Cheaper isn't always the right way to go. I think a person has to look inside for what's right for them. It's your money, you worked hard to get it, do it your way. There are a lot of us following this project and watching every move just for the excitement and enjoyment of someone doing something different just as we have/did Alex's and others.

As far as the car, try to remember that it wasn't the car that did this, it was a person and directing that anger/disappointment in that direction is probably more constructive. So, let's (ok, so it's really only you) keep working on this until you get it the way you want.

It also saddens me that someone would take advantage of someone else. Makes you want to send cousin Vinny down to check out their knee caps (no disrespect intended to the Vinny on the forum here:) ). I know it would have been easy to keep all this to yourself and not put it on the forum, but I think that opens the door to many of us being taken advantage of, so for your honesty and helping all of us stay away from trouble, I do thank you. I only wish you didn't have to. Maybe if the entire forum wrote this guy a message, you would get a check in the mail with your money back and you could move on to a new vendor. I intend to write to him and give him at least one opinion and I encourage each of the rest of us to do the same. Let him know that we are all together and if he intends on selling anything for our cars, he has to treat us right. Those of you that feel as I do, please feel free to direct a PM to him as well. There is strength in numbers!

x3m reads these posts. He has already gotten the message loud and clear.

I'm really not trying to pile on here or create a "poor Steve" sceanario. I am a big boy and as such realize there are certain risks involved w/ any long distance transaction. I just feel that I have waited around enough and deserve a little better treatment as would anyone forking out for a product in good faith regardless of price. Public disclosure is a powerful thing. I got an email yesterday giving me the option of a refund or finishing the thing. I opted to finish with a deadline of 7-17. I will assume that the refund option was genuine (not in another 5-6 months). Hopefully the problems associated with my particular transaction are an anomaly and not a deliberate attempt at deceipt. I really dout the latter as West and I have had numerous talks, just no real results. The guy really does know what he is doing, at least as far as the mechanics. I understand problems, everyone has them to one degree or another, I also understand business. I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt at least for 2 more weeks. Hey it's already been over 5 months and the car will be getting bodywork until then anyway. There actually is no anger to be directed at anyone at this point, I am over that, eventually my wife will be also. I am kind of tired of hearing "how could you be so stupid?, what's in the box from UPS today bet it's not from Florida, etc". Anger does nothing but create a negative impact on more important issues. Frustrated, now that's a different story. I looked at the poor old girl / guy / whatever it is yesterday sitting in the garage w a dented rear quarter panel and an agonizingly slow motor and I am definately going to finish the project one way or another. It will come back rising like a Phoenix out of the ashes......maybe not, that is definately taking this whole thing too far, but it should be pretty cool when done.

Steve

I didn't take it as "poor Steve"...I took it as someone took on a job in good faith; took your money and didn't come through. Right is right and wrong is wrong. It's really that simple. I didn't know about the refund offer...must have missed that thread, so I guess that does help a bit, but even if you have problems, just stay in contact with the person and try to work through the problems...usually they will understand and if they want the product will wait patiently....if they don't wish to do that, then give them their money back until you can get it figured out....just good business.

Agreed. The refund offer only came yesterday after I went "public". Patience wears thin after 5 months of broken promisses and no results. My clients would have dumped me, probably sued me, and definately not sent me Christmas cards if they were treated in this manner. Any business is a house of cards that takes years of work to build and can come apart in a very short period of time if your client base is not treated properly. Such a niche product as this definately takes a referal base as there are not that many wackos out there willing to plop down that amount of cash for such a weird thing, I hope I can provide that referal in the end.

Enough negativity, how bout them Cardinals?

Steve

Did you say....how bout them Astros? :)

Did you get my PM's? Sorry they limit the size so I had to send more than one.

I got them, thanks. I will use them as a resource after I get over the initial pain and suffering of this go around.

Thanks again:

Steve

Oh yeah: I meant Astros, can't wait to see them win another world series. I lived in Conroe through high school and then went to UH (Cullen School of Engineering) so I am somewhat familiar with their exercise in futility.

"A normal person feels that if it ain't broke don't fix it, an engineer feels that if it ain't broke it ain't got enough features yet"

Ouch....could someone get that knife out of my back? I think it's getting blood all over my Astros shirt.

Tom:

It's all good.

Steve

Yes, I agree. :)

Well I started the car again today for the first time in 2 weeks. I heard a distinct ratteling like belts against plastic when it first started. Guess that recomendation of checking it @ 1500 after replacing is no idle threat. Sure enough it's loose. Guess I need to go buy a 12 pack and head next door to borrow the tensioning tool.

Steve

Well I hope to see it work out for you Steve. When your car is back from the body shop I'll have to drive up there and we can shoot the breeze.

My car won't be perfect by then either, I got mis quoted for some body work from a local bodyshop and theres no way I'm going there to get it done (I think they were trying to run up the cost after seeing what kind of car it was... either that or they are steep)

Speaking up being up your way, I drove up the manchester in the P-car just this weekend. I might post a thread on that experience... (hot, traffic jam, ex girlfriend, 20 year old sports car... etc)

Definatelygive me a call next time you are coming up this way. You have my #. I live about a mile from Parktown Porsche / Audi. The car will be @ the shop from the 17th to the 25th. They put me off a week.
As far as the ex girlfriend, 20 YO car, no A/C, etc I've definately been there. My experience was with an old MG midget and then a Fiat 124. At least you have a real car.

Steve

I need your help Hugh
 

I have a weird problem with the car. When cold everything is great. With this latest run of hot weather in St Louis I have a problem I am not capable of solving. The car will run great then really cut out bad. It's more like losing spark than fuel. If I stop it will not restart until I get out and take the coil wire off and on a few times. It makes no sense and may be totally unrelated (maybe it is just taking a little time). All of a sudden it will light right off and most times run fine. Sometimes it will start the missing again. I did just replae the stock coil w/ an MSD blaster.

Help me:

Steve

If you only replaced the stock coil with a Blaster coil (the round can style), the following holds true if you did not also add an MSD ignition:

From personal experience you MUST use a ballast resitor when using a Blaster coil as a replacement to the stock coil. Black wire from ignition switch to ballast resistor; ballast resistor to (+) side of Blaster. Without the proper current limiting resistor, you will eventually kill the coil. Ask your FLAPS for an old Chrysler ballast resistor or get an official MSD 0.8 ohm ballast resistor.
ALSO, can style coils "should" be mounted on their side, if possible, so the oil fill can properly contact all the windings to limit overheating. Note the stock location's proximity to really hot things.

could be completely unrelated given that you taking the coil seems to do something...... but can you kill the car by wiggling the key? when my ignition switch was bad, it did what you describe a couple times.. and only on a HOT day..

I just stuck the stock coil back in to see what happens. It's 97 here today w/ about 60% humidity so it will definately get hot enough to simulate the problem. I did not know about the ballast resistor being required. I bought the coil through Pelican. I'm surprised that there was no mention of this. I called MSD and they confirmed the resistor being required. This forum is great as I could have fooled around with all kinds of stuff and never found that bit of information out.

Thanks:

Steve

there you go!
glad it was an easy fix..

Now if the rear quarter and the supercharger will just get done I might get to drive the thing before I have to put it away for the winter. I can't believe it is going to basicly take a year to complete something I should have had done in 3-4 months. I am already sourcing out an intercooler to install in that big ol Fiberwerks mouth. I will try 8PSI after the intercooler and probably lose it down to 7PSI through the heat transfer. I want 200RWHP and about the same torque which should be obtainable. With dropping 150 or so lbs and redoing the suspension I would think it will be a pretty good performing little car. Anybody got good ideas on the oil pan so that I can keep the oil from sloshing around? Has anyone done a dry sump system on one of these critters? I took it for a drive today even with the dent and it still felt good. I had two people ask me what the hell it was. I may have them take off the front emblem and repaint the nose while it's in the shop. I even had one of my clients who is 6'4"+ try it out for fitment. He has expressed interest in getting "one of those snazzy little cars like you drive". I offered to trade for his S500 Benz but it was a no go. I even offered to buy him one of those hats the old dudes wear when they drive a sports car and throw that in but still a no go. Guess I'll just keep it.

Steve

Get the body smoothed out and you can come down to eresener's and help us curse at his engine bay while trying to act like we have some sort of idea about how to fix it....

AHHHH, I see you liked my idea!

http://forums.rennlist.com/upload/fiberwerksic.jpg

Well I got that big mouth there. I'll do it over the winter. I just want to get the basics done this year. This has been a very frustrating project for the last couple months.

Steve

Schumi:

I may just do that. I should have it back the first aprt of week after next but the way this project is going it will probably get dropped off a rack or something while it's at the body shop.

Steve

Well, you can't appreciate the good if there is no bad. Hopefully you have enough appreciation now! :)

Tom:

Actually I should not complain. If this is the greatest problem in my life I am definately fortunate. One of my best friend's here in St Louis who graduated from Wash U Law School @ the age of 20 (went striaght into college from 8th grade prep school) and is the youngest grad in the history of the law school was diagnosed w/ MS a month before their first son was born. I will probably be buying his Ruff 930 real soon as he can no longer shift and he wants it to go to a good home. He can still drive his CL55AMG but even that is getting scarry. Something like this 944 is very minor in the big picture. It does still piss me off though. I'll post a couple pics of the 930 here real soon sitting next to my 44.

Steve

Yes, good health is the most important thing of all. My daughter was born with Cerebral Palsy and that quickly makes you appreciate how lucky you are not to have to face those same type problems. Her mom worked at the Houston Zoo at the time and while she was pregnant, she was sticking needles in her arm several times daily with medications designed for animals but unsafe for human use. I'm pretty lucky though, it's relatively minor today but it's scary as hell when she is 11 months old and the doctors are telling you that she will never crawl or walk and they have no idea what her learning capabilities are going to be. Fortunately, she has proven them wrong and walks pretty well, but her left arm has some problems which is why I sold my manual 944 and bought the automatic instead of giving her my manual. She does do very well in school. Her SAT score last year was the highest in the state of Texas for her class and higher than 98 percent of the class above her. Hopefully, she will do even better this year.

Looking forward to seeing the 930 and I hope your gifted friend finds ways to improve.

Always keep in mind the roller coaster is more fun than the merry go round.

Congradulations on your daughter's achievements. There is no better feeling than to see your kids have success. Has she decided on a college yet?

Andrew is about 15 years younger than my wife and I and it's kind of a weird friend / older brother type of thing. He and his wife are coping quite well but definately have good and bad days. He has a lot of good time friends his age that have kind of disappeared and his son is almost the same age as our granddaughter. They spend quite a bit of time over at our house. It certainly makes you realize these forums and things are a great fun outlet but I think there are a few folks who take the whole thing a bit too seriously. The 930 is killer. Black / Black Cab. w/ a dyno 400 RWHP. It is definately a scarey thing. I certainly don't need it, my wife will go through the roof, but what the hell, he will let me have it for about what he has put in it after the purchase. I swore I would never have another black car. 911's are the weirdest thing. I don't think I know anybody who has had just one. They are kind of like herpes in that they keep popping up when you least expect it.

Steve

I just went down and saw a slantnose 930 with eresener friday... They are beautiful cars. As with all 80's 911's you really have to be right there next to it to just appreciate the looks.

A 930 will sure put the hurt down on your M3....

..and I thought yur 944 looked amazing sitting in the garage next to the Bimmer, but a 930 would be over the top.

She wants to go to Texas A&M and be a veterinarian. She loves animals and competes in equestrian riding. She owns a black and white paint horse. Very expensive hobby, but it's good for kids with her condition. I do believe that is why she has done so well. Of course I get all the mileage I can out of it. If she doesn't study enough to get the right grades, then he'll have to go...or at least she won't get to go to the barn as much. So far, it's worked. Hopefully it will continue. The Porsche is another reward for her hard efforts. Her mom had the nerve to tell me when I gave her the Porsche that I give her so many things and she does nothing to get them....I almost decked her then but I calmly said...I think the SAT score is more than nothing...but a lot of that is I'll always hate her for what she did to Candace.

Anway, I'm not sure Mr. Porsche would like your analogy to the 911! :) ...and if your garage gets too full, you can keep it in mine! It's always good to get a nice car worth the money I say.

A&M is as good as it gets in that field, particularly for large animal medicine. You will definately have one up on the Cougs in Football and also on good ol'Mizzu. Unfortunately the Aggies are the but of a lot of poor humor down there. She has worked for her reward and I know for a fact that the car would be happy (I really do think they develop somewhat of a personality). I know mine do. I just wish my son were more of a car guy.

Steve

Steve

Schumi:

The 44 nor the M3 will be going anywhere, I'll just close in the carport so everybody can stay inside. We just drove the M3 up to Springfield , IL Saturday to go to a party and spend the night at a B&B. That little car really gets with the program on the highway and is surprisingly comfortable. A buddy of mine up there just picked up a 2 YO Audi S4 and that car is bad ass, it will blow away the M3. My brother is picking up my 964 when he gets back from Italy. Kind of hate to see it go, but not nearly as much as my 86 when it went away. The 930 is a triple black slantnose, and definately imposing. The Bursch exhaust definately has a distinct sound to it. I still have to check insurance and I'll probably run it by the Wardon just so she is not too pissed.

Steve

Razor,

That's a wonderful story about your daughter.

I have to wonder about the (ex)wife though? Was she a drug addict or had some personality disorder to make her inject herself with animal medication?

Drug addict. She is currently in drug rehab again. She seems to go that direction when something bad in her life happens. Like one year our house flooded, next time the dog died, any kind of stressful event really....etc. Sad to say, but her mind has really paid a price for all that. I was married for a very long time before i figured it out. Never been into drugs myself, so I didn't really know the symptoms. Now I can spot it a mile away. I tried to help her after that and put her through drug rehab 4 times at 30,000 a pop (that's a really nice Porsche, isn't it?) but it didn't do any good, so Candace and I went our own way. Last year, her mom was at work driving home and passed out on the freeway and hit eight cars and the concrete wall before the car stopped. It really scares me when I think "what if Candace had been there", but I think her new husband has finally caught on and after that, he made her go to rehab too. Fortunately, I have taught Candace to know what to look for and she knows when to stay out of the car and has called me on several occasions to come get her somewhere. She doesn't really go over there very much anymore, so that makes it easier. At the moment though, mom seems to be sober. Thanks for your kind words Bill.

Razor, what a bad story about your wife. But hearing your daughter's great story counteracts it all.


Steve, a black on black slantnose... My #1 favourite out of any car.
I have been thinking about selling my 24S and finding some funding for a slantnose. Maybe in a few years. The car I went to see with eresener was a metallic green rest-of-world 930 slant. Looks like its flying just standing next to it. It's about 15 miles from Ed's, about a 50 min drive from me here. If you do end up aquiring the black 930 we must get the two of them together, the green slant that is. Ed knows the woman who owns it.

There was a 911 non-turbo slant cab on ebay that went for 15K$ a while back. Black on black. At the same time there wasa yellow targa that had a 993 wide conversion on it of which the current owner did not know what it was as all the description said is that it had some bodywork from the PO that was done. It went very cheap for a car with all that work done to it.

I don't know if I would ever buy a car off ebay though, I like to view in person.

That said, I'm off to ebay...

Well I had an opportunity to run by the body shop Friday to take a look at the progress. The car is in primer ready to paint. I should have it back next week. Believe it or not the SC from x3m is scheduled to be here later next week also. We have been communicating recently. I am still somewhat apprehensive but hopefully all comes in as promissed and I can button the car up before fall. The rear quarter was replaced w/ an OE steel one. There were a couple small dents from improper jacking that were also repaired and then the paintless dent guy that works at the shop took out 5-6 door dings. There were a couple good sized chips in the center nose piece between the headlights. I took off the Porsche badge and welded the holes up. I like the look of one of the cars I saw a Fiberwerks kit on w/o the badge. If I don't like the final result I can always put one back on. It should look pretty good when completed. I got a bunch of little stuff in from the dealer as I have been bored. I am leaking a tiny bit of Power Steering fluid so I replaced the hose w/ the updated one that runs the fluid hose behind the oil filter and straight down. It definately is cleaner. Hopefully I can post some pictures next week of the final assault (at least before winter when the intercooler goes in). My brother picked up my 964 last week so I am down to one Porsche at the moment. I need to seriously work on the 930 acquisition.


Steve

I think my car must have been built on a haunted site. Now the power is out at the body shop due to the storms here in St Louis last week. I am not complaining as there are a lot of folks here w/o power and this car is a very minor player in the big picture. I have not heard back from x3m either despite a couple emails so hopefully he has not bailed on me again. That would be a mistake. I am going to be amazed if this thing ever gets done. I'm definately glad that the 944 is not my daily driver or I would have put a lot of miles on my feet this spring and summer.

Steve

My power was out here as well for a day after the 'hurricane'.
Trees down all over.
It was semi-cool today (90-ish) so I went and got an oil change and lube. Also topped up power sterring fluid, coolant, and brake fluid, not that it really needed any. First time driving the 24S in more than a week.

I can't believe some places are still out of power. Its been a while, must be hard times for those still without.

I know about this major St. Louis storm via George Noory (hopefully that name sounds familiar to some)... sounds like you guys got hit pretty hard...

We got hit pretty good. That being said, there were essentially no storm related injuries, floods, etc. Compared to the poor folks to the south that got hammered last year w/ the hurricanes if all I lost was a freezer full of food and a couple trees we were lucky. One of my friends here had a 30' X 50' patio tent at his resturant flip over and land on top of his car that was about 100 feet away (fortunately it was his 98 Ford POS). We had sustained 80MPH straight line winds there for a little while. Power is back up in most places except Ladue and Clayton (our most affluent communities). My brother got back from a trip to Italy to find a house with no power for 5 days. The refridgerator and freezer were nasteeee. We were down for a day and a half. I just hooked up a little 1.8KW generator I have and we had a refridgerator, 13" TV, lamp w/ 25W bulb, router, modem, cell phone and laptop chargers. Phones never went down so I had DSL. All in all it wasn't too bad. Part of the house is below grade and stayed right at 75 degrees. The generator is now at a friends who is still down.

Steve

I know it's definitely ugly when you don't have power. Been through a couple of hurricanes and they are not fun. I lost power for about a week with Alicia many years ago. Last year when Rita hit Texas, it barely missed me and I didn't even lose power and am I ever thankful. It was a PITA though. The sad part is over a hundred and twenty people died from Rita and the storm didn't even hit here. They were all trying to get out of town and it was mostly the heat that killed them. Their cars were on the freeway with no gas to buy and they said the temperature in the cars was exceeding 150 degrees. I think most people regretted leaving home and probably won't go next time or will go earlier. I decided I was going to stay home and ride it out rather than fight the traffic. Turned out to be a good decision. I spent my preparation time at the barn trying to make sure the horse was safe. The worst part was there was no food in the stores and no gas at the pumps, everyone bought it up and stored it. Of course I waited until the last minute and lived on canned goods in my pantry for three or four days. Blah...next time I'll prepare earlier. I do plan on buying a generator this year....probably a big enough one that I can run my a/c off it. In August, it's just too hot here.

Steve, glad to hear you are ok.