-5776211C4114.jpeg
    498.5 KB · Views: 406
  • 7593CD5E-F2BC-4F1F-80C3-FCFEB3DFB0D5.jpeg
    7593CD5E-F2BC-4F1F-80C3-FCFEB3DFB0D5.jpeg
    224.3 KB · Views: 417
  • C21DD42C-7F27-43BE-99C8-3A266E9F0004.jpeg
    C21DD42C-7F27-43BE-99C8-3A266E9F0004.jpeg
    280.8 KB · Views: 436
  • E0AED245-A2F2-4DA7-A33E-FA5E09C1090F.jpeg
    E0AED245-A2F2-4DA7-A33E-FA5E09C1090F.jpeg
    236 KB · Views: 426
  • 6C57AE3F-1C2B-4A71-8605-2CD4CB507955.jpeg
    6C57AE3F-1C2B-4A71-8605-2CD4CB507955.jpeg
    328.8 KB · Views: 443
  • 9AF6856A-9C55-4764-B2A9-3A3114759CB2.jpeg
    9AF6856A-9C55-4764-B2A9-3A3114759CB2.jpeg
    210.4 KB · Views: 399
  • 15F57CA2-B59A-4E99-90D0-DC7ABAD25188.jpeg
    15F57CA2-B59A-4E99-90D0-DC7ABAD25188.jpeg
    415 KB · Views: 398
  • 45ABE2D0-9358-4659-A639-E262BE268948.jpeg
    45ABE2D0-9358-4659-A639-E262BE268948.jpeg
    366.2 KB · Views: 417
  • 773FE937-0B69-489E-9484-9E735653684C.jpeg
    773FE937-0B69-489E-9484-9E735653684C.jpeg
    376.1 KB · Views: 413

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Rear undercarriage.
 

Attachments

  • 7D1287E1-7BC5-4E96-A707-F95B266A0D8F.jpeg
    7D1287E1-7BC5-4E96-A707-F95B266A0D8F.jpeg
    366.2 KB · Views: 406
  • 042FE276-6FAA-45DD-A255-5E3422876D96.jpeg
    042FE276-6FAA-45DD-A255-5E3422876D96.jpeg
    225.7 KB · Views: 400
  • 70CEE52D-D004-43E3-859D-92732720F7D9.jpeg
    70CEE52D-D004-43E3-859D-92732720F7D9.jpeg
    186.9 KB · Views: 397
  • 2D5B7506-868E-4987-AC74-8A50A8E5570A.jpeg
    2D5B7506-868E-4987-AC74-8A50A8E5570A.jpeg
    209.4 KB · Views: 384
  • 26701190-E8EE-4791-A712-97A1CA554F03.jpeg
    26701190-E8EE-4791-A712-97A1CA554F03.jpeg
    382.8 KB · Views: 387
  • 03D23A5A-0921-4286-BF7A-C50D9A2E1A94.jpeg
    03D23A5A-0921-4286-BF7A-C50D9A2E1A94.jpeg
    210.7 KB · Views: 400
  • A0133B41-1EC4-4370-BE17-0E2D000EDB7D.jpeg
    A0133B41-1EC4-4370-BE17-0E2D000EDB7D.jpeg
    376.1 KB · Views: 393
  • A30C6B82-C91C-4DEA-8C11-FAEF5C96293E.jpeg
    A30C6B82-C91C-4DEA-8C11-FAEF5C96293E.jpeg
    370.5 KB · Views: 403

JFENG

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
3,177
Reaction score
1,393
Location
Bahston (Boston)
What up with the driver side front stub rail? Has it been hit in the driver front corner? If yes, get it straightened up now. Looks very good on rust (lack of).
 

Rek

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,113
Reaction score
351
Location
Islington London England
A good practical approach. Dying the leather can have a good effect on my experience with other cars. As for wrapping, why not? You might find it more expensive in labour as our cars have more nooks crannies and fixings than modern equivalents.
 

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
What up with the driver side front stub rail? Has it been hit in the driver front corner? If yes, get it straightened up now. Looks very good on rust (lack of).

Hmm. Sharp eye. I did not notice this before, but will have it investigated. Thanks!
 

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Why spend time and money plus risk creating a safety issue changing the steering system?

I have always felt the steering in our cars was a let down. For a smaller car (I know it’s pretty hefty), the steering was not sharp enough for me even when the entire suspension is dialed in and with fresh components. So I was planning on going the route of trying a manual steering box (I’m still young enough to muscle it at low speeds) in order to get the feel I want.
Kyle at Axiom convinced me that he could do this safely, affordably, and relatively simply by not trying to fit a BMW rack to do the job. I had him reference the threads of others on this forum who have installed steering racks and all the effort it took. He seemed unfazed; claims he has done it many times and been successful with the modification (has not tried this with a coupe). I told him to promise me that if he gets to a point where it becomes too complicated to not get bogged down. Right now, the price he quoted me for this modification is significantly less than the cost of a nice CSL manual steering box, so I am going to let him try.
 

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
A good practical approach. Dying the leather can have a good effect on my experience with other cars. As for wrapping, why not? You might find it more expensive in labour as our cars have more nooks crannies and fixings than modern equivalents.

Yes, I was surprised at the quotes for a wrap. I haven’t had mine quoted yet, but my research says the average “color change wrap” in the States is $2k-$4k. I may give it a go myself to save some $$$. Still not convinced I will do it, but will wander down to a couple of vinyl wrapping shops to see the materials and the work.
 

Markos

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
13,369
Reaction score
7,502
Location
Seattle, WA
Hmm. Sharp eye. I did not notice this before, but will have it investigated. Thanks!

It will be interesting to see what happens with the nose. It looks like the rail needs to come mostly downward.

I pulled my jeep straight after it was totaled.. I said, so what you can for $500. When they were done, the back doors were smooth again and I only had small residual kinks in the uniframe. I didnt get any cracking or flaking on the paint.
 

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the nose. It looks like the rail needs to come mostly downward.

I pulled my jeep straight after it was totaled.. I said, so what you can for $500. When they were done, the back doors were smooth again and I only had small residual kinks in the uniframe. I didnt get any cracking or flaking on the paint.

I hope it’s not too badly damaged. I dodged a bullet with rust I think, but this one may bite me in the wallet.
 

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
This is a what should I do ‘while I’m in there’ question. As I mentioned, I am installing a refreshed engine, new carbs, etc. but was wondering what the collective wisdom is for bang for the buck improvements or things that should be renewed/replaced while I have everything out. 5spd conversion and Limit slip diff are off the table right now. Your collective wisdom and feedback is appreciated.
 

JFENG

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
3,177
Reaction score
1,393
Location
Bahston (Boston)
Steering: did you check out the steering modifications BelgiumBarry has done. Very cool stuff and should give you more ‘nimble’ steering. I’m not sure going to a non-assist steering box would make the steering feel sharper. You could also try low profile tires and one degree additional toe-out.
 

eriknetherlands

Moderator
Site Donor
Messages
2,698
Reaction score
1,929
Location
Netherlands, Eindhoven area
Nice car and most important (expensive to fix) it looks like it has a solid structure.

Two notorius point are the rear subframe mounting points under the corners of the rear seats, specifically the underside of it.
Are they like the rest of the car? Then it is a very well conserved ecxample.

Take care about how you lift the car. I see in the pics that the rear is lifted at the pickup points, but including the flange of the decorative trim (screw on-screw off) on the sill.
The flange of the trim is just a thin section and can' t handle the forces, in your pics i notice that the seams are already pinched ( perhaps by a previoys owner already).

Erik.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-A520F met Tapatalk
 

Keshav

Well-Known Member
Site Donor $$
Messages
2,761
Reaction score
2,773
Location
Germany
Hi Walter,
As Erik points out, WE shouldn't put stress on the lifting points, specially for a longer period of time. Causes more damage than necessary. An easy Test is to put the car on a 4 point lift and then see how well the doors close. Weak rockers will make the door closing difficult, shows how flimsy the structure gets with rot in the rockers.
And yes, looks like a pretty solid car..... pics show how I’ve been ‘taught’ to lift without risk

Keshav
 

Attachments

  • F6F630F5-091F-46BA-BCC4-8927DD000C06.jpeg
    F6F630F5-091F-46BA-BCC4-8927DD000C06.jpeg
    231.4 KB · Views: 351
  • B64E15EA-9D2C-4872-9CCB-E64A194927E9.jpeg
    B64E15EA-9D2C-4872-9CCB-E64A194927E9.jpeg
    363.4 KB · Views: 358

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Hi Walter,
As Erik points out, WE shouldn't put stress on the lifting points, specially for a longer period of time. Causes more damage than necessary. An easy Test is to put the car on a 4 point lift and then see how well the doors close. Weak rockers will make the door closing difficult, shows how flimsy the structure gets with rot in the rockers.
And yes, looks like a pretty solid car..... pics show how I’ve been ‘taught’ to lift without risk

Keshav

Keshav, Erik,

Thanks for the tips. I will address this with the shop. I guess I was too busy inspecting the underside for rust that I missed the improper lifting! Looking for rust underneath the car is a bit like exploring a cave, dark and scary, and you hope no monsters (rust) bite you on the a$$.
 

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Car is just about completely torn down now. There are no rust through holes, but some rust which I am hoping is just on the surface. My plan is to have it blasted epoxyied and coated with a sound and heat inhibitor (lizard skin).
 

Attachments

  • 1BF78030-D04D-4ED8-AAA0-CCF4CD6165C5.jpeg
    1BF78030-D04D-4ED8-AAA0-CCF4CD6165C5.jpeg
    442.2 KB · Views: 292
  • 4B698BA0-E7EF-44AF-8DF0-47B502582EED.jpeg
    4B698BA0-E7EF-44AF-8DF0-47B502582EED.jpeg
    384.7 KB · Views: 298
  • 7794BBB8-C3DA-4310-BC94-133426657D07.jpeg
    7794BBB8-C3DA-4310-BC94-133426657D07.jpeg
    358.1 KB · Views: 298

WALTER

Well-Known Member
Site Donor
Messages
603
Reaction score
162
Location
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Interior cont’d
 

Attachments

  • AA7F17C8-8A3D-4C22-BA99-944A54368011.jpeg
    AA7F17C8-8A3D-4C22-BA99-944A54368011.jpeg
    405.3 KB · Views: 294
  • DFDB3757-7BCA-4204-AE62-07CDC7C38166.jpeg
    DFDB3757-7BCA-4204-AE62-07CDC7C38166.jpeg
    361.2 KB · Views: 291
  • DF41811B-D390-410D-9523-3F66BDB6069D.jpeg
    DF41811B-D390-410D-9523-3F66BDB6069D.jpeg
    414.8 KB · Views: 284
  • 712C0BE1-A47B-409D-8631-02DB77E60FD9.jpeg
    712C0BE1-A47B-409D-8631-02DB77E60FD9.jpeg
    457 KB · Views: 265
  • 5E5AF2BF-BD87-4D8C-B9EE-F0415014B0D7.jpeg
    5E5AF2BF-BD87-4D8C-B9EE-F0415014B0D7.jpeg
    463.4 KB · Views: 267
Top