Paint! Early Pics of Phase I Progress

 

The main updates are that the shell has been painted and that the transmission is almost finished being rebuilt. Thank you to George Pouch for riding with me out to North Plains to deliver the transmission for rebuilding. It was a fun trip and I think George had as much fun in the shop as I did. George is an old car aficionado too and we have spent many hours at some great car races. Ask me about the Laguna Seca trip some time. The guys at British Auto Works accepted George quite well even though he is a BMW guy with a restoration of his own on his hands. There is a lot of history between those Brits and Germans and I was just glad the discussion stayed civil.

Paint changes everything. It is hard to believe this is the same car in the photo leaving my garage earlier in the blog. I can't wait to see it live since it is always tough to gauge the exact color so soon after application and still under the bright paint lights, but is looking good. Remember you can click on the photos for a larger view. Highly recommended for these. I am currently trying to schedule my next trip out to British Auto Works to deliver the engine, engine mounts, and the rebuilt drive line (new U joints installed and painted) so they can drop the full drive train in. Our original plan was for BAW to bring back the painted shell to me with the suspension installed and I was going to drop the engine and transmission in. The discretionary decision on my part is to now have them put the engine and transmission in taking a little stress out of my life after seeing that new Riviera Blue paint. I have removed and installed these engines for myself and others about four times and I know it can be a little messy banging a few hundred pounds around just getting the things to fit right. Again Bill at BAW is really cool about changing things up. We are really close to finishing Phase I.

A quick remembrance of Kevin Sheridan who spent many hours with me in this car and will not have the opportunity to see it finished. Godspeed Kevin.

Stripped and ready for primer.

Rebuilt driveline and engine mounts with new rubber mounts in the plastic bag.