It was a heck of a project, and still needs a lot of work, but it's finally completed. The new rear end reflector has been installed.
I've always thought the rear of my 944 was a little dull. The plate sat really really high between the tail lights, and there was a blank space between the bumperettes. I didn't mind the bumperettes too much, but the plate so high made the car look like it had its pants pulled way up.
It should have been an easy installation. But once again, my car fooled me. The holes in the car to install such reflectors did not match with where the screws were on the reflector itself. Therefore, I had to rig up an attachment bar.
Headed out to Lowe's to get a 3-foot section of aluminum, about 1/16th of an inch thick. Not a big piece, but enough to go between the two mounting ridges on the back of the reflector. In this piece, I'd drill holes to line up with the car's holes. This was fairly easy stuff. But a small oversight on my own part led me down a little more diabolical path. With such a rigging, I had no way to hold the bolts in place as I nutted them up from inside the trunk. Oops. Just call me MacGuyver 'cuz I used pliers, wrenches, and eventually a paper clip to screw on the thing. For now, it holds tight.
Because of the aluminum bars, the reflector doesn't fit flush with the tail lights. I eventually have to take it all apart and grind down the mounting plastic on the reflector itself so that the thickness of the aluminum bar doesn't add to its depth. And at that time, I'll have more pictures of the mounting plates.
Here's the before and after shots though.
What I currently don't like is the double PORSCHE announcement. Either the reflector should say Porsche, or the sticker below it, but not both. When the car gets painted, I will most likely either return the plate to where it was and remove the reflector, or take the sticker off. I haven't decided which I want to do yet though. I'll have to see which one grows on me.
I also have to light the license plate, which is on is ordered and on its way.
Which do you like?