Well the project is continuing

[Eldorado]

steve, any tips on getting the speedo apart? need to check my gear as well... i know you're supposed to pry the black metal ring off, but when i try, it doesn't budge...

also, did you take out the center speaker grill and fit it on top of the dash? looks better than mine that is currently countersunk into the dash cap.. lol

[shikzachaser]

I took a really small flat tip screwdriver and used it to gradually pry the crimped edge back. It takes a while as you only go about 1/8" each little pry but it definately works. After that you just take the four screws off the back and the housing slips right off. The little red drive gear had disengaged and all I did was pry it back and put a little superglue gell on the shaft. Hopefully it works.

I took the center speaker grill out and also the instrument cluster then glued the top on. I used duct tape to pull the bottom edges flush and let it sit overnight. It actually fits really well. I have to grind a little bit off the bottom of the speaker grill and then it should fit perfectly. I am mounting another speaker in there that will be triggered off the radar detector. My stereo will really play pretty loud now and I want to trigger the phone mute on the radio and also an additional speaker when the detector goes off. I did the same basic thing on our boat except that the trigger is the depth finder verses radar.

I talked to the SC builder Friday and it looks like everything will be done by the end of the month. I hope so as there is a local Porsche club and European car show here mid-June and no one has seen the car or what I am doing to it unless they read this forum. I really am anxious to hear how "you ruined it", "you should have just bought a 951", "you will never get your money back on it", etc.. I did the same kind of thing to a Triumph Spitfire about 10 years ago. The car was killer, blueprinted motor, little tiny headers, twin side draft webers. I painted it Mercedes smoke silver and anodized every piece of trim black. I then handmade a mahogony dash and luggage rack rails. All I got was a bunch of a--holes with roached out old cars they were "restoring" telling me how I ruined the car....whatever...

Thanks again for the referal on the gauge faces

Steve

[Usmellgass2?]

Steve, you have got a beautiful 944, and have every reason to be extremely proud. Zman would probably put a boot in my a$$ if I shared my opinion about the "purist" and brand snobs.
btw Thank You for spending the time to share this build with us. I want to do the fiberworks parts and need a dash cap too.

[shikzachaser]

The Fiberwerks kit is actually really good as long as you have patience. If you have never done this kind of thing just get somebody to help you. It's worth it. I think Karl is retiring the old style kit (like I got). Too bad, I really like the simpler lines and not having the front too low.

The biggest problem with this stuff is younger buyers that really don't have much mechanical experience buying an old 944 for a few grand then trying to pay somebody to keep it running for them plus try to do any cool mods. It gets to be expensive. I would never attempt any project without having another "driver" so that the project car can be down for a while. I started researching what I was going to do in July 05, and then started work in January 06 and figured I would be done by Mid-March and spend $10K. It's going to be realisticly July before I am done tuning on a dyno and sorting everything out. I will also have significantly more money invested than planned. Oh well...At least these cars are easy to work on for most things. Parts are a bit high as most of you know. These threads and leads from them have been invaluable to me as I am not the sharpest pencil in the box.


Steve

84 "Schrittkind mit dem roten haar"

[shikzachaser]

I got the gauges apart today in anticipation of the white faces. I removed the bulb from the upshift light and also got the gauge kit that does not have the gas mileage. The needles are all now guards red and I have a buddy of mine who owns a glass shop making flat 1/8" tempered glass fronts instead of the breastical looking ones that came with the car. I never did like those. The tach is being moved to the center w/ the speed-o on the left. I have always liked having red-line straight up and dead center in my field of vision so the tach will be rotated to allow that. I had an Alpina B9 we bought in Germany that was set up that way from Alpina and it was really cool. North Hollywood Speedometer is sending me an 80PSI white VDO oil pressure gauge to complete the gauge set.

I hope I am not bothering too many people with this thread, it's just a current focus of attention for me and nobody around my neck of the woods understands what I am trying to build.

Steve

[Razorback1980]

I'm enjoying it a lot....keep it up and more pictures. I am living vicariously through you....so keep spending! Someday I may just take a trip up that way so I can look at this car in person.

[shikzachaser]

Hopefully it turns out the way I think it will. I am definately putting in the effort.

Steve

[Eldorado]

Steve, why question our feelings on this post?? i think what you're doing is great! Like Tom, I'm living vicariously through you, wishing I was in your spot.. lol

I think it will turn out BETTER than you had thought... just wait until you put your foot down and hear the whine of that SC..... all the effort will seem like childs play compared to your level of excitement.

[shikzachaser]

I think maybe I'm just at kind of a down point right now. I have been waiting for 4 months to get the blower and the body shop has now told me that I won't see the bumpers until after Memorial Day. This is despite the fact I was told they would be done last week. It's the old "I'm doing you a favor and other stuff came in". I would just as soon pay retail and get it done. I want to drive the thing before winter. I suppose most projects have a period of laying dormant.


Steve

[Eldorado]

give 'er a good wash and wax... well, of what still exists on the car...

or go around and change every lightbulb in it so you know they're new... hehe

anyway, I suppose it's like a kid on christmas.. the night before is always the longest and most painful. When you're really pumped about something and you gotta wait just a *liiittle bit longer*, it seems like an eternity!!

go take that beautiful granddaughter of yours out in the bmw for some icecream... or to the nearest airport to watch the planes... hehe

[shikzachaser]

Instead of the BMW I think I will take her along with Mrs 944 and our son out watersking this weekend. I bought a pretty cool boat. I had a guy in Florida take a new Cobalt hull and custom build the interior for me and also add some wiring harnesses for me. It turned out great. Just a little 19 footer but we used a GM 4.3 with a roller cam setup and a stainless torque prop. It runs out great. I'll just have to be patient and hope all the parts come together soon. BTW I actually did take all the light bulbs out, clean the bases and sockets, make sure everything works and buff and wax it (twice) since it has been back up on the jack stands. I really need to get a life. I also did something that works great for the annoying people that come up behind you w/ the brights on. I took a small rocker switch that fits in the center console by the mirror one and hard wired it to the reverse lights. It works great to really freak somebody out when all of a sudden they have bright white light in their eyes.I also upped the wattage of the bulbs.

Steve


Steve

[Eldorado]

I've often thought about putting a windshield washer squirter back there that shoots straight back onto the offending car...

or your brake lights powered by a switch...

[shikzachaser]

Brake lights are not modified. I have thought about that just in case I need to really pull away and hide. I just used a different wattage bulb in the reverse light socket and tigger that with the switch. It works really well. I first did it on a Volvo 1800es I had. The back of that thing was all glass and the lights really helped out.

Steve

[Eldorado]

What about modifying a pixel board.. you know, those light signs made up of a bunch of little red LEDs? I'd really like to fit one of those between the lights where the 'updated' rear lens would go...

have it say whatever you want!

great idea on the back up lights though.. do they still go on automatically when you put it in reverse?

[shikzachaser]

They still function normally, just a little brighter. Somebody makes a 12V LED display about 18" long that gives you a remote keyboard. I don't remember the manufacturer, I can check w/ my partner, he runs the retail end of our business and is always coming up with weird stuff.

Steve

[Eldorado]

I dont know if i'd seriously consider it... but it'd still be fun to have a sign that could express more of a clear message than the highway salute! :P

[Usmellgass2?]

Eldorado, u make me smile! In WA state it is illegal th have a public address speaker on your car. but a reader board would kick ass. Even a paddle board with pre programed messages....

[Eldorado]

"back off, *********"
"OWNED"


personal plates 'aint got nothin on a pixel board!!!

[shikzachaser]

They are available.

[shikzachaser]

Well I picked up the bumpers and mirrors today. They came out great. I have them attached for the last time and ready for accessories to go back on. The SC should be in by months end. If not I will blow a gasket myself. The Fiberwerks stuff takes some serious trial and error fitting prior to paint and it also takes some additional brackets but I love the look. I realize it's subjective but it's mine and I like it.



Back home and ready to bolt on







The back end looks pretty weird because it's still up on jackstands


Hopefully the lights and everything else come together as planned.

Steve

84 944
98 M3
91 C4
00 Durango
06 Aprilia