While I'm in there strikes again!

[cabmandone]

I'm starting the think the guy who first said "while I'm in there" was also the same guy who first said "My God! what have I gotten myself into"

My project for the winter started out as just putting new carpet in my 911 Cabriolet. I then decided to remove the top to make installing the carpet a little easier. Once I had the top of it was game on.

I realized I was only about 2 days from having the car stripped down and ready for body work. I then thought, if the outside is going to look nice and the carpet is going to look nice I better replace the dashboard since it's all cracked.

So.......... I took off all the small pieces and brought those in to the paint shop. I removed the windshield (which I was going to do anyhow to get a better paint job) to gain access to the 5 or 6 screws under the windshield that hold the dash. I then saw how much road grime (and I believe rattle can undercoating) got in the wheel wells after 29 years of driving. So...... I decided to get everything as clean as I possibly could to reduce the potential for any dirt or dust in the paint job. The worst part about the wheel wells is the fact that had I known they were supposed to be white, I would have cleaned them before I ever installed my engine last fall. I have a 4000 lb hot water pressure washer that would have helped me do in 1 hour or less what took me 4 hours or more to do with a pump sprayer and Purple Power cleaner.

The pics are where I stand now. I hope to have the car in for paint next week and back in about 2 weeks. Once home, back on with all small parts. Back in with the carpeting and back on with the top. I've got some H5's I bought reasonable to put in the car and I'll either polish and paint the wheels or have them professionally done.

[yel911]

you might want to remove the door handles, grill and hood badge, save some $$.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by yel911

you might want to remove the door handles, grill and hood badge, save some $$.

Waiting on the door handles and latches until I deliver the car to the shop. Rear grill and front badge are coming off today. I got sidetracked with a fender problem yesterday but it's back to it today.

[faverymi]

Nice job on the wheel wells.

Can you give us more details?

Machine brand, chemicals? Steam?, Pure pressure?, Soaking time? Pure blast? Any tips?

Saying this because I managed to scratch the undercoating with a rented high pressure machine. Removing some paint almost to see clean under coat.

Thanks.

[cabmandone]

I used a product called Black Jack Asphalt & Tar remover. I bought it at Lowes. I sprayed it on and and allowed it to soak in for about 5 minutes, then I used a piece of steel wool to wipe it around, then a pump sprayer with hot water to rinse it. Then repeated the process several times.
Honestly, I would have used my Hot water pressure washer had the top not been off my car. I'd still use the black jack, but then I'd hit it with low pressure and as hot as the washer gets without going to steam. The way I did it took A LOT of elbow grease.

Here's a link to the product I used:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_344396-60162-BJ12.6OZ_0__?Ntt=tar+remover&UserSearch=tar+remove r&productId=3333888&rpp=32

ZEP chemicals makes a citrus cleaner (not like the home store stuff) that is used to remove tar and blacktop from industrial machines. If you can find it, I'd use that but if not, the black jack worked fine.

I forgot! I also used a product called "Goof Off" from Lowes that worked well too. When I started the project, I bought 3 different cleaners. I bought the citrus cleaner (don't bother) black jack and Goof Off"

[faverymi]

I really appreciate the detailed respond.

Good luck finishing the project

[cabmandone]

Well, it's back from paint and I'm starting to reassemble.

[cabmandone]

Here's a few more pics of the car going back together. I'm hoping to have it all done by the end of April Or in time to drive it out to help my brother install his engine whichever comes first.

[cabmandone]

I polished the wheels which should make a big difference on appearance.

[JuiceMan]

Very nice quite a difference

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by JuiceMan

Very nice quite a difference

Thanks! It's getting there. I plan to update with more pics when I get some more parts in this week. I hope to start putting the carpet in next week.

[Gordo2]

Looking good man...

[wolds]

If you have your car together the mid ohio region of PCA is hosting a car show in Granville OH on July 26th, you should come on out and show her off. Warren

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by wolds

If you have your car together the mid ohio region of PCA is hosting a car show in Granville OH on July 26th, you should come on out and show her off. Warren

Hooray! My first come out to play invite not from my brother . Seriously, thanks! I've been searching for some events my son and I can attend.

[cabmandone]

Well, I knew better. Or at least I thought I did. I bought a used front valance and a new chin spoiler for my car a while ago. I never joined the two since one was new and the other appeared to be in very good condition. WRONG! As I fought an epic struggle of getting the chin spoiler to fit the valance I realized one corner of valance did not appear right. After I got the chin spoiler on (took a great deal of cussing and 3 beers) I went to install the valance. No dice. I had to do some tweaking (not twerking) to get it installed and when I did, pop, the bondo cracked on my recently painted valance. I knew I should have fit everything before I had the parts painted. Oh well, now that it needs some work, I'm going to beat it around until it fits the way it should then a light coat of filler, primer and then respray.

[cabmandone]

Well, my front valance should be back tomorrow and hopefully installed on Wednesday. Today I put the "new" dash pad in the car. After elongating the two holes in the top of the dash pan so the bolts would fit, I installed it. Also thought that Wayne might want to consider a new book along the lines of "101 yoga positions every Porsche owner should know" or "101 Bodily Contortions Every Porsche Owner Should Master"

Hoping to start and finish the carpet install (which is what got me in this mess in the first place) next week. I'll update with pics when more is back together.

[cabmandone]

I got my front valance back and got the chin spoiler mounted up. I mounted the valance, bumper bellows and fender extensions (add about 4 more contortions to the 101 list) I also installed the trunk seal in the front. So help me I will NEVER try to reuse another rubber gasket no matter how good the condition is. It took longer to prep it for installation than it was worth. Also, I forgot to mount up one of the marker lights in the bumper ARGH! That was an enormous pain to put in after the valance was mounted up but I did get it after a considerable amount of cussing and even greasing my hand to get it in a place my hand shouldn't have fit. Now, hopefully I can get my head out of a place it shouldn't be and move forward without any further grief.

[Gordo2]

Originally Posted by cabmando

...cussing and even greasing my hand to get it in a place my hand shouldn't have fit.

That's just wrong

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Gordo2

That's just wrong

Leave it to my brother. On the plus side, I did use latex gloves for safety

Now, for what I did today.

[cabmandone]

Well the new carpet is done. I had to make two brackets to fasten the front of the seat belt/cabriolet arm cover. I wasn't happy with how it bowed out in the middle so I cut a piece of angle iron, drilled a couple holes and used a tek screw to fasten it to the door pillar. Now there are no gaps and the cover is solidly in place. I installed the seat belts today and drank 2 beers. I would have drank one more but I ran out and the Kolsch in the fermenter is about ready to be kegged. I plan to put the top on Tuesday and windshield in on Wednesday. We'll see if things go as planned.