so this is how a backdate project starts...

[SpyderMike]

I agree! The seats fit me perfect and I like them. I am looking at options and the houndstooth centers are sweet.

[SpyderMike]

Found a fellow Pelican offering up a painted grill...thought I would give it a try. I like it!

Before:


During:


After:

[7783911]

looking great Spyder!

[Flojo]

The plastic grilles "work" a lot when they get hot, meaning they expand... if paint is not primed correctly (heat conform plastic coating prior paint) it will brittle.

[SpyderMike]

Time will tell!

Well I took it upon myself to change out all of the engine fuel lines, and I am really glad I did. The return line was found to have some cracks in it. I also installed a new fuel filter.

It was a bit of a challenge doing this job with the engine in the car. You have to work while looking through mirrors. My earlier removal of some of the systems ( ruise control, engine blower) and then further taking more bits out during this process, made it possible. I used the lines now being provided by Paul Mason and they were of great quality and he was a pleasure to do business with. I was an early adopter of his product and he continually improved them. He sent me updated hoses during my installation.

I also replaced the airbox as I found it cracked in a few places from age. I am going to experiment with using the new base while cutting the old top to allow for a better sound in the cockpit at higher revs.

[Mason_paul]

Thanks for the kind words Mike! I’m looking forward to seeing that you got back on the road soon!

[SpyderMike]

A few pictures from the latest work. The new return section, the new fuel filter and fuse line, and new/revised filter box. I also took the opportunity to really clean my AFM and intake elbow. The car runs great.







Now I am hearing the front wheel bearings moan when at a crawl. That is next.

I am also working on a fresh air blower system....made out of easy to source bits.

[SpyderMike]

Finally got around to replacing the inside rear view mirror. Check out how badly the old one was after 34 years in California. It just started disintegrating.





That was a quick 5 minute fix.

[SpyderMike]

This project took a little bit longer. Since I pulled the A/C systems, and with the black interior, I wanted a fresh air blower system to give me some sense of airflow. I came up this this until I decide if I want A/C or not. I took an inline DC blower used for boat bilge venting, attached it to a hole to the outside (where the front A/C Condenser fan hole was), ran some smooth wall ducting and adapted it to the dash vent. Then I installed a PWM DC controller so I could adjust the volume of air. I had to de-solder the control potentiometer from the circuit board of the controller and extend it into the cockpit. Time will tell if it is enough airflow. The whole design was a little over $100 and most of that was the ducting I chose.

[SpyderMike]

Here is the small on/off/potentiometer controller knob in the center:



I got power from my switched bus. I measured 2 amps at 13.5VDC for full flow. I used a 5 amp fuse.

[SpyderMike]

Okay, the car has pretty much been running fine, until recently. I troubleshot it and found the reference sensor was open circuit. I ordered the BMW equivalent for that and the speed sensor (P/N 0261210002) for some $57 each. Within and hour they were in...easy fix for me. The car started right up and idled/ran the best it has in years. I highly recommend this change out for any car of this age that hasn't had it done yet. I followed these guidelines:

no-spark problem finally resolved

The hardest part of this event for me was removing the rubber grommet that passes through the firewall!

[SpyderMike]

I haven't been driving the car much lately as the starter was becoming a bit of a pain. When heated up, it wouldn't turn the engine over. Finally I decided to tackle this with a new geared starter...IMI 101N. The old one had served me well and will be kept.

Put the car on jackstands and bear hug the transmission with extensions and a swivel to get the hex bolts out. I had to lengthen one ground wire for hot start relay and reroute a couple of other wires as the connections are in another location. There is slight rubbing on the heater hose, but it fit pretty nice. It is a different sound when starting for sure...after 32+ years of driving this car...but it works!

[SpyderMike]

Everyone kept noticing the screws I had hiding the side panel holes, so I decided to do something about it. I bought Porsche trim pieces, drilled holes in them where the screws were and screwed them on. The biggest hassle to this whole task was the installation of the rubber seals on the backside of the trim pieces...ugh.









On to the next task at hand...the lop sided stance. I am a half inch different side to side in height.

[Jonny042]

Nice!

[hughc]

sub

[SpyderMike]

Another update...the low cost battery I was using was just not up to the task...so I bought a Lifpo one based on my research here. It is smaller in height and a little bit thicker in depth. They give you foam shims and those worked perfect. I needed longer bolts and happen to have some handy. Super light weight with many more cranking amps. Happy!

So I have used a Oddessey 680 (that is what the battery holder is sized for), the inexpensive Universal shown below in comparison and now this battery.

[SpyderMike]

LOL, I thought I was done...nope. I realized that I wasn't driving the car much during the hot weather which is getting hotter longer. So air-conditioning is now the main focus. I am going with a hybrid system consisting of Classic Retrofit and Griffiths parts. Here is my AC thread:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/1144750-1985-ac-project.html

[Matt at Pelican Parts]

Awesome thread Mike! It looks like you've put in a lot of hard work over the years!

[SpyderMike]

Thanks Matt! There is always something to fiddle with on this beast! I just can't leave it alone!

[tagamaynila]

How is your car? Just saw your thread yesterday while I was looking for backdating info. I must say this is very informative not only on your detailed description of how you did it yourself but also the cost and parts information. Well done!