My First Porsche + First Legitimate Posting Pics!

[Craig Roche]

Hello to all fellow Pelicanites!

Although I've made a few postings, I consider this my first legitimate one. So, please let me introduce myself - my name is Craig Roche, I live in sunny Tucson Arizona! Since I was a teenager I've wanted a 911 Targa, ever since my dad let me drive his 1970 911 Targa. Various times I almost did it but this time I'm went for it!! I found this board after I bought so I pretty much did everything wrong on the purchase, ie: ebay, no PPI etc. I think I did get pretty lucky though, at least so far. Ok so I get onto the work at hand.

I drove about 2500 miles with no problems and then pulled into the garage for some cleanup and detailing. I bought Wayne's 101 book and a Bentley. Then I stumbled upon this BBS and all the wonderful people that make it. I started taking the back end apart and got a serious case of "whileyourinthereitis"-- suspension upgrades, engine removal & detail etc.

Here's a list of the plan projects phase I:

Replace trailing arm bushings (rubber OEM)
Upgrade to larger torsion bars (Sway-A-Way 28mm)
Spring plate bushing upgrade (ER Polybronze)
Replace wheel bearings
Replace parking brake shoes
Rebuild calipers
Replace brake rotors
Remove, clean & powder coat oil tank
Completely detail the engine, replace seals etc.
Completely clean underside, SKS Stone Guard & paint
Repaint bumper & replace all rubber pcs.

That's pretty much it for Phase I and that's alot $ and time so it's going to take me awhile. It's especially alot because I didn't have to many tools when I started so I have to gather equipment also!

I want to thank everyone here for all the posts and the eargerness to help. I think without this forum I wouldn't have the confidence to take this on, so again thank you all!!!!!

Oh yes, I'm having so much fun I can hardly keep the grin off my face. I finally got my 911 and having a ball fixing it up!! If I do the picture post right we'll have some photos to check out!!

[Craig Roche]

[Craig Roche]

[vash]

holy crap! you are the MAN! you took a running car and decided to go through it? wow. welcome aboard buddy! nice to have some more of you radical guys here. your pictures came out great!

cliff

[onewhippedpuppy]

Your first pics of your car that you post are of it in pieces? You'll fit in well! Congrats on your purchase, are you missing driving it yet?

[JonSeigel]

Outstanding!

[poorsha]

Welcome Craig.
I love the attention you are paying to keepng things neat and protected.
Wish I knew some of this 23 years ago when I got my first 911.
Wish I had access to some of the members on this board back then too.
If you need any help, just yell.
Some one will always be here to help you, me and the rest of us still learning.
And keep the grin. It means a lot

[Jack Olsen]

Better red than dead.

Great work. Looks like a nice clean car, and now it's going to get even cleaner. You've definitely found your peer group here at the Pelican BBS.

[Yellowbird RS]

Same happen to me. When you go for little detail U can’t stop now
WELCOME

[rcwaldo]

WOW!

I'd like to see what you do when you buy a house?

Chris

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Wow! now that's what I call no fear! keep posting pics.

[JeremyD]

Oh you have to like that! Welcome to the board!

[Sean_irl]

Congrats!!!! You don't beat about.....getting stuck in there.

Loads of updates...sounds great.

Check out www.ddk-online.com for some similar stuff (European based)

Sean

[Craig Roche]

Cliff - Yes, it's a bit radical! My wife questions if it will ever drive again!
Matt - Why would anyone take apart a car that's running? The answer would explain alot of things :-)
Jon - Thank you much!
poorsha - I can't help myself, I'm a recovering perfectionists. Which explains the "whileyourinthereitis" Thanks!
Jack - Thanks, it's fun to be part of this group!
Yellow Bird RS - Maybe you could like me to your photos?
Chris - The first house was a remodel zone for years! I used to be a professional woodworker so you can imagine. I think this is just as fun!!!!
Shaun 84 - Well, it's either that or just plain dumb. I know I'm going to need a lot of help getting her back together! Thanks
Jeremy - Thanks for the welcome!!
Sean - Thank you! Looks like another spot to learn from! I'll need it!!

Thanks guys for the replys! Without this board I would have never jumped in like that. Probably be a little tougher going back together.

The toughest part so far was getting the torsion bars out. On advise from this board I used a slide hammer on one of them and knocked the other out from the other side using a long wood dowel.

Cleaning the entire back underside was miserable! 20 years of dirt, grease, grim, black undercoating and cosmoline! What a messy mess. Took about 50 hours literally with a dental pick in some spots!!

I do have several questions:

How hot does a catalytic converter get? Can it be ceramic coated?
Should I replace the CV joint bolts?
There's a couple of sound pads out there, which is the best?
Is it possible to powder coat the fuel rails on the fuel injection?


I'm sure I'll have hundreds more, that's just a few off the top.

I'll keep posting pics. Thanks again!!

[azasadny]

Craig,

Congratulations, you're a monster! Keep going and don't look back, you'll be proud of the results and the rest of us will be jealous!

[RSBob]

Impressive! I won't ask what you will do for an encoure. Way to shoot out of the blocks!

[Emission]

Congrats! I can feel the enthusiasm in you post. :-)

I think if you ceramic coat a CAT, it will fry it - they get REALLY HOT. Maybe I am wrong.

[exc911ence]

When you're done, my 911S is beginning to look a little seedy...

[Thomas Owen]

Congratulations on the purchase. My wife and I just moved back to Florida from Tucson and we sure miss it there. I too am a perfectionist and my wife is no longer surprised at what happens right after a purchase. Take our home here for instance. Just bought it 2 weeks ago....We were going to replace the tile floor in the living room with wood before we moved in. Well, the tile in the whole house is being jack hammered out in about 2 hours, the tile and wood will be installed next week. New kitchen cabinets, dry wall texturing and painting right after that. I love a good simple project!
Regards,