Let me help you avoid being an idiot - by showing you how I am one

[tig]

I picked my bumper up at the paint shop today. It is perfect.

All I wanted to do tonight was to put it on so I could drive my precious Porsche tomorrow.

So I dig in and start putting everything back together. I hadn't reattached the AC condensor etc... so I took care of that first. Then the valance and the new smile.

I was ready for the bumper. I attached the chunk of aluminum that goes on the right side. Then grabbed the lights.

Idiot move #1 - Can't put the lights on with the aluminum plate in place. Off it came.

Install outer set of lights. Re-install aluminum plate.

Hold bumper up to car and realize the inner lights can't go on with that damn plate in the way either.

So off it comes again.

Now I can attach the inner lights. I hoist the bumper up to align it with he bolts and notice that I forgot to install the headlight washer tubing & nozzles. Sheesh.

Guess what? My Oeketer clamp tool won't fit the clamp WITH THE LIGHTS installed. So I have to remove the inner lights and that damn aluminium plate again.

Lights back in, plate back on. Ready? Yes.

I maneuver the bumper in to place. Looks good. Bolts on, smile lines up nicely. I'm happy.

Until I realize I didn't attach the right side bolt for the valance. Guess what's in the way? The aluminum plate (not a problem on the left side of the car). So off comes the bumper AGAIN. Although this time just partially...just far enough to reach that bolt and install it.

Now I'm feeling good. Bumper bolts back in. I dink with the rubber strip and can't figure out how to get it to slide on without the little clippy things rotating and popping off. I give up after awhile figuring I'd post here for a technique and move on to my bellows.

I test fit the bellow and sheetmetal on the left side and it looks good.

Then to the right...

Guess what? I forgot that the right side bellow CAN"T BE INSTALLED AFTER THE BUMPER IS ON THE CAR. It has to be attached to the bumper BEFORE THE DAMN ALUMINUM PLATE!

By this time I'm too frustrated and too tired. I, for the first time in the evening make a SMART move and decide to go to bed.

If you remove your bumper to replace your smile or get it painted or whatever, remember to come back and re-read this post so you can avoid being an idiot.

Goodnight.

[cbush]

Ah, the frustration of working on these cars when you are tired. At least you didn't hurt yourself or the painted parts!

Smart move knowing when to call it a night! Better luck tomorrow!

[Rot 911]

You are still just in the minor league of idiocy. If you want to work your way up to the majors, do what I did, reinstall your engine and forget to install the starter ring gear!

[paulgtr]

I have three repair manuals in front of me whenever I do anything, because I know that if I am left to my own devices I will wind up making a huge mess of it. I also never ever try anything when I am tired... I am too afraid of ending up with a car on my head...
I think knowing you are a clutz helps in this situation

[tcar]

That's why I have a Bentley AND the Haynes manual open when I do anything... extra diagrams, pics and descriptions.

I've had situations where the Haynes was correct and the Bentley was wrong.

I've found problems with just the Bentley, just the Haynes, and certainly problems using just my brain.

[NewfieMZ3]

Great Thread Title..........I don't think there is enough time and space on this forum for all of us to tell our idiot stories......it would be much longer than the "OIL" thread. But thanks to PP Forum we can mitigate our insanity!!!!!!

Great Post.

[d.a.autry]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

You are still just in the minor league of idiocy. If you want to work your way up to the majors, do what I did, reinstall your engine and forget to install the starter ring gear!

Oh Lord Rot. . . . I feel your pain. . .How about finally completing a build, installing and feeling all proud. . . then looking around and notice the pickup tube (for a 454) still lying on the ground. . . .front crossmember giving major interference for pulling the pan off.

thank God I saw it before firing it up!!!

[bdisco]

I hope you drank heavily after you were done.

[john walker's workshop]

you don't really need that aluminum plate.

[paulgtr]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

you don't really need that aluminum plate.

lol, that's cruel

[tig]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

you don't really need that aluminum plate.

Unfortunately, John, I feel like I do. I have a sickness (one of several I have) about keeping this car original. That means if Porsche put it on then so do I.

I am curious, however, about what it's really for. My assumption is that its intended to extend the bumper to provide crash protection to the aux oil cooler. My guess is a fender bender in that area without it would more likely result in a BP style oil spill than without.

[tig]

Originally Posted by bdisco

I hope you drank heavily after you were done.

I was too tired for that. LOL!

[JavaBrewer]

Frustrating experience but I'm pretty certain I would have gouged the freshly painted bumper with a screw driver while mounting the license plate bracket AFTER going through your install process. That's the way I roll

[F18Rep]

Thanks, I need all the help I can get...;] Bruce

[1982911SCTarga]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

you don't really need that aluminum plate.

Agreed, but for whatever reason I put it back on after I repainted my targa's bumper. Man, is it annoying tightening those rubber bellow nuts one lonely flat at a time because of that plate. It's the epitome of what my dad would say represents "a slow boat to China."

Brian

[flatsixjunky]

x038F,

D@#n that's a good looking car.

I went through the same ritual a while ago, took the bumper off so I could take the valence off to install my front spoiler.

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop View Post
you don't really need that aluminum plate.

You guy's are talking about this?



I asked myself the very same question when I took mine off, what is it for? counterweight?

[1982911SCTarga]

I think it's there to protect the oil cooler area in case of an impact event.

Brian

[tig]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Frustrating experience but I'm pretty certain I would have gouged the freshly painted bumper with a screw driver while mounting the license plate bracket AFTER going through your install process. That's the way I roll

Fortunately I _was_ smart enough to tape off and cover all painted surfaces with rags to protect myself from this... so far...

BTW, the WHOLE reason I'm doing this project is because:

1. Bumper had a scratch when I bought the car in 1997.
2. I left it alone until about a year ago when I decided to replace my 'clear bra' which had aged yellow
3. Decided to get scratch fixed and my guy was able to do it without removing bumper
4. Had clear bra re-installed.
5. The material he applied was defective so he came back out to re-do
6. When he pulled the new stuff off it pulled the fresh paint with it causing a HORRIBLE mess that was FAR worse than the original scratch
7. That mess required the bumper to be pulled to be repaired correctly.

So this really is just an ongoing comedy of errors. I will slit my wrists if I end up damaging the paint in reassembling this.

[steely]

I feel your pain brotha! - but you paid some tuition in the school of P-cars for a lot of students here (count me of course). Like some others, I have the hanyes and Bentley handy too, with the PET katalog, and along notes from here from posts (Help) like yours.

I'm glad you stopped - that was smart - I've messed stuff up when I work frustrated by my pig-headed-ness.

Your car is nice looking and I liked the wheel well details from your other thread.

[PKINGHAM]

When I got my car, it was partially disassembled. That piece is one that I haven't before been able to identify. Now I know where it goes!