Pelican Parts Forums - What a difference a day (or two) makes.

This week it was finally warm enough to actually open up the garage doors and let some air thru. So I decided that it was time to actually install some of the parts I bought last year. A short shifter and all new bushings for the shift mechanism, some used gauges to replace my T ones and new hood and taillight lights. And I had do to something about the broken ignition switch. The stock shifter worked OK but flopped around a good 2" side to side and back and forth, even when it was in gear. It made it rather difficult to actually find a gear in the heat of an autocross.

So out comes Waynes book and after a quick perusal of the appropriate chapters I procede to disassemble, clean and replace everything.

First thing I found was that the shifter ball socket was pretty well gone, just one side left, the second was that the shift coupler bushing holes were actually oval. I believe the standard Porsche ones were supposed to be slightly oval to reduce transmission vibration passing to the shifter, but these had at least 1/2" of free play.

After replacing those, and cleaning everything up I put it all back together complete with a Weltmeister shortshifter.

Man what a difference, with all the play gone the throw on the shift has gone done to at least half of what it was before, and I can actually find the gears.

Took probably 3 hours total and has completely transformed the shifting.

Then I went thru the wiring, cleaning, tightening and replacing until all the bulbs worked.

Next, yanked the old gauges out, figured out the wires and connections for the new ones, made out some new studs to fasten them in place since they were from a later model and came with the large rubber rings instead of studs. While I was at it I also replaced all the dead bulbs so I can see my gauges at night. And finally I rotated the gauges around so I can see the critical points thru my steering wheel.

So now I have a complete set of gauges, although the oil level isn't attached to anything yet since my tank doesn't have a sender. That will have to wait until I put the 72 tank in place and add the front cooler.

Finally I took out the ignition switch and tossed it in the junk bowl, then I wired a hidden, keyed electrical switch up, ran it to a toggle switch with a shut-off cover, wired that to the fuel pump and ignition circuit, and finally put in a push button starter. I still need to put in another toggle for the accessories, but since I yanked the radio, speakers and cigarette lighter out while I was under the dash there isn't much left that needs juice. Although I guess I need some where to connect a radar detector.

Next step, new transmission fluid, and maybe installing that Crane replacement for my points. I also need to make up new covers for the dash to replace the 'brushed' aluminum ones I yanked off while doing the wiring. They were practically off anyways.

Man it feels good to actually be able to get some work done on the car. Gotta go with it while I can, starting to build a house in a couple of weeks and then the car is going to have to wait again.