1986 Carrera Interior Redo Idea

[WI wide body]

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THIS?

I have never liked the looks of the center console on the 1984-1989 Carreras. The console seemed to stick out in a strange manner and it always appeared to me that the folks at Stuttgart forgot to attach the top of the console to the underside of the dash.

So when #1 son and I were replacing the carpeting and the console had to removed anyhow......this was my opportunity to make it happen. Actually, I really like the way it looks. Much more open and cleaner looking...to me.

Attached are some before/after pics of the project. Note that we also replaced the door panels with the RS style.

So whadda ya thunk?

[equality72521]

I think it looks great. I've been pondering doing the same thing.

[Dueller]

Looks good...did you relocate the switches from the console or just delete?

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by equality72521

I think it looks great. I've been pondering doing the same thing.

Mark,

Yeah, over the years I think that the number of 911's I've owned is about 8 or 9 and I also always thought about doing this to the models that were 1984-1988.

It really wasn't that difficult...just very time consuming. Plus my kid is anal-retentive (or maybe just goofy) and we spent waaaay too much time worrying about and working on nickel and dime stuff that no one would ever notice and that only he and I would know about!

Whatever, if you decide to give it shot let me know and I might be able to give you a few tips that could save you some time and/or cash.

porsche@wi.rr.com

Ed C

[WI wide body]

The AC needed charging and I almost never drive it with the top down so I removed the AC condensor, the cooling radiator, hoses, and everything that went with it. (engine area looks better, gained HP, and lost some weight!!)

The only control that I needed was the emergency flasher and I relocated it inside the glove compartment. It was simple and worked out good.

Ed C

[equality72521]

Thanks for the offer. Is that Perlon carpet? If so, how do you like it over the sliverknit?

[SCWDP911]

Awesome... I think it looks very nice. I need to replace my carpet this winter as well, so I too am interested in your choice of carpet material. You also have me wondering about going ahead and removing the AC, but I am in the south. However, I cannot think of more than 1-2 times I had the top up this summer, and that was more for shade than to run the AC, which has not been recharged since the PO put it back in anyway.

Got any wider angle shots of your new interior? Oh, did you make your own RS-ish door panels, or buy them premade? They look great!

Thanks

[911boost]

I take it you didn't have the central locking, or did you move it as well?

[rusnak]

the door pockets are a nice touch. Reminds me of the 356 pockets, which were flat pleated pockets.

[pozee]

Very nice! Just curious...what is that rectangular lamp/switch just below the center dash vent to the left of the fog lamp switch, lighter etc...?

[WI wide body]

Not sure what the carpet material might be. The supplier (he has an ad in Pano) offered both "Domestic" and "German" with the domestic 1/2 the price of the German, which I assume was the sliverknit. He told me that the domestic stuff was a bit thicker and would actually outlast the sliverknit. Go figure.

I also got the RS style door panels from him. They are far less than trying to replace the stock door pockets (that's why my old ones are for sale!) if you can put up with the hassle of the installation. He does offer them in the Perlon along with "plush" and the German sliverknit. BTW, his ad calls it "German silver knit" so I'm not sure how into Porsches he really is.

The little elastic door pockets were my son's idea (just like a clock that's not running he is right about twice a day) and the guy knew what he wanted immediately. They were only about $40 bucks extra if I recall correctly. They do look good but they also weaken the panel since there is not very much wood left in the area after they are cut out.

But if anyone buys the panels from this supplier make sure that you have him cut some holes in the proper locations for extra snaps. (I think that he supplied about 5 for each door) We found that we wanted some extra snaps to better hold the panels on the door frame. So we had to cut the hole in the wood backing without going into the covering. It's a bit tedious to say the least and we ended up using first a blunted drill bit and then a flat ended cutter from a mill to finish the hole in the very thin wood backing of the panels. This was a pain in axx but it did end up making the panels a very neat and tight fit onto the doors.

I would also recommend having him do the cutting of the holes if you plan on installing speakers. This also was a bit of a hassle for us but it turned out okay.

I can get the name and info for the place if anyone wants it.

This Euro version car did not have central locking. In fact we were not even going to use the door lock knobs on the panels but since he cut them out we did and they also look okay.

That little rectangle thing is a warning light gizmo that indicates the seat belt, AC blower being on I think, and some other useless red warning light put in by those over-engineering Germans!

Also, probably the one thing that I like the best about the door panels (besides the looks) are the pull straps for opening the doors. I really had reservations about how they would turn out but they are great. Maybe I just had bad luck with my other 91's but it seemed like I was always fixing the handles or the mechanism or the flimsy plastic bushings and such on them. This pull strap is so simple it's dummy proof!

Sorry this got so long.

Ed C

BTW, did anyone notice the little "PORSCHE" stitched into the panels that cover the cab top mechanism in the back seat. Another of the boy's ideas that ended up perfectly matching the color of the stitching on the floor mats lettering. A nice litle touch. But don't tell him I said that.

[WI wide body]

Someone asked about the type of carpet material and I really don't know. The supplier has it listed in his ad as simply "Domestic" and "German" with the latter being the sliverknit.

I called him (actually various times and mostly about the door panels) and he told me that the domestic was actually a bit thicker and would last longer than the German stuff. So, at half the price.............................................

Later.

Ed C

[spuggy]

Looks great! Did the carpet set come with the console mounting holes covered, or did you modify the set to do that?

Never got a console with my car, so there's obviously nothing in it I need...

[hcoles]

is your shift knob on backwards?

[911Rob]

Looks great, much cleaner!
By jove I think you've done a good job there!

[WI wide body]

Thanx Rob, that's exactly what I thought. I first got the idea when I saw my old '74 Carrera sitting along side of a 1987. The console on the '87 was a little beat up and slightly twisted so that made it look even worse but the shifter area on the older car looked much neater to me.

Per the other questions: The carpet set that we bought didn't have any holes at all so it was not an issue. Actually, the area around the shifter was the easiest part as far as installing the carpeting. Just take your time when cutting the hole for the housing so the hole matches the housing as close as possible. The biggest problem was getting the rubber boot to set on the carpet uniformly and then reaching up to the bottom of the shift knob.

Not sure if the shift knob might be on bakcwards or not. But I like the way it looks so that's the way it's gonna stay!

[Gene Wilkes]

did basically the same mods on BEBE. Nice job!! Any thoughts about upgrading the seats?

[WI wide body]

Hey, you really pay attention! Yeah, the seats do show some wear. But they are just not yet quite bad enough to justify the bucks yet.

That's a great looking BEBE! The 3.0 in the SC's is a very good engine. I had an '82 SC Targa that ran great. We were actually looking for a black on black wide body cab when we found this 1986.

I have never heard of an SC that came with a wide body. Actually, now that I think about it...1983 was the first year for the cabriolet. Your car must have had all kinds of aftermarket stuff done. Right?

[efhughes3]

Great job!!

[WI wide body]

Thanx Ed, the console delete and the RS door panels did turn out good for us.

But it's such an individual preference thing that probably many folks would not like it or even consider doing all the work it took.

I probably missed it in one of your earlier posts but where did the console come from and does it really fit as snug as it looks?