Help me spend my money

Leland Pate · 12-05-2001, 04:47 PM

Well guys, as tough as it is sitting over here in the big sandbox, I have a problem.

Due to some goof up at the Pentagon or on Capitol Hill, I am getting slammed by this "Tax free status" and "Hostile Fire Pay". These two things added to the fact that there is nothing to spend money on over here has led to a problem.
I have far too much money in my bank account!!!!!

This can't be! I'm betting I will have between $2K to $3500 bucks to spend on my car when I get home. Problem is, I'm not real sure where I want to spend the money.
It far too easy to look at an ad for a $900 SS exhaust system and think "I can afford that'.
I need some direction from the senior members here.
I have made a list of things that the car really needs and things I'd like to do as well.

What areas do you guys think would be the best to tackle?

Car has to have new tires, that's a must. What brand?

Gearbox could use an overhaul (Still works ok but first is getting baulky)

Seats are in dire need of either reupholstery or replacement. (I can';t decide whether it would be better to restore the factory seats of just buy a set of aftermarket sport seats.)

Carpet is dull and faded...definately shows its age. I have already reupholstered the door panels, sills, knee pads, rear quarter panels and rear tray in black. All I need to finish it is a carpet set, front and rear jump seats.

Windshield has a nice stone chip now (don't even ask) and the dash is in need of replacement because it is slightly warped.

Targa top leaks at the vent window junction. I really don't want to go spend allot of money on the interior just to have a leaky top ruin it.

I want to can that factory muffler for one with dual tips and a more aggressive sound.

Other than that I'd like to update my headlamps to H-4s, install a Carrera valance chin spoiler and tail.

After a strip down and repaint (in the same color way down the road

) I think that will just about do it.
Anyone have any ideas where I should start?

82SC · 12-05-2001, 04:56 PM

hmmm...

get a carrera cooler with fan to keep your new engine happy 500

windshield can be had for about 300 if you use PPG instead of seckurit german glass

upgrade brakes to 930 a la jack o 2.5K

SC factory sport seats...just got 2 in near perfect cond 600

RUF front and rear valence...then you can use a larger cooler in the front a la Bill Verberg

Roboshift (whatever it is called) make sure you don't kill the tranny while racing and downshifting through your gears

SSI and Dansk 2 in 2 out

MFI or Carbs and new cams...I know you want to take that engine out again...

strip out rear seat and put lightweight RS carpeting

RS door panels

930S or 993 RS steering wheel

i guess you can tell this is the list of things I want to do to my SC...haha

I guess I will live vicariously thru you for now

jlr69s · jlr69s's Garage

I dont know how they do it where you live, but in Florida the insurance companies have to replace your cracked windshield for free, by law!!

911pcars · 12-05-2001, 05:17 PM

Leland,
Not that I have anything against you, but you might have to stay a little longer to increase your disposable income fund. From your list, your pocketbook might make it a little past the second item.

Tires. I assume you're looking past the Falkens? Good rubber (e.g. Bridgestone S02/3, Michelins, Toyo, etc.) will cost around $700-800.

Transaxle. Maybe $1000-2000 depending on what's needed once you get inside. Then someone here will suggest you put in a limited slip or Quaife (+$1500, cha-ching).

.... or you can get a real nice gearshift knob for $200 and buy us all a round when you return.

Eat at the mess hall, not at KuKaRoo's, Kajikastan.

Be careful out there,
Sherwood

Joeaksa · 12-05-2001, 05:28 PM

Leland,

Save some bux to take care of the oil leak that you have already. Then fix the top as it will ruin anything that you improve in the interior.

Tires, brakes and suspension are mandatory, as it does not matter how much power you have if you cannot get it on the ground and to the rear tires in all conditions. Also, they are safety related and do not scrimp on safety, as it costs you in the long run.

The suggestion on an oil cooler is a good one, as its good insurance for your new motor and you have no idea if you will PCS to a warmer climate and need it for the summer.

More books are on the way!

JA

rstoll · 12-05-2001, 05:45 PM

New/old "Pimpster" project????

Leland Pate · 12-05-2001, 06:26 PM

Sherwood, I know the money would only put a dent in my list of projects.
I am just looking for suggestions on where to start.
Tires are an important op. I know that.

I also know that it would be wisest to take care of all mechanical items first and then move on to the cosmetic stuff. My biggest heart ache with that is the fact that I have put over 19K into this car and it just plain ole doesn't really look like it. I cringe every time I look at the poor condition of the seats. needless to say, the seats are one of the focal points of the interior. The transmission needs a rebuild but it hasn't gone critical yet. I am in the midst of a tug-of-war in my head. One side of me knows i need to be practical and the other side is saying... "get the damn seats fixed...the gearbox can wait."

And then I say, ok the gearbox can wait, lets redo the seats...then I start to think about the top and how it would need to be done first. You know how it goes...before you can do one thing you must do another. I bet that's how some guys end up pulling their cars in for a quick valve adjustment and end up spending three years restoring their cars huh.

Well, like I said, I was just looking for suggestions.

Oh, and an oil cooler is also on my list. But, my hard lines under the rocker are smashed (thanks Les Schwab) so I'll need to remedy that as well. By the way, are there any places out there that can sell me lengths of flexible oil line, cut to fit with the proper fittings to go from the aux. thermostat to a fender mounted oil cooler?

Thanks guys!

82SC · 06:55 PM

hey leland

my SC tranny is not the best but it is pretty robust.
I have a whine in 3rd and 5th which have been positively ID'ed as bearings...
but I know even if I have catastophic failure, 1000 gets me one from vertex...so I think gearbox can wait...
Wayne's recommended wrench told me the gearbox on mine is fine for now

ADJUST the coupling and new bushings...even after I did everything the shifting sucked...

I spend HOURS sdjusting...then finally miraculously I hit it JUST right and it is much better...actually I had it perfect for a short while, but I hade to drop my engine again, and that perfect alignment is elluding me...but I got it pretty good...2nd is still baulking sometimes

leave the tunnel open...put vice grips on the nut and carry a comb wrench and adjust it while you drive...when you get it right it is sweet...I swear my 915 shifted better then my friends brand new M3....

I have one crushed oil line too...
I've heard some places cn wled a pin on it and just yank out the dent...I am going to do some researching here on the board about it...

i love the sport seats...so much better...and it makes my car look like it is worth so much more...torn seats can TOTALLY change the apperence of the car...not many people look under your car and say wow...nice tight clean engine...torn seats say...I am a bum...I used to be really mebaressed about them...especially on dates...you sould see people say wow a porsche then see the seat and say...oh...hahaha...

serch for the sport seats...I got near perfect ones for 600...I can drop a line to the porsche salvage yard and keep an eye out for you...even pick them up and hold them for you if you want...
on ebay they are 1200+!!!!

The salvage guys do appreciate it when you offer to pay cash and drive down and pick them up...haha

a tranny rebuild project along with another articel would be quite nice...haha...have fun porsche dreaming out there...

Tyson Schmidt · 12-05-2001, 06:51 PM

Stop throwing money at that money-pit and use the cash to buy a real car. Pre-74 baby, Yeah! Save a little more and buy something with character. A 69-73 E or S.

An SC daily driver and an early coupe for some "pure" driving on the weekends. Pure bliss.

autobonrun · autobonrun's Garage

To celebrate your return, lease a Lamborghini Diablo for a weekend.

pwd72s · 12-05-2001, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by autobonrun
To celebrate your return, lease a Lamborghini Diablo for a weekend.

Gee, sound great! 'Cept for one thing. Immediately upon his return, Leland will probably be too busy with young ladies to worry much about driving experiences. There is, after all, a time & a place for everything.

adamnitti · adamnitti's Garage

leland, if you decide to get your seats reupholstered, you should send them to my father. he's an exotic car upholsterer for a living, and i would put money on the fact that you wouldn't be able to find anyone better. he's a dying breed: a totally old-school craftsman from italy who actually puts obsessive attention to quality before anything else. he is very proud of his work, and his rates are much cheaper than most other lesser upholsterers. if you want his contact info, email me and i'll hook you up. if he knows you are a colleague of mine on this board, i'm sure he'll cut you an even better deal.

Bill Douglas · 12-05-2001, 07:57 PM

SSI's and Dansk 2 out is my vote.

howie944 · 12-05-2001, 09:32 PM

Lee,

Just have the car primered when ya get back..it will make that old carpeting look new and then maybe you won't feel so bad about all you've invested in it and can't see! I seriously think the oil system upgrade is a great starting point. Ya gotta be able to go before ya can show. Next would be the "if ya go fast...you have to be able to stop fast" upgrade. After you get all the mechanicals and leaks taken care of "Dress her up"!

Jack Olsen · 12-05-2001, 09:38 PM

What color's your interior, Leland?

Doug Zielke · 12-05-2001, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tyson Schmidt
Stop throwing money at that money-pit and use the cash to buy a real car. Pre-74 baby, Yeah! Save a little more and buy something with character. A 69-73 E or S.
An SC daily driver and an early coupe for some "pure" driving on the weekends. Pure bliss.

Yeah, more like PURE RUST!
Leland said he'd have about $3500 to blow. Why should he spend that on Bondo, when he has a beautiful SC that could use some SSI's, for example.

Message to Lee:
We, the members of the SCWDP, know the siren songs of these infidels will not sway our Founder.

Rot 911 · 12-06-2001, 05:47 AM

This might sound lame, but if you haven't paid the car off yet, I would do that and get away from the car payments and interest rate. That said, I would first take care of the tires, then go with the SSI exhaust which will give you some welcome horses. You can live with the tranny for a while.

Planter91C2 · 12-06-2001, 06:49 AM

since the 964 domination plot has already infiltrated your brain causing you to buy 964 C2 wheels, the next logical step is to get the C2 conversion kit. i saw it in a catalog (automotion or tweeks) and it was just about 2-3K... muhahahaha.

you cannot resist.

Tyson Schmidt · 12-06-2001, 07:12 AM

Hey Doug. Cheap shot! I did say "save up" as in "get a little more cash to go with that" and get a nice early coupe.

You SC guys are so sensitive.

Pillow · 12-06-2001, 07:32 AM

1. I agree with Kurt V, if you have any outstanding debts pay them off first.

2. Tires/Allignment. I like the Kumho 712s. Great performance and reasonable cost.

3. Oil cooler. Maybe RUF or RSR front cooler setup

4. Suspension. Get the torsion bars and shocks that you want.

5. Corner balance it.

6. SSI and Dansk 2 in 2 out.

7. Top.

8. Seats. Get some sort of sport seat stock or aftermarket.

Carpet does not make you go faster so leave that alone. Also I think the stock brakes are fine unless you start taking it to the track on a regular basis.

Keep kickin' Taliban butt man!!!