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

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508089709.jpg

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

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508089709.jpg

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

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508089709.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508089709.jpg

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

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:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508091680.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508091680.jpg

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

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508093474.jpg

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:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508116333.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508116333.jpg

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.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508116333.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508116333.jpg

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.

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.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508193662.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508193662.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508193662.jpg

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

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1508193662.jpg

Time to take a break from this project...

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 :)

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!

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!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1509066558.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1509066558.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1509066558.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1509066558.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1509066558.jpg

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.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1509066942.jpg

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).

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1509066942.jpg

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.

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.

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

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?

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.

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...

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.

Agreed...very nice bits.

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.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1512593594.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1512593594.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1512593594.jpg

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.

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

Looks really nice Mike!

Thank you Will and Lou! I feel like I am getting close to having a driver....

I got the rear bumpers aligned and attached at the front end. That is done.

I installed a new (to me) charcoal canister which needs hoses to it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1512768728.jpg

I also installed new transmission mounts - probably the easiest thing I have done so far.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1512768728.jpg

While under there I noticed this that needs to be taken care of very soon:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1512768728.jpg

The tires are due in any day.

That's looking great! That car is going to be really sharp. I'm a big fan of the "S" Trim.

Thank you Jonny.

I got my tires in yesterday - Continental Extreme Contact Sports in 205/55 and 255/50. I hope to get them mounted next week. I will need to think about changing out the spring plate bushings and lowering the car. I also want to replace teh front wheel bearings as the front right is original and starting to moan in certain situations.

I also received the replacement oil tube. I need to change that out without wasting the brand new oil I have in there.

Then there are the LED lights for the license pate to install...then the car can be driven routinely while I plan the next phase.

The list is getting shorter, I think.

funny. i'm almost finished putting mine back together. i'm amazed how much higher the car sits post-backdate. i'm definitely going to have to dial in the ride height all over again...

Are those 15” or 16”. Didn’t know Contis came in 255/50.
Johan

I think he meant 225/50.

Yes, my bad - typo....I am really good at typos. One of my strong suits. Oh, and they are going on 16x7 and 16x8s.

Today was take the rear suspension apart day. Woohoo. Pretty straight forward. I need new spring plate bushings bad. These were toast. There were rubber shavings outside the torsion tube cap, the bushings are oblong and the contact surface on the spring plate cover was may 60 percent around:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513396238.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513396238.jpg

I am thinking this was an original torsion bar with the Porsche stamp. I have 250,000+ miles on this car. Maybe time to replace these?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513396238.jpg

Tomorrow the other side. Bushings are on order and coming in. I need to think about the torsion bars.

What a difference a day makes...24 little hours. Okay, one of the less "fun" tasks. I got my new rear spring plate bushings, and I set off to clean up the old ones. I have made the decision to go with an all new suspension sometime soon, just not right now. I need to drive the car for a bit.

I spent about 1 hour per bushing location with a heat gun, exacto knives, chisels and wire wheels in an electric drill to get the surfaces "fairly" clean. This should provide a good enough bonding surface:

Before:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513793387.jpg

During:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513793387.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513793387.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513793387.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513793387.jpg

After:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513793387.jpg

Nothing stellar; just functional.

Then, for something completely different, I decided to install my license plate and LED lights. First I had to modify the pigtails of the lights by cutting, soldering on contacts, and heat shrinking. It was a paint to install them with little room behind the plate, but they are in and they actually work.

Time for an Advil.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513793879.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513793879.jpg

I went to the local Target today in search of superglue to bond my rear bushings. What I found was a gel version. I chose that because I was concerned with the liquid stuff running all over and dripping. I used it in a zig zag pattern on four sides. I had a rubber mallet and a tape roll of which the ID of the center hole was slightly bigger than the ID of the bushing. I applied the gel, tapped the bushing in with tape roll and mallet,and then gave the bushing a 90 degree twist to further smear the adhesive. It set up pretty fast - in about 6 seconds or so. Once it set, the bushings felt solidly attached. I will let them cure overnight before installing them.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513818551.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513818551.jpg

I created a thread on the math I calculated to set this height:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/981374-1985-rear-height-adjustment-math.html

Hopefully I will get some feedback on my methodology, and then I will see how this process works.

Great build. Keep the photos coming. I like the license plate LEDs. Have put power to them and are you happy with the color?

Thanks Brian,

Here are some photos - one with flash and one without. They are slim and do the job. They were a gift from a fellow Pelican-ite. I like them.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513829529.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1513829529.jpg

The are a bright white - hard to capture. If you are looking for a vintage look it is probably not the ones for you. The light coverage looks fine.

Try some clear tape over the lights to subdue the brightness?

Sorry Mad Max, what I meant was that the light is bright as in high color temp vs a vintage more yellow look.

They are a great value:

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-license-plate-lights/miniature-led-license-plate-bolt/1685/#/attributes/10820

Well, I finally got the rear spring plate bushings on and lowered the car a bit. I detailed that on the thread mentioned above in post #232. It is sitting around 25" on the rear and 25.5 in the front. Time for an alignment!

I still want to tackle a few things before I really start driving it:

1. Ground the fuel filler tube. This is a result of using an older fender with newer tank fill tube. There is no ground to the tube anymore.
2. Replace the main oil tube from the tank to the engine. I have a replacement and I am thinking of ways to salvage the new oil in the tank.
3. Hook up the charcoal canister system - the front large fender tank is now missing out of the system.
4. Get a proper alignment.
5. Take it off "Non-Op" status and smog it.

Still left to do:
1. All the seals around the doors.
2. Clean up the original wheel caps that I have.
3. Put touch up paint in all the chips and have the car buffed.

Before:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1509066942.jpg

After:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1514135855.jpg

I might drop it down a tad more at the shop doing the alignment. I have to see it with the new wheels and tires first.

I took it down 1/2" in back and 1-1/4" in front...to essentially euro ride height. I expect it to settle some more once I drive it.

The ride height looks great. Maybe a bit lower in the front but it will probably settle a bit as is and look perfect. Question about your license plate lights. I found the same ones online but wanted to see if you ran a power source to reduce voltage or just wired them to the factory wiring. Thanks

Yes, I intend to drive it a while and let it settle in before any further adjustment.

My LED license plate lights had a label saying 12vdc, so I hooked them straight to the wiring from the original lights and they worked fine. No need to reduce voltage.