my low budget dream car build

[Showdown]

Can't wait to see this next weekend!

[75 911s]

good choice on the carpet! going to look amazing.

[chrisbalich]

I'm back after our weekend getaway.
Today is my actual anniversary, so we're going out to dinner when I get home from work. (Lucky #13)
The windows are still not in the car.
The ECU is in the dining room.
The battery has been disconnected for weeks.
The seats are on the garage floor.
The seat brackets & hardware are on the work bench or hanging for paint.

I need to buy the paint to touch-up some trim bits so I can get to reinstalling things like windows and seats.
CIO is Saturday. I have 4 evenings to get the car together and then make the ~150 mile drive to Chicago. I'll do my best to take pics of my progress, but I'm definitely feeling the time crunch.
#grit

[jpnovak]

You gots plenty of time...

[chrisbalich]

Yesterday, I was able to collect the hardware I need for the seats, buy a new clothesline, some paint, and then paint a bunch of trim.
I'm hoping to get the windows and trim in when I get home tonight.
If that goes well, I'll get the ECU back in and the wiring reconnected. (old way)

Then, it's just stab some seats in, wipe down the exterior, and it should be good to go.

Which is great, because I now get to leave Friday immediately after work instead of Saturday morning early. #yikes

[TxGerman]

You got this! Just need a 44oz cocktail of Red Bull and 5 Hr Energy!! :-) You'll knock this out by morning and still have energy in your tank for your work day! LOL

Good luck, keep us posted.

Dennis

[msmall215]

Dude you’re a masochist…in the best way possible. Hence the award. Enjoy CIO and say whatup to the crew.

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by msmall215

Dude you’re a masochist…in the best way possible. Hence the award. Enjoy CIO and say whatup to the crew.

The tennis elbow I've developed since Ruchlos would argue I'm just a regular masochist.
I can't straighten my right arm when I get up most mornings. But after working on the car for hours the night before, it is incredible how much my elbow hurts.

Nevertheless, I will get the work done and I will pass along your greetings. I was kinda hoping you'd make the trek out. It's a good show and (obvs) you'd know a lot of people there.

Update coming soon. Gotta inhale this granola bar so I can chew some ibuprofen and get my morning in high gear.

[msmall215]

Originally Posted by chrisbalich

The tennis elbow I've developed since Ruchlos would argue I'm just a regular masochist.
I can't straighten my right arm when I get up most mornings. But after working on the car for hours the night before, it is incredible how much my elbow hurts.

Nevertheless, I will get the work done and I will pass along your greetings. I was kinda hoping you'd make the trek out. It's a good show and (obvs) you'd know a lot of people there.

Update coming soon. Gotta inhale this granola bar so I can chew some ibuprofen and get my morning in high gear.

What better way to flex that right arm than by shifting. Wish I could’ve made it out, but we just moved last weekend so between the joys of unpacking with a 1 year old running around and the car at the tuber, wasn’t in the cards. Next year I’m hoping to get up that way for CIO and OCR, whereever it may be.

[Showdown]

Off topic but don’t ignore that tennis elbow: it won’t go away and at some point the damage will become catastrophically permanent. Get to a doctor and get PT. Seriously.

[chrisbalich]

Hey Hey, it's Wednesday.
I think.
*checks watch*
Def Wednesday
*shakes head, resumes typing*

Last night when I got home from work, I went straight to work on the car. Here's the gist of what went down.

First thing was to get the quarter window lower trims in. The screws are long gone and the holes likely hogged out, so I employed some aluminum rivets.


Then, I draped the interior in towels and stuffed the rear window into its place.


Rear window in situ and soapy clothesline at the ready, I stabbed the nearside quarter window in place.


The offside window put up less resistance and went in pretty straightforwardly.


Windows in, (with all trims this time!) I turned to the interior.
My running plan has been to just stick the perlon floor mats in and run it to Chicago and back without any other interior panels/carpets. But as I looked at the interior, my tweed door panels looked out of place with just painted/coated metal behind them. So I laid down a little MLV and stuck the quarter panel interior panels in.

...and then I thought, "Well, ya bellend, you've come this far. May as well reinstall the rear parcel shelf thing." So some more MLV was deployed.


And a full complement of panels.


Once again, I thought to myself, "You've come this far..."


Just before calling it a night, I laid the carpets into their places.


Doesn't look terrible, but I very much look forward to redoing the engine harness (so the engine looks AND works better) and then installing the full RS carpet kit. Gotta eat this elephant one bite at a time, I reckon.

Seats go in tonight and the window frames get sorted and I'll hook up the battery and take it for a rip.

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by Showdown

Off topic but don’t ignore that tennis elbow: it won’t go away and at some point the damage will become catastrophically permanent. Get to a doctor and get PT. Seriously.

My SIL is a Dr of PT. She's to email me some exercises today.
I've also talked to my wife about actually going in to my GP for a cortizone shot to get ahead of the inflammation.

[chrisbalich]

I am 100% not going to tell you guys how long it took me to get to this point last night.
We all know very well how long 'simple tasks' can take.



I was going to install the (wrecked) wooden floor boards and my homemade dead pedal, but thought it prudent to check tracking on my package from Flo. Tracking indicated that they'd made it to Indy, so I deferred on the odd chance they turn up tonight or tomorrow before I get home from work.


So at the time of this writing:
-There is no gas pedal at all in the car.
-There are no pedal boards L or R in the car.
-There is no dead pedal in the car.
-The battery is still not hooked up.
-The car is still extra filthy on the outside, including, but not limited to, dirt from Ruchlos.
-I have one night to get all of this sorted.

#grit

[jpnovak]

Drive through some rain or sprinklers. Outside dirt/filth solved...

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by jpnovak

Drive through some rain or sprinklers. Outside dirt/filth solved...

Not a terrible idea. I find that Palmolive and a well-worn green scotchbrite really sorts out the custom finish on the car tho.
Plus I still haven't made the door moisture barriers yet. So I'm keen to avoid superfluous water until I do.

[chrisbalich]

Good day, ladies and sirs!

Last night was fraught with wee details and a desire to spend some time with my wife as I felt I hadn't seen her since we returned from RRG. In the latter regard, I failed quite miserably.
Alas, the night was not a total loss.

I believe I mentioned previously that I'd checked the tracking on my parcel from Flo and was still holding out hope that it would arrive in time for installation prior to today's departure.

It did!

Comparing these bits to my homemade dead pedal, you can really see the quality of work that Florian puts out. Very nice, very light bits indeed.

With the pedal boards installed, I reinstalled the gas pedal and set the carpets back in place. The driver's carpet obscures the lower dead pedal mounting point, so I installed my (larger and cruder) dead pedal.
I also painted and installed the tunnel block-off plates, and reinstalled my Element fire extinguisher.


Despite the slight mixing of themes, I think the whole thing looks pretty a-ok for the time being.


Using a step-drill, I opened up the holes that anchor the door limiting straps and installed some rivnuts (like a civilized person) and re-affixed the straps.
I then hooked up the battery, listened for a sizzle that never came, primed the fuel system, and went inside. LOLOLOL

This morning at 0602 EDT, I fired up the hog and let the neighborhood know I'm back in business. Then, I drove it to work as evidenced here.


The windows didn't blow out, the interior resonance is gone (still loud in there), and the car drove well. Need to check the oil and tire pressures at lunch and we're in business for this evening's departure. **The car is still absolutely filthy on the outside. Need to find Jamie's suggested puddles ASAP.

I hope to see you all tomorrow at CheckedItOut in Chicago. If I don't, I'll see you in 3 weeks at Luft.

[chrisbalich]

Not a lot of words this time. Just a whole a bunch of pics of the show Saturday.
I'm not a huge car show guy, but I do like to see my friends and peek at what others have done. I'm always in search of new ideas.

Here's where I parked at the hotel we stayed at on Friday night. Hilton Garden something or other. Expensive, but nice. Gotta get under a light and as away from folks as possible.


Parked in the AM for a quick window cleaning while Kelly procured coffee and donut holes.

Since we stayed in Chesterton, IN on Friday night, we were less than 65 miles from the show when we got up on Saturday morning. We rolled out of the coffee shop ~0610 and rolled into our parking spot ~0705. Chicago traffic can be brutal and we managed to avoid it fully...on the way in.

After getting parked, we started to wander around and stumbled into these beauties.
I didn't get the make/model of the first one....but the second is a real 917-30.





Pelican user DZIK


Adam, the founder of Checked It Out


I just love Chalk.


IDK if this is Aetna, but it's close...and beautiful.


I've got 30 more pics to share. So please hold your applause til the end.

[chrisbalich]

This car looks so good parked and on the move. It's just very tastefully done. IG: @trexturk


Super clean 996


I've never seen one of these at a gas station...


Kelly and I found a shady spot to park our butts for a few. The view wasn't terrible.


I thought this was a real RSA, but upon closer inspection, it's got a sunroof and an automatic trans.


World-renowned photographist Jeremy Cliff was in attendance with his 964 c4 and Yeti


911R just casually parked outside by the DJ booth...getting very little love from the photographers, amateur and pro alike.


John's 911L from VERMONT. John is a real dyed-in-the-wool car guy. It's good to know there is hope for the younger generations.


random snap


Everyone's favorite jalopy

[Joesmallwood]

That 964 RS......OMG!!! Love, Love, Love!!!

[chrisbalich]

914 racin car



Absolute stunner in what I believe is Aubergine


Not sure if this dude just didn't arrive in time, or if he left and came back, but this was parked on the street in front of the lot my junk was in.
Good grief this one was nice.



Kelly and Pawel standing in line for fancy french fries.


Another angle of my lot.


IDK what this color is, but it's just fantastic.


No words. Just drink it in.


Mike had himself a pretty freaking awesome parking spot for the "Evil Canary"...nosed up to Tony's "Pablo".