Remind your shop to leave a skirt of material at the front of the dash. Most shops don't know better an trim it back to the actual dash, leaving a gap exposed between the dash and windscreen

Thanks Wayner. I have a two piece dash from a 68 and I have already recovered the second part myself. The top part should provide a snug fit against the windscreen based on my test fitting.

Day 96. Today I was able to install the shift linkage cover. The dash should be ready by the end of the week or early next week and I am already working on coordinating the glass installation. Recovering the dash should cost between $60 and $90, which I think is a pretty good deal. Here is a picture of the shift linkage cover installed.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1358908097.jpg

Day 97: I am still waiting on the dash to be finished but was able to tackle the issue with the driver side tail lights. I had to rewire a few things and use some JB weld to strengthen some connections but everything works now. I had the brake lights working on both sides two days ago and now neither side works so I will have to dig into that before I get her back on the road. I am sure it is related to the switch at the pedal. The end is near:cool:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359467122.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359467150.jpg

CO2 blast that thing



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1359489506.jpg

err, why is the cover installed over the carpet?

congrats
 

Congratulations on the work you've done to your car I'm new in the forum and about to buy my first Porsche but i just read this whole thread and i wish when I'm finished with my car it looks as good as yours. love the color BTW
best regards from Mexico and again congratulations :eek::eek::eek:

Thanks Randy! That sums up how I feel perfectly. I am not sure if being done is a good thing or bad thing. I am so happy to be able to drive the car but I think I will really miss the journey that this project has taken me on. I will simply have to find projects around the house to keep me busy.

The carpet glues to the inside of the cover and then the cover is mounted over the shift linkage access hole.

Thanks for the kind words! I hope the thread was educational for you as that is the intended purpose. Maybe the Rat needs a slate gray twin in Mexico! It came from New Mexico so maybe our cars are related;)

To answer "dahagood" s question:

Because that is the correct way for cars up until what, at least '72 or '73, maybe through some of the 2.7's? I can't remember exactly when it changed. Kristoph's grille is correctly installed. But the carpet showing in Kristophs's grille is not correct. The carpet was trimmed to conform to the opening, and a small sort of asphalt-impregnated fiber piece then covered the opening, sitting on top of the edgesof the carpet. Then the grille was installed on top of that and you could see the fiber piece through the grille. And it was done this way because? The Webasto heater. If so equipped, the fiber insert was deleted and cold air from the cabin circulated through the tunnel to the heater in the "smugglers box" to be warmed. Hence the beautiful little grille to nowhere.

David,

Thanks for the summary of the grill to nowhere:) Mine did have the aphalt impregnated fiber piece but it was falling apart and very brittle. Luckily my carpet kit came with a piece of fabric cut out specifically for replacing the asphalt fiber piece.

that makes perfect sense. thanks for the explanation.

Kristoph, I think you will enjoy this site. Justin puts up a lot of great vintage photos and the blog story of 550A-141 is a good one. A little more fun over there than the mainstream P-car sites.
DG

Porsche abc GT, the Porsche Blog & Forum

David thanks for the great link!

I was able to get the alignment done this weekend without the windshield installed:rolleyes:. There is a tire shop about 1 mile away and drove down and got the Rat all set up to drive on a daily basis. Today I am going to pick up the dash and hopefully I can have the glass installed on Tuesday. The Rat is almost ready to go!!

Day 98: Today I got the dash back and was able to install it in the car. The dash recovery is not great but it will do for now. There are a few small blemishes and the shop sewed a seam in the dash to get it to fit. The total cost was $65, which is a great solution to a $1200 problem (cost of new dash). Considering that my dash was broken into three pieces and had a ton of holes and divets and was extremly warped I am happy with the result. Someday when I get the seats redone I might consider getting a correct one piece dash but until that time the old 68 dash will have to do. I have the glass installer scheduled to come by later today and I hope to post pictures of the completed Rat later this evening. There has however been a small setback in terms of getting the Rat on the road. The old brake master cylinder is leaking and I will need to replace it asap if I want to drive the car. This will involve repainting the pedal cluster because the brake fluid stripped off all of the paint:mad: I feel like I just did this!!!:mad: Anyway, I ordered a new 19mm brake master cylinder from our host and it should arrive on Wednesday. Here are some pictures of the dash install.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1360076979.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1360077027.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1360077059.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1360077103.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1360077131.jpg

I get that the stitching isn't correct for your dash but I must say for a $65 solution, it looks pretty good. You headed to the swap meet in Orange Park this weekend? I'm planning on taking a load of SWB parts I have to sell or trade for more correct stuff. If you're there, we should have a beer.

Cheers!
Jeremy

Hi Jeremy,

Sorry to say but I am not going to make it to the swap meet. I have far too much grading to do and would just spend money on things I don't need. I will make it up to Tampa with the Rat one of these weekends to check out your progress!

The windshield is installed!!