Below 265 SQ/FT 10' x 22' Project – ‘Officina di Attrezzi Veloce’

[Trapps]

So how are the spring house/garage/motorcycle projects progressing?

An untimely reply on my part, but thanks for asking! The work project has taken a toll on just about everything. The 4 months left I was anticipating in December has turned into 7+. The ramp-down is happening now though, so I should get back on track with home projects soon. No excuses, just very little time for projects. In part, because when I did manage time away, it was really 'away.'

Vail in February with the kids; we had a bit of a party at Belle's Camp. Complete with fondu, Champaign, grilled sausages and spuds plus jumbo shrimp which I steamed in snowmelt:





Belle's Camp is about as far out as you can get at Vail, about 5 miles as the crow flies from the village. You have to haul everything in, so several people and backpacks helped divy up the load. Vail provides the grills and tables. They also take trash which helps. Leftovers are shared:



In May we attended a 'Framily' wedding in Barcelona. Our kids, and their significant others, were there too and we had a great time. While across 'the pond' Mrs. T and I took the opportunity to spend a few days in Lake Como Italy. While Como, Bellagio, and Varenna were awesome, the highlights were in Cernobbio where I stumbled upon a 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter and visiting the village of Fiumalatte and it's namesake.

I have been a pretty serious Porsche fan since the early 80's, but this Ferrari was absolutely stunning just sitting still. The setting, a courtyard at Villa d'Este, didn't hurt. I stood there admiring for a while and Mrs. T took this photo:



Immaculate is no exaggeration; I suspect it is in better shape today than when it rolled out of the factory 74 years ago. 5 minutes later this happened:

A single Weber feeds the 2.6L twelve cylinder Columbo motor and it was one of the sweetest sounding exhausts I've ever heard.

Fiumalatte was a 2.5 mile walk from Varenna and totally worth it:

It's amazing to see the homes built just inches from the water. The noise is just short of deafening and I can't imagine living there.

New tools include a battery tender/charger and a circuit chase. I've been a Deltran guy for years, but I needed another unit and decided to give the Noco Genius 10 a try (thanks Garage Journal). I also picked up a Klein ET310 to aid in some upcoming wiring tasks.





On the home front I have invested most of my available time in the back yard project. I removed about 10 yards of dirt and dropped in 15 yards of 21AA, power tamped in 2" lifts. I'll need another 5 yards to give a consistent and minimum 4" base for all of the concrete.

The patio will be 20' x 34' and a series of large 4' x 5' pads (also concrete) will serve as a walkway leading to and from it. The gaps between each pad and the patio will be filled with the same decorative stone we used in the front yard. I'll start the forms this weekend.

In the garage and shop, no bike time at all. None. Zero. In fact I won't start the Multistrada until after its had a Desmo service and the requisite belt change. I'm safely within the mileage requirement, but plus more than a year past due on the time requirement. Normally, I'd be very grumpy and bummed out by this, and to a degree, I am. However, I have been able to placate much of that frustration with something Garage Journal worthy. Here's a teaser:



More to come.

Sláinte!

 

[OutlawDrifter]

That Ferrari does sound pretty sweet...2.6l 12cyl...I bet those pistons are the size of a shot glass!

 

[gearhead1960]

That Ferrari does sound pretty sweet...2.6l 12cyl...I bet those pistons are the size of a shot glass!

You can drink a lot of Limoncello out of those....

 

[fouckhest]

Glad to see an update! Vail trip looks great, that meal looked amazing, old Rarri

Are those falken 660s? Have 615 on my cayman, GREAT tires look forward to seeing that update

 

[Trapps]

Glad to see an update! Vail trip looks great, that meal looked amazing, old Rarri

Are those falken 660s? Have 615 on my cayman, GREAT tires look forward to seeing that update

Dunlop Direzza ZIII 225/45R-17 & 255/40R-17. I've been very happy with them since replacing the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 in 205/55R-16 & 225/50R-16 that came with the car. Unfair comparison though; two totally different animals.

 

[fouckhest]

Dunlop Direzza ZIII 225/45R-17 & 255/40R-17. I've been very happy with them since replacing the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 in 205/55R-16 & 225/50R-16 that came with the car. Unfair comparison though; two totally different animals.

Oh nice! I'm not the best at picking out the tread patterns b/c so many look very similar....but yes, those are two very different animals for sure! Regardless, they look nice and sticky!!

 

[Trapps]

@fouckhest sticky like gum on Georgia asphalt in July!

I was alway a car kid. Matchbox, Hot Wheels and countless models consumed my playtime. I loved them all. However, as a young teenager I became smitten with one brand more than the others. Then, in a mid 80's dorm room, I saw this poster:



I moved from smitten to something just short of obsessed with Porsche's iconic and venerable 911. The next 20 years were spent reading every magazine article and book I could get my hands on. Ownership was not in the financial cards, but I became a fan, as in the true meaning of 'fanatical,' and a student of the brand. I had subscriptions, I had begun assembling a library of Porsche books and literature.

Life happened, marriage, mortgage, kids, career. I never stopped reading and fantasizing about Porsches. While I loved them all, pre 1995 911 cars were my jam and the 964 generation, 1989-1994, became my personal holy grail of all 911s. Something about the original 'stovepipe' front fenders following the round headlights. 25 years later I was in a position to buy one. Went shopping, spent cash on PPIs for 3 different cars, found a great deal and had Mrs. Trapps approval. I sat down with my finances and plans laid out in front of me: mortgage, home improvements, kids college, etc. I couldn't justify it in my head and walked out on the dream, favoring the safety of a rational decision that I would come to regret many times over. Still, I remained a fan and followed every new model and all things Porsche through magazines and the internet. I told myself one day...

Something began to shift in the 911 world in the early teens. Some would argue the air cooled (pre 1999) cars were the best Porsches ever made. Certainly a ton of arguments could be made in support of that claim. Relatively simple, very durable and that 'form follows function' design ethos all played into the story. The modern cars are fantastic and the performance, by comparison on paper and in the driver's seat, is mind boggling. But for me, and many others, those earlier cars hit squarely on the nostalgia button with force. I suspect people coming of age and means suddenly had the desire to own their childhood dreams and demand for air cooled cars began to rise. Slowly at first; in 2010 you could find a 964 in good condition for well under $20k and fixer uppers could be had for closer to $10k. Ohhh the regret...

Enter Singer, perhaps the most widely recognized company transforming Porsches into something 'more.' While Ruf, Gembella and others had been tuning Porsches for years, the restorative and restomod craze had arrived in force. The internet and its reach put these amazing creations in front of millions of people, not just die hard enthusiasts. Apparently, people with deep pockets. They began to buy the cars. By 2017, the average price climbed to over $50k for that same 964 in good condition. Speculators, flippers and restorers/restomoders discovered the demand, and began to hit the supply hard. Some are **** companies looking to make a buck. Others, like our own Tim @olsenmotorsports, produce immaculately detailed, beautiful and capable machines worthy of a museum perch, but meant to be enjoyed in motion. Monthly and quarterly sales reports showed a very strong upward trend. Then Covid happened. Prices went stratospheric. Much has been written by those smarter and more informed than I am, but the consensus is that there will be no correction resulting in a price drop. Any price softening is really just a slower appreciation curve. Today, a good condition 964 will fetch six figures, plus or minus. These are averages; body type, drivetrain, transmission and condition all have a significant impact. A '94 Turbo S is a $900k discussion. A '91 cabriolet with a Tiptronic (automatic) trans recently sold for $50k.

Can you still find a 'deal?' Sure. And, with the resources available much can be done in your own garage to keep them running. Porsche content is vast, broad, deep and widely available. The earlier cars really are simple. Parts cost is a different story. So is labor for true pros with experience. The good news is many of the original (OEM) parts are just a click and a couple of days away.

 

[fouckhest]

@Trapps - you hit the nail on the head in so many ways! I would whole heartedly agree to everything you said, even to the fact that the 964 is pure air cooled glory in my book as well! I have buddies that own a Porsche/Audi repair shop and I will never forget talking to them one cold wintery night in ~2010 and them telling me that you could get a 964 in borderline great condition for ~$15k, as you said, oh the regret!

 

[olsenmotorsports]

@fouckhest sticky like gum on Georgia asphalt in July!

I was alway a car kid. Matchbox, Hot Wheels and countless models consumed my playtime. I loved them all. However, as a young teenager I became smitten with one brand more than the others. Then, in a mid 80's dorm room, I saw this poster:



I moved from smitten to something just short of obsessed with Porsche's iconic and venerable 911. The next 20 years were spent reading every magazine article and book I could get my hands on. Ownership was not in the financial cards, but I became a fan, as in the true meaning of 'fanatical,' and a student of the brand. I had subscriptions, I had begun assembling a library of Porsche books and literature.

Life happened, marriage, mortgage, kids, career. I never stopped reading and fantasizing about Porsches. While I loved them all, pre 1995 911 cars were my jam and the 964 generation, 1989-1994, became my personal holy grail of all 911s. Something about the original 'stovepipe' front fenders following the round headlights. 25 years later I was in a position to buy one. Went shopping, spent cash on PPIs for 3 different cars, found a great deal and had Mrs. Trapps approval. I sat down with my finances and plans laid out in front of me: mortgage, home improvements, kids college, etc. I couldn't justify it in my head and walked out on the dream, favoring the safety of a rational decision that I would come to regret many times over. Still, I remained a fan and followed every new model and all things Porsche through magazines and the internet. I told myself one day...

Something began to shift in the 911 world in the early teens. Some would argue the air cooled (pre 1999) cars were the best Porsches ever made. Certainly a ton of arguments could be made in support of that claim. Relatively simple, very durable and that 'form follows function' design ethos all played into the story. The modern cars are fantastic and the performance, by comparison on paper and in the driver's seat, is mind boggling. But for me, and many others, those earlier cars hit squarely on the nostalgia button with force. I suspect people coming of age and means suddenly had the desire to own their childhood dreams and demand for air cooled cars began to rise. Slowly at first; in 2010 you could find a 964 in good condition for well under $20k and fixer uppers could be had for closer to $10k. Ohhh the regret...

Enter Singer, perhaps the most widely recognized company transforming Porsches into something 'more.' While Ruf, Gembella and others had been tuning Porsches for years, the restorative and restomod craze had arrived in force. The internet and its reach put these amazing creations in front of millions of people, not just die hard enthusiasts. Apparently, people with deep pockets. They began to buy the cars. By 2017, the average price climbed to over $50k for that same 964 in good condition. Speculators, flippers and restorers/restomoders discovered the demand, and began to hit the supply hard. Some are **** companies looking to make a buck. Others, like our own Tim @olsenmotorsports, produce immaculately detailed, beautiful and capable machines worthy of a museum perch, but meant to be enjoyed in motion. Monthly and quarterly sales reports showed a very strong upward trend. Then Covid happened. Prices went stratospheric. Much has been written by those smarter and more informed than I am, but the consensus is that there will be no correction resulting in a price drop. Any price softening is really just a slower appreciation curve. Today, a good condition 964 will fetch six figures, plus or minus. These are averages; body type, drivetrain, transmission and condition all have a significant impact. A '94 Turbo S is a $900k discussion. A '91 cabriolet with a Tiptronic (automatic) trans recently sold for $50k.

Can you still find a 'deal?' Sure. And, with the resources available much can be done in your own garage to keep them running. Porsche content is vast, broad, deep and widely available. The earlier cars really are simple. Parts cost is a different story. So is labor for true pros with experience. The good news is many of the original (OEM) parts are just a click and a couple of days away.

Lots of wisdom here, I am humbled by the mention!

Not that my opinion matters but I truly believe that the 997.2 is next to pop. Huge upside in the .2 platform and I think eventually it will outpace the 964 both in value and mystique!

Talk about deals to be had, check out our IG …. One of those moments when I kick myself for making bad decisions but I really did feel bad for the owner .


https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLqCkc4pHQE/?igsh=ZHdwdTdtNWF1a3h1

 

[fouckhest]

Not that my opinion matters but I truly believe that the 997.2 is next to pop. Huge upside in the .2 platform and I think eventually it will outpace the 964 both in value and mystique!

@olsenmotorsports understandably this is a true unicorn, but I think the 997.2 is already there....this just sold today, mind boggling, this was an ~$200k car new

2011 Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 | PCARMARKET

842-Mile 2011 Porsche 997.2 GT3 RS 4.0. 842 . VIN: WP0AF2A93BS785617. Located in Atlanta, GA. Sold for $1,260,000. 27 bids.

www.pcarmarket.com

 

[Trapps]

Fast forward to October of 2022; I wasn't looking when an opportunity arose. And then, the proverbial planets aligned.

Through the mostly subtle persuasion of a close friend.
The recent loss of a close friend.
Kids launched (95% off my payroll).
Watched my wife battle a nasty cancer (she's good!).
The right car (condition, history, price), for me, appeared as if from nowhere.
I was afforded a very extended 'test drive.'

I had nothing to counter-balance that alignment with, plus, I had zero interest in returning the car after the extended test drive, so I became a caretaker. I use the term caretaker (I read it somewhere a while back, can't remember who to credit) because I hope to pass the car on someday. I hope its next owner finds as much joy and satisfaction in it as I have. To achieve that, my obligation is to use, maintain and preserve the car.

My primary mission is to drive the car in its best form available to me while keeping any repairs, modifications or upgrades to a OEM+ standard where OEM parts are the minimum. Alternates of improved quality and/or performance are permitted, however, modifications must appear period correct. Parts replacements as repairs, or a function of PM, will maintain a stock or factory appearance to most casual observers. Aficionados will note a few deviations. This is a 30' car. From 15' you see its 32 years of age. From 5' you see all of its 100,000+ miles. From the driver's seat you are afforded a completely different perspective:



Looking closer:



A somewhat common ailment of Porsches of this vintage, it lead me off on my first project and to test that "vast, broad, deep and widely available" theory.

 

[Trapps]

At the time of acquisition, the car had several issues and maintenance items which the PPI revealed but none of them would become a showstopper. These were addressed as a part of the transaction with both parties coming to the table. I brought home a real driver, ready to go. There was a certain amount of nervousness when I first began to enjoy it. That faded with each mile driven and quickly the car became my happy place delivering big hits of endorphines and dopamines each time I even got a glimpse of it.

While researching gauge faces, I continued to enjoy the car. Funny things happen with cars more than 30 years old. Sometimes they break during use. Sometimes they break while just sitting there. And then there are consumables, part of every car. And when those parts wear out, you replace them. Usually not a surprise and usually not terribly expensive. Usually. Plastic and rubber seem to be the most common failure items, due to their chemistry with each seeming to find a life expectancy commensurate within an intersection of age, environment and use. A turn signal reflector for $67, a belt tension sensor for $122 or a CHMSL bulb for $5.

So, while out driving, I noticed the odometer had stopped working. I knew it happened on this drive as I keep a very detailed journal that tracks every mile, dollar and item added to, or work done, on the car. Upon my return home I was able to calculate the maximum mileage from that drive and added it to the journal which I keep in an excel spreadsheet.

Since I am not worried about resale value (my kids will have to deal with that if they should happen to pass becoming the next caretaker) having a TMU car did not concern me, I decided to keep enjoying the car. Meticulous record keeping would keep me ‘honest’ with myself. I thought I knew these cars. Turns out what I knew was, in many regards, superficial. Reiterating stats I’d read dozens of times was easy. Replacing a belt tension sensor, the first repair I made to the car, was also easy. I’d just never considered it before, let alone done it. Kind of like the high dive at a big pool. It’s a bit daunting for that first leap, but then you’re all stoked to go again. But the gauges were, at least mentally, different. So I became a student of gauges, not just faces, but the inner workings too. While researching and waiting on parts to come in, I would add 655 miles to the car. The simple answer would be to pull the gauges and send them to Palo Alto, North Hollywood or any of the other established and reputable gauge repair joints. Oh, and they'd need it for a while. Suddenly the price of ownership was getting real. I knew this going in and it may have contributed to my gun-shy attitude over the past years decades.

Worse than owning the car of my dreams would be owning it only to have it sit sadly in the garage because I couldn’t afford to keep it road worthy. Most fans of older cars know and accept the financial risks these cars can pose. Wise buyers reserve a portion of the budget to address these exact items. But what about the guy who spends the wad on the car and can’t afford to maintain it? The marketplace is full of cars (not just Porsches) that were enjoyed but not maintained. Often those cars come at a perceived bargain, but like rust, the evils of deferred maintenance never sleep. I’m fortunate in that the previous owners of this car did do the right things at the right times.

Once the parts were in and I had had sufficient time to get past the nervousness, I took the plunge.

Removing the tach was fairly straight forward and presented no drama:



Same for the Odometer:



And the rest of the gauges:



The dash and the radio too. Another common affliction accompanying any project on these, or any other cars, is “while-you’re-in-there-itis,” a hard to cure condition fraught with dilemma and consternation. With gauges out, the dash was an easy pull allowing for some deep cleaning. This was my first case of WYITI. The dash had some cracks in the vinyl and some of the foam substructure had oxidized quite a bit.





Same with the door panel caps:





I hatched a plan and set out to replace the five faces and repair the Odo. Based on my research, I should be able to tackle the gauges. If I screwed it up replacements were available, but at a pretty penny. For example, a new OEM tachometer could be had for just under $1,800. I decided to risk the savings. I ordered gauge faces from a guy in Lithuania that had good reviews. I ordered 2 sets of odometer gears, the most likely culprit. Why 2? Well Porsche has always been good about raiding the parts bins and the benefit to this is that tons of parts are common to several cars, not just models, but generations. The downside is it is not always clear when change happens. The 964 odometers could have 2 or 3 different gear sets.

Lots of deep breathing and a few nerve steadying cocktails helped me pretend to be the giant watch repairer I am not:

















Many photos and notes were taken throughout the process. Questions resulted in a time-out while I consulted the internet. The end result, at least from appearance perspective, was pretty good:

 

[Trapps]

While the gauges were out and the dash partially disassembled, I made arrangements to have the dash top and door panel caps repaired and recovered. Stock is LPIM vinyl over a foam and metal reinforced substrate. I did not love the vinyl and I have always appreciated performance fabrics like Alcantara. The first car to have Alcantara was a 1974 Lamborghini Bravo.



Having a background in automotive fabrics, I studied options, consulted an 'expert' and then I called a friend from my past life in the automotive industry. He had a perfect solution in inventory and hooked me up with a product you might find in a few supercars from the present and recent past, including Porsche. Appearance wise, it is similar to Alcantara but has a slightly shorter nap, so witness marks (see pic above) are much more subtle. Performance wise, it meets or exceeds OEM standards. This fit well with my wish to keep performance and design elements close to stock looking, at least for the casual fan. I took the parts to a very well known and respected interior trim shop, Classic 9 Leather Shop. While they specialize in Porsches, they work on all kinds of cars. They happen to be in my proverbial back yard, just 25 miles away. I spoke with the owner, toured the shop and struck a deal. I could not be happier with the results.











As for appearance in the car, it works for me. I have a few yards of material left and I'll have a few more parts refinished in it to present a more cohesive appearance.

From the useful tools file: this tiny Wera ratchet was the perfect fit to reattach the dash:



From the humor files: can a 6'1" 260Lb guy fit in the back seat of a classic 911?



Sláinte!

 

[bdbecker]

Great work! Eagerly following along with this one...

 

[fouckhest]

Dash looks fantastic!

 

[zanyad]

Ooh, pretty!

 

[Trapps]

About that radio...

Early on in this thread, I posted about some car audio gear I had been hoarding for a future project. The 'future project' hadn't materialized so some of those components were put to use as tunes for the shop. Being that the 'future project' is now here, my original plans can be revived and executed.

Music is an enormous part of my everyday life. Not as a musician; the only instrument I play is the radio. Music is almost always on in my world. Shop, home system, cars. I have a couple of bluetooth speaker setups for different travel applications from smaller to larger.

I knew what I wanted to do here. I am a huge a/d/s fan from both performance and aesthetics perspectives. No longer available means the previously owned market is your only option. Unless you're a hoarder like me. While SPL is fun, I was always for more interested and invested in SQ. Many argue the only sound you need in a 911 is that from the big mechanical lump out back. I get that. But this car isn't just used for spirited driving while carving up country roads. It also sees time cruising, running errands and small road trips. I have no track plans for this car.

The car came with a modern Alpine head unit with Bluetooth. While I have much respect for the Alpine of yore, it's been a minute since I was active in the car audio scene. I'm not a fan of the newer designs. And definetly not the CD172BT that came with the car:



Too much blue and shiney. I much prefer the old school:







But the old school units don't have Bluetooth and I stream from my phone for almost all of my listening needs. I could add a bluetooth receiver to the AUX input of an old unit and I did search for a while to see what was available. Limited supply and dubious sellers or questionable condition turned me off. New school Alpine units are not in keeping with my goals for appearance. The search for a head unit that had 'period correct' appearance and modern capability was on. The Porsche Classic Radio is an option:



I don't like the layout and the screen is both small (not useful being so far from line of sight) and not something you'd have seen in a 1993 car. It also has mixed reviews for function and sound quality. Other options existed but in the end I decided to go with Blaupunkt. They have a couple of head units that fit the requirements. @jbrentd has a Bremmen SQR46 DAB in his '91 Audi Coupe Quattro and it looks fantastic. This is the unit I went with.

Old and new:



All the modern features, a near perfect appearance, readily available at reasonable a price and it has a fair bit of use in the wild with success. It also has programmable illumination color, so matching the rest of the IP was easy (I landed on R11, G2, B0).



Great, but what about the rest of the system? Well it came with these rather sad Pioneer 4x6 rear deck speakers:



And some pretty cool and reasonable sounding Boston Acoustics components in the doors:



While planning the system (searching the internet for ideas and gear) I stumbled on these old but NIB gems:





I wasted no time installing them, as much for aesthetics as for performance:













Pros would have oriented the tweets outboard for better imaging, but fit was an issue. Also, it is not quite as important for rear speakers.



I've had this amp for a couple of decades:



It puts out a clean 25WPC across 6 channels and is flexible with on-board crossovers and bridging. I've had these a/d/s 236is speakers for about the same amount of time:

They're currently in use in my shop, and the tweeters are shot but I have a sonically close set of Hertz tweets to fill in. Next winter I'll install the whole system in the car with new wiring and sound mat. The complete system will be:

Blaupunkt Bremmen SQR46 head unit
a/d/s 6.25 amp (hidden under passenger seat)
a/d/s 236is front speakers
a/d/s 300i rear speakers

More to come...

Sláinte!

 

[OutlawDrifter]

I'm a big fan of the period correct look. Went so far as to scour the net sourcing a replacement for my 1995 model year CD player in the Z28. I'm not willing to admit what that vanity cost me .

Really enjoying the journey on your car.

 

[nicholam77]

I'm loving this for you, Mark! Great to see some posts from you and glad to hear your wife is good.

I need to go back and read in detail but looks like you've done a lot already. I know with your attention to detail the car will get the treatment it deserves. I'm no Porsche encyclopedia like you probably are, but the 911 has always been a favorite car of mine. My neighbors across the alley (two brothers) have TWO silver 911s, a 993 and a 996 Turbo. The Turbo has an exhaust and I can hear the cold start in all corners of my house. And I don't mind one bit.

Do we get a full exterior pic, or is that for later?

Cheers!

 

[Trapps]

Great work! Eagerly following along with this one...

Thanks and me too! I can't wait to see where it goes.

Dash looks fantastic!

Thanks, I am very happy with it. Next winter I'll have the lower dash cover wrapped in the same material.

Ooh, pretty!

Thanks!

I'm a big fan of the period correct look. Went so far as to scour the net sourcing a replacement for my 1995 model year CD player in the Z28. I'm not willing to admit what that vanity cost me .

Really enjoying the journey on your car.

Thanks, Marc! What head unit did you end up with in the Z28?

I'm loving this for you, Mark! Great to see some posts from you and glad to hear your wife is good.

I need to go back and read in detail but looks like you've done a lot already. I know with your attention to detail the car will get the treatment it deserves. I'm no Porsche encyclopedia like you probably are, but the 911 has always been a favorite car of mine. My neighbors across the alley (two brothers) have TWO silver 911s, a 993 and a 996 Turbo. The Turbo has an exhaust and I can hear the cold start in all corners of my house. And I don't mind one bit.

Do we get a full exterior pic, or is that for later?

Cheers!

Thanks Nick! It has been a long time coming and time is not a renewable resource. Scroll on for the answer you seek.

 

[Trapps]

test

 

[fouckhest]

Do we get a full exterior pic, or is that for later?

I've been impatiently awaiting this myself!!

 

[Trapps]

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Thanks, Marc! What head unit did you end up with in the Z28?

Mark I've got the Pioneer DEH-40DH in the red/orange color scheme(matches my red interior). My era of Z28 has the 1.5 din opening for a radio that GM and Mopar loved so much. I believe Pioneer and Alpine were about the only 2 players in the game for 1.5 din when I decided to put the correct sized head unit in the hole. I ran an older Alpine single din for a few years before that, it was far less money

 

[Trapps]

Trouble posting today...



The teaser pic above shows the wheel & tire package that came with the car and what I’ve added. The stock wheels are what many refer to as Cup One, in 6 x 16 wearing 205/55R16 rubber in front:



And 8 x 16 with 225/45R16 in the rear:



The new-ish Michelin Pilot Sport AS tires are a decent choice for Michigan weather and the terrible roads here, but they give up quite a bit of grip versus a high-performance summer tire. Since the car hibernates in winter here, I opted for something a bit more aggressive in the form of the Dunlops. For me, wheels can make or break a car’s appearance. Countless wheels have been used over the decades on 911s and there are a ton of great options with budget being the only limiting factor. There are many quality options (and some poor ones), but the brands I like for an aftermarket wheel solution on a Porsche are Fikse, HRE, BBS, Volk and Kinesis. Stock wheels are great too, but they are getting pricey and hard to come by if you want 17" Cups. Original OEM Cup Ones (made by Speedline in Italy) in 17 x 7 & 9 go for more than $5k a set. 18” OEM SuperCups fetch north of $15k. These are USED prices. New BBS E88s will run you $8k and a long wait. None of those are in the budget right now. However, I did find an alternative meeting the following parameters:

• 17” because of A) Michigan road quality and the extra sidewall affording a slightly better ride than 18s, B) better appearance filling out the wheel well
• OEM fitment without spacers,
• ‘Correct’ appearance, meaning could it have come stock from the factory

The solution was a set of Cup One replicas made by Maxilite, a Swiss company, manufacturing TÜV approved wheels in Germany. 17 x 7.5 up front and 17 x 9 in the rear.



The wheels came from RosePassion in Europe and the rubber from TireRack. I had them mounted at Nikolas Motorsport, a local joint that always has interesting cars in the shop and showroom.



Then they sat in the shop taking up space for a while:



Finally, the day came to make the swap:



To complete the setup, I ordered a set of OEM painted center caps:



To be continued...

 

[loganb]

Such a tease...I love it!

 

[Trapps]

The other wheel I changed was in the cabin. Stock:



Porsche Classic is a collection of new OEM parts made for classic cars. One of those options is a collaboration with Momo.



Based off of the MOD.07, this one has a red center marker:



and ‘PORSCHE’ engraved on the three o’clock spoke:



It is smaller (350mm vs 380mm) and has a deeper dish (72mm vs 0) which works well for me as the seat is all the way back.



Transplant surgery included removal of a live airbag, a new hub, adapter, horn ring and some wiring:





After:





To be continued

 

[Trapps]

Posting is killing me today - the only way I am able to post pics is to post without, then EDIT and add the links...

A new battery, new center HVAC vent, DME Relay, Window switch and rear view mirror switch rounds out the maintenance items addressed so far. The parking brake needs work as does the shifter/linkage - it gets a touch sticky when warm. Otherwise, mechanically the car is in very good condition. Freight train acceleration that just keeps building. It wraps itself around corners in a way that only a 911 can; you feel that weight out back. Cosmetically it needs some work. There are small areas of rust at the bottom corners of both front and rear wind screens which is a common ailment. It will have to be addressed properly at some point – glass out, metal repair & repaint. 100,000 miles of chips, dents, scratches are all visible.

As received:



The original inspiration and vision I have for the car is largely a stock appearance and RS ride height similar to this car:



Despite that, I am NOT a purist. I have several mods planned (and some parts already on the shelf here ), all keeping within my self imposed guardrails of appearance, function and quality. 911s are a great platform to modify; look no further than Ruf, Singer, Olsen and a dozen others doing amazing things with these cars. Can you go to far? Yes, in my opinion you can; I'm not a RWB fan. At all.

Take this as the introduction to what has been christened "The Cherry," a 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 5MT, Guards Red over Black.

Current Status:









This meme hit home. I'm somewhere between upper right and lower left, almost certainly closer to the latter:



I am a fortunate and grateful man.

Sláinte!

 

[fouckhest]

964 is absolute 911 gold, you styling is on point, love that both wheel choices!

Could only be better in my eyes if it was white! (as much internal joke to myself b/c I've lusted over white cars, especially a white Porsche, and they always elude me)

Very excited to see continued progress!

 

[Trapps]

964 is absolute 911 gold, you styling is on point, love that both wheel choices!

Could only be better in my eyes if it was white! (as much internal joke to myself b/c I've lusted over white cars, especially a white Porsche, and they always elude me)

Very excited to see continued progress!

Thanks!

White 964? If you haven’t seen it, check out @Klokwerk s thread!

 

[fouckhest]

Thanks!

White 964? If you haven’t seen it, check out @Klokwerk s thread!

Oh yeah, I've followed him for a while, unfortunately haven't seen any updates in a while....

 

[nicholam77]

Awesome!! That red POPS!

Love the wheel and steering wheel selections.

 

[Trapps]

Backyard work continues with concrete prep. Forms are about 75% done for the first stage. I'm trying to pour in full truck loads. Math says this one is shaping up to be 10.47 cubic yards.

I rented a Bobcat MT100 this time - I was the first renter. Nice small machine, but I still prefer the Ditch Witch stuff. They feel smoother, quieter and equally or more powerful than the Bobcat.



More compacting courtesy of this noisy guy:



Forms are 4.5" thick. I rip a 10' 2x6 down, the off cuts become the stakes.
here I used a tailed circular saw - I ripped 34 10' boards. The ripping station:



Progress through the weekend:









Not fully assembled, trued or leveled yet, but I should be able to finish up tomorrow night after work. Now to find 11 yards of 4,000PSI, air entrained, fibermesh concrete - delivered on a Saturday....

I know, 4,000PSI and 4.5" thick? @zmotorsports says it best: "Overkill is underrated"

Sláinte!

 

[zmotorsports]

Car looks fantastic, as does the back yard. Love that tire/wheel combo.

 

[Trapps]

Car looks fantastic, as does the back yard. Love that tire/wheel combo.

Thanks Mike! A long way to go on both projects, but progress is fun - when it happens.
____________________

Last night I finished assembling the forms:







Leveling, truing and staking on Friday; crew and mud set for Saturday!

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Why do you have what appears to be about 7.5-8" dams in the form structure?

 

[Trapps]

Why do you have what appears to be about 7.5-8" dams in the form structure?

Hi Jeff, they are 6.5" and formed to leave voids which will then be filled with decorative stone. Inspired by something like this:



The walkway is 27' long and the patio is 3 sections at 17' x 11' or 17' x 34' total. The idea is to break up such large expanses of concrete, but still have very low maintenance. The walkway pads are 3' x 5' except the corner which is 5' x 5' (tough to see in the previously posted image due to perspective); that last pad really is square).

The stone will match what's already in the front of the house, Ontario Trap Rock.



We did not create 'pads' in front to make snow removal easier.

Next year a new driveway will tie it all together.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[fouckhest]

Can't wait to see that walkway, DEFINETLY cannot show my wife!

 

[Bob Heine]

@olsenmotorsports understandably this is a true unicorn, but I think the 997.2 is already there....this just sold today, mind boggling, this was an ~$200k car new

Mike, that makes this 906 seem like a bargain:
https://www.classic.com/veh/1966-porsche-906-906140-4olJXLn?tab=history
The 906 supposedly sold for $11,250 when it was new in 1966. That was the year we bought our first home, a 3-bedroom 1-bath home for $14,500 (now valued at $500,000).