While the car is apart, what should i do?
 

I am in the last stages of rebuilding my engine and should be done in about three more hours of work. The interior is gutted, the glass is out, the sunroof is off. I am planning on replacing the dash and getting all new seals for the windows. The carpet is going to be new aswell as the door panels. I wanted to put some kind of stereo system in but we will see as i would rather put the money somewhere else.

Anyway, while the engine is out, and the interior is gutted, what else should I do to this thing?? I dont want to put everything back together to realize there are 20 things that I should have done before hand!!

Thanks,
Mike

Are you going to install any noise shield (dyno-mat) on the rear deck?
Sand and paint the rest of the interior floor.

I didn't think about the dyno-mat, but will consider it now. Why would you sand and paint the interior floor if your putting carpet over it??

To seal out any moisture and remove any surface rust.

George - look at that, you are already giving advice to a fellow NoVa man! Sounds like you might mentally already be here :)

It kind of stinks that I live in NORTHERN VA and don't really know any of you all. I have been restoring cars since I was 15 but this is the first porsche. I am only 21, so I need the advice of the wise older folk.!!=)

Doug-
Mentally I moved there in July.
Who needs a nice house in sunny Florida?

It all depends on the condition and previous work but the following may warrant addressing given the vintage of the car:

Rebuild the rear suspension (spring plate bushings and trailing arm inner bushings); remove and clean and repaint exterior of oil tank, clean and repaint engine compartment and service the heater valves (clean and paint as required). Replace the plastic/rubber throttle linkage support/guide bushings in the tunnel and upgrade the rubber coupling element (located where the throttle linkage leaves the tunnel) in the throttle linkage. Consider replacing the rubber portions of the fuel lines between the tunnel and the engine compartment fuel system components. Replace the transmission input shaft seal (it's inside the clutch release bearing guide tube). This is also a good time to consider replacing clutch system parts (disk, PP, release bearing, release bearing fork if worn, pilot bearing, resurface the flywheel). All of these are more difficult/impossible with the engine in place. I will assume you have taken care of the engine mounted parts and seals including the fuel injection system.

I assume you will be replacing the headliner as all the glass needs to be out to do it properly. New dash or dash cover while the windshield is out? Replace the window regulator plastic pivot pins with durable steel versions if the windows are manual.

I was thinking about going ahead a just getting either a good used dash or buying a new one. I don't really want a plastic one. Also, as far as the headliner, it is in great shape, and I was just going to leave it alone. Maybe I should replace it, but if it is in great shape, you think I still should?? The oil tank is already out and I was going to prep and paint it.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!! keep em comin

Mike - did you make it out to the Potomac swap meet this past Sunday? There must have been 20+ of us there from Pelican and the NoVa board.

No I didn't. I actually didn't know anything about it either. Oh well, maybe next time.

At least run the wires for the stereo -- use high quality wires.

Rebuild the shifter & coupler. Replace rubber brake hoses/flush/fill.

Engine sound pad.

Take pictures of everything that will be covered as you rebuild.