drive or restore ?
- Thread starter Belgiumbarry
- Start date
FWIW, most people cannot tell the difference between a very well repainted car and one that's been bare-metal restored. After all, on an E9, most of the troublesome rust areas are well hidden (just like 356's).
So, for me (a driver) the primary value I see in a full-blown E9 body restoration is not only that the vehicle will look great, but that it will probably never deteriorate again as long as you don't drive it regularly thru salty New England winters and park it outside in the elements for years. This assumes that the restoration was done by someone who really knows E9's and does everything right. For us folks in New England, Mario's shop (VSR1) the the place to go. I've seen at least 9-10 bare metal restorations go through his shop, and if you give him the leeway then EVERYTHING gets prepped and treated with the best modern technologies for longevity and rust prevention. The only condition where I'd say you should never use a well restored E9 is when there's a salt on the roads. Even modern cars with galvanized bodies rust out because the coatings and protections get compromised by rock chips, or too much exposure.
So, for me (a driver) the primary value I see in a full-blown E9 body restoration is not only that the vehicle will look great, but that it will probably never deteriorate again as long as you don't drive it regularly thru salty New England winters and park it outside in the elements for years. This assumes that the restoration was done by someone who really knows E9's and does everything right. For us folks in New England, Mario's shop (VSR1) the the place to go. I've seen at least 9-10 bare metal restorations go through his shop, and if you give him the leeway then EVERYTHING gets prepped and treated with the best modern technologies for longevity and rust prevention. The only condition where I'd say you should never use a well restored E9 is when there's a salt on the roads. Even modern cars with galvanized bodies rust out because the coatings and protections get compromised by rock chips, or too much exposure.
What set up you have ??
If I may, .... I think the point everyone seems to be missing is that there is no valid reason for owning/driving one of these cars. It falls into the category of an illness, and none of us will ever get better until we admit to ourselves that we have a problem and it is no one's fault but our own. Only then can we begin to heal. In some cases we have to hit rock-bottom, where we purchase multiple cars and anger everyone in the neighborhood and then can not afford to get even one of them running, sometimes you will find an addict under a single car for hours or even days on end going absolutely nowhere. Unfortunately the only people who know the depths of the problem are other addicts thus it is unlikely that any type of intervention will succeed and I have never met a reformed e9 addict much less someone who is capable of curing us.
Hi, I am Stan and I am an E9 addict
powerless
powerless
Belgiumbarry
Well-Known Member
Indeed Peter , for the price of a E9 , 20k .... 50k depending condition, one can have a much better car...brand new :eek:
so we must be crazy....
so we must be crazy....
I prefer to think of us "addicts"as The Chosen Ones. For it is we, a select few, who have given our time, our resources, our free time, and all available space to repair, restore, drive, show, and generally keep these wonderful Coupes out there for others to admire whenever we circulate amongst all those other cars. A blessing that we can all appreciate, but is sometimes missed by neighbours, spouses, co-workers, accountants, and so on...
Mike
Mike
I have Italian DCOM 40's which are a later version of the DCOE with some improvements like adjustable accel pump squirt etc. 34mm chokes. I have a Schrick 284 cam, rest of engine is stock. Although I am going to install some piano top pistons which I acquired recently.
How many horses is that pushing ???
Looks very nice
Looks very nice
Thanks, I don't know, not a lot more than stock, it just sounds better!
Hah yes it took me a while to get over that!
Can you at least shave the bottom of the 1 foam sticking up so they all line up with the othersHe looks out of place.
Reading this thread reminds me that I need to take off some time to drive! I have a Wed coming up in March that I can devote to my 400 mile Florida loop up to Lake Wales and back. I own these old cars, including the e9, to drive, but the thing I lack is TIME. Once, the kids are out of the house, in about 8 years, then I can fully partake in all things e9 and vintage, including driving to the The Vintage.
Aussiecsi
Well-Known Member
...you might find it's easier and cheaper to leave the house before the kid(s) do .
Not sure it is easier or cheaper! Luckily my wife is very cool and lets me indulge my pursuit of fun with old cars--as well as surfing skiing and cycling. The real challenge is getting her or the kids interested. The kids just did not inherit my defective DNA when it comes to love of cars and driving. I got that DNA from my late father, who owned a 40 Mercury convertible as a young man.
Hey Steve, I am looking at the 123 distributor which I think you have, too. Do you have the tune-able version? PC or Bluetooth? I have triples, piano tops, and a cam - so I am trying to be just like you (learn from your successes).
Thanks!
Yes, I have the 123 tuneable, defintiely worth the extra cost. I don't have the bluetooth version as that came out after, not sure it's needed as I like having the larger display on the laptop. Changing curves is a breeze, when you get it let me know and I will send you a few curves to start with. It's a fantastic piece of equipment.
Hey Steve, I am looking at the 123 distributor which I think you have, too. Do you have the tune-able version? PC or Bluetooth? I have triples, piano tops, and a cam - so I am trying to be just like you (learn from your successes).
I have the 1-2-3 on my engine. 10.5:1 compression, twin Weber 38/38 downdraft, headers... performs very well.Hey Steve, I am looking at the 123 distributor which I think you have, too. Do you have the tune-able version? PC or Bluetooth? I have triples, piano tops, and a cam - so I am trying to be just like you (learn from your successes).