Operation tart up! (with pics)

[Steve PH]

Earlier this year I realised I had to do something about the bodywork on my ageing 944. First off I managed to pick up a front wing off ebay for about £40 ($70-80ish?) including postage.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/SteveH944/944%20stuff/IMAG0039.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/SteveH944/944%20stuff/IMAG0038.jpg

Getting the old wing unbolted was pretty straight forward, the biggest pita was dettaching it from the front spoiler/bumper, the nuts had rusted solid.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/SteveH944/944%20stuff/IMAG0045.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/SteveH944/944%20stuff/IMAG0048.jpg

Luckily the new wing was a close colour match for the rest of the car, although I might at some point get it re sprayed to match properly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/SteveH944/944%20stuff/IMAG0049.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/SteveH944/944%20stuff/IMAG0007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/SteveH944/944%20stuff/IMAG0006.jpg

(yep I have also changed wheels at this point, the Fuchs will be my track wheels the scruffy cookie cutters are for street use)

Anyway the next part that need attention was the end of the sill just behind the door, it had developed a rust hole you could get your fingers in and was generaly in pretty poor shape.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/SteveH944/944%20stuff/44444444004.jpg

At this point I decided profesional help was in order, booked the car into a local bodyshop who I knew well (they deal with most of the body repairs for the car dealers I work for).

The end result I think is pretty superb! What you can't see is that they have also replaced the wheel box just behind the sill (apparently it fell apart when they started prodding around!).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/SteveH944/944%20stuff/IMAG0031.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v726/SteveH944/944%20stuff/IMAG0032.jpg

I no longer feel shame/ embaresment/ guilt when other people look at my car now!

[thoen]

NICE job!!!
someone told me that porsches don't rust. I guess they were wrong!

[Steve PH]

He he..Very wrong! These cars maybe galvanised but a combination of stone chips (mainly to the wing/fender) and the salt used on British roads in the winter has taken its toll. Having said that the galvanisation obviously works because for the most part the underside is pretty solid.

[Eldorado]

very nice.. i had a similar problem near the rear wheel, right at the back of the rocker near the wheel... stripped it down myself, banged/chipped/ground all the rust out... filled in the hole, painted the rubber rocker guard and sprayed with colour match paint... looks much better!