Coupe into Speedster Conversion

[JTR70]

Really nice to hear that this might be of some use to you John!

9/9/14
left door now set into final position but will require some nip and tuck.

Played with shim thicknesses all afternoon trying to achieve the best fit and finally decided on one thick at the bottom and three up top. Once it was over the bottom leading edge of the door runs parallel with the threshold. I like the general attitude and fitment of it and really think that its in the sweet spot.

Of course the GD forward substructure/corner was binding again. With the door set into position I will cut and profile it to clear the A-Pillar.

Once that decision was made some further study and my straight edge clearly showed that the problem is with the door. Once I square up that upper couple of inches with the rest of the profile that should give me the clearance I need. Working on that tomorrow. Thanks for looking! Justin

[JTR70]

9/10/14
Left door relief cutting and new lock posts

Relief cut the door in a couple of stages and it eventually cleared enough to allow it to engage fully. I can feel that its still contacting a bit so more fine tuning is needed before I can weld this back together but its getting closer.

New high striker lock posts from Stoddard arrived. These are coupe or cab. versions and since no one as yet is offering a speedster post its up to you to convert them into what you need. So not only do the tops have to be re-profiled but it quickly jumped out that they did not have the lower wedge receiver pockets installed?? A mistake? Contacted them and they said no, this is how they come now and the pockets must ordered separately! Wasn't too pleased with this change!

Posts will of course mirror the door profile so I began making a template for the first stepped flange contour.

Inner most embossment for coupe/cabriolet profile is highlighted in green. The eventual speedster contour will follow the cardboard.

This is the original sticker from my coupster I reprofiled almost 15 year ago. The outer mount flanges were not added in anticipation of a flip/removable rear end for 911 engine accessability.

Want to save as much of the flange as possible. It will eventually be cut moved down to the profile of the black line high lighted by the punch. Continuing on tomorrow.
BTW: Bruce, or anyone else with a Speedster; could you please post a clear shot of this upper striker corner? Preferably without the rubber seal but will take what I can get. Thanks for any help with this! Justin

[JOP]

Justin, didnt we agree on TK Simonsens parts
Then you get it the way you want it....
Dont you have any american producer of Speedster lockposts?
Or atleast to special order a good one?
/ Per

[John Pierce]

I was on the Zims website last week to order some parts, only to find that most were no longer available! I called Zims and was told that TK Simonsens is retiring! He may make another run of parts as there is a pent up demand, but this may be the end unless someone buys his business. It's too bad as these parts seem to be of higher quality.

Per, do you have any other information?

[ALEX.RDI]

What about Restoration Design's products. Top notch quality, with great prices.

http://www.restoration-design.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=rd&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=P128T1R

[JOP]

John, you are correct that Thorkild wants to retire and be free to do other things.
He had some that wanted to take over but I do not know the details why it didnt work out.

TK has a really good quality on his parts and also the other restorations that he takes on are of the highest workmanship. He really knows his stuff and are really picky into details of tooling or repairs.

I will give him a call to see whats the latest info about his bizniz and parts
/ Per

[MMW]

Why is it that no one wants to take over these businesses when the owners retire? It seems to me that it would be smart for someone to do it as you would already have a customer base & products.

There are a lot of these guys around that are up there in years & in ten years most will be gone.

[ALEX.RDI]

Thorkill has been trying to sell his business for a long time. With many interested parties, I think he is having troubles letting go. With all the dedication hes put towards his business, its got to be hard to let someone else step in and take the reins.

[tperazzo]

I was on the Zims website last week to order some parts, only to find that most were no longer available! I called Zims and was told that TK Simonsens is retiring! He may make another run of parts as there is a pent up demand, but this may be the end unless someone buys his business. It's too bad as these parts seem to be of higher quality.

Per, do you have any other information?

Bummer bad news! A major loss to our hobby. Kudos to TK for making nice parts and I hope someone picks it up so he can enjoy retirement.
Tom

[Manolin]

Simonsen panels all the way. Lots of european vendors have left over stock.

[ALEX.RDI]

Really? What vendors? It seems impossible to get his product, maybe not everything...

[JTR70]

The main problem I'm finding Per is that the Simonsen stuff is just not readily available anymore.

Alex thanks for joining us and Welcome! Maybe you can clear a few things up. I was under the impression that RD and Trevor Marshall were Stoddard's primary rust repair suppliers, is that correct? I don't know how many unique vendors of steel parts that there are (meaning an actual manufacture and not a retail dealer just putting their decal on)but it was always a rule of thumb in my mind that parts coated in that Zinc/paint-lock coating where more than likely from you guys. I was thinking that my new posts originated from you but Stoddard is now ordering them without the pocket so they can get another 22.00 more for it separately. I followed your link and its nice to see one being offered complete. Is that price correct,215.00 per side? Stoddard is offering them for 78.00 each, well actually a 100.00 after I order the pocket but either way it is still more than double. I could maybe justify 215 for speedster post but only because I wouldn't have to modify the top as I am having to do now.
Justin

[ALEX.RDI]

Thanks for having me Justin! We do supply Stoddard with some sheet metal, not all of it. I believe they have a couple suppliers. We are one of the only few that sells what they produce. And we produce A LOT! If we dont make it, we outsource the best quality available. We aim to only carry TOP QUALITY parts, which makes it easier for the guys working on these cars. Not only do we produce parts, but we use them on our own cars as well. This enables us to check our work, and make sure that we are producing correct and accurate parts. We sell our parts in bare metal. BUT, our bare metal is a galvaneal, which gives it a dull grey look. The benefit of the galvaneal, is that it acts as an extra rust preventative.

The door lock post is $215.00.. But, you could also get the same one you got, from us for $70.00

Simonsen did make some quality parts...it would be nice to know if someone was planning to continue on with Thorkil's business.

Cheers, Alex

[bbspdstr]

Hard to get a good shot in a trailer, sorry. The only high-striker here, a '55. In for just a windshield. 'Nuff said about the hazards of DIY (An overall disclaimer )





Sorry, I was working on my old Speedster.....not asleep at all!

Yes, what became known as "Zim's parts" in sheetmetal were always the best and they had trouble keeping stock with a container at a time.

Yes, knowing the sources and keeping track of sheetmetal 356 body parts is often enough for a shop to think like Mr. Robinson told Dustin Hoffman..."Plastic....the future is in plastics"

And I have to say that if I were to create a metal Speedster from a Cou-pay, I'd make a T-2. Sorry....but I am still overwhelmingly impressed with the commitment, attention to detail and dedication of the work involved. Totally unlike the "Coupsters" that went racing in SCCA back-in-the-day as alternatives to a real Speedster....until racers found the trade-off of a little higher weight a little higher up vs. the better aerodynamics of leaving the roof on working in their favor....and saving chop-saw blades.

-Bruce
PS- Yes, those are CNC'd aluminum strikers on the jamb of the T-2 shown. I thought they would be stronger and look more 'racy' than plastic when 84255 was a racer and the new owner liked them so they stayed on.

[bbspdstr]

Quick story about 356 generic floors. I would buy 6 at a time from Brad at Stoddard in the '70s (buy 5 and get one 'free') and I could tell from the stack which one of the halves was made after the other...they were pressed on epoxy 'prototype' dies. The first few were crisp but they got less so as the dies died.

There was some skepticism back then if it was even worth producing sheetmetal parts for 356s. NOS was findable but getting pricey and scarce. Then P.B.Tweeks began selling all they could get and that forced Chuck Stoddard to get serious. Hoods and one piece noses came along and Speedsters became worth almost $25K!

Look where we are today. Decent (if not great) sheetmetal is better than none and I still think a Speedster isn't worth even $25K let alone the $400K+ some are bringing. (A very personal opinion!)