9126001675 3.0L coupe - NC Ownership & Updates

[ToySnakePMC]

Have a working title so let’s fill in some details!

A little bit about me:

Prior to the ownership of this ’76 912E in June 2019, I have pretty much played exclusively in the Mazda Miata world since 1991. There were other shorter term affairs that weaved their ways into my car life during those times such as modern MINIs, E46 wagon, first generation Broncos, and a classic Corvette or two. But primarily, it was the first gen Miata for me. Rear wheel drive, simple to work on, lightweight, good handling, great shifting, and 100% affordable. Overall, I have had 19 of them – and 82.7% of those were in the sub $2,100 price point. My job allowed me to travel the back roads of North Carolina, and my favorite past time was to seek out the 3rd row of used car lots and messy backyards to hopefully spot a dilapidated early Miata that deserved to a second chance on life. And I was the guy for that job. I loved to bring home a sad Mazda that needed, used motor swap, interior refurb, clutch installation, soft top replacement, or whatever.

It was a self-sustaining hobby for many years as I would fix up, drive for 6 months and pretty much sell for what I had in it. Occasionally, I would abscond with the removeable Hard Top on several occasions and add them to my parts stash. I don’t hunt, I don’t fish, and I don’t play golf – shop time is my relaxation and brief escape from what pays the bills M – F.

A new job in 2012 came about and took more of my time with travel up and down the East Coast so no more serious Miata hunting in my future. But that was okay as I was dead set on a GM LS Swap in my favorite 1994 Miata. That transformation took about 18 months as I completed a rather thorough swap of 400hp drivetrain and unique suspension parts to build what I think was a rather fine V8Roadster in that I had always said was a “forever” car.

Insert build thread here: https://www.v8miata.net/general-motors-v8-miata-build-threads-53/v8r-sloooww-build-94-miata-north-carolina-794/

A Mazda photo or two tossed in:







Well…, it moved on to its next owner after a successful No Reserve BaT auction in Dec 2020 to help recover some previously spent funds for the star of this build thread. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1994-mazda-mx-5-miata-55/

And the 912E-3.0 was purchased earlier in June 2019 at same interweb sensation: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1976-porsche-912e-16/

So, as you can see – the two weren’t very far about in $$ and sense.

So, Mrs. ToySnake was not a fan of the V8Miata but always liked the look of Porsche vehicles. …Well, me too! I have always dreamed of a 911SC after seeing them up close parked in the infield at my first Road Atlanta / IMSA race in spring of 1980 as a young teenager. That did it for me. I was smitten. Problem was that as I got older, the used 911SC market somehow always stayed just above my reach for decades – and maybe even more so in today’s market, lol..!

So in 2019, I think I broke the bell curve for 912E’s when I spotted this car on BaT and wasn’t really in the market for one prior to that moment cruising through the list of current auctions. But this car spoke to me, the owner (a good Pelican) represented it well/ communicated well, and I dove in headfirst with no consideration of PPI, fortune teller, tax advisor, nothing! I was lucky – I wanted the car more than the next guy, and I’ve never been more pleased with this automotive purchase. Took my brother and an open wheel trailer to the distant Northeast to retrieve what turned out to be a little solid car. No rust. Tidy. But as I later learned that there was a world of Porsche enthusiasts hanging out on the Pelican, some sweet aftermarket hotrod parts, and lots of support to help me make this car mine. This car was in need of some personality enhancement so it could better hang with its newfound air-cooled friends in the Raleigh area. And THAT has been the best unexpected surprise of vintage Porsche ownership – the people! The Pelican has been my daily internet hangout since 2019, and the local air-cooled guys and gals in Raleigh-Durham are a blast to be with on those brisk Saturday morning BBQ runs that run all over the backroads of central NC.

So that sorta sums up me. This thread will document the updates and various projects that I’ve either already done or have on the horizon for this pretty little narrow-hip middie. I’ve got several projects "while you're in there" going on this summer in my shop with this coupe, and that has got me motivated to start a thread here on the Pelican that has been so good me - entertain and educate on the wonders and idiosyncrasies of these special cars.

What’s a thread without photos? Not much! Here’s a few pics to kick things off. I’ll get my pictures and thoughts together in the coming days for some upcoming posts to help track the progress forward - and probably backwards as well – of this sweet little coupe.

Gratuitous Porsche photos here:









Best regards,
Patrick

[ToySnakePMC]

Happy Thanksgiving weekend. This is a Sat AM test to see if I can get my images sized appropriately. I've had issues between Fotobucket and Pelican with oversized images & that has, unfortunately, kept me from contributing and creating a detailed thread of my first air-cooled journey. I've downloaded a number of pics and downsized them prior to sending to the Bucket.
...Let's see how these two pics go & then hopefully, I'll update this evening with full details. It was a lot of fun to do this complete suspension overhaul - just based on Wayne's books, YouTube, and this forum. Very pleased with the outcome, ride height, ride quality, and several small upgrades that fit this weekend toy/ BBQ run car.

Test 1:


Test 2:


Test 3 is uploading with the "Attach a Photo" button:


Edit: Both methods seemed to work since my pics aren't huge megapixels, lol.

[Old H2S]

Nice job, your qualified to do any custom work you want..

[ToySnakePMC]

Thanks Old H2S! I'll post up some pics of 2 other Covid-era shop projects that came before this suspension job. Porsche had to wait unfortunately!

Soon after Porsche acquisition, I knew that I had a solid little coupe with an engine that had great leak down & compression numbers. The CIS system was, and still is, very compliant with quick and easy starts – both hot & cold. I’ve read that if you have that going for you and your CIS fuel injection – then don’t touch it! And the transmission shifted fine, I guess, for a 915. Obviously not Mazda Miata or T56 standards with that click-click short shift I was accustomed to…

The handling was another thing. Probably perfectly acceptable for Starbucks runs, but it had more sway in the corners than desired and a jacked-up @ss like a ’72 Plymouth Duster on Cragar mags back in the day. With the square set up of 205/60’s on 15x7 Cookies, I could stick my balled-up fist between rear fender lip and top of tire. Yikes! Not acceptable. Did replace the Cookies and minivan tires with VTO Minilite tribute wheels and stickier Yoko Advan tires in 205/55’s.

Here's some pics prior to suspension refresh when used in Peter Millar photo and video shoots this past winter & spring. Note jacked-up rear end!





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ube7F3t1N08

So, the plans began to formulate in my head after getting addicted to our PP forum and reading practically every build thread or suspension discussion that I stumbled upon using the search function. I knew I wanted larger torsion bars and read a Roads Scholar article that indicated 21/26 torsion bars were a good set-up for a car like mine. And back in early 2020, I purchased a lightly used set of Sway-A-Ways with solid bar 21’s and hollow 27’s here in the classifieds. That began the parts search as I wanted to knock out a full rebuild at some point when I felt like I could stand taking this silver coupe off the road for a while.

Suspension parts pulled together: Rebel Racing solid front bushings, ball joints, Rebel Racing solid upper strut mount inserts, Racing Dynamics alum strut bar, new hardware & bushings for 20mm front and 18mm rear sway bars, Rothsport bump steer kit for the rack, turbo tie rods, extended wheel studs from MSI Racing, Rebel Racing adj spring plates with rubber bushings, Rennline HD trailing arm bushings, new rear wheel bearings and Stomski Racing engine & tranny mounts. I had already rebuilt the front hubs a few months ago with new bearings and races so that was already behind me.

[ToySnakePMC]

Summer of 2022, I disassembled complete front and rear suspensions, removed the steering rack, original tunnel fuel lines and scrubbed the pan clean of grease and 40+ years of road grime. First item back in was the BoxsterGT fuel line kit that was well-made and fit perfectly from tank to engine.









Next up was disassembly of steering rack, inspect, clean, and grease pinion bearing and rack. Installed a replacement “puck” for steering column as well.





Everything that I was going back under the car got a full cleaning, sanding, painting, or whatever was needed to give the bottom of this 912E a little pop. Note the undercarriage of my LS swap Miata – I like my builds to be sanitary and attractive to my eye, lol For example, the Bilsteins on this car are dated 1999 and in solid shape. Painted these John Deere yellow with lower A arms painted some Ford Engine Blue – both old & just sitting around on the shelf in my shop. Ft crossmember, rear trailing arms, etc were painted with some Eastwood alum silver paint.





With the steering rack out of there, I wasn’t happy with the look of the front hard brake lines as they had a crusty exterior. I purchased some copper-nickel alloy tubing, metric fittings, and used Mac Tools double flaring tool. Removed the 3 old pieces with care and duplicated the lengths and bends to match. I cannot stress how easily this went together with the right flaring tool and this bendable compliant tubing. Having tried to bend steel tubing on another project, this nickel-copper tubing is very easy to work with.

[ToySnakePMC]

Next up was reassembly of the front end. Replacement is basically reversed order of disassembly. Took my time and probably removed A arms several times just to get the RSR parts properly aligned. I thought the under-car front sway bar installation was going to be tough but having full access to move suspension pieces around with car on the 2-post lift, it went back just fine.







Everything was put together somewhat loose – nothing torqued that would later be adjusted by the alignment shop. Notice the broken aluminum crossmember by the torsion bar screw on driver side. I took a sheet of aluminum and used my cardboard template to create a way to secure the bolt and cast iron splined cap from possibly sliding out the rear.





I broke this front suspension update into 3 or so posts so I could add somewhat sufficient number of pics I took along the way. I have plenty more scattered on my phone, laptop, and Fotobucket. Buzz me if you need something not shown - I may have it. Rear suspension and stuff will come soon.

It feels good to post up here and add some entry-level content to the forum. My skill set is nowhere near what some of the artisans and creative thinkers here display on a weekly basis, lol ! But it's fun nonetheless. Thank you for taking a few minutes to look around here...

[ToySnakePMC]

Here's a current joint project that I started in 2018, i think, with my brother in Virginia. 1964 327/250 4 speed 2-top convertible that I thought was going to be just a used car. It quickly turned into a frame up (with replacement frame) restoration. I just completed the chassis and returned it to Richmond so we can marry up the completed body.

This is our build thread on another forum:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c1-and-c2-corvettes/4124182-1964-convertible-plain-jane-the-journey-begins.html



















We have to marry up the two halves, install new wiring harnesses and fresh interior. He's completed most of that work already as well.

[ToySnakePMC]

Having sold my LS-powered Miata on BaT, one of my best friends decided he wanted to build a LS3 powered 2007 Mazda MX5 with folding hard top. He secured this used car at the start of Covid and ordered all new parts from V8Roadsters and the Rick Hendricks GM Performance Parts counter in Charlotte. New 495hp crate engine with new T56 and used 2010 Camaro SS differential.

This took us about 9 months and the last 3 months were working out incorrectly built half shafts and driveshaft. All she needs now is getting the AC set up and plumbed. I'd like to build another V8 Miata in the future, but donating free labor just ate up a lot of time in 2021, LOL He's a good friend and happy with his killer toy.

[Fab64]

Very nice work. And I'm extremely jealous of your shop!!!

[chrisbalich]

Stoked to see a build thread, Patrick!

That shop is the stuff dreams are made of.
(And NC isn't a terrible place to be either.)

Tuned in for sure.

[ToySnakePMC]

Thanks Chris and Fab64 for the kind words. I've heard Chris mention NC as a possible place to land someday... Come on down while we still have room for you! I live about 20 min S/SE of Raleigh. The 60x36 shop was built by my father-in-law approx 30 years ago. He was a tobacco farmer, mechanical contractor (large commercial plbg projects) and a good guy. Passed away 6 yrs ago so it became my full time playspace. No more tobacco bales stacked up or J Deere's split in half for clutch jobs... Just tiny sports cars and a used 2-post lift that I purchased 5 or so years ago. Local air-cooled guys and gals show up from time to time on BBQ runs and eat here as I'll provide all types of cold beverages for any and all that stop by!!! If Luft ever decides to come back to Durham, I hope I can host a Pig Pickin' or something for this afflicted bunch of people like me. ...Plenty of parking, tools, air-compressor, lift, BBQ grills, and fine Southern hospitality. What are we missing?

[ToySnakePMC]

Got this 912E (that pretends to be a 911) loaded up for a 3 hr ride in the morning to Sonderwerks in Cornelius NC - just north of the Queen City. Interior is getting freshened up some with German square weave carpet from Relicate. Color change with just carpet and seats. The existing black door cards and dash are in great shape so no desire to mess that up. The black carpet (silverknit?) appears original and just looks a little faded and tired around the edges.

Some updates on my interior update:
New one-piece seats from Vintage Seats in Marietta, Georgia are on the shelf. The Rennline Backdate Dash install is complete - minus the basketweave ala Sonderwerks.
And headliner was (Successfully!) re-dyed, spray painted, with SEM Mystic White last month. Should be fun to put it all together - whenever it returns from upholstery shop boarding school...

[stownsen914]

Looks like some cool project and nice work there, ToySnake. Welcome to the world of Porsche and Pelican!

[ToySnakePMC]

Originally Posted by stownsen914

Looks like some cool project and nice work there, ToySnake. Welcome to the world of Porsche and Pelican!

Absolutely! I've been an avid lurker since 2019 with occasional comments here and there. Basically, a sponge when some topic pops up here that interests me - about 90% of the threads, lol! It's a good community, and I want to share content - though not nearly as talented as 90% of those here who have done great 911 things over the years. Patrick

[ToySnakePMC]

Continuing with this build and enjoyment thread, it’s time to focus on the rear suspension. This work was done this summer in an approx 4 week timeline along with the front suspension refresh, tunnel fuel lines, and 915 shifter improvements.
Update at rear began with Stomski’s symmetrical engine & tranny mount kit. I used the mid-level red/ Full Performance urethane inserts. (No increase in harshness or noise that I can detect – perhaps just firms things up versus stock rubber pieces removed.)



This 912E had its original, non-adjustable spring plates wrapped up in a heavy coating of dirt and cosmoline.



Once I disassembled everything at the rear, I cleaned, scrubbed, disassembled, sanded, and painted pieces and parts. My Amazon wheel bearing press kit included all the pieces I needed for removal and replacement of rear wheel bearings. New Rennline HD trailing arm bushings replaced tired originals as well.









New bearings from our host were stored in the freezer for weeks, lol, and they went into place with no drama. Inner races were sliced off the hubs with cut-off wheel and smacked with a chisel. MSI Racing Products extended wheel studs were squeezed into place with light-duty press and combination of sockets and scrap steel plates. New plastic and rubber sway bar bushings were also installed in these dorky “snap on” links. Perhaps one day I’ll update these front and rear sway bars if I’m not satisfied with the performance of these stock items… But so far – so good!

[ToySnakePMC]

27mm hollow Sway A Ways were lubed up and set the new Rebel Racing spring plates to approx 24.3 degrees. Used some new, long Ace Hardware hex head bolts and spacers to get the new spring plate covers started. My original 4-bolt covers looked fine on the exterior view, but were heavily pitted inside where the rubber bushing had been pushing on it for the last 46+ years… If you’re going to rebuild your original old suspension, go ahead and order all the new little pieces & parts. You won’t be disappointed.









Rear brake calipers needed a fresh look on life so I popped out the pistons, cleaned everything, are reassembled with new ATE parts and hydraulic assembly lube. This is great stuff and recommended if you’re not immediately putting brake fluid back into the caliper. I probably used 4 teaspoons out of this 8 oz container…

[ToySnakePMC]

With rear end apart, I went ahead and installed a Fred Apgar rear finish panel after dropping the Dansk sport 1 in and 1 out muffler while it was on the lift. I had noticed the “hairline” cracks in the reflector panel, but I didn’t know that when the 2 or 3 remaining mount nuts were removed and the liquid nail lost its grip, that this thing would pop out in 4 pieces. Oh well, it’s done – in the trash it goes. New Apgar painted panel has perfect dimensions and curvature. 4 rear studs were JB Welded into place on the backside and I used some thin weatherstripping around the perimeter to allow it to sit properly. That cleans things up a bit and more to my liking.







Wanted to tackle the shift linkage next. Stomski coupling and fresh Honda grease used on J. West shifter and new rod bushing in tunnel to give it a good overhaul. Easy peasy.



Rear rotors installed, parking brake not properly adjusted (damn me – I hate these parking brake assemblies!), and fabbed up a simple block off plate for oil cooler up front with some help from a sheet of alum and McMaster Carr weatherstripping that was recommended by a Pelican. Dropped the lift down and my front end had to be adusted UP! The rears were fine. I think I got everything to about 24.5” front and 24” rear from floor to top of wheel wells. (Wrote it down somewhere – just not certain at the moment)







Car was trailered to Digital Chassis in Durham for final alignment and adjustments. Overall, I am quite pleased with the fresh feeling of this updated suspension, steering, and shifting! My first thoughts were that this MUST BE how an IMSA GTU car felt pulling out of the paddock garage back in the 70’s! Probably not, but this little coupe has a flat stance, eliminated the lean in the corners, and feels like a new toy with no power assist anything – perfect alignment with my sports car preferences.

[ToySnakePMC]

Just realized that I don't have a pic of the completed rear suspension job with rotors and calipers attached. This is the best I have currently. More updates to come on interior redo with re-dyed headliner, backdated dash, and new seats & carpet. Car is currently at Sonderwerks getting the carpet installation and a few other needed tidbits.

[almostordinary]

Subscribing, amazing work.

[GothingNC]

Next Mod 😀

Fabulous work, looking forward to seeing the finished interior !