Looking really good, threads like this always make me want to do my own build thread. Then the laziness sets in...

Update!!
 

A lot has happened since the last update and so I have lots to share! I have been documenting the build process but have not gotten around to updating this thread in quite a while. So here goes!

After epoxy it was time to start body work as at the time I planned on painting it myself or at least doing the prep work. Unfortunately I did not take many pictures of this dirty process but I can say it took filler in about 2 low spots on the quarter panels and a few minor lows on the door panels. This was followed by 2 coats of feather fill around the whole car to block down the car as straight as possible. After all that, a final coat of SPI epoxy to seal the body work and any metal exposed from blocking. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537819110.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537819110.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537819110.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537819110.jpg

At this point I thought it might be best to let the pros take care of paint from that point so I shifted my attention to the interior and wiring. I put 2 coats of Lizard Skin ceramic insulation in the interior and painted the dash and frunk in black. I went with a universal VW wiring harness from Ron Francis Wiring as the original harness was not in very good condition. The harness was very self explanatory and easy to install. I did have to make my own harness for the gauges and engine outputs. the DME system and harness were intact and I plan to reuse it as is. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537820072.jpg

I sent the gauges out to Palo Alto Speedometer to be refurbished and I have to say they did an amazing job with a very short turn around time. Here they are after i installed LED lighting in them. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537820374.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537820374.jpg

I also refurbished the pedal assembly with new springs, bronze bushings, and paint. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537820568.jpg

After a VERY long wait time I finally received my set of Recaro Specialist S seats in back cloth. They currently being recovered in Bordeaux red vinyl.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537820568.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537820568.jpg

You can also see the dash recovered in black vinyl in this photo.

Around this time I found this great tent on clearance at Costco. This would be a great place to store/work on the car and possibly serve as a paint booth down the line. I wired up a few LED bars from depot and I was very happy with the results.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537821009.jpg

Next up was suspension. After taking the suspension apart and cleaning/painting everything I went with new adjustable Koni struts and shocks, 21mm Front/ 27mm Rear quickchange torsion bars, elephant racing rubber bushings all around, turbo tie rods, bumpsteer kit, and raised the spindle 19mm.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537821332.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537821332.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537821332.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537821332.jpg

When I got to the dash I wasn't sure what to do with the textured inlays that go around the radio and switches as mine were pretty beat up. I took some measurements and started sketching on cad to see how difficult they would be to replicate. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537822488.png
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537822488.png


I then had them 3D printed to test for fit
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537822656.jpg

Here you can see the originals on top and the 3D printed designs below.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537822656.jpg

After making sure they would work I went ahead and had 10 made in brushed aluminum and brushed black anodized aluminum to match the exact finish on the momo steering wheels. I made version with all the holes like the originals and a version with AC delete that also has the fog switch, defrost switch, and seatbelt light deleted as well.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537822832.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537822832.jpg

Here they are installed.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537823285.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537823285.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537823285.jpg

If anyone is interested in these please let me know! I still have the remainder left and I'm considering another production run if there's interest!

The installation is pretty much the same as installing an original set. There's a foam backing that needs to be glued to the dash and thats it.

Pm me info on black swt

At this point I convinced myself to go ahead and pain the car myself. I had already done all the dirty work, I figured I should go ahead and do the last 10%. I went to a local paint supplier and purchased Spies Hecker primer, base, and high solid clear. Everything went according to plan. The primer went on great and sanded smooth easily.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537823817.jpg

Base coat and clear coat also went without too many hiccups, just a few runs.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537824616.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537824719.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537824719.jpg

A week later I went to purchase another quart of paint as I had run out and still had the bumpers and deckled to paint. The paint I was given was not at all like the first batch. I had ordered Porsche code 61H Modegrau or Fashion Grey. You can see the difference of the two colors in this sample. After investigating it turned out the real Modegrau was the second batch, the color on the left. This meant the entire car, fenders, and doors had been painted the wrong color. The paint mixer apologized and gave me a gallon of the right color for free. He had mixed the wrong color the first time. I had to sand all the clear and base off the parts I had already painted and finally this past weekend was able to repaint everything in true Fashion Grey.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537826270.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537826270.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537826270.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537826270.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537826270.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537826270.JPG

This was probably a blessing in disguise. I had some imperfections in the paint and runs that needed to be addressed anyway. Painting the car again allowed to correct all those problems and avoid them again. I am much happier with the results the second time with zero runs and only a few scattered debris that'll sand right off. Also the color is much nicer than the first bland grey I was given. Its the color I was really expecting based off the pictures I had seen online.

great work!

I am way behind you on my project. but 4 other old porsches keep me too busy to make the progress I want.

Thanks!

That sounds like a good problem to have if you ask me!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm in Jupiter, how much for the dash panels?

yea ... walk a few miles in my shoes. or roll around on the creeper for a while.

it has been fun acquiring, fixing/refreshing, and driving a different Porsche from time to time. but retirement and the desire to finish the 78 930 conversion restoration is causing me to sell one or two of them. we just sold the 87 944S I had built for my bro-in-law.

my 85 targa is the best of the bunch. bought from original owner in '89 via the Porsche dealership.

good luck on finishing that beauty.

PM send for a set of the HVAC delete brushed alum.

Car looks stunning! Good job! :cool:

PS. I have a partial set of wheels that look like the ones on your car. I had them on a 928. slid and curbed one on the rear, cracked rim too much to fix. so have one rear and the set of front. incl tires that are pretty worn.

now have a set of 18" on the 928.

let me know if interested and I'll check the offset and sizes. think they are 8 and 9" X 17" no idea if they will work on a 911.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1537971514.jpg

Thanks!

Those two look gorgeous! Love the color on that 928.

Ive actually been trying to figure out where the wheels on my car came from because I don't think they're correct for the year or if they're even correct for the 911. They look like 964 wheels and are 17x8,9. Never had seen them in chrome either, but they pair very well with the burgundy on the 928.

Mine are in pretty bad shape all around so my plan was to go with more modern wheels but I'll keep it in mind, thanks!

Love the cat! Great progress on your build. Will PM you re: the dash inlays :)

Well done sir!

Mad skills there Aguiar, fun to watch !

Love this build thread and glad you ended up painting it yourself after all the hard work - car looks stunning and Fashion Grey is one of my favorites. Looking forward to watching this one move along!

Well done!