924Board.org

924sdriver · Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 40

Well it has been some time since I posted here, because I have been up to my elbows in PORSCHE. For those of you who don't know the story...I leaped into a low miles 1987 924S for what I thought would be a cheap and easy restoration. WRONG! I realized very quickly I was in way over my head. But, once you start...THERE IS NO TURNING BACK! I was lucky to find a guy locally who is an expert, and parts 924's and 944's out. This was the only way I was able to complete the project. I will try and post some pics once I roll it back out of storage...but the car came out AWSOME. It is literally a time capsule. Below is a list of the restoration....and lets just say the cost was enormous.

- Front engine service.
- Replace all fluids.
- New brakes and master cylinder.
- New tires.
- New paint job (stayed with original black. Used SIKENS paint as does factory. The paint was done in a down draft booth for a perfect finish. All door dings fixed. Car is smooth and perfect.)
- Altered bumbers for Euro Look. Took out rubber bumbers, welded shut, and refinished. Also moved bumbers in 2".
- New carpet.
- Installed UNCRACKED dash out of '85 944.
- Perfect leather seats all around.
- 944 Hatch installed with larger spoiler.
- Wider wheels on rear (Makes a huge difference to fill up wheel well.)
- Refinished all wheels.
- New stereo.
- 944 leather wrapped shifter
- New plugs, wires, and air filter.

Bottom line the car is perfect! And with only 27K miles.

Moral of the story....Any car can be brought back from the dead....the only question is....HOW DEEP ARE YOUR POCKETS?

I'll work on getting some pics...I'm very proud of the finished product.

Khal · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 11:37 am Post subject:

Hey! Congrats!

So another toofah lives to fight another day

That's excellent!

But c'mon, don't leave us hanging... what'd it cost?!

Once, when I was getting some repairs done on my car, I told my mechanic that I was astounded (outraged?) at the cost. His reply: "So, who ever said Porsches were cheap?"

Mine's got fat's on the back, too. On dished wheels. Looks much better...

_________________
'80 924 Turbo

924sdriver · Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 40

Well...do you want the actually figure....or the amont my wife thinks

All said and done....just shy of $11K. OUCH!

tj924 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 11:53 am Post subject:

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

What are the details on the body and paint restore? Did you do all your own body work, or did you have professional help? How about the paint? Did you go with base + clear?

I'm also interested in hearing more details about the bumper conversion...I like the idea of removing the pads and closing the holes...but what did you do to move them in 2"?

What kind of wheels, and how did you do the refinishing? On your own or professionally?

C'mon, man, you can't tease us and not provide the details! 'fess up!
_________________
erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

924sdriver · Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 40

NO...NO...THE 11k Includes the cost of the car. So...I guess not too bad...you loose that much on a new car in 10 minutes right. (Just agree...it will make be feel better

)

The paint:
Yes I had the help of a professional...or actually someone who knew someone. I didn't take it to a body shop, but I knew a guy who knew a guy. He fixed all the door dings, as well as restored the front air dam to perfect condition. Painted and clear coated. The black is BLACK and deep. If you hold a tape measure to the finish...you can read the 10" marker very clear. I'm so pumped about it...I might try and get some pics this weekend.

The bumbers:
It is a little work...but you obviously have to remove the bumbers. Take the rubber bumber "boogers" out, and weld the holes left behind up. Sand and refinish. To shorten the bumbers 2", it is as simple as cutting the "shocks" that hold the bumber in place, and re-assemble.

The wheels:
I put the original phone dials on. I like the wheels..and they have a good look. I sand blasted the wheels and center caps, and painted them silver with a clear shot out of a gun. The sand blast finish has given them a muted...almost powder coated look.

I will have to get the pics out here...I'm more than delighted with how it came out.....oh yeah...one more thing...that is little but made a world of difference. I got rid of that stupid side body molding at the style line of the car. PORSCHE in their infinite wisdom glued these on anyway...and they almost always give way. Plus it gives the car a very smooth look.

Thanks for all the interest.

924guy · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 1:32 pm Post subject:

congrats!! and Pics man, Pics!

_________________
Eric
78 924
82 931 SE "smokey"
99' VehiCross
Y2K Honda Insight
http://www.cardomain.com/id/924Guy
Performance by Pasha

jpab924 · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject:

So you did your own body and paint work? What...you got a downdraft booth at home?

Oh, and if you can tell me how to sneak 11g past my wife, I`d be most grateful!

brit vw boy · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 59 Location: oxford, england

924sdriver · Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 40

Yeah...Khal that is a great looking 924. The wider rear wheels are key!

I do believe that is a 924 spoiler. But I know earlier 944 hatches will fit....pretty sure after 85.5 will work too.

The down draft booth....Like I said...I knew a guy...who knew a guy. He had access to a professional facility. Oh...I had to pay for it....but I got a great deal....and an even better job!

924sdriver · Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 40

Oh...I just saw the question about the money past the wife

It weren't easy....but multiple acounts with plenty of ebay transactions always helps!

Actually, here attitude was, "I don't want to know!" But trust me fellas I've had to pay that twice over with the high influx of new clothing she just had to have!

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

How to get your car restoration expenses past your SO:

SOS = Signifant Other Satisfaction factor
CRE = Car Restoration Expense
GI = Gross Income

SOS = (CRE x 2) + (GI / 10)

Total expense = SOS + CRE

Note that these formulas work over any period of time (weekly, monthly, annually, lifetime). So for all you singles out there, better take a good hard look at your current GI and CRE before deciding whether you can afford the SO. Also, here are some guidelines for those of you that are hitched:
1. If your CRE exceeds your SOS, that's an early warning sign for premature loss of SO.
2. If your CRE exceeds your GI, you might want to seek a credit repair facility or bankruptcy attorney.
3. If you're GI is too low to sustain both the SOS and CRE factors, you may need to reduce your CRE to a CMA : car maintenance allowance

In my case, the SOS was a new house with all new furniture, plus some miscellaneous decorating expenses. That's kept her preoccupied for most of the year, and she hasn't complained too much about the 924 or the 928.

The tougher one to figure out is the TSQ ... time spent quotient ... the scientists are still working on that formula ... too much variability from one SO to the other...we're working on deducing patterns from the datum

_________________
erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

924guy · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:30 am Post subject:

good formula!! but theres one other variable thats possible in the equasion..

If your SOS is also into cars, your CRE expands exponetially (CRE SQuared or CRESQ to make it easier.) and sometimes, if yours SOS has a similiar model car, you can apply the bulk CRE discount(CRED), but its not enough to substancial offset the final numbers. Your man hours of labor (MHL) also doubles, even if she works on her own car (itll hit you in the back end as other tasks also need to be done..)

so you end up with :

SOS=(CRESQ+MHLx2-CRED) + (GI/30 <10 for you, 20 for hers, you know hers gets done first>)

As you can see , sustaining this GI factor is very difficult, and chances are youll just turn your project into a CMA until hers is done so you can still eat..then you only need add your CMA to the original formula (recommended..) and reverse the CRE and CMA after project one is complete..

_________________
Eric
78 924
82 931 SE "smokey"
99' VehiCross
Y2K Honda Insight
http://www.cardomain.com/id/924Guy
Performance by Pasha

Vince Ponz · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3581 Location: Florida

Or marry someone who understands you and tolerates your wants and needs. I did.
_________________
"Never let them see you sweat"
77.5 924 modified track car
79 931 Euro stock
88 924S SE
87 911 Targa stock

924sdriver · Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 40

Just fess up to a high degree of immaturity, make her realize you're still 16 in your head, and you've pulled a bone head move like buying an 80's something PORSCHE for restoration. Act pissed off because the thing is giving you so much grief and get depressed. She'll ultimatly, after rubbing your face in the fact you're a total idiot, feel sorry for you, and all is forgiven...(at least until the next big purchase.)