Hey! Another Airhead!

And yet another... CHP has us waiting six weeks to get this referee’d for a title, doh! The fresh carb bits arrived in the mail Wednesday...

Few jobs tackled yesterday and late into the night. Slow puncture fixed so all wheels off, washed and dressed.

Gearbox shift cables adjusted with the factory calibration thingy. Definitely an improvement.

Brake fluid flush and inspection for Mondello.

Wash and a quick coat is Auto Glym Aqua Wax. Never used it before but did a decent job and handy to use.

Waiting for it to rain now.

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Couple of days late,

Changed the oil, finally, after discovering the existing drain plug was stripped. Thank you to whoever mentioned using a dremel and a chisel. Cleaned the MAF sensor. First time getting to the top of the motor so that was educational. Also discovered that cylinders 1-3 had fairly loose coil pack plugs. Hoping that was the cause of the cyl 2 misfire.

Getting to know the car better is fun.

Oh, I messed up the buff job on the hood, yay me. So I'll try doing it by hand and see if I can get the horrible swirl marks out. Never have I done such a poor job, not sure what I did wrong this time, but disappointed it happened to the Boxster vs the Subaru lol!

Fixed the annoying "tick" sound today that plagues these cars and the 996's.

There was a hairline crack in the weld of the header where it is joined to the manifold, both sides at the first tube. You could see a slight black sooty line where it was leaking.

Removed headers, grinded out and welded it back up. Flat and square, good for another 20 years.

Nice and quiet like it should be.

It's the little things, really. lol:cheers:

Super excited to complete a project with such a great outcome as this. Been contemplating new seats or taking the car into an upholstery shop and having new seat coverings made (or purchased online) and installed. I have done complete interiors on a few cars and I know how expensive it can be. Been really dreading it...

My interior is Savannah Beige and the bolster of my drivers seat is torn pretty bad. Already been thru the process of filling and recoloring the seats with pretty good success initially but over the last few years the seat repair just didn't hold up to regular use.

Browsing the Bay a while back I notices some sellers with seat covers from parts cars for various parts of the seats. I found a Savannah Beige seat back cover with no rips or tears for only $80 plus shipping. Fast forward, I was able to replace my torn seat covers with this replacement and just freshly colored (airbrushed) it with some leftover color from the prior job and damn if it doesn't look almost as good as new. And best of all no rips!

Don't have before and after pics handy but I was surprised how easy it was to remove the old seat cover and install the new one. And all for significantly less than a whole new interior.

Waiting for the immobilizer to come back for my project 2000 Base car. I took a little time this afternoon to swap out the black seatbelts with some red ones I has stashed. Since that project puts you half way to installing spin locks for a hardtop or Speedster Humps, I went ahead and dropped them in too. They are surprising easy to do.

For you guys that have never done either of these projects, both are pretty basic and straightforward. The first time installing spin locks I kind of dreaded it from what I'd read, but after installing several sets on my different cars, it takes more time to get the tools out and put back up then it takes to install them. Seat belts are easy too.

This week as the Post Office and the UPS and FedEx guys make their deliveries, I should have everything I need to update all the clapped out Soft Touch interior trim pieces. I'm going back a year to the black/gray pieces from '97-'99. The center console will be painted, new parking brake and shifter, GT3 console delete kit installed. Then I have to find a 3-spoke Metropol Blue steering wheel and airbag. I think I'll install a short shift kit too while I have the console out.

For you all who are familiar with the Martini racing livery from the '70s-'80s, you'll notice a theme starting on this car. Martini normally started with a white car with red, dark blue and light blue colors for their livery. I think that's where this car is going. (Ignore the purple hardtop - it'll be white when painted. I was able to pick it up last weekend in the Dallas area for $850. A great deal and a great fellow Boxster guy I bought it from.)

More to come... :cheers:

I took the cover off, put the roof down and drove to visit my parents, on the way back I went to vote (gobernor elections). The locking system gave me problems every time I parked the car (gremlin inside decided to wake up again), perhaps it's time to replace/fix the locking system under the driver seat (rain problem perhaps).

Cleaned out rads
 

Today I cleaned out my rads. Just got it out of storage last week and on the first drive it was over heating a bit. So I'm doing what I should have done before storage.

To note: Took everything apart and there really wasn't much for debris in the shroud. Vacuumed it out but didn't feel comfortable putting it right back together. It's just two torx bolts (per side) that hold the AC rad in front of the cooling rads so I took them off...glad I did...that's where the $hIt was between the AC rad and cooling rad. I highly recommend this easy task and I'm surprised it's not mentioned in any "how to's".

I also hit both rads with a spray cleaner and blasted with water to clean out in the fins.

Now to put it back together and enjoy the summer!!!

In recent news, I had a BendPak lift installed. After 30+ years working on my back on garage floors, it was past time for that!!

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Yesterday, just dailied it to the office.

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Local cruise tomorrow; pics to follow.


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Took out the original muffler that has been driven approximately 180.000miles and installed only approximately 25.000miles driven replacement.
Original had couple corner seams rusted and had a slight leak noice on accelartion - now the sound is solid and real nice :dance: http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1624129146.jpg
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What did you do with/to your Boxster today?
 

Father's Day cruise in the mountains. First time anyone other than me behind the wheel since the day I bought it. The missus isn't very experienced driving a manual but she did great! Absolutely perfect day.

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I took my dad for his first ride in, and first time driving, a Porsche. He was extremely excited and I got the satisfaction of feeling like an awesome son. He's almost 78 so he didn't push it, but enjoyed getting the RPM's up a couple of times and hearing that sweet six.

THIS! Test fired my xenon upgrade. My thread has details. :cheers:
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Replaced the instrument cluster LED backlights, driver and passenger door mirror trim pieces, and replaced the euro spec 12v outlet with a US spec outlet so my phone holder stays in place.

Removed clutch pedal spring booster yesterday. In 30 + years of driving manual cars I don't think I ever stalled as many times ( combined) as I have the Boxster, what a stupid idea that spring is.

Got the oil and filter changed, changed the brake fluid and air filter. Got the top transmissions repaired. Thorough safety inspection and two new tires on the front.

I still have my spring in my Boxster but ditto to this. The same thing happened to me in my 996. There is another spring that you can replace it with which makes it more traditional European clutch feel.

It worked against me during a PPI when I sold it. The shop said the entire transmission needed to be replaced. It scared a lot of potential buyers away. :barf:

Yeah I know, I have the softer spring, but it was a pain in the ass lying on my back to remove it, that I just decided to leave it out. I can always put it back if I ever decide to sell the car. You would be surprised how much natural the clutch feels once you remove the spring. Stupid spring puts so much pressure on the pedal coming back up that you have to be riding the clutch early on a red light so you don't stall the car :mad:. Now I can just put the car in gear when the light turns green and go. It takes a few minutes to get use to it, but once you get use to it you start wondering how you drove the car before with that piece of **************** spring in there. I think the spring is there to aid the cruise control switch.

Nothing car has been at the Porsche dealer for 3 weeks and they dont know whats wrong with it .Boggey off idle .

Installed my summer wheels this morning, and added two things to my to do list, clean up my rusty lug bolts and figure out why my 986 is dripping a small amount of coolant from the overflow over the right rear. I suspect it's because it's been over 100° F here and my 986 hates temps over 75° especially at 5,000', but I opened the purge value just in case there is any air in there.

Also, I have to give a shout out to Wheel Wax, kind of a pain to put on because it hardens so quickly, but my winter rims where filthy when I took them off and it only took about 5 minutes to wipe all of the brake dust off with a wet rag, depsite putting the wax on over two years ago. I will definitely be using it again.

I haven't been super active on this forum in the past year, but I still glance at it almost everyday. Due to the pandemic and work from home I only put 500 miles on the 986 last year, hoping to change that going forward! :cheers:

99 986 re-upholstery from Lseat
 

Did also mine last month just before it was used for our family friend daughter’s wedding get away car. It give me a reason to finally able to fixed my seats.
1st seat (passenger seat) took me almost a day with stop and go because of ways how to do it and the driver side probably less than half day. Just need more stretching or maybe if I have a time soon to use steamer and heat gun.

more pics
 

more pics of the seats

I put food on my indie’s table :D

My coolant tank was starting to leak after 20 years so rather than learn some new cuss words, I decided to pay to have it replaced. While there I had the water pump replaced, it was time, the engine mount also was shot after 20 years, and since I was already spending a bunch of money, I had them do the oil change and brake flush. He will be eating well for awhile :eek:

The engine mount made a huge difference in shifting, that was probably long overdue. I’ve had this Boxster for 9 years now and other than tires, brakes and oil, it hasn’t caused me any problems so I decided to splurge in my old age.

Speaking of tires, I’m due to replace those as well. I placed an order at my local Discount Tire for a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S’s but the rears are on back order for possibly 90 days! Ugh. It is not urgent but…

I bought some wheels
 

I got a nice deal on some 996 Light Alloy Carrera wheels on Facebook Marketplace. fronts are 18x8 and rears are 18x10. They were all plasti-dipped black and I spent an afternoon stripping that off. My shop is confirming what size spacers I need for the rear wheels, and I'm going to use them as my track wheels with some stickier street tires, something I can still drive back and forth to the track on. I'll save my Boxster Lt Alloy Carrera wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's for the street. THe wheels look pretty good as they are, but have some curb rash and I will probably get them refinished as well as have them checked for trueness.

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Bruce, you won't regret it. If Zim's is doing the work, you'll have a well maintained Box. And with the mileage you've racked up (less than 100k), you'll have a great car to enjoy for many more years.

Cheers!

TO

Yep, they do great work :cheers:

I've been looking for a set of these (also in 996 sizes) for a while. I'm about to buy a set on Ebay but they need some work. Can you post specs and pics of wheels, tires and spacers once you get them figure sorted out? Thanks :cool:

Out of curiosity, how hard is it to strip off that plastidip?

I recommend Goo Gone on plasti dip...wet it down, keep it wet (reapply) then elbow grease.

You will see it start to "curdle".

Lots of rags.

Tip...wear gloves lol.

Added something new to hold onto.




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Nice! Where did you get that?

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Spent my weekend cleaning the car
 

I spent about 10hrs and did paint correction. It used to look great but up close under a light, the whole car has bad swirl marks and spider weds.
That's a job I hope I don't have to do again.
The car looks so amazing now and shines like a mirror.

It's pouring rain so only photos are in my messy garage.

Steering wheel remanufactured from Germany (all leather including base) from Ebay.

Airbag remanufactured by DCT in San Jose, Ca.

It looks great :cheers: I need to spend some time doing the same.

My shop has them now. They are going to get checked for trueness, trued as necessary, have all the curb rash repaired and then they will be refinished in Porsche silver, or as close to it as possible, with powder coating.

The shop checked the rear wheels on my car and said I need a 20mm spacer on the rear. I won't need any spacer on the front. I am sticking with stock size Boxster tires, 225/40-18 front and 265/35-18 rear. I also did some searching on this forum and 20mm seems to be the consensus for the rears. The fronts shouldn't need any spacers since the 996 and 986 have essentially the same front suspension and body.

These are genuine 996 BBS wheels, the fronts are 8 inches wide with a 50 offset, and the rears are 10 inches wide with a 65 offset.

I have ECS 20mm hub centric spacers and longer lug bolts ordered. ECS sells it as a complete kit and this was the lowest cost option I could find for the spacers plus lug bolts. The only hitch is that ECS has them on backorder and they won't ship until August 18. If my shop can find something else in that price range that they can get sooner, I may cancel the ECS order. My shop is going to mount the tires and make sure everything fits. Once I have it all done I'll post some pictures and confirm the spacers!

Some times ya win some (first pic), and sometimes you need to ask a kindergartner for help (second pic)https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...d6326d0669.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2f75b3454e.jpg

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I like it! Beautiful car! What tail lights are those? OEM red tail light kit?

Finally insured it and took it for a rip. It drove flawlessly.

Need to get my AC charged up. It was hot.

Then I parallel parked it at a buddies house.......aaaaaaand curbed the rim a bit.

Grrrrrrrrr.