medipedicman

The car is far from ready for a road trip today. I expect to spend the next few weeks shaking the cobwebs out. That time may or may not reveal issues that need attention.

I have registered my attendance and contacted the hotel. Best Western was having some technical issues yesterday evening but I expect to have the room booked today or tomorrow.

medipedicman

As part of getting the car ready to be a driver I dove back into the gauge cluster. I had broken off the left tab (again) and had bought a new cluster for the back plastic which was undamaged. I swapped in my speedo with the new gear and all my LED bulbs. I hooked it straight up and got nothing. (yesterday) No lights or gauge movement. So I thought perhaps it was a bad film so today I swapped everything back out using only the back plastic housing with all of my previously functioning gauges, film and front case. I hooked it back up and only one of the three lower bulbs came on. No gauge movement. I removed the lower main bulbs and reversed polarity. I was able to get two of the three working but still no gauges. I only had time to review the manual to see what fuses/relays might affect this. I found a couple of fuses for the right and left side cluster lights but really didn't see anything for the gauges themselves.

Any BTDT advice? Deoxit is my friend and a well worn white eraser has been used to clean contacts.

medipedicman

Well I took her out for a drive tonight, albeit without the cluster. I had a mix of in town driving,residential and rural county roads. It was approx 40 easy miles total. This is the first time she has left the neighborhood and returned under her own power

Sometimes it is the small things that bring the greatest joy.

Thanks for everyone's help.

AirtekHVAC

40 more miles than mines been...thumbs up bro!

outbackgeorgia

Great news Brian!
It's all about driving these cars.
Ron, get to work! SITM coming up.
Dave

medipedicman

Thanks guys. I had previously got a quote for paint and body. A little too steep for me. I went back to the guy and asked him for a body/primer quote. I may have it done before the trip.

82Porsche928

Why don't you just wrap it?

Ladybug83

What color are you thinking for the paint? Love the interior BTW, reminds me of the carmel cream candies. mmmm

medipedicman

Wrapping has been one of the options considered. When I purchased this car 3-4 years ago the PO clearly stated that the car had been keyed. His PO's crazy ex girlfriend...... The hood, roof and driver front fender were to the metal. I took the hood down to the factory yellow layer and primed it. The FF and the roof were filled and sanded in a VERY poor way by me.

There are four front spoiler holes that need to be welded (pea sized), a radio antenna hole that needs to be welded (nickle sized) and the rear hatch has six holes (S4 spoiler 4 pea sized,rear wiper two nickle sized) that need to be welded and smoothed.

The body work needs to be done in either case to get the desired finished product. I have a close personal relationship with the painter and his family. Body and prime is low raw material cost, high labor cost. Paint is the opposite. He has basically agreed to defer his labor expense to the paint portion of the job and do the body work and prime coat for RMC. I am very familiar with his work and have seen many jobs over several years. We have gone over every inch of the car together and have aligned our expectations. We have an agreed upon timeline and $. Time will tell, but at this point I feel like he is doing me a solid favor.

The car will remain black.

StrayCat

What's up with POs ex girlfriends and damaging 928s? Remember mine was attacked by a brick........

I'm trying to come up with some engine compartment ideas while it will be wide open. If you have any ideas write them down.

82Porsche928

I had a friend in high school with a black 928, who's girlfriend covered it in white paint, broke all the windows, and slashed the tires. They know it's our week spot, and we care about it more then them... Because they're crazy!

medipedicman

I guess I would be interested in hearing the options/costs/benefits. Paint and body cannot start until 4/20. I have told him that I must have the car back by 5/1 to work on the engine. I am not in a huge rush for either but I know that you would love to have so many owners see your work at SITM......

StrayCat

Yeah, no pressure right? Lol.

My wife asked how detailed I planned to be. I told her to start looking for a large picture frame for a photograph to put above the t.v.

The Deputy

Glad to hear you got her straighten around. Hopefully, it stays on the straigh and narrow.

Brian.

medipedicman

Feel free to post pics directly to this thread of any in progress shots. When it is all said and done I am going to have this thread printed and bound and it will go with the car once sold by my heirs, lol.