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Restoration Archives #2- 4/98-8/98

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From: Dean Klein; Fri, 14 Aug 1998; ; Reply-To: bmwloco@mindspring.com; Hi Rick... Just curious, but do you know the total production numbers for "Soft Rear Window" Targas?
I hear over and over that they are "rare", but have never seen the exact numbers.
Just curious. I can't wait to get back to the "real world" and drive mine...the new carpet is in, the seats have been re-stuffed, and the venturi tubes and K&N's have been installed. Plans are to take a long roll through the southland as soon as I get off the ice.
Oh, if you're interested, I put up a web sites with shots from here at Palmer Station, Antarctica. I don't want to spam it...it's just for freinds and folks that stumble across it. You can see it at:

http://www.mindspring.com/~bmwloco/palmer.htm

Cheers! Dean Klein, network admin / pc tech, palmer station, antarctica

From: Dean Klein; Sun, 21 Jun 1998; > Webmeister -The best price I've heard lately is $250 each for lenses! (Years ago they were $80 each, of course that seemed high then...) Assuming the price will keep rising, the lenses seem to be a better investment than gold!  Rick: It's absolutely silly. Maybe we should follow the lead of the Vincent Motorcycle Club - produce our own parts. Members agree on what's needed; funds are collected to manufacture, parts are produced and members have first dibs on them. The rest are set aside for future need.
It's kept a lot of fine old Vincent motorcycles running like the wind since the '50's.
I truly pity the fool that backs into my Porsche ;- ) Dean, palmer station, antarctica

From: bsr; Fri, 19 Jun 1998;  Rick, looking for paint table for 1976. just recievied certificate from Porsche, they list somthing different than tag stamped on my car. they  tell me its called ascot green/ p5. tag says #258, touch up bottle is labeled speedway green. Talked to.... PCNA....WAS NOT A LOT OF HELP. brian

From: Susie Harris; Tue, 2 Jun 1998;  Hi Rick, I have a '76 912E (VIN #109) and was wondering if you might be able ask other owners if anyone might know of a good upholsterer in the Southern California area (preferably Orange County). I have the original russet basket-weave which has now developed a tear on the seam of the seat on the drivers side (about 6 inches long). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Susie Harris 

From: John Powell; Sun, 31 May 1998; I am fortunate in that the dash on my '67 912 is in good shape except for the padded part of the dash, the part that goes over the instrument binnacle and down along the dash (facing the seats). The vinyl on this padded part has come untucked between the windshield and the back side of the binnacle, and, I think, the padding along the length of the dash has deteriorated to that the vinyl looks rough and uneven.
So here's my question: Does the padded part of the dash come off separately?  Do I have to take out the whole dash just to retuck the vinyl or to repair the padded part of the dash?  Your expertise, as always, is greatly appreciated, Jon

From: Bobangles; Tue, 19 May 1998; Hi Rick, thanks for the welcome and the Registry. I couldn't quite believe it when I stumbled upon it! I'll have to get my neighbor registered. He drives a '69 coupe. Both cars have rear seats. Current projects: 1)Engine & transaxle out for clean and detail prompted by a leaking main seal causing a lubricated (read slipping) clutch. Decided against lightening flywheel but I am having it resurfaced and balanced. 2) Drivers door repair (someone backed into it while car was covered, I didn't know for 2 days.) 3) New soft window boot. Perhaps you can help me. I didn't have a boot so have nothing to compare to. How many fasteners do you have and where are they? I believe I'm missing 2 on the inside. Here's what I have on one side. 1 inside Targa bar, 1 outside Targa bar, 3 on body. Total of 10 on car, 5 on each side. What am I missing? (Webmeister note: there are 12 Tenax fasteners total) Also thinking about installing KYB gas shocks. Any opinions?

From: Scott & Stacey; Mon, 18 May 1998; schalde@earthlink.net; I have a 68 and I'm trying to install the back window that I just had refabricated. The old window was rigged and I'm not sure how the bars connect on each side by the roll bar. If there is any info you have to help me I would be grateful. Scott A. Schalde

From: DENVERMAUK; Sun, 17 May 1998; DENVERMAUK@aol.com; I am trying to locate a local used porsche parts place somewhere here in Denver Colorado. Do you know of any? Thanks! Dave Mauk

From: Johnflacey; Sun, 3 May 1998; Johnflacey@aol.com; Rick et al: Has anybody had their original old Fuchs refinished recently? I have 4 that are now nearly 30 years old and would appreciate guidance on pitfalls, costs, who does them well, etc. I am hearing alot of different things from alot of different people that scare me ("old aluminum turns white whenever I try to do them." and "What do you mean 'brushed finish'?" and stuff like that.) Is Robert Wood Wheels, Inc. in California the best? Or the new enterprise the real Mr. Robert Wood now runs? Thanks in advance. John

From: Chris Otto; Sun, 26 Apr 1998; ceotto@gte.net; Howdy...we just changed providers, so new address. Webers aren't properly jetted yet, but we did figure out "kalunk"-rear control arm
bushings have effectively dissapeared, oops metal on metal; new bushings on way. Ah the joys of 912 ownership; of course all is forgiven once one gets out on some backroads; boy am I a guppy for a pretty face! Dennis F. Otto

From: Peter Sommer; Wed, 22 Apr 1998; sommerp@uni-duesseldorf.de; BIG NEWS !!!! Spread the word, Porsche has finally come around to remanufacture the chrome horn grills for the SWB models. They are made of chromed plastic and are the two mounting screw type. Fit is really good,as expected, the only small imperfection are two small dents in the lower front bar, probably from the mould. Didnīt stop me from buying them though. Oh, yes, by the way, the part number is PCG 559.431.50 (or432,depending on the side) Available from your local Porsche Dealer ! Actually, when my Porsche Dealer called me and told me that my parts had finally arrived I really didnīt know, what he was talking about, because I ordered these grills 2 years ago and had forgotten all about them !!Talk about customer service. Have a nice day and keep your baby runnin`

From: JMAhlgren; Mon, 13 Apr 1998; JMAhlgren@aol.com; Good morning Rick!  There's a place in Grants Pass (OR) that recovers dashes. This place has been recommended by Jim Pasha to recover my '78 924's dash. I will be going through with this, and Jim has offered to install it (and take pictures). This will be an article probably for Excellence mag. I will let you know how the re-covered dash compares to a OEM, as the '80 931S's dash is still uncracked. The place is "Just
Dashes", if you want to go ahead and get a quote.
I have NO idea WHY the guy sold us such a beautiful '68 dash, as they are so rare. He could have gotten three times the price we paid, but then, this is Nemo's world, and this little car is quite magical.  Also, what Nemo wants, Nemo gets. We have learned! Jeanette

From: Rose, Revis PO; Mon, 6 Apr 1998; RRose@d11.uscg.mil; To: "'Michaelis, Stanley;
Stanley, Sorry if I wasn't clear, but I installed the pan into a twisted frame.  When I realized what I had done I cut it back out and installed in a new front sub-frame.    I'm doing a sub-frame transplant at this time. Believe me this is scary, when you make that "cut" too cut the front sub- frame off your car, your really hopping that your not in over your head. It sounds easy just cut off the bad peace and weld on the new one. Well this is an adventure isn't it?
I can't help you with the pan, I'm using it on my car, so it's not for sale.  The 1.7/1.8/2.0 liter VW Squareback/Bus/914 engines are good engines and have few things going for them: 1. It makes much more power than the 1.6 liter 912(+ 2). 2. It is cheaper to rebuild than the 912 engine, easy too(+ 3). I think that if I had a spare 2.0 liter sitting around maybe I would do it too(+ 1), but then again it sounds like a bus(- 6).   I'm rebuilding my 912.
Pistons w/o Cylinders $675.00 Shasta P/C (9.25:1) are $1000.00
Head work including: $890.00 valves, springs, etc.
Machine work: Grind Crank .010 under $385-450
Bore/Hone Cyl. $ 90.00
Rebuild/Bal. Rod $ 45.00 each
Bearings aprox. $150.00
This is a partial list and as you can see it's expensive, and this is not including the new oil pump, new cam and lifters gears or Hot Rod stuff, or any other misl. expenses. I'm not trying to scare you but I really don't think that people realize this stuff. For the price of a STOCK rebuild you can get a screamer VW type I but that the price you have to pay, to play. As for the bus motor, well Hell, if had wanted a hot VW, I would have bought a GTI. No, I'm not crazy I just like it the way the car was designed. There are faster cars than the 912 (my 944 for instance). There is no such thing as a cheap PORSCHE. Good luck. Keep the 912 Faith! V/R Revis

From: GEORGE PRICE; Sat, 04 Apr 1998; PRICEG4@lakehurst.navy.mil; I have a 66 912 I am trying to restore, unlike my 944 I need info. Is there a dash cover available for a 66, is the dash the same as a 69, what interior parts are interchangeable ect. What year do the front calipers interchange with. Any info on front shock replacement.  Can anyone help me with info on welding in floor pans and rockers, how to jack the car to prevent buckling, do you do the floors first or the inner and outer rockers, how to get the headlight buckets out. Are there any kits to replace the generator with an alternator, any kit to replace the oil filter with a screw on, any kits to replace points with electronic. Any and all info would be appreciated. Please replie to priceg4@lakehurst.navy.mil

From: ; Wed, 01 Apr 98; jarusso@CCGATE.HAC.COM; Hi, I have a tip which I hope will be helpful to some of the registry members who are new to Porsche ownership: I have noticed quite a few references to the high price of parts for all of your 912s, and suggest this: SHOP AROUND!
I know that when I first got my 912 and began receiving all those Porsche catalogs,........ I was relieved to find sources for parts, both restoration and performance, however, I was shocked at the prices. I don't mean to put down these catalogs, but I get the impression that they regard Porsche owners as:
a) Rich; we can afford to pay that kind of money (certainly not MY situation)
b) Gullible; hey, I can't just go down to the local auto parts store and buy this stuff (often, but not always true)
c) Lazy; why bother shopping around when everything's right here?
or...
d) All of the above.
As an example, I recently decided to follow Rich Lambert's advice (BTW: great guy, has provided me LOADS of help and info on prepping my car to race!) and get adjustable spring plates (rather than a rear swaybar). One of the "catalogs" lists them at about $380 for the early ('65-'68) cars. I called Sway-A-Way (the manufacturer), got a part number and the phone numbers of some of their other distributors, and ended up (after some confusion, and one set of plates returned) with the very same spring plates for $213/pr!!!
The same with the set of Koni adjustable shocks I purchased; just over half the price of the lowest catalog!
I really hate to think of people getting discouraged by the prices of parts for these great cars (as I was), so remember, do some research and shop around!! 
Hope this is helpful to someone out there.  Joe Russo

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