Intro and Thank you to Pelican and members

roadsterswap · 12-04-2011, 08:27 PM

I have had a few porsche's in the past, a 1972 targa, 1970 T coupe, and a 1982 sc. They were a blast to drive and great to service, but needed to go when other priorities arose (you know how that is).
I had been a Pelican browser for years and have been looking for a wide body car, but non turbo. Many of them were well used or needed too much repair or were to expensive.
One day while browsing Pelican cars for sale I spotted the black 1977 converted steel wide body, with a 3.2 motor already installed. I live in California and figured the car was not smog legal. This car was smog legal and had the BAR tag and all. I was about third in line to get it. They both missed their chance and I drove the 2 hours to check it out. The seller was super nice and honest and told me everything he knew about the car, and he gave me the receipts for the work done. He was upgrading to a later Porsche and he wanted this car to go to a good home. I consider myself to have been very lucky to find this car. It was just what I was looking for. I did not want a pedigreed historical type car. I wanted one I could play with and be free from the burden of not being able to make changes. I did not want to big of project because I have so many other things going on with kids, Bonneville streamliner and other hobbies. This was right up my alley and knew I could get it closer to the vision I have had for the car all along.
I like the wide bodies, but don't like the attention the wings and such create. I wanted to put together a spoiler delete coupe. Many months ago I bought a speedster front valence and another rear deck lid. I was really planning ahead on this one, and I had to keep hunting for the right car.

Thank you Pelican for these forums and members. Many folks answered questions I had about the car before I bought it. They had seen it on the for sale ads but were not in the market. They told me what to look for and some good questions to ask that were Porsche specific. While I was looking for parts and wheels and spacers, everyone tried to help and would respond to posts. It was amazing.

Well the car has been at my home for 2 weeks. I have not even driven it. My son took it down to Big Sur when I got it home. When he got back I had my plans.

The wheels had to go. The deck lid and valence had to be changed. The car needed a short shifter.
So I jumped in and made the changes. I found some wheels on Ebay after searching for awhile and got a really good deal on these Al Reed finished in RSR style 17 x 11 and 17 x 10. I was told they were 9 and 10 inches, but found out otherwise. Was bummed the 10s were just that, and I could change them by getting a BBS 5 inch inner.........later. I bought some spacers once I found out the wheels would not fit, and I was told they would bolt right on. Oh well. Nothing bolts on, ever..........
Except the Short shifter I bought from Pelican. Easy deal to install except the springs when you are by yourself. Also the Seine Systems Gate Shift Kit was pretty much a breeze to install once I remembered the front and rear of the housing and which direction the brackets on the short shifter were supposed to go. Thanks to pelican and the technical pages because I would read them, go work on the problem and then go back and forth. I had not pulled one of these shifters apart and it is pretty simple, but someones words of advice are great time savers. I installed both items and have to say the car shifts very crisply. It takes a little muscle, but as my kid said, "it matches the clutch feel".

Oh and once the tail was off and the bumper blocks..........I just filled the bumper with plugs, the deck got electrical tape for now (I have another lid getting painted). The engine grille T bolts. Yikes so expensive for those parts! I could not find any used. And that was the most stressful job. I had to keep finding the washers I dropped or the rubber fell when I turned my back and the lid slammed because I had it in limbo. You know how it goes. IT is a good 10 footer from the rear.

The front valence. The skirted one is getting repaired. It may be used on track days with the back tail. I wanted to use the speedster valence I had bought awhile back rather than leave it on my shelf. I cannot believe I was lucky enough to get it in black. I thought I would have a white car! That went on with just some minor tweaking, that is to be expected. I am waiting on some fog light trims before they go in the holes (thanks pelican classifieds).

This was pretty long winded. I just thought I would share my experiences to the folks who have inspired me to build a car that is fun to drive and visually a piece of art. I am no where near where the cars are that are posted on this site, and I don't really aspire to that level. I just want one to sit and look right and drive like mad. This will take some time. I am stoked I got the old wheels off. I would have been happy with that. I am sure some will say they like the old ones better. You want to trade for something?
Here are some photos of before and after and in progress. The car will always be in a state of change. I already have my next list running in my head......Track day at the end of the month! Laguna Seca is 10 minutes from my house!

P.S. I am always open to advice and suggestions and words of wisdom from those who appreciate, know and understand these awesome vehicles!

drola · 12-04-2011, 08:43 PM

those wheels are b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
congrats to you and enjoy
could go fill my in on the bumper plugs? i've been wanting to get rid of my pads since day one.
thanks

roadsterswap · 12-04-2011, 09:00 PM

There are only 3 bolts per side to hold on the bumpers. I went to Ace hardware and just found the black plastic plugs that would fit. Popped them right in. I didnt want to paint and fill at this time. It looks great from 10 feet.

Macroni · Macroni's Garage

Car is great. I have always liked the wide car w/o the tail.....

Porchcar guy · Porchcar guy's Garage

Hi, I don't know many people who like the bumperettes. I looked at so many pics of what guys have done and found an old Pelican post about a flat set. Called the guy and he sent them to me. My rear end now

drola · 12-04-2011, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadsterswap

There are only 3 bolts per side to hold on the bumpers. I went to Ace hardware and just found the black plastic plugs that would fit. Popped them right in. I didnt want to paint and fill at this time. It looks great from 10 feet.

and the hole where the tag light cable comes out? same thing?

timchar · timchar's Garage

Roadsterswap, love your car... The widebody has a very nasty wicked look to it.. Enjoy my friend. Tim

dshepp806 · dshepp806's Garage

Nice: ENJOY! And WELCOME!

Doyle

M0nster · 12-05-2011, 03:15 AM

Gorgeous, love it!

roadsterswap · 12-06-2011, 06:29 PM

I have never seen those square blocks before like the ones on your car. What are they from?

sm70911 · sm70911's Garage

Really nice reworking of that car. It looks so much better.
Love those sports seats BTW.

Carl_Boehme · 12-07-2011, 07:15 PM

Beautiful car. The first picture reminded me of my 86 Turbo, and brought back some great memories. Enjoy your beautiful car. I agree that it looks great without the turbo tail.

craig722 · 12-07-2011, 07:35 PM

Look here for the real McCoy plugs for your Porsche and many other fine products too.
I'm just a customer and have no affiliation with their Company.

BumperPlugs.com

roadsterswap · 12-07-2011, 08:55 PM

Is there anyone who has interest in the wheels on my car? I want some 16x8 and 16x9 fuchs for the look I am after. I would really like some 15s but tires are limited as are the cost of 9s! let me know what you have if you have interest. These are excellent condition with no curbing or damage at all.

roadsterswap · 04-18-2012, 06:59 PM

I have the cup wheels for sale without tires. $500 for the set. 7 and 9s. work well on Sc without spacers.

I just finished my 17 x 9 and 11 wheels with fuch centers. I built them up to be able to run without spacers. Jongbloed wheels made the halves. I have my other halves available that if you had a fuchs center they would fit a turbo chassis and body without spacers. ON a non tubo car they needed 2 inch spacer in rear and 1 inch in front.

I just got the wheels on I built the rear with a 6.5 front halves and 4.5 rear. Fronts are 5 inch rear and 4 inch front.

My 315s would not work on the rear.........my .5 inch extra depth made clearance an issue at one point on the tire. Plus they looked sort of square and big. I found out that porsche had a car with 17x11 and 17 x 9 with almost the same tires I went with.

235 40 17 front \
275 40 17 rear.

porsche had a car with 285 35 17s in the rear. I could not find that size anywhere.

I like what I have, and I can lower the car without issues.
Tires are cheap, and I get the deep barrel that I wanted.
What alot of mental anguish over deciding on the offsets.