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Octane · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 6:13 am Post subject: Best mods under $20

I have seen similar threads like this done on other car forums before with good success. There are endless things you can do for under $20... even GT headlights could be done for under $20 if you tried so be creative and contribute! This can be an aesthetic modification, something to improve performance, or just fixing a factory oversight and improving on their design.

I got my car all cleaned up on Saturday and was thinking about some easy and inexpensive things I could do to improve it's appearance. After thinking it over I made a short drive to a hobby store and ended up doing this...

Materials:
- 1 small bottle of Testors Model Paint (red, $2.49)
- 1 Testors small paint brush ($1.69)
- 1 sheet 120 grit sandpaper ($0.49)

Total Cost: $4.67

Total Time: 2 episodes of Trailer Park Boys (1 hour)

Difficulty: 2 out of 10

Start by opening your rear hatch and supporting it with something... the struts will keep it open but it will have a tendency to move around when you are putting pressure on it.

Lightly sand the letters of the PORSCHE indentation on the rear hatch. This will help the paint adhere properly and remove any silicone or etc. that may be in there. Rinse the area off with water, or ideally, brake cleaner or rubbing alcohol.

Then, take your paint brush and start painting. This takes patience and a steady hand, the "walls" aren't very high and it is very easy to go outside the lines. Take your time and do 2 passes on each letter as some black may still be showing through after the first one. Recap the paint bottle and shake it after each letter to prevent it from separating.

Eventually you will end up with this - the idea is to color match your car or accent something else in your color scheme.

Wait for the paint to dry before lowering the hatch - while I was waiting I used a product called Black Wow to restore the faded and chalky spoiler. It is a fairly expensive product, running about $28 for a small 4 oz bottle and only available through certain distributors, but it makes a very big and permanent transformation. I have had the same bottle for 2 years and have only used one eighth of it, it goes a long way. It doesn't wash off or go away... once you do it, it's done...here's a little before and after...

Then you're all done! Close your hatch and admire your work.

_________________
- Brendan
1977 Porsche 924

Grenadiers · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 7:22 am Post subject:

I like the annonymity of Spike's faded graphics, nobody knows what kind of car it is, but they can hear it coming! zoom, zoom, zoom!
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'83 944 Track car.
'88 924S Track car.
'89 944 Turbo
2004 Winnebago Vectra monster RV
2012 Jeep Wrangler
2014 Kia Soul
2001 Ford F350 powerstroke

Paul · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:04 am Post subject:

Faded but original!
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White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

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

SONIC06's dressed up spoiler:

_________________
erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

Paul · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:15 am Post subject:

I thought you said white was boring?

Actually I like that. Has it been through an automatic car wash yet?
_________________
White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

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

It's not white, it's silver

Nope, I don't take the cars thru auto car washes, they only get hand washes.

Actually though, to be frank, the Testors paint is only good for about 3 years, after which it needs to be refreshed due to fading.
_________________
erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

morghen · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 9095 Location: Romania

5 dollah' for advertising your car
anotha' five dollah' for buying another newspaper to look for a new one

cheap upgrade

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Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

Jakkq · Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 810 Location: Omaha, Nebraska

I think I'm going to do white on mine, since my Porsche 924 letters are white. It would look pretty nifty. I'm still considering getting some of these decals.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160071062732&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT
_________________
1979 Porsche 924- Snailshell
http://porsche924workblog.blogspot.com/

michi924 · Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Pontevedra, Spain

Very nice.
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Porsche 924 NA Euro.

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

Jakkq · Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 810 Location: Omaha, Nebraska

I think the two door decals would be enough.
_________________
1979 Porsche 924- Snailshell
http://porsche924workblog.blogspot.com/

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

Why not reflective paint?
_________________
"Never let them see you sweat"
77.5 924 modified track car
79 931 Euro stock
88 924S SE
87 911 Targa stock

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

Reflective paint would be awesome for the hatch lettering...any suggestions on a material? Would need to be brush-applicable...
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

Khal · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:28 am Post subject:

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

As for paint, I think it sounds odd but someone must make reflective paint.

The yellow or white stripes in the street are reflective. The paint has ground glass in it. Ask me how I know.
_________________
"Never let them see you sweat"
77.5 924 modified track car
79 931 Euro stock
88 924S SE
87 911 Targa stock