Jim's (Samplemaven) 1972 Inka Tii restoration

[Samplemaven]

This is my first restoration project. I guess I'm starting this blog somewhat late in the process, but I just want to keep a record of what I've done...and hopefully someone reading this may see something interesting along the way. I've always enjoyed watching the progress of others cars.

Brief history...bought my first car, a 1972 Polaris 2002 in June, 2009...thinking of a long term general freshening, starting with the suspension and then the engine. I figured it would be done a little at a time. A couple of months later bought the wrecked Tii for the engine...then decided to resto it instead.

I'm going to use this mainly as my restoration diary...and don't really know where it will go once I start it. I just want to organize my thoughts and some of the photos along the way.

I have some friends who are interested in seeing the progress of the project, and I think this will serve as a means to direct anyone interested to see its progress.

I bought the original Polaris car more or less on a whim...took a picture of it...emailed it to my better half with the caption: "Happy Father's Day To Me". That was the beginning of a long process.

[Samplemaven]

I drove "Rusty" for a couple of weeks before doing anything to her. Slowly, but surely I increased the RPMs before shifting until I felt comfortable taking it to 5500+ RPM...but still didn't feel good about highway driving, or putting any real pressure on the suspension in the twisties.

I decided to start working on the suspension, but wanted to get the wheel and tire combo I was going to use and started checking prices on alloys. I wound up with a very nice set of alloys from Steve @ Blunt. I would find this to be a fortunate discovery as Steve has been absolutely terrific in helping me with all aspects of restoration...I will reccommend him to everyone...but most of you already know his reputation.

I also wound up with a set of Bilstein HD shocks with H&R progressive springs, front control arms, and heavier front and rear sway bars.

I started removing body trim, bumpers, and the front grills. I thought I had started the resto in earnest! How little did I know what was to come.

[Samplemaven]

When we installed the wheels and suspension, we found a rusty patch on the sub-frame and I took it to have it cut out and repaired...an easy fix.

While at the frame shop, a deal was discussed for preparing the car for paint...and a second conversation with a mechanic to rebuild the engine.

I was close to pulling the trigger on this part of the resto, but whatever I was considering, the project was still very low key and really just making the car look presentable at 5-10 feet away.

I took the car out for what was to be its last drive (kind of sad now) and really pushed it hard...knowing it was safe, and I figured the worst I could do was blow the engine that was going to be rebuilt anyway.

Revs up to 7000, freeway driving at 95 mph, driving fairly hard through the twisties...I found this car to be a lot of fun when pushed. Someone on this forum said driving a slow car fast is more fun than driving a fast car slow. They are right.

I drove it home, turned it off and decided to pull the seats for recovering...and while the seats were out, would start disassembling the rest of the interior.

[Samplemaven]

Then, the discovery that would change everything.

While looking through the FAQ for parts, I ran across an ad from Jonathan selling an Inka Tii wreck, that had all the parts needed to convert my 2002 into a 2002 Tii.

Jonathan and I struck a deal, I rented a U-Haul trailer, and with my friend and business partner, drove the 12 hours to Baltimore (I live in north GA) to pick up 'Patina' at Casey's house...Jonathan's good friend.

We paid Jonathan, loaded her up and drove four of the eight hours home that night.

[Samplemaven]

We got the car home, and while on the trailer...took it to the mechanic and the body shop guys to see what we needed to do to strip her down, pull the engine and all the Tii parts.

Everybody who saw her agreed the Inka was really a better candidate for restoration...despite the fact that her face was smashed and would take a considerable repair effort.

At that moment, my Polaris became my parts car...and the Inka Tii would become my project car.

All the new suspension parts already installed on Rusty (the Polaris) would eventually be transferred onto the Inka.

[Samplemaven]

I decided to restore the Inka Tii instead of using its motor and Tii parts in the Polaris (non Tii) that was my original project car.

In repairing the Tii, the first thing to do was to remove all the damaged parts, pull the engine and tranny, strip the interior, and all other removable parts so they can be repaired or replaced...and powder coated.

I had already purchased a 5 speed tranny from Esty, so a 5 speed conversion during the resto is already in place. The tranny has been gone though and a new clutch will be installed.

The engine has been disassembled and all worn parts will be replaced as needed. We have some nice upgrades planned and will be photographed and added to the blog when received.

[Samplemaven]

We took what we think will be the last needed parts off the parts car...at least for now. Looks like we have everything we can use off of it.

We cut off the nose, removed the passenger fender and hood. All of them were blasted, and the nose off of Rusty welded onto the nose of the Pumpkin.

I'm glad that Rusty isn't the project car anymore. After seeing the amount of rust on her, we would have been fighting the effects of 37 years of tin worm...for a long time to come.

[Samplemaven]

While disassembling the engine, it was discovered that two of the four intake runners had cracks in them.

After checking the prices of replacement plastic runners, it became evident that it would be cost effective to replace all the plastic runners with a set of metal ones...which will last longer than I will. Our very helpful Steve at Blunt Tech was able to find the metal runners and the manifolds I needed.

I received the new set up today...and shown are pictures of the runner assembly, with an NOS throttle body attached.

In a couple of days, I'll be able to pick up the reconditioned 5 speed tranny. I received notice today that Aardvark has shipped the shortened drive shaft, and we have already received from Blunt all the nuts, bolts, guibo, speedo cable, and so forth that we'll need for the conversion.

[Samplemaven]

Early on, I decided I wanted to clean up the look of the car a bit and would remove the American styling touches whenever I could.

The first step was to remove the US style side markers (front and rear), the reflectors on the rear panel, and the license plate lights to be replaced with the Euro style lights...mounted on the bumpers.

Also on order are Euro bumper seam covers (front and rear) and Euro turn signals.

[Meintii]

WOW man looking great.

I cant believe you sanded off all that inka paint! I was sure the nose was just going to get painted.. oh well. It will be much better off in the long run that way. Sorry to here your original car will be a parts car though, maybe a spare rusty autox car?

When can I come check out your progress?

-Zac

[Samplemaven]

We made a lot of progress over the weekend and have some new pics below. We have been very lucky with the condition of the body and have only found a couple of hidden rust spots that needed to be cut out and replaced on the firewall.

If I wasn't planning on keeping this car long term, I probably would have taken some short cuts on body prep...but I'm glad we took the extra time. Now I know the condition of all the metal...and that there is zero rust anywhere on the car. Great pains are being taken to treat all the nooks and crannies, so it is unlikely to ever develop any new rust.

[mo's72tii]

Great project! Can you gove a timeline on the progress of work? Did the car have a salvage title?

[Samplemaven]

We picked up this car on September 28, 2009...so we have put about 8 weeks into its repair and restoration.

I expect to have the engine and 5 speed tranny back together over the next three weeks, and the body repair and prep for painting should also be completed in that time.

After the first of the year we should start the process of putting the car back together in earnest.

As far as completion, I really have not put together a schedule, but I am planning on taking it to V at the V in 2010...so I have a lot of work to do.

Thanks,

[Meintii]

We picked up this car on September 28, 2009...so we have put about 8 weeks into its repair and restoration.

LOL thats my birthday, I would have liked another tii as a present!

[Miked2002]

Hey Jim,

The restoration looks fantastic. One thing, if you haven't done it yet and you're not too far down the line, delete the air intake snorkel from the core support. Tii's don't have this, only the regular 02's. Here's a link from the "Stella" restoration to see what he did.

http://www.my2002tii.com/nov_2002.htm

Good luck and looking forward to seeing how your car progresses.

Mike