Time to get started

[dads311]

In 1969 my dad brought this little car home. It was cool but I was young enough to not really care. In 1971 I got to drive it for the first of many times. I really fell for the little car. Then life set in and we fast forward to 1986. The R16 engine in dads car was shot and he purchased a used motor from Japan, probably a fork lift motor. I helped him install it and soon he was off driving with a big smile on his face again.
Through a series of unfortunate circumstances ownership of the car changed hands and it ended up in the garage of my brother-in-law. His first inclination was to install a much larger motor and transmission. So he took a torch to the frame and removed the original motor mounts and the middle section of the X frame including the original transmission mount holes, then added a small bar for the new transmission mount with a single bolt on each side. When he finally got tired of trying to make things fit and work he gave the car to me.
What a mess. Instead of pulling the main wire harness through the firewall he used a hack saw, it was in 3 pieces. I brought the car home in the back of my pick up in three trips, it was a complete basket case. Frame and parts in one trip, body and more parts in another and engine with misc parts in the last trip. Then to top it off my brother in Montana was going to build a roadster and had a garage full of parts from 65 to 67. He tired of that and brought me a pick up load. Wish he had brought a frame, I wouldn't have had to buy one.
The car sat in storage for about 6 years and it is now in my shop and going to be put back on the road. I think my dad would have really like that. He passed a few years ago. I have been on this page many times looking for information and just about have the car 100% assembled. I am going to make sure I have all of the parts I need and make a list of parts I don't have, then tear it all down and start the restoration. My plan is to take all of the parts I have but don't need and sell them, maybe it will help with the rebuild. I will post what ever I have to sell here first.
It won't be a numbers matching rebuild but I think it will be a fun runner. I have the new frame blasted and painted with all of the original front and rear suspension installed. The original frame number was SPL311-12788 and the new frame is SPL311-21010. It took a lot of talking but I finally got the DMV inspector to put both numbers on the title. I will start the tear down this week but will be able to bag and tag everything so I know where it goes.
I look forward to lurking here and gathering more information and asking a few questions as well. I have found the search function works well and most questions have been asked and answered already. Thanks to this site and the people on here for making it easier to restore one of these classics and I can't wait till I can drive it. Well I have rambled long enough, time to get off here. I will try to post pictures as I go along.

[C.Costine]

It sounds like SPL311-12788-21010 is in good capable hands. Welcome (as a poster) to the forums.

[notoptoy]

Welcome! Looking forward to the pictures, sounds like you have a good solid plan for the restoration.
Keep us in the loop as you progress!

[Gregs672000]

Let the adverture begin! Welcome!

[dads311]

I finally got some pics up. Follow this link https://goo.gl/photos/1yCjy3v6FJnCDwC49. Looking at the pics makes me glad I am retired and have lots of time.
I wasn't going to put it all together initially but was just going to start the restoration but the DMV inspector wanted to see a mostly assembled car for her to sign off on it. Glad I did though. Will make it much easier to bag and tag the parts when I tear it apart.