<VV> Turbo Odyssey Part 13 -- More Pictures in the Paint

[Norman C. Witte]

This post may be viewed on line at www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/13.htm

There are a few more developments on the convertible to report.  The
transmission and differential cases have been cleaned and primed in epoxy.
Last weekend I returned them to Dan Konkle, who is rebuilding the powertrain
for me.  The pictures below show the two cases and some other engine parts
that have been refinished:

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5357.JPG

Transmission case.

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5340.JPG

Differential case.

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5341.JPG

Oil filter adapter.

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5344.JPG

Oil cooler.

Once the transaxle is fully assembled, I will paint it silver.

This afternoon Joy and I went to see Bob Reeve to drop off a few additional
parts and to check progress on the convertible.  Having only seen the car in
photos since the paint was applied I have to confess I was concerned with
what appeared to be a very irregular surface on the hood and decklid.  When
I saw the car in person I saw the same effect.  I then realized that it was
the result of insulation attached to the ceiling of Bob's spray booth.

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5405.JPG

The smooth and shiny paint reflects this irregular surface quite faithfully!

Following are more detailed pictures of the car. At the time I took these,
Bob and Carlos were in the process of masking the dash for paint.

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5404.JPG

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5420.JPG

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5418.JPG

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5417.JPG

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5431.JPG

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5434.JPG

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5436.JPG

Here the black engine compartment paint can be seen:

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5416.JPG

In this photo, the completed patch of the floorpan can be seen, or more
accurately, can be not seen, since the welds are now undetectable.  One
interesting thing to note is that the Clark's patch panel had the drain plug
stamped into the panel, rather than providing it as a separate piece.  This
would not have bothered me, but Bob cut out the hole, created the correct
flange around it, and drilled screw holes so that the original plug could be
reinstalled.  His attention to detail is very impressive.

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5408.JPG

Here, Bob shows off the rusted floorpan as if it were a landed fish.  Catch
and release!

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5408.JPG

I owe Bob an apology for partially decapitating him in this shot, but I did
worse later. This next picture shows the chunks of rusted metal that I am
pleased to say are no longer a part of my car:

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5427.JPG

Here the headless Bob Reeve displays the inside of the rusted passenger
rocker.  We found it interesting that the rust was most severe near the top
of the panel:

http://www.wittelaw.com/personal/turbo/IMG_5428.JPG

This is probably enough for now.  The car's visit to the body shop could be
over as early as this Friday.

Norm Witte