Starting work on the 959 Project Car...

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Okay, this car has a lot of little things that need fixing, so I thought I would start small, and basic, just as I advise others to do. I removed the front trunk carpet tonight - the stuff smells like a toxic waste factory. I'm not 100% convinced that it's the carpet itself or something in the trunk. We're letting it air out tonight and we'll see. At a bare minimum, we'll take the carpet to Tony at Autobahn Interiors and he'll make a new front trunk kit for it. I'll bring my camera to work tomorrow - the front trunk of this car does not disappoint the tech people.

Next will be the hood shock(s). PET says it uses two, but there isn't one on the right, and there's no real spot for it either (gas tank is in the way). I think the one on the right is the only one. Porsche wants $90 for one with a 959 part number - the one that's in there right now seems to have the same markings as the regular 911s - I'm going to try a heavy duty one in there tomorrow and see if that works well. And yes, just like the regular 911s, the clips on the bottom of these are about impossible to get to.

The seat is busted too - won't move forward or backwards. I thought it was the switch, but while pulling out the switch today, the whole thing fell apart and those tiny ball bearings fell down between the seat. So, I'll pull the whole seat out tomorrow - I was planning on doing that anyways because it's loose for some reason. There's a bunch of computers under the seat - I'm thinking that someone removed the seat and either didn't hook it up properly, or damaged something. We'll see tomorrow.

I also need to fix the passenger inside door handle - it's broken. I think this is pretty important in case there is an accident or a problem. Right now, you have to roll down the window and open the door from the outside handle (very unprofessional).

I'm also getting a list of parts together that I will be ordering from Porsche as spares (brake discs, caps & rotors, etc.). Not cheap, but I want to have a small stockpile just in case something happens to Porsche's supply.

Pics to come tomorrow!

-Wayne

saintz · 10-11-2007, 01:42 AM

Wayne this is all incredibly interesting. I guess we all feel like we know you as an acquaintance from this forum /site/enterprise and now our acquaintance has a 959 project. Keep it coming.

Great stuff!!!

JohnJL · 10-11-2007, 01:55 AM

Looking forward to regular updates Wayne. Thanks for 'taking one for the team.' Someone had to get stuck into one of these.

livi · 10-11-2007, 03:03 AM

Tuned in! picspicspicspicspicspics..

BMWDavid · 10-11-2007, 03:05 AM

You know it is just amazing that a car of this caliber and rarity is in the condition it is.

In any case Wayne this will be a most fantastic journey for you as well as us fellow Pelicans. One always reads about cars such as the 959 but for one to be in the hands of a fellow car nut and also be willing and able to share the experience is simply wonderful!

Best of luck with the car and we'll all be anxiously awaiting the next posting as this story unfolds.

David

motion · 10-11-2007, 04:25 AM

Wayne - Wow! What an acquisition!!! Congrats and best of luck with the restoration. I'll be following closely.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

That sounds like an awful lot of work. You know, if you find yourself too busy and all. . . I might know someone who would take the whole mess off your hands. . .

jhynesrockmtn · 10-11-2007, 05:45 AM

I'm sure we can all look in our stashes of stuff to see if we have anything that might help. I have the original seats from your old SC somewhere if you need some temporarily while you're fixing yours. Oh wait, they are in my buddies 76 after I bought some recaros off another Pelican. I also have various calipers, rotors, nuts, bolts, other seats, harnesses, bars, wheels, tires, steering wheels, etc. I need a small warehouse to store all this stuff.

Um, yea this is really just subscribing to this thread. I can only imagine buying spares for a 959.........................

Terrh · 10-11-2007, 06:02 AM

Have you driven it yet?

I really wonder what the driving feel compares to, if it is similar to a 993 turbo or even a 996.

Zeke · 10-11-2007, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrh

Have you driven it yet?

I really wonder what the driving feel compares to, if it is similar to a 993 turbo or even a 996.

He drove it. Wayne, don't take it so far apart you can't come Friday. Grady is counting on seeing your car! He may (read for sure he will) have some insight.

jevvy · 10-11-2007, 07:37 AM

Great to get updates on a project from the man himself, hec we have all enjoyed each others projects at your expense so its great to see you doing the same.

Please keep them coming Wayne

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

So I'm guessing that Pelican will soon offer a 959 parts section -

Scott at Pelican Parts · Scott at Pelican Parts's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyD

So I'm guessing that Pelican will soon offer a 959 parts section -

The 959 Section is here!
http://www.pelicanparts.com/PartsLookup/HTML/SubCat/E_959_KATALOG.htm

Yes, Wayne has driven the car. I got a ride last Friday. When the first of the sequential turbos is working alone (below about 5000 revs) it isn't anything spectacular. But when both turbos are making boost -- wow! It's probably similar to the 993 and 996 twin turbos when they are making max power.

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Wow. For 20k plus you can get a whole 959 body primed. What a deal.

porsche356a · 10-11-2007, 08:36 AM

I love how one sport seat is 10k.

Can one really order the parts or is the PET on Pelican just a place holder?

dtw · 10-11-2007, 08:39 AM

You can really order the parts (subject to availability).

Scott at Pelican Parts · Scott at Pelican Parts's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jester911

Wow. For 20k plus you can get a whole 959 body primed. What a deal.

You missed a decimal place. The body in white is $201,610.40

I would bet it is really No Longer Available, as are most of the parts in that section.

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Holy crap your right. I don't know how I missed it.

In that case I will take two.

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jester911

In that case I will take two.

Hey, get in line, buddy!

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott at Pelican Parts

The 959 Section is here!
http://www.pelicanparts.com/PartsLookup/HTML/SubCat/E_959_KATALOG.htm

Yes, Wayne has driven the car. I got a ride last Friday. When the first of the sequential turbos is working alone (below about 5000 revs) it isn't anything spectacular. But when both turbos are making boost -- wow! It's probably similar to the 993 and 996 twin turbos when they are making max power.

The boost controller is running in error "default" mode, and has limited boost to .5 bar. At peak performance, it should be .9 bar. This is one of the big projects to work on.

-Wayne