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Introductory Post (Long!) Posted by EnBee [Email]  (#293) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from EnBee) on Wed, 8 Dec 2010 12:20:45
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Hello all,
I've been lurking here for about a year now, ever since I picked up a '72 Sonett which had been sitting since 1996 or so (I saw it on Bring a Trailer and bought it off Fleabay, possibly setting a new price record for a non-running Sonett III in mediocre condition). The car is that darker Smurf blue color (True Blue? Carolina Blue? I think it's the original paint), as opposed to the lighter Swedish-flag blue. I can proudly say I'm about 9/10ths of where I want to be with the car now, prior to performing any serious engine-out work.
So far, I have:
--Completely dissassembled and rebuilt the front suspension with all new bushings, ball joints, shocks (KYB) etc. Same springs, though, as they seemed okay when I had them off. New front wheel bearings. Shiny!
--Repaired some minor surface rust in the floorpan from 14 years of brake and clutch master cylinder leakage; stripped and repainted the interior. Otherwise, pretty minimal rust all around, rockers are intact.
--Replaced all the brake hard lines with new tubing (note: this part was NOT worth the effort, now that I've been through it--there was nothing wrong with the lines).
--Had the brake MC professionally rebuilt by Chip Lamb (after an attempt at an "amateur" rebuilding--better sense prevailed before I managed to kill myself by running into a tree). New rear cylinders and rebuilt front calipers. New pads, rotors, shoes. Stainless brake hoses all round.
--Rebuilt clutch MC, brand new slave.
--New BF Goodrich tires in the original 155/80 size (I debated over this but decided to go with the stock size, mainly because it seems like the contact patch is not really affected by tire width if the vehicle weight and suspension are unchanged).
--Pertronix ignition and Flamethrower coil (note: I wasn't anticipating great results from this, but I have been very, very pleased with the improvement in idle smoothness and general get-up-and-go).
--All new fluids, belts, thermostat, etc., etc.
--New interior with suede headliner; new door cards and carpet (note: Home Depot has a nice wheat colored polypro carpet for like $3.50 a square foot that ended up being a nice match--had the upholstery shop use the old pieces and attach welting and felt backing).
--New grill and driving lights.
--Other stuff I don't even remember now, like windshield surround and trunk seals, exhaust repair, etc.
Here's what the future holds:
--Electric fan conversion (I put in a rebuilt 70 amp alternator).
--Rebuild cylinder heads with hardened seals and bigger exhaust valves.
--Install 3" exhaust (I have an old Y-exhaust).
--2-bbl carb conversion (I have the intake manifold).
--Eventual engine rebuild; it runs fine but compression is a little down in the two rear cylinders. Doesn't seem to burn oil, but the odometer reads 94,000.
--Tranny (and freewheel) works fine but has some noise in 3rd and 4th. I figure that will also have to be rebuilt when I eventually pull the engine. I'll do the clutch at that time, too.
--Bodywork and paint. There are some stress cracks in the body, but the nose has been smacked on more than occasion. It has some damage in the leading lip and a crack at the edge of one of the headlight buckets. Stupidly, I let the nose fall over (twice!) last weekend. Fortunately, there were already so many stress cracks spiderwebbed over the whole thing, it doesn't look any different. I may try my hand at some fiberglass repair and painting, but I suspect this is a job best left to an expert as well. On the other hand, I got this car so I'd have something to do and learn a little bit, so why not?
Anyway, this board has been a HUGE help in all of this, as well as the various members' websites and pictures. I just wanted to say thanks and let you all know that there is one more Sonett on the road now! If I ever come up with a question that I can't find an answer to, I'll be sure to post again.
Nick
P.S. If anyone knows of a source of a good condition bonnet/body in the SF Bay Area, let me know!
, Wed, 8 Dec 2010 12:20:45 <-- Viewing This Message
, Sun, 2 Jan 2011 21:19:38, Thu, 9 Dec 2010 12:26:26, Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:21:16
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