Needing help, wise counsel on putting Humpty Dumpty back together -- 89' BTR III Ruf

[911heaven]

Spending this summer vacation trying, yet this project car goes back 25 years. Yours truly dismantled, stripped it out then, resprayed it in original color Ruf yellow then. The car when I got it had sustained water damage. I've left it on the shelf this long believe it or not. Today I was looking at well labelled bags of bolts etc. I noticed today I was using receipts from road tolls here to write on dated from 1997.

I'm currently looking for a complete chassis loom 89' cab on the parts forum. That is prerequisite. I have all the Ruf components, full engine conversion then. I have collected over all this time most of any parts I needed. Still some I don't have. Moreover, I'm almost 60 years old! It used to be a dream, but I was too busy working on other cars and left it too long. In the last week I got busy. It's looking like a roller at least. I want to finish it out if possible. May need help from the Pelican brotherhood. I'm rusty, even though I still have the passion.

Any help would be much appreciated!

bernie

[jmd88]

Hey Bernie,
Sharing some thoughts as I've had a 20-year-long ground-up build myself. I've bought and lost more parts for my project than I can count over the 13 houses, 5 states and many many packs/unpacks later... I have a chassis that I'm putting back together so that I can get my own build finished.

Here are my 2 cents - eclectic as they may be...

Put your hands on the car, like physically. Close your eyes and remember where it started. Your hands will remember why you wanted to do it in the first place. Was it the love of the work/build, the vision, the daydream of yellowbird, was it putting the key in and firing up that sweet RUF engine? Remember the 'why' and let it fill your boyish daydream back up (age is what you let it be... minus the physical reality of things...).

Put your hands on the parts. What's there, what's not, make a list. Realize you'll still miss at least 30% of what you really need to get back on the road. Be prepared and anticipate that.

Start planning, one system at a time, starting with the "Shell System" and what's the shell missing to move to the next system (you mention a harness). Now imagine you have that system complete (with your missing/have parts list inventory). Move on to the next system and continue the work, with a nice cuppa-tea.

Building the car on paper will let you know if you've got what it takes to build the car back up for real. Sometimes, it's just too out of reach when you've got a pile of parts and no plan...

Hope the energy flows your direction and the reminder that we're all just little kids with daydreams and maybe enough money/time/etc. to actualize them will help.

I wish I could help turn wrenches...Maybe next summer I'll have an excuse to spend some time in japan.

Share some photos of that pretty yellow shell?

[911heaven]

Originally Posted by jmd88

Hey Bernie,
Sharing some thoughts as I've had a 20-year-long ground-up build myself. I've bought and lost more parts for my project than I can count over the 13 houses, 5 states and many many packs/unpacks later... I have a chassis that I'm putting back together so that I can get my own build finished.

Here are my 2 cents - eclectic as they may be...

Put your hands on the car, like physically. Close your eyes and remember where it started. Your hands will remember why you wanted to do it in the first place. Was it the love of the work/build, the vision, the daydream of yellowbird, was it putting the key in and firing up that sweet RUF engine? Remember the 'why' and let it fill your boyish daydream back up (age is what you let it be... minus the physical reality of things...).

Put your hands on the parts. What's there, what's not, make a list. Realize you'll still miss at least 30% of what you really need to get back on the road. Be prepared and anticipate that.

Start planning, one system at a time, starting with the "Shell System" and what's the shell missing to move to the next system (you mention a harness). Now imagine you have that system complete (with your missing/have parts list inventory). Move on to the next system and continue the work, with a nice cuppa-tea.

Building the car on paper will let you know if you've got what it takes to build the car back up for real. Sometimes, it's just too out of reach when you've got a pile of parts and no plan...

Hope the energy flows your direction and the reminder that we're all just little kids with daydreams and maybe enough money/time/etc. to actualize them will help.

I wish I could help turn wrenches...Maybe next summer I'll have an excuse to spend some time in japan.

Share some photos of that pretty yellow shell?

Thanks so much jmd88! I almost mistook that for jdm88! Sure appreciate your advice and insight.

Hearing about your house moves etc. I relate completely 3-4 times for me. Here space is always a commodity especially in the city where most people live. I've let loose of many cars just for that reason in years or decades past. One car I let go of in order to keep this one 20 years ago was a 73 RS #101. Wrong car now that I look back on it!! No regrets though, for I was able to make a down on my city house where I live now as I was getting married then. Still got the girl, not the car!

Listening to you makes it all come back, and I read loud and clear. I've had my hands on the car and the parts in the last week. It's all coming back. I'm busy digging parts out of deep storage, taking inventory of what I have or haven't got. I'm bringing out parts now to a countryside second place from the city and still more to go. Thursday I brought out the bonnet etc in my small van, yesterday got it on. Last week got the right door out of deep storage in the city, the two front fenders out of the loft in the country house and so these are on, doing some alignment slowly. I bought new brake lines for the whole chassy about 14 years ago, one of the prerequisite systems necessary you mention. That before chassy loom maybe.

So yeah! I'll be at it tomorrow again, still 18 days holiday and counting. I'll snap a few photos tomorrow an throw them up here.

Best!
Bernie

[911heaven]

Here are a few pics I snapped today as promised. Progress today was I got the driver's door mirror on, still digging for passenger's side mirror mount bolt and rubber. Door harnesses were already in 14 years ago.

The bonnet isn't stock to this car. 20 plus years ago a coach builder friend here bought a 964 RS new and built a race car out of it. I got the bonnet from him and had it on the car when I did the respray at that time. That's why it looks like a factory 964 RS alloy bonnet because it is and used to be blue! Mounted it back on the car Friday and remembered how light it is.







Those 993 door handles are coming off. I bought a lock set with original handles keys, ignition switch, glove box etc. new off the shelf dead stock here 4-5 years ago for a hundred dollars. That was lucky. I guess real value is 10 times that or more now.

I forgot jmd88 to ask, but I was curious as to your chassis you've been hauling around for decades like me? If you have the desire or want to share, I was wondering what model it might be ...

[911heaven]

In a G body tunnel, unfamiliar to me after many years of not being there, I wonder which comes first the chicken or the egg on systems? Loom or brake lines (new), fuel lines or safety brake system? I'm about to enter the dragon, got another van load of parts today out of deep storage from the city out to the countryside work place. Any tips from the Pelican tip table??

Thanks for any help!

[Arlo911]

Hi, I like to start with the loom and fuel lines as they are the most difficult imo. Good luck!

[911heaven]

Originally Posted by Arlo911

Hi, I like to start with the loom and fuel lines as they are the most difficult imo. Good luck!

Thanks Arlo911! I figured as much on the loom, didn't know about the fuel lines (though I have them -- replacement ones).

That means I'm stuck in the mud til I get a chassis loom. I've got a WTB on the parts forum for this. Would anyone know if this item is possible new from Porsche Germany? Sounds expensive though if it were still available.

Still I can progress putting Humpty Dumpy back together without the chassy loom -- some things that is. Today I put on the gas tank filler assembly and lid and lined it all up on the fender. Took me a half dozen tries to line it up with the fender. Also got the rear bumper stay and mounts ready to mount rear bumper, just making it look like a real roller.

I'm dying to get a proper loom however. Not much point in putting Humpty Dumpty back together without that first.

Thanks again!,

[Arlo911]

You can order a complete loom from Kroonwire in Holland. I might have a complete 3.2 Targa loom incoming in the coming months, it's from a Euro 915 car. I have no idea if there are many differences between the looms for a cabrio and Targa though.

[911heaven]

That is interesting! I'd like to learn more about that company. My understanding is the cab loom has a brain (board mounted on passengers floor) which I have a replacement already.

What is most baffling for me is this particular car on chassis loom, let me explain. Whatever Ruf did to it, last of BTR production, it is an 89' ROW WPO Carrera by vin no. It was motronic (Ruf ecu BTR), 6 speed R 50-50 box same as CTR (car had 8 K kilometers when it hit the drink). The gauges I had fully rebuilt 20 plus years ago at North Holleywood Gauge shop.. It has a 964 body look (bumpers etc. even the rear bumper muffler outs were like 964 turbo staight out back). Furthermore, like a 964 had radiators/fans left/right inner fenders for oil cooler right, AC condenser left. I have all the old hardware, and replacement hardware/parts from numerous 964/993 cars I dismantled 20 years ago. What to do from now with the chassis loom I don't have is the million dollar question for me.

Thank you for your kind help and thoughts!

[SkunkWorks]

timmy2 (Dennis) here can supply you with a harness. He's good people to boot.

[911heaven]

Originally Posted by SkunkWorks

timmy2 (Dennis) here can supply you with a harness. He's good people to boot.

Thank you SkunkWorks! I'll send Dennis a PM on this to see if he's interested or capable to address such a loom.

Today just chipping away. Got drivers door handle on (new and factory). Removed the 993 handle. Waxed it up in the area. The paint is still looking good. Soon will do the passengers side just the same. Forgot how much I love working on a 911!

Much appreciated!

[pkabush]

Interesting project. It might be worthwhile to obtain a harness from a coupe and have Dennis make up the sub harness for the convertible motor. Another option would be to reach out to LA dismantlers
or one of the other Porsche specific wrecking yards.

[911heaven]

Thank you pkabush! Some good ideas for me... I am in contact with Dennis via PM. He is asking some questions, I've answered some tonight. Seems like he can do anything on the menu.

Some small progress today, got the 993 door handle off passengers side, installed new factory handle and half way to putting on passengers door panel and side mirror. Compound waxing as I go around edged and tight spots as I go, meticulously doing up areas that one cannot get to once the parts are in place.

Thanks again for good advice and help. I do appreciate it!

[911heaven]

I have heard from Dennis last night. Early morning here @ 6 thirty am. Dennis is more in tune with engine harnesses as a specialty. Got a lead off the parts forum, someone with a full 87' Cab chassis loom. I'll keep chipping away at small jobs and get closer as I go.

Thanks to everyone who can help!
bernie

[djb25]

Originally Posted by 911heaven

it is an 89' ROW WPO Carrera by vin no. It was motronic (Ruf ecu BTR), 6 speed R 50-50 box same as CTR (car had 8 K kilometers when it hit the drink).

Do you have the transmission? It would be interesting to see some pics of it, as well as what (if any) modifications were made to the body to fit it.

[911heaven]

Originally Posted by djb25

Do you have the transmission? It would be interesting to see some pics of it, as well as what (if any) modifications were made to the body to fit it.

I do. It's in my garage in the city. I will be there this weekend so I'll snap a few of the 6 speed, maybe one of the leather shift knob in my office desk drawer. However I don't believe the 89' chassis needed modification to fit a 6 speed. Until 88' 930s were 4 speed dog boxes. It was only the 89 930 that had a G-50 5 speed and different chassis to fit. This/my chassis by vin is 89' Carrera 3.2 though, yet what would be different between that and 930 89' in that area of the chassis - not sure if any myself?
Nonetheless I can and will post the pics of the box.

[911heaven]

Took pics of the R 50-50 6 speed this morning before leaving the city. Took pics this afternoon in the country of shift knob and gauges. Any chassis loom I find will have to fit these. The lead I had on the parts forum (87 cab loom) has said his loom was cut. I bought a cut one 20 plus years ago and never used it. I gave it away. Hope to find an 89' loom. Neither do I know if their were differences in those looms from 87'-89'.

[911heaven]

Nothing really important to report. Got passenger's door panel on yesterday, today same door side mirror, but no rubber seal. Can't find it anywhere! I'll have to order a new one. Got rear bumper stay on today and will put in right head lamp tomorrow morning before my Pom mate comes to take pics of the car as presented, as is. He's traveling 2-3 hours on the motorway to get here. We've talked about moving this car as is, as it was six plus months ago.

Got a couple domestic guys coming themselves wanting to see it or get a price to buy. I'm just holding my own, putting it back together. My agent Glen wanted it more like a roller, yet I can do better than that. Working on it, maybe even to running and fully done. Both options are on the table still. I always wanted to finish out this project car, It was my love. It would be nice to finalize that dream and vision. I don't want to keep it and drive it funny as it sounds. I just love the dream I had back then, I just still love working on this car!

bernie

[tk32]

I see what you did there with those gauges

Great story and interesting car, carry on!

[911heaven]

Thank you tk32 for the interest in the story! Yeah! those gauges! Many years ago I thought of selling this car just parts wise based on the sum of it's components unfinished. I put these gauges up on the MP forum for a value. The clowns and trolls who abide there spun my thread into 14 pages!

I never once in 14 pages got a value for these. The closest one, whom I respect was an R Gruppe guy who said -- it's not what they are worth, rather it's what someone will pay, and someone will want them!

If you have the guts or patience to read through 14 pages go for it! At the end, I tried to end the thread and I said -- would it be out of the question still to get a value on the gauges?? dwelle said at the time -- Best Thread Ever! pmax kept trolling it... but I like pmax now, miss him a bit.

I formally quit MP forum a few weeks ago for such reasons. That is primarily why I have once again engaged the tech forum after many years of absence. No more MP forum for me, though I'll miss a few guys over there, even a few GIRLS!