I suppose I should end this oddessy.....

Even though my last entry for this blog was back in 2013, a time that seems as long ago and far away as our introduction to a young Luke Skywalker, I still get comments and questions.  That makes me feel like writing all this did something, even if was just something for me.  

And in that vein, I'll do something I've avoided for over a year now.  I'll wrap it up.

Without getting all existential or emotional, life throws you curve balls you don't expect.  In late 2014 I decided I needed cash more than I needed my favorite toy.  I got to enjoy a dream car for a while, bring it back from almost crap to something beautiful.  I'm extremely proud of what she became before I had to say goodbye.

The market is going crazy for these cars, I can't help but wonder what another year would have brought but as it was I was able to realize about equal money in the end (which anyone with a car hobby problem will tell you is rare).  

As one may ascertain from my long story I spent thousands of hours working on this car and each one was in-lieu of sitting on a therapist's couch.  Time well spent?  Who knows.  For me the answer is an easy and resounding yes.  Lord knows if I'd farmed out all of that work I'd have spent an easy $20k.

In the end a nice gentleman from way up north responded to a "feeler ad" I put on Craigslist about 2 days in, 2 more days after that he was standing in my driveway after his first drive in her with the same giddy look I had all the damn time.  I certainly hope he's still got that smile plastered to his face and she's treating you as well as she treated me (and vice versa!)

Goodbye Glenda

___________________________________

Epilogue:

I've noted over and over again I'm the sort of person that NEEDS an old car in my life to maintain a certain mental health balance.  So late last summer..... I found a poor little thing that needed some love for a relatively tiny sum of cash....

Meet Fred :-) 

.... Fred has already been significantly improved...

...........And this moron's story continues...............

Targa Top Latch Tweekage

This is trivial, but maybe some might find it a morsel of help.....

Recently my driver's side top latch didn't want to let go when asked, it started with a little stick and a minor bop would make it let go.  Last week I tried to take the top off and spent 20 minutes trying to gently coerce the side that is spring loaded but moves very little to release.

So this weekend I took the latch off of the top and fixed it.  I had to remove the vinyl cover (the middle button piece will go back on, the latch handle "rosette" I happen to have accidentally ordered thinking it was something else so I can put a new one on (not sure those are reuseable).  I found that there is a little plunger that pushes the spring loaded latch by several mm when unlocking.  That plunger's tab had somehow bent back enough to not really be engaging anymore.

A little tweak with a small screwdriver, a little clean and some fresh lithium grease and it's working perfectly once again.

Sorry, I was bent on fixing this little thing and didn't snap any detail pictures of it like I normally do.

Painted Wheel Cap Crests

Yesterday I had a rare opportunity of doing whatever I wanted to with my day.  I started with cleaning Glenda....which turned into jacking her up to take off the wheels to clean and polish them.....which included cleaning the wheel wells, then the top and underside of the engine.  As I was cleaning the wheels I decided to finally do a little detail work on the center caps I'd pondered for a while.

Several hours and a little testors enamel later I have painted logos :-)

Seems I don't bother updating my blog when I'm out enjoying the subject of said blog :-)

It's been about 3 months since I buttoned her back up, since then I've put a little more than 1,000 miles on the [working] odometer.  This old girl never ever ceases to bring a smile to my face every single time I turn the key, wring her out to 6k+rpm (that happens a lot), walk away in a parking lot or in the garage.  We are quickly approaching this being the longest term [automotive] relationship I've ever had.

Gas Gauge:
When I started driving again my gas gauge wasn't working, I'd put the old, formerly working, one in my new tank early this year when I rebuilt the motor.  I took it out and cleaned the contacts.  After I re-installed it the damn thing would give me a hint as to the level in the tank but it was amid a constant "happy dance".  The needle would top out at the current level of fuel in the tank but it would constantly bounce between there and the bottom as the fluid sloshed in the tank.  I grew used to it and now have the backup of my actually working trip odometer, I make it a point to top off the tank every 200 miles even though it's only a bit more than half empty.  (Getting ~17-18mpg if anyone is interested).

Lo and Behold I noticed earlier this week the happy dance has stopped, I didn't do anything, it just kinda cured itself.  Note to self:  one more chink in the "these cars want to be driven" chain.

Butt Warmers:
Holy cow what a wonderful thing!  Granted it doesn't get very cold around here, and I coupled that addition with new rubber and some fiberglassed old holes which made my car actually cease the constant breeze inside.  These changes have made her perfectly comfortable with the top on and windows up all the way down into the 40's (instead of alternating sitting on the frozen hand).

Worry not, I always have bits of work to do and I'll pick back up when I feel like getting around to them.  Lately I've been basking in the glory of a very nice, constantly complimented noisy old beast that roars to life every time I ask and has a sumptuous place to enjoy inside while driving like an insane person.

For now my project efforts have reverted back to radio controlled flying objects (hence the Sobamaflyer)

Calm the inner Vampire

I have a long standing preference for uber-dark windows on my cars, I hadn't yet had these tinted because 1) the top is off 90% of the time so it seems a little silly and 2) I couldn't decide if they "belonged" on a classic car.

In the end I said the hell with it, I like them that way, it's my car and it will block at least some of the sun from roasting me.  I ultimately had to leave my car with my long-standing (8-10 cars so far) tint guru for 2 days to get the job done.  I did kid him that I assumed he was pulling a Ferris Beuller-esc parking garage attendant and keeping it to joy ride.  It took the poor guy 4 tries to do the back window but he ultimately got it and it turned out fantastic.

I had the windshield done in 35%, sides in 15% and the back in 5%.  Many won't like it, I think it's bad a$$.

On unrelated notes:
I've finished the back seats, installed my munchkin's rear 3-point belt, added in the fire extinguisher and this weekend cleaned and lubed up the steering U-Joints as a previous tightness in steering was getting worse (hoping that was it, I'll find out shortly).  Otherwise I've actually gotten to drive her several days in between some constant rain we have had here for months.  You may expect my blog posts to become more infrequent now that I can be out enjoying the subject of said blog :)

[insert angels] Aaaaahhhhhhhhh [/shut up angels]

I am officially tired of this project, thankfully it is 97% done and complete enough as of a few hours ago that I shall resume enjoying my road-going plaything and tackle that last 3% as I feel like it (since it's includes items not particularly necessary to show it off to the world).

I finished up the doors over the last 2 days, fiddly pains in the butt is an understatement but boy did it make a difference once there was no more yellow showing.

I gave her a bath after everything just a couple dribbles on the seats which I'll call a victory in a car like this, my top is also still need to be restored but that's going to have to wait for a while until my bank account recovers from the last 2 months of interior work.

I've spent the last 8 weeks, 2-3 nights/wk for 2-3 hours, at least one weekend day and usually a bit of both working on this.  I still have to install my Gate Shifter, finish covering 1 rear seat back and install those with my son's rear seatbelt and wire in the seat heaters.

I even sourced the silly little snaps on a tab that are supposed to hold the trunk carpet in place, it actually looks like it's supposed to in there now :).

And last but not least a little addition to the nose, it's purely for the delight of my 4 year old.  Don't worry, the proper badge is carefully stored for when the passing fancy goes away.

Sealed up like a virgin at a revival

I shall reiterate for the dozenth time that I'm no expert, and my car is never going to win any concours shows but little victories like this one really make me smile.

My top still probably (woefully) needs to be rebuilt, however I've added new seals to it's sides and tweaked the new seals on the car and it until I now have it sealed up fairly well.  There are still gaps between the top material and windshield header but I believe that's where Mr. Dan comes in at Cars Inc and my top becomes the 2nd item I farm out so it's done by a pro.

Last night I set about adjusting my windows and vent frames so that they met up with the sides and top better and after an hour of fiddling (with one side) I have what you see here.  Where once one could easily see daylight (let alone the water it let in if left out in the rain) in plenty of spots I now have a nice tight seal around 98% of the window.

I've been sent (2) .pdf documents/service bulletins as issued by Porsche regarding sealing and fitment and if anyone is in need of them feel free to drop me a line and I'll share them.  They were quite helpful in finding the adjustment points.