The Houston 04 SE

[78F350]

The bumper and muffler are back on. I was a little concerned about the new paint not matching the 14 year old original paint, so i chose a line just below the bumperettes to blend the new with old. There's a nice sharp curve there to mask a slight change in tone.


I'm happy with the results. The color doesn't stand out as being any different unless you get close and look for it.


The biggest problem is that I didn't have the patience to properly feather the primer over the repaired area. If you look for it, you can see a slight ridge around the area. Some of that I may be able to correct with fine sanding and polish, but since it is under clear-coat, I expect it will still show on close examination.


In a few days, I'll work on it again to clean it up a little. I can also see a few spots where my clear-coat ends onto the original paint. I had about a 2" overlap of just clear, so I could blend it back. I really need to watch some more YouTube on this stuff... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYB4Yxeq_M8

[GTA_G20]

Paint looks good. Are you still trying to locate a cocoa dash? If so I know of one....

[78F350]

Originally Posted by GTA_G20

Paint looks good. Are you still trying to locate a cocoa dash? If so I know of one....

Yes, an original cocoa dash would be nice. The last one I checked on was from the car that Paseb (987parts.com) was selling and it was not in good condition. Please send a pm or post info here so I can check it out.

[GTA_G20]

PM sent. But it looks like we know the same parts person lol

[78F350]

Still going well with no significant issues. I feel that it is completed as a 'project car' and future work will be maintaining '04 Boxster rather than recovering a flood car.
Some fall foliage along the Illinois River this morning:

[GTA_G20]

Looks amazing

[jmitro]

awesome project and neat to see you're in OK

[Homeoboxter]

Very well done. Oklahoma looks great this time of the year. Especially with a Boxster in the foreground.

[10/10ths]

....to get these, stat!!!

https://www.bumperplugs.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=71

[78F350]

Originally Posted by 10/10ths

....to get these, stat!!!

https://www.bumperplugs.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=71

Thanks for the reminder. That's one of those little things that can leave a car with an unfinished look. I actually have a pair of Home Depot/Lowes plugs ready to paint (and the paint) sitting in a 'to-do' box. I'll get it done this week.

[78F350]

I went out wandering the back roads with the SE late in the afternoon. Eventually the pavement gave way to gravel and dirt. As I was taking pictures it occurred to me that I forgot to do the bumper plugs and the rear spoiler is a little mis-aligned. Darn, maybe tomorrow. Pardon the ugliness...

[jmitro]

you have such beautiful roads and scenery there. here in central/western OK it's mostly flat straight roads with a stoplight or stopsign every 1 mile

[78F350]

Originally Posted by jmitro

you have such beautiful roads and scenery there. here in central/western OK it's mostly flat straight roads with a stoplight or stopsign every 1 mile

Just read this as I wait for my lunch in Mena, Arkansas. About to start the Talimena Scenic Byway. One of my favorite OK roads. ...the long way home.
Edit: Home now and really enjoyed the drive. My favorites are in Eastern Ok, but it looks like there are some roads to explore across the west too. https://flavorverse.com/10-scenic-drives-in-oklahoma/ Quartz Mountain, Ok-8... The Talimena is probably worth a Saturday day trip with a good stop for lunch.

[itsnotanova]

Originally Posted by 78F350

Just read this as I wait for my lunch in Mena, Arkansas. About to start the Talimena Scenic Byway. One of my favorite OK roads. ...the long way home.
Edit: Home now and really enjoyed the drive. My favorites are in Eastern Ok, but it looks like there are some roads to explore across the west too. https://flavorverse.com/10-scenic-drives-in-oklahoma/ Quartz Mountain, Ok-8... The Talimena is probably worth a Saturday day trip with a good stop for lunch.

Wow I'm jealous

[78F350]

Every time I see the pictures with those matte black wheels on the car I cringe. They were only on it for about a week while I waited for new tires. I'm definitely going to have to get some updated pics.

[Fiddlebog]

Originally Posted by 78F350

Every time I see the pictures with those matte black wheels on the car I cringe. They were only on it for about a week while I waited for new tires. I'm definitely going to have to get some updated pics.

I'm not sure about the wheel pattern, but I like the color. Maybe a bit closer to satin as opposed to flat matte would be better, but I like satin black. Especially on that silver!

[itsnotanova]

Originally Posted by 78F350

Every time I see the pictures with those matte black wheels on the car I cringe. They were only on it for about a week while I waited for new tires. I'm definitely going to have to get some updated pics.

They look good to me. Glad to see you're still not having problems with it. I thought you were insane for buying it and even crazier for trying to fix it. Lots of respect for pulling it off

[78F350]

I finally finished installing the new leather base on the driver's seat. Rather than strip the original seat, I used a heated seat base with damaged black leather as a replacement. Stripping off the original leather without damaging the seat was slow and difficult for me. I did not look forward to the installation and kept putting it off for later.
I finally bought a good set of hog ring pliers and that made the assembly go much easier than the removal.



While I had the seat apart, I replaced the damaged webbing on the base by stitching on a scrap cut from a trunk liner. Most of the seats that I have seen from after '99 (the older seats used metal springs) have had deteriorated webbing.



Through the whole process, I didn't use any guide or YouTube video, but just muddled my way through. If you ever reassemble a seat, be sure to pay attention to the proper order of assembly. I took mine back apart twice to get the controls, wiring, and plastic cover on correctly.

I had thought of using the passenger side seat that Fred had sent me, but in the end, I used the driver's seat that he had done some leather repair on. His work had come out pretty well and I didn't see the sense in wasting it. The interior could use a little clean-up, but here it is as I was finishing putting the seat back in.

[grc0456]

Originally Posted by 78F350

I finally finished installing the new leather base on the driver's seat. Rather than strip the original seat, I used a heated seat base with damaged black leather as a replacement. Stripping off the original leather without damaging the seat was slow and difficult for me. I did not look forward to the installation and kept putting it off for later.
I finally bought a good set of hog ring pliers and that made the assembly go much easier than the removal.



While I had the seat apart, I replaced the damaged webbing on the base by stitching on a scrap cut from a trunk liner. Most of the seats that I have seen from after '99 (the older seats used metal springs) have had deteriorated webbing.



Through the whole process, I didn't use any guide or YouTube video, but just muddled my way through. If you ever reassemble a seat, be sure to pay attention to the proper order of assembly. I took mine back apart twice to get the controls, wiring, and plastic cover on correctly.

I had thought of using the passenger side seat that Fred had sent me, but in the end, I used the driver's seat that he had done some leather repair on. His work had come out pretty well and I didn't see the sense in wasting it. The interior could use a little clean-up, but here it is as I was finishing putting the seat back in.

Nice work. You’re a braver man than me!


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[10/10ths]

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