My 2001 Porsche 911 Turbo is sort of out of paint jail after an admittedly fairly quick stint at Two Brothers in Canton, Ohio. This color-change venture began in November and ought to be performed any day now, and I’ve heard of jobs like this stretching over a yr. I’m anxious to get my automotive again to drive it this summer season, however the final time I went to verify in on it I seen that the paint was so properly performed that I started to fret about all the opposite previous and worn items of the 24-year-old automotive beginning to present their age and seem like pure shit as compared.
The final two issues that have to be taken care of earlier than the automotive can hit the streets once more this summer season are the wheels and the home windows. The glass I’m not too involved with. I’d thought of swapping the rear window and the rear quarters for Lexan home windows from the Euro GT3 components bin, however I can all the time try this later, too.
The Wheels
The mismatched nineteen-inch BBS and Forgestar wheels within the high photograph will likely be changed by this period-correct set of color-matched Kinesis wheels. The faces have been accomplished, however the barrels have to be polished and new black {hardware} has been sourced. I’m assured this can look unbelievable.
The Hood
After I despatched the automotive in for paint, I left the hood off the checklist of components getting painted, as a result of I’m going to switch it with a carbon fiber unit. Sadly that piece of the job has been pushed off to this fall, so I’m caught with the black hood in the interim. I’ve tossed round just a few short-term concepts to make it look somewhat higher. Perhaps you may assist me decide.
Ought to I wrap the hood in fake carbon till the actual one is prepared, wrap it in matte black, spray bomb it matte black, or go away it with manufacturing facility gloss black and simply polish it up actual good?
Headlights
My greatest nemesis in the meanwhile is unquestionably my headlights. I managed to offer these lights a period-correct chrome-ectomy a number of months in the past, however the lenses themselves nonetheless look fairly horrible. I’ve just a few choices, however none of them are notably good. Right here’s one other alternative for y’all to offer me some help, maybe.
Choice 1: Polish and wrap –
That is the most affordable and best choice that I’ll in all probability do to get via the summer season and discover one thing else. The lenses will in all probability clear up somewhat higher with one other moist sand, then I can put yellow wrap on them to seal the plastic and provides them a cool look.
I’d like to get new lenses, however they only don’t exist. It’s a must to purchase a complete housing. Which brings me to my subsequent level.
Choice 2: Aftermarket eBay lights –
This image from eBay ought to clarify why I dislike the aftermarket lights which can be accessible for the 996. On the plus aspect, these eliminate the blemish of headlight washers from the unique set, which I additionally dislike. In the event that they weren’t so costly, I’d purchase a set simply to chop them aside for the lenses. A pair of those are $2,065.50 plus $125 to get them shipped in from Taiwan. Not precisely an inexpensive choice.
Choice 3: New OEM halogen lights –
I might order a model new set of substitute halogen headlamps, which additionally don’t embrace the headlight washer nozzle. These have been usually optioned on GT3s for simplicity and light-weight, and infrequently on base mannequin Carrera 2s as they have been cheaper, however in each circumstances they’re very uncommon and virtually by no means come up on the used market. These run about $1,800 per aspect, and I’d fairly smash the automotive for insurance coverage cash than pay these usury charges.
Choice 4: Customized RSR-style lights –
That is at the moment my favourite choice, although will show extraordinarily troublesome to DIY and I’m having a tough time discovering a customized store prepared to danger chopping aside $1,800 headlights. If you already know somebody, ship them my manner.
Taillights
Right here’s a difficulty I’ve already solved, so I can verify this one off the checklist. My automotive’s inventory taillights have been cracked and pale. That is one factor that the aftermarket didn’t do too horrible a job updating. I acquired this LED set used on eBay for $300. It’s exhausting to mess up a crimson and clear mild, however I’m not tremendous keen on the clear part.
So I delivered the entire thing to the painters and had them re-spray all the things in a diluted crimson tint for a uniform factory-ish look. I’d throw a small clear mild subsequent to the license plate for reversing, or I’d simply be a scofflaw and run with crimson reverse lights. I’ve performed it earlier than, I’m not above doing it once more.
Rocker Covers and Lip
It didn’t hassle me earlier than, however my cracked carbon fiber entrance lip has grow to be an eyesore towards the attractive contemporary bumper. I suppose I’ll must order a brand new one. Likewise the decrease rocker covers, notably the motive force’s aspect piece, are a bit bashed up. There are downsides to residing within the midwest with a 24-year-old Porsche on two-inch reducing springs. They’re about $250 per aspect, and doubtless want no less than just a few items of contemporary {hardware}.
Man, a paint job is much more costly than only a paint job.
