Here we go...AGAIN!!

[time907356]

After my first kit car, I imagined doing it again, but never with the same car (Porsche Speedster "C"), but when we sold the Cimbria, I really regretted letting it go. So, after a hit on Cragslist, and the exchange of a few quick picks, I'm committed to another Gen 1 Cimbria (Yeah!) It's apparently been in a barn for a couple of years, and looks pretty rough. No telling about a lot of the details yet, so the first thing is to get it paid for and get it here.
I hope to do this one 'all the way'. The plan is to lift the body, and start from the pan up. It apparently needs drop pans (how can one be built without them?) and probably a lot of the running gear. It is a /71 bug though, so IRS should be there! Also, the doors have their original hinges - horray!
The bad news; It will need a windshield, as the original is cracked. Not sure whether to do lexan or glass though - glass is SOOOOO expensive!. In the end though, I hope to get a really nice paint job on it so it will turn the rest of the heads the first one did not. I've got 3 years to finish it, as it'll be a present for my son's graduation from college...the very son that received the first one for his 16th birthday. Ironic, huh?

 

[letterman7]

Once yer hooked, yer hooked for life. Congratulations on the next barn find! Really, spend the money on a glass screen. Lexan isn't approved in any state for windshield glass unless it's a motorcycle, and it scratches easily. Help out a fellow enthusiast who had the glass made specifically for the car... you won't regret it!

 

[Flyer615]

Congrats on the find, man! Sounds like you're gonna be set for something to do for a good while to come. I'm with Rick on the windshield. Yeah, it costs more, but definitely worth the difference in the long run. Good luck!

 

[time907356]

it's an AUTOMATIC!!!! Holy cow...that was unexpected! I talked to him last night, and it came about as a tangent subject. Talking about shipping it, I asked if he could chock the wheels. He said it wouldn't roll when it was in "PARK". LOL - This project just got a whole lot bigger! I'll just open the can of worms all the way and ask your opinions...my first thought is to sell the pan/tranny/engine combo as a rolling chassis, and start with a fresh one. Thoughts?

 

[letterman7]

You're call. Personally, I'd love to have an automatic in my car. Shifting in traffic gets a little tiresome for me, but then, that's just me with bad knees. Take the body off and assess the condition of the chassis. If the engine/transmission still works you might be able to get some money out of it if you decide to switch to a standard. The only downside with the auto is you won't be able to upgrade the engine - autos need a certain torque and powerband to function correctly. Throw anything larger than a 1700 in there and you may have some issues.

 

[time907356]

Thanks Rick,
...And that was my plan; more power. I didn't upsize the last one, and it was definitely lethargic, but that's what a 16 yr old needed. I'd like to put a pair of carbs on, and maybe a set of bored jugs, etc. I'll definitely do the dual zooms again; I loved the way they came through the valance, and also sounded excellent!! Definitely not there yet, but limiting the power out of the gate is definitely out of the picture.
If the pan is good, can it take a manual tranny/engine combo, or does the whole thing need to stay together as an automatic? I know it will need drop pans, so there's some cutting and welding ahead.
...keep me in mind if you get the hankerin' to save your knees!

 

[time907356]

BTW...who's got the windshields, and how much??

 

[letterman7]

You can still use the engine; the transaxle can come out along with the flexplate, torque convertor, gear linkage and vacuum can. Keep all that together and someone will pick it up. If I didn't already have a drivetrain for a project in the garage I'd seriously consider it - as long as it was a true automatic. You'll know when you get it.. autosticks are something different - they don't have the P-N-D-1-2 next to the stick.

As for the windshield, here's the info: http://www.sterlingkitcars.com/memb...ld-wiper-etc/623-new-cimbria-windshields.html

I've seen the glass firsthand - it's good stuff!

 

[time907356]

Well, I added some pictures to the Gallery of the latest car, while still in the barn. I hope to show significant 'contrasts' in the coming years! Maybe somebody can tell me whether this is an Autostick, or Automatic? The owner insists it's automatic, saying it has a PRNDL config. like any other.
If that's so, what's going to be required to make that tunnel fit for a manual tranny - Thoughts??

 

[letterman7]

Hard to see in the photos, but if there is a plate with the PRNDL, it's a true automatic, probably from a Type 3 wagon. No changes to the tunnel will be needed, other than adding a clutch tube. And you'll need the pedal assembly, of course.

 

[time907356]

It looks like there's a plate welded to the tunnel where the stick shift would go. I hope there's still the mounting threads under there! Good to know though; that little is needed to go back to stick. That auto tranny will hit samba as soon as I can get it out! Then, there's getting another...
This is getting exciting. I can't wait to start again. I just sold a Ducati to create some space in the budget.

 

[letterman7]

If you want to road trip up north, I'll pull the transaxle out of my other project and we can do a trade...