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Car is Back from Vintage Motorcars

Robert MRobert M

My Speedster was originally built by Kirk at VS in 2001 and I acquired it in 2015. I was able to trace the history of the VIN back to the person who built the car. It was in good condition when I got it and I made improvements along the way. Better headlights with relays, a real horn with relays, struts in the frunk to keep it open, a freeway worthy sound system, and eventually a Pat Downs built 2110cc motor with 150hp that visually replicates a Porsche Super 90 motor. I've driven it plenty and have gotten years of happiness as it was.

As you may, or may not remember, I was rear ended by a gentleman while out on a COVID run to free myself form the misery of being cooped up in my house while getting over a very mild case of COVID.

As such I sent the car to Greg at Vintage Motorcars to undergo the necessary repairs. While the damage wasn't extensive it did have cracks in the body in numerous places. The bumper had a deep scratch, both taillights were cracked, the license plate lite was damaged, and I managed to bend the steering wheel. Luckily the minor collision completely missed the frame and chassis so the damage was all cosmetic.

As it is with these cars I just couldn't leave well enough alone. The interior was in good condition but it was dated in the sense it had the comfort seats, cheap all black carpet, saggy door pockets on the door panels, and square top rails. The prior owner had cut holes in the door panels for speakers which was fine when I first got the car but I wasn't about to cut holes in the new door cards. Since the car was going to undergo a litany of minor repairs I decided to put in an entirely new interior. New carpet, new seats, new package shelf pad, new dash, and new eyebrow pad. And because I was getting a new interior I was going to take the time to move the speakers from the door to the footwells. I cut holes for the speakers and fiberglassed the area in the wheel well covering the back of the speakers. And because the whole car was being painted I got all new trim, scripts, rubber gaskets, and horn grills. It's like a brand new shiny penny fresh from the mint.

Here are some before and after photos: (Turns out I didn't have very many photos of the old interior)

If you're not living life on the edge, you're taking up too much space!

 

 

 

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Last edited by Robert M
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Robert MRobert M
@Former Member posted:

It looks Great Bob!! I like how you put the speakers down in the footwells Great job!

They sound a WORLD better than when they were in the door. So much tighter in their response and sound. I initially had a separate mid-range speaker and a tweeter but was stressing over how to do the tweeter install with the new interior. I didn't want to cut anything so I was going to buy a large sheet of black ABS and was going to install that under the dash across the width of the car to cover the opening below the dash. I was going to mount the tweeters there but was going to have trouble making them point toward the driver and passenger. I ended up buying a new set of Cerwin-Vega coaxial speakers with built in capacitors. And the sound does not disappoint. Plenty of acoustical separation and the sound of the mid-range and the highs of the tweeters are crisp and very clear.

Robert MRobert M

And I got a new exhaust since the original 356 canister exhaust was damaged. I ended up with an A-1 Vintage Speed Sidewinder exhaust with new heater boxes. My old heater boxes were modified to fit the 356 muffler so they had to be replaced. The car runs better now than it did before because it's a lot more open and has reduced the back pressure. The car scoots like a scalded cat now. I could feel the difference immediately.

dlearl476dlearl476
@ALB posted:

Paint it grey- you know you want to, nobody else will know and we won't tell.  It's not like you're going to lose points with anyone...

Too late now. It’s installed. I’m on the fence about doing it when I have to tear it down to install my new fan and oil pump.
Actually, “I’ve grown accustomed to its face.” Not to mention there’s so much silver/grey on my car I keep coming up with contrasting colors to highlight it. Like blue license plate frames and red pre-filters.

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Last edited by dlearl476
Stan GalatStan Galat
@Robert M posted:

And I got a new exhaust since the original 356 canister exhaust was damaged. I ended up with an A-1 Vintage Speed Sidewinder exhaust with new heater boxes. My old heater boxes were modified to fit the 356 muffler so they had to be replaced. The car runs better now than it did before because it's a lot more open and has reduced the back pressure. The car scoots like a scalded cat now. I could feel the difference immediately.

I wish everybody who asks about exhausts could be referred back to this post.

The original can looks really good, but there's no comparison between it and a proper 4/1 extractor-style header. It's more than a reduction of backpressure - it's the velocity of the exhaust actually creating a vacuum on each cylinder as its exhaust valve is open. It's actually "extracting" (sucking) exhaust out of the cylinder. It's almost magic.

Robert MRobert M
@Stan Galat posted:

I wish everybody who asks about exhausts could be referred back to this post.

The original can looks really good, but there's no comparison between it and a proper 4/1 extractor-style header. It's more than a reduction of backpressure - it's the velocity of the exhaust actually creating a vacuum on each cylinder as its exhaust valve is open. It's actually "extracting" (sucking) exhaust out of the cylinder. It's almost magic.

Yes, yes it is Stan. It produces so much more power and acceleration. And the exhaust note is quite pleasing.

ALBALB
@jncspyder posted:

@Robert M LUV the black widow coco mats...they just say PORSCHE....and to all concerned....consider ceramic coating your exhaust system....well worth the $$$$....just IMHO

Ceramic coating is worthwhile even if the exhaust is stainless, as the ceramic is an insulator and more heat actually goes out the exhaust instead of being absorbed by the tubing.  The mild steel Sidewinder systems are expensive enough that the ceramic will prolong it's life, if kept in good shape, almost indefinitely.  Expect to have to redo the coating about every 5(?) years.

Last edited by ALB
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