so this is how a backdate project starts...

[SpyderMike]

Here is another shot of my backup fuel filler door latch release. It consists of a bolt, some washers, and some rubber hose.



I tried the original black plastic hood latch cover and it fits fine with no interference with my new hood latch system.



I got the end trim pieces and the bumper attach brackets installed:





Ready for bumper install. After that the headlights, turn signals and horn grills can all be installed.

[SpyderMike]

Oh, and I installed the drain tube for the fresh air water catch plenum. I still need a grommet at the hole exiting the tub.

I used a heat gun to soften the tube to install it on the nipple:

[SpyderMike]

I cleaned and put a coat or four of paint in the front end:

[SpyderMike]

Big evening for me - got the new seal and front bumper installed - yippee! It went on relatively easily with help from my wife.

With the mounting brackets all the way in I still had about 1/8" gap between the brackets and the tub, so I came up with a shim idea and made these. They worked great:





The seal is thicker than I planned, so I need to adjust the height of the outrigger to bumper standoff about 1/8 - 3/16". I also need to trim the ends of the seal and fasten down the hood/center section of the seal to the bumper.





I am very happy with the results. Yes, the car is riding high due to the couple hundred pound of excess that I stripped out of it.

[SpyderMike]

Wow. Just when you think things are going well...I tried to put the headlights on. I could not get a good fit on the right fender and struggled for about an hour. I used serious amounts of blue tape around the edges and pushed and pushed but the trim ring would not go over the bucket rim. I gave the left side a try with the same light assembly and it took less than 10 minutes. Go figure. I measured the diameter of the headlight buckets and the right side is about 1/16" larger in diameter. I disassembled the next headlight assembly and tried the trim ring alone and it would not fit. I used pliers to try to bend the lip of the bucket in ever so slightly and I tried reshaping the trim ring. Together those got me close. I ended up having to use a body hammer against a screwdriver to reshape the bucket rim edge to allow the trim ring to seat. Luckily the batter edge is hidden from view. They are on now and work. I also used zip ties to hold the light assemblies from falling out should they decide to let go.







Lastly, I adhered the front seal area below the hood to keep it in place.



Time to take a break from this project...

[Rodney Nelson]

Could you please hurry up... lower the front end down, torque the wheels (per your blue tape), install the turn signals, get it out in the sunlight and take some good pics?1?!

Looking too good to wait anymore

[SpyderMike]

Thanks Rodney! I realized I hadn't ordered the speednuts for the turn signals, the seals for the horn grills, so I ordered those tonight. I also still haven't decided on the style of turn signal lenses either. I also picked up some restored 7s and 8s I need tires on. What is the saying? "90% done and 90% to go". It won't be too long...I have to take a break to travel. My mum turns 85 and there is some celebrating to do. Cheers!

[SpyderMike]

Got the hardware in and installed the horn grills and turn signals. You have to be okay with best fit as everything needs adjusting. Nothing goes in easy it seems. I used a foam iseal between to turn signal and the horn grill to fill in what I thought was an excessive gap.

I went with the black trim on the turn signal lenses....I will see how they sit with me. So far I like them. I have my original 1985 black trim lenses in the back. The light all work!

[SpyderMike]

So this old dawg sits kinda high now (having lost a few hundred pounds)...I have to get me some tires on my new (to me) 16X7s and 8s, put them on, and lower this sucka down.

Getting there.



Not sure why I finally noticed this. The slant of the engine and muffler cause the muffler to interfere with the new backdated center panel. I need to understand what is causing this and maybe I can live with this muffler a while (during the sort out period).

[Trackrash]

Nice looking. FWIW those front lights never fit perfectly from the factory.

You should be able to adjust the rear engine mount cross bar where it bolts to the motor to get things level back there.

Keep up the good work.

[SpyderMike]

Thanks! Yes, the seals and lenses were a pain. Too much time spent chasing improvement which can't be obtained.

I will loosen the engine to carrier bolts, level the engine, then tight and see if that changes it.

[obscene]

as others said, "close" is about as good as the turn signals and horn grills get. excellent work! almost there!

[Jonny042]

Your turn signals and lenses and horn grilles look great!

From which supplier did you order the turn signal lens seals? I've tried 3 different ones including genuine Porsche and havent yet found one that wasnt 25% too big. Front AND rear.

You might consider trying black horn grilles to match the black turn signals - would look a bit more integrated.

[Trackrash]

Originally Posted by Jonny042

Your turn signals and lenses and horn grilles look great!

From which supplier did you order the turn signal lens seals? I've tried 3 different ones including genuine Porsche and havent yet found one that wasnt 25% too big. Front AND rear.

You might consider trying black horn grilles to match the black turn signals - would look a bit more integrated.

Yea, you need to decide what year car you want to duplicate as far as your trim goes. Up to '72 all the trim was silver. In '73 the window trim and headlight trim was silver, but the horn grills and turn signals were black. Later cars had all black trim as original.
As mentioned black horn grills would look better. As a positive note, those aftermarket chrome grills will pit and corrode quickly, AHIK, so you are better off with black.
The issue, IMO, you face is the fact that you have black trim on the windshield. So how do you match that?

[SpyderMike]

Originally Posted by Jonny042

Your turn signals and lenses and horn grilles look great!

From which supplier did you order the turn signal lens seals? I've tried 3 different ones including genuine Porsche and havent yet found one that wasnt 25% too big. Front AND rear.

You might consider trying black horn grilles to match the black turn signals - would look a bit more integrated.

Originally Posted by Trackrash

Yea, you need to decide what year car you want to duplicate as far as your trim goes.

If one was trying to duplicate a specific year...which I am not. My car is a 1985 and I am not changing much of that fact. I am experimenting with some details to find out what I like. I will most likely change aesthetic things over time.

The seals I got were from Aase. They are a bit large, so I glued the tops and bottom surfaces. I supposed you could cut small sections out and glue them together if you wanted exact fit (or closer to it). The problem I saw with them were larger radius curves existed where sharper radius bends were needed.

Originally Posted by Trackrash

As a positive note, those aftermarket chrome grills will pit and corrode quickly, AHIK, so you are better off with black.

The aftermarket grills I bought appear to be well made:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-Horn-Grills-grille-grill-1966-1967-1968-pair-left-and-right-Steel/182850863245?hash=item2a92c2c08d:g:2JsAAOSwtfhYnlA A&vxp=mtr

Thanks for checking in...

[Jonny042]

Those horn grilles are from Eric Linden at Auto Foreign Services and are PERFECT. They are much, much, nicer than the Tasker Metal Products ones you get elsewhere.

[SpyderMike]

Agreed...very nice bits.

[SpyderMike]

After a month off traveling, I decided to attack and try to finish the back end.

I clearanced the center panel for the interference with the muffler straps. This allows me to keep this muffler for a while while I work other issues.

I also had to massage and clearance the top toles for the chrome bumperette installation in the center panel. In filing those, I ended up scratching the paint - I will need to fix that.

I re-shimmed the rear bumpers for even tighter fit and added seals in some visible places. Overall I think everything fits pretty good.

I still need to match drill and fasten the fronts of the bumpers to the support rods to finalize that installation and I need to install my license plate and hook up the LED lights that illuminate it.

[SpyderMike]

I will order new tires now, spring plate bushings, and new front wheel bearings. I received my new transmission mounts so those will be next.

[will hung]

Looks good. Chrome bumperettes with no rubber strip is my favorite longhood look.