Presenting "Vents," my 1989 911 M491 / M470 coupe

[famoroso]

Stopped by Steve Wong's and we popped his off the shelf header + sport muffler chip in to Vents, replacing an in-period Hypertech chip. It made a noticeable seat of the pants improvement. The car sounded better too. Such an amazing product.

I also acquired / picked up (literally and figuratively) a 997 GT3 RS titanium muffler. 8.77 pounds! Crazy amazing.

Once the M&K 1 5/8" long tube headers, valved secondaries and GT3 RS muffler are on the car, Steve will tune it on the dyno. I am very much looking forward to feeling how it perfoms and hearing her scream.

[BuddaLun]

Great addition, Frank! Enjoy the journey in good health!

[famoroso]

Antigravity battery. ~30 pound weight savings. Light makes right...





Car is going to Cryo Werks on Sunday for undercarraige dry ice blasting. Then, on Tuesday, off to Makellos Classics for the "before" weigh in and to have the AC refrigerant evacuated. Then the weight savings game begins.

It's time to make this luxo-cruiser a lot more sports purpose.

[Larmo63]

I like the black handles/door pockets, maybe add black door tops.

Then, black w/white dot Coco mats and one across the back seats to break up the maroon?

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by Larmo63

I like the black handles/door pockets, maybe add black door tops.

Then, black w/white dot Coco mats and one across the back seats to break up the maroon?

All good suggestions to try if I stick with two-tone burgundy up & black down. Thx.

Those Cocos are heavy! :-)

[Gianni at Pelican Parts]

Very fitting name for a very cool car!

Big fan of the Recaro Pole Position Classics as well if you go that route.

[Larmo63]

I know, the new Coco mats are rubber backed and heavy.

Just get more HP?

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by Gianni at Pelican Parts

Very fitting name for a very cool car!

Big fan of the Recaro Pole Position Classics as well if you go that route.

Black leather Recaro Pole Position Carbons en route (they don't offer the Classics on Carbon). 9.9 pounds each. That makes my inner weight weenie sing!

If I go with the burgundy up (dash, door tops, etc. above) and black down theme, I'll have seat cushions made in this black, white and burgundy check pattern...

[famoroso]

I need replacement front suspension crossmember. Anyone have one available?

The car has 135k miles and all original suspension, including shocks and tie rods. Original shock tower tar is in place, meaning the camber has never been adjusted in 32 years.

So, I dropped the car off at Cryo Werks in San Diego this morning for dry ice blasting / cryo detailing. We dropped the panel under the steering rack as I wanted them to clean that area up in preparation for suspension work, new fuel tank, new fuel lines, etc. We discovered a busted-ass aluminum crossmember (left side ARB bracket mount area). The ***** of it all is somebody cleaned / clearanced the fractured section at some point and just bolted the panel / ARB mounts back up. Meaning the ARB was only fastened in 3 of 4 spots. 🤬 I'd like to punch whoever did that in the face.

I wasn't planning on a through the body front ARB, but after hammering out the stock unit, I am planning on it now. The later underbody front ARB implementation is dumb. It was clearly a cost saving measure (less parts and less time to install)...

[famoroso]

Some before and after shots of dry ice blasting cryo detailing...







Plenty more photos here:
https://amoroso.smugmug.com/1989-Porsche-911-M491-M470-Vents/Vents-Undercarriage

[famoroso]

Here's a PSA for a new gadget that I just implemented. I can already say that this is a must have for all my cars...

Lead / acid version: https://antigravitybatteries.com/products/accessories/battery/chargers/bluetooth-tracker-lead-acid/

Here is what is the same thing, that Antigravity likely just rebrands, for a few bucks less:
https://www.amazon.com/QUICKLYNKS-Battery-Monitor-Bluetooth-Device/dp/B01MT4583U

I've gotta say, this thing is amazing and, although both of my 911s have voltmeters, the tracker does SO MUCH more!...

[ted]

Frank glad your crossmember and sway bar held together for your epic first drive through 5 states.
I'd also question why the damaged crossmember did not appear on your PPI?

Originally Posted by famoroso

I need replacement front suspension crossmember. Anyone have one available?

We discovered a busted-ass aluminum crossmember (left side ARB bracket mount area). The ***** of it all is somebody cleaned / clearanced the fractured section at some point and just bolted the panel / ARB mounts back up. Meaning the ARB was only fastened in 3 of 4 spots. 🤬 I'd like to punch whoever did that in the face.

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by ted

Frank glad your crossmember and sway bar held together for your epic first drive through 5 states.
I'd also question why the damaged crossmember did not appear on your PPI?

I can only assume that removing the cover plate was not in the scope of their PPI. Although, there were more bolt threads extending down through the cover on the left side mount, versus the right, so that would have been a visible clue that something may have been amiss behind the cover.

Oh, the stories these cars could tell!

[dg567]

I'll dig around and see if I have a spare aluminum front cross member, and I know that steel braided cross over oil line keeps you up at night.

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by dg567

I'll dig around and see if I have a spare aluminum front cross member, and I know that steel braided cross over oil line keeps you up at night.

God. Does it ever. Not to mention the steel S "hose." Neither are the most elegant solutions on B&B's part.

[famoroso]

Official weigh-in this past Friday. 2,895 pounds...






Hmmm. Lighter than I expected. Car feels heavy though, due to original suspension. I expect her to feel significantly more taught and spritely once I redo the suspension. In the interim, shedding weight...






I pulled ~80 pounds of: tea-tray tail base (aftermarket) & OE rubber lip, AC compressor, mount & rear condenser, rear bumperettes and some stereo equipment, etc. out of the car. Car already feels and looks better (including the inadvertent rear ride height "adjustment")...







Added my set of John Bell gauges (originally intended for my 1987, but diverted to Vents) and a Porsche Classic Sport steering wheel...

[Larmo63]

Tell everybody why you have one black seat and one maroon seat.

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by Larmo63

Tell everybody why you have one black seat and one maroon seat.

Because I'm an IDIOT and apparently I have too many spare parts on hand and the Porsche gods like toying with me and etc, etc.

Because I thought I was having my sport seats re-dyed, instead of dropping off a pair of Sport Seats to Lee at Precision Leather (an hour from my house), I inadvertently dropped off one Sport Seat and one regular seat and didn't realize it until I got them back. FACEPALM!

So, guess who drove another two hours to drop off the second Sport Seat? The same guy who also dropped off the second regular seat. Yes, the same guy who is now re-dying his set of regular seats too, which wasn't the original intent. I hate it when I'm stupid.

Some fun in the LA area yesterday. Perfect Lines Restoration, TLG, AppBiz, etc...

[famoroso]

Door panel will be on & off a fair amount as I prepare for final panel installation, power lock delete, new moisture barrier, etc. I got tired of the power window switch wiring decades ago. This seems like the easiest solution, although, I did consider replacing the black shrink tubing with color matched shrink tubing.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by famoroso

Official weigh-in this past Friday. 2,895 pounds...

I am surprised the wide body adds so much weight. My 85 is a heavy pig with full 4 condenser AC that will make me cold on 100+ degree days, full carpeting and floor mats, and full heavy OEM muffler, and heat exchangers.

It comes in at 2741 pounds with 1/2 a tank of gas and a full windshield squirter bottle and the giant full size battery. My wife is happy to ride with me in the 100+ degrees days and on long road trips.

Your car will be undoubtedly your dream car. That is cool. Build it to fit what you want from it. Enjoy it, and drive it!