[brettgagnon]

I drove Gertrude up to Aurora to meet Paul Newman at Garry Nolan's Diamond Trim to discuss the process we wanted to take about the interior. The leather is 33 years old with visible wear on the driver's side seat and old and tired carpets. So the interior will be done almost in it's entirety.

From Aurora I followed Paul up to his garage to go over final details, hand over the keys and look at his boxers and dino! For any of you who followed along with the purchase and drive, the words 'tired cosmetically & 'original paint' were a common theme. It did not scare me obviously as I figured a 33 year old beauty was due a make-over. So she is in with Newman's capable hands and the engine out (lots of little things) bare metal restoration is underway.

Some highlights of what will be going on:

-Euro bumpers
-Remove US spec side markers
-Possibly deep front spoiler (still on the fence)
-Double distributor to single
-Get rid of the polished valve covers
-Carb refresh
-Get rid of the remnants of the US pollution system

I know I am missing a few things, but as we go along (Newman works and I pay) we will post photos and updates. The timeline is: Gertrude to Newman on October 1; I get her back April 1.

Here are a bunch of pictures of the delivery day:

[a1exander]

Yep....I am looking forward to this.

[wetpet]

me too. have you tried to restore the paint with wet sanding and buffing? hard to tell from the pics but it looks like it might come back.

[wetpet]

also, why did you name the car gertrude? seems like a german name. and frankly, like the perfect name for a 911

[brettgagnon]

Paint is missing in several spots, there are multiple hand impressions on the rood and enough chips/damage elsewhere that there needs to be a proper restoration.

As for the name, it came from my father naming the unborn child my wife is carrying Ichibad/Gertrude (we do not know the gender), just to be funny (choosing old fashion less desirable names), Gertrude stuck, but to the car, not the child, and thus she is Gertrude

[Barry]

Look forward to following progress here Brett.

[tazandjan]

I highly recommend the deep front spoiler. Do not remember scraping mine, and they do look nice. Yes, there are no outside rear view mirrors. When I had the door panels reskinned (they rusted out), I left them off to help me practice always looking over my shoulder. Keeps you alive in fighters and in cars.

[brettgagnon]

Only issue with deep front spoiler for me is the fitting of the reproductions (as finding a real live original is apparently impossible). www.Rennspd.Com has a fiberglass one which I am trying to figure out whether it will fit properly.

www.Rennspd.Com

[tazandjan]

Brett- I thought they were all fiberglass. Seems like my original was, or at least some type of composite. I thought they originated on the glass cars.

[brettgagnon]

I believe they all were, but i cannot speak for the reproductions

apparently there is almost no wiggle room on the fit, it either fits and you are golden, or it does not, that is my concern

[Newman]

I want to say thanks to Brett for trusting me with his baby! Looking forward to the whole process and it started last night. Today ill be doing some testing on the engine before its removed. I test drove the car stone cold up to operating temp just to feel how everything works, shifts, what works what doesnt etc. Ill measure the ride height today as well because it'll be higher than it is now but lower than stock. Swapping the US bumpers for euro style ones will shed almost 100lbs which will effect the ride height too slightly. Pics to follow as I take the car apart.

[AlanWard]

Originally Posted by tazandjan

I highly recommend the deep front spoiler. Do not remember scraping mine, and they do look nice. Yes, there are no outside rear view mirrors. When I had the door panels reskinned (they rusted out), I left them off to help me practice always looking over my shoulder. Keeps you alive in fighters and in cars.

Those pictures look like they are taken in England... but the car is LHD

[GrayTA]

Cool!!! I will look forward to following this as well.




PDG

[tazandjan]

Brett- Good news on the front spoiler is it would be Paul's job to find one that fits. Nice thing about using a pro. Money in, nice car comes out with someone who knows what they are doing, and Paul does.

[Pizzaman]

Another cool project?? Excellent!!

Good luck with it Brett.

Paul is doing the work too?? Even better.

[Newman]

Thanks guys! Ill do my best and end up wishing it was my car and I wont want to let Brett take it back.

So the work has started, I did some testing yesterday and now ill proceed to remove the interior which will be sent out to be all redone The carpets are going to be made to look original yet fit better around the seats and around the contours of the wheel wells. They will be made to fit rather than copy the originals.

Deck lid off, air cleaner, plugs etc. Noticed issues with the extenders either corroded or not fully seated on the plug terminals. Choke disconnected and the rods that connect the choke levers are missing. Ill be cleaning up the vacuum lines and reducing clutter. The plan is also to run the euro single distributor with an electronic conversion and better coils for all around better performance.

Once the interior and glass are out ill move back to the engine and get that out, remove emblems, lights, trim etc.

[tazandjan]

Paul- The Euro 308s had an electronic ignition single distributor. My September 1978 car had one. Is that what you intend to use, or an aftermarket set-up? I imagine ignition systems have improved a bit since 1978, although the one on my car worked flawlessy.

[Newman]

Originally Posted by tazandjan

Paul- The Euro 308s had an electronic ignition single distributor. My September 1978 car had one. Is that what you intend to use, or an aftermarket set-up? I imagine ignition systems have improved a bit since 1978, although the one on my car worked flawlessy.

I use the points version single distributor then replace them with two self contained pickups/modules, dwell also varies with rpm. They look stock, easy to install and work well. We also go with the hotter coils.

[tazandjan]

Paul- Makes sense. The Euro distributor and electronics are probably kind of hard to find, and old tech to boot.

[Andrew]

Really looking forward to seeing this unfold. Based on what I saw in Paul's other 308 restoration I think you are in VERY good hands Brett.