Sitting On Top Of The World

About a month ago I received my new seats (new to me) for Fritz.  The seats, Nurburgrings from GTS Classics, came to me second hand on one of the forums.  This set was never installed before either, so it was a deal i couldn't pass up.

My old stock seats were not the most comfortable available; they were too springy, they didnt hold you in to the seat in the twisties, and what ever comfort had ever been there at one point had left a while back. 

Here are some before and after shots:

I also added a NOS rear window demister panel.  These were used in the 40s-60s before electric rear window defoggers became widely available.  These panels were essentially clear plastic with a thick rubber boarder with adhesive on it.  They essentially kept the atmosphere the same inside the panel, and thus would keep it from fogging over.

Here is a pic of Vic Elfords 1968 Monte Carlo Rallye winning 911 with one

And my friend Casey Putch's rally set up Mini with one

Lastly I removed my radio and installed custom made a radio delete plate, courtesy of my friend Mike DiLeo

These plates were used on vehicles purchased with out a radio, either because they did not want to purchase the radio option, or because it was a sports purpose vehicle and did not need the radio (or want the extra weight).

Mine of course is a home made replica.  I do have a real original one (see below with orange background), but decided to sell it in order to help fund the upcoming suspension project.  Mike did a pretty good job on his replica, didn't he?

Well thats it for now.  In the next post we will cover some other updates I have been working on -Gauges and instruments.

Stay Tuned..

Some changes coming to Fritz soon...  a lot of great ideas in the works.  I am really excited about them and want to share them, but i really have to keep it a secret for now.   Only time will tell what madness I have in store..

Back Where It All Begins

Well, work is still kicking my butt.. after this week I will hopefully have one more review to do, and then I can breath a bit. 

I have been working crazy hours, and had to put parting out the 67 on hiatus because i had no energy after work to work on it.  I am still shipping out stuff i have already sold on weekends, just haven't posted anything new for sale in a while. It's been just about impossible to do anything with it during the week due to sheer exhaustion.  Hopefully once i wrap these reviews up I can have a life again after work, and sell the last of it.  In the mean time, I have been plotting some crazy ideas for Fritz.  The new suspension is a no brainer and obvious.  I have a few other tricks up my sleeve, which everyone will either find really interesting, or hate.  I am very excited though and cannot wait to dive into these projects and to do write ups about them. 

In the mean time, with little to really discuss or get into, I present, for your enjoyment:  Made By Hand.. a walk through the Porsche factory as they create a 356 from start to finish!

Motorsports MacGyver

I had mentioned the other day that I had picked up a really nice original radio for my car.  When I picked up Fritz, he had an AM/FM/Cassette player installed.  Thankfully it was the old school kind with two knobs and the previous owner did not mangle the dash, like so many other cars. I really wasn't in the market for a radio, but it was one of those deals that i couldn't pass up for an original part that i would probably have paid dearly for down the road.  It will go in a box for safe keeping.

What I originally had in mind was a radio delete plate.  These are sought after because cars that were light weight and sports purpose (or that had an owner who didn't order a radio for one reason or another), had these plates to block off the hole where the radio normally sat.  These plates are often times very pricy.  A friend of mine had the same thought many do.  Why are we paying so much for a piece of plastic with the word 'Porsche' written on it.  So instead of buying one, he rolled his own.  It looked so good, and since i really didn't want to pay a few hundred for something so simple, I asked to buy one from him. It just arrived today, and I cannot wait to install it.  Mike did a hell of a job.  It is amazing what many of us come up with as alternatives to rare, or expensive parts.

About 6 years ago I came up with my own through the grill fog lights using Carello's and cutting up an old pair of horn grills.  My friend Kenny and I couldn't find any originals to go by so we cut them in a way we thought looked best. 

One day I will figure out how to make recaro sports seats using nothing but a paper clip, shoe string and a roll of duct tape.  I wonder if they make duct tape in a houndstooth pattern?

I am a weak man..

So i was on one of my favorite forums tonight when someone posted an ad for a Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio in excellent condition for $175..   i had been looking for a good one for a good price for a while.  I wasted no time in snapping it up.  What made the deal even better is that the seller was in Columbus.. add posted, radio paid for and delivered in an hours time.

The downside is I already decided to go with a radio delete plate on my car.  So do i keep it in a box hidden away until i go for a full resto or a rainy day, or do i sell it?  or do i hold onto it and sell it later (like 10 years from now).  hmmm....  either way a hell of a score.  I think I might just have to hold onto this one.

all that glitters is gold..

So I sent the brakes from the parts car out a month ago and they came back today.   They turned out pretty good.  I did find out in the process that pins and springs that hold the brake calipers are now NLA.  (How the heck can something like that be NLA?!)

Anyways, they were completely disassembled, the calipers and fasteners replated with the correct yellow zinc plating (just like the originals had when new), pistons polished and piston tops cleaned and repainted, new seals and dust covers, properly reassembled by brake specialists. Restored is probably the better word. These were done so that they are better than the day they left the factory (and done correctly so that they have the same finish and look as the day they left the factory!) No excuses, no compromises.  Excellent for driving and excellent for concourse.

I have decided to go another direction though, and am going to look at a more hot rod brake set up for Fritz.  So these guys are going to be up for sale on the 912bbs.   If anyone is interested shoot me any email at hoffman912@gmail.com