The Blurpening, Covid Coping & Returning to Form

[SlimKlim]

I have been a busy boi. 

I threw a new set of coils and plugs on it for good measure. All the coil packs looked pretty good so I shelved them to have backups on hand, the plugs needed to be done if only for age, they came out pretty reluctantly. 

You'd expect coils to be a nightmare on a flat, mid engined car but all you have to do is take the rear wheels off and pop out a little panel, only one of the six required some wobbly extensions to get to. 





Then I popped the wheel shifter and ebrake handle out to re-dye, which turned into a bit of a debacle. 











It all started well enough but uh, it don't match. I stripped it back off and contacted the company about it. I ended up sending them the shift boot so they could make sure it would be a perfect match, and I'm still waiting to get the new dye.





When Jake and I drove the car at night a few weeks ago my headlights were pretty dismal. Turns out I actually don't have xenons, and I figured it wouldn't hurt to pop fresh bulbs in. The way you pop the headlights out of these things is fantastic.

https://i.imgur.com/32RdbDf.mp4

With the covers off the lights I discovered why someone had replaced the passenger light at some point, the insulation on the wires of the driver's side unit is mostly dust. I made an attempt at wrapping it up but decided to just play it safe and replace it. New ones are eyewateringly expensive but i found a clean used one for a slightly less brutal price. 



I also replaced the gaskets on the roof gutters and the windshield cowl.







I also pimped out my center console, rattle canning my way to the ridiculously priced factory exterior-color matched option. The results aren't great in broad daylight if I'm honest, but installed in the car it sells well enough. 













And finally, the real money shot. OEM All red tailights and Soul Performance X-pipe & satin slanted tips. 

[Senor_Taylor]

How many things can joey find to replace that I would have never noticed needed replacing?

[ScottyB]

you'd better post that exhaust video posthaste young man, or i'm taking away your color matched dyes

[Jake]

I really really really like that paint-matched center console.

[SlimKlim]

The exhaust doesn't sound too different, or different at all honestly, but I can try to find a way to mount my phone and get a little driving video soon.

Messing with the exhaust did introduce a weird vibration on deceleration, it's like the overrun vibrations of the engine are being sent straight to the cabin, making it feel like you're driving on a rough road. According to the internet these are very particular about how you cinch down the exhaust, and I tried to sneak around using an expensive OEM clamp, so I need to get back down there and sort that out once the correct clamp comes in.

And thanks re: console, it makes a huge difference in how "premium" the car feels when you're sitting in it.

One thing I really need to figure out is phone storage. The cubby in front of the shifter is too small and the ashtray completely useless. A little pocket to drop it in on the passenger's side of the console would do the trick.

[SlimKlim]

A little pocket to drop it in on the passenger's side of the console would do the trick.

So I got a small piece of lexan, and a little cheap cell phone "wall mount" kit, and small pack of furniture bumpers. Now I've got a spot to drop my phone while it's connected to the head unit where it won't slide around.



I noticed my left outside CV boot was seeping from under the clamp, after seeking advice from the DJ & Taylor oracles I got a new clamp, stuck some more grease in there and cinched it down a bit tighter, hopefully it holds up, I caught it super early so it shouldn't be any worse for wear. 





I also changed the engine oil, which was BLACK, and changed the transmission fluid which was due based on age.




One of the common issues with these cars is collecting leaves n shit in the corners of the radiators that get gross and moldy over time. Rocks can also damage the radiator fins, and a lit cigarette butt would be bad news, so I cleaned out all the leaves and acorns wedged in front of the radiators and installed a mesh kit. 





The stock shifter in this car is fine, but only just fine. The 3/4 and 5/6 gates are right next to each other, and the squishy rubber bushings that connect to the transmission make it hard to tell which is which. I installed the Function First "Shift Right" Kit on the factory shifter which replaces the plastic lever & bearings with metal, and the numeric shifter cables which have a solid connection to the transmission. Each shift has a satisfying snick-snick sound and completely positive, mechanical feeling engagement now.







I've been looking at a lot of exhaust options, i really want something that just adds some tone and a bit of burble when coasting down but I don't want anything nearly as aggressive as the Soul Performance setup on Matthew's Boxster. In the meantime I threw an AFE filter in after seeing enough people say it changes the sound, and it definitely makes a slight improvement in the tone on acceleration. 



My rear tires only had a couple mils before they were on the wear bars and the highway noise was kind of awful. I replaced the OE spec PS2s with Michelin P4Ss, and I sent the wheels out to have them powdercoated in Porsche aluminum silver. 

[.RJ]

holy shit how did I miss this? i need a ride

i love this thread dot gif

[Senor_Taylor]

Man, you're doing a lot more to this than I expected! Taking this to the next level of nice.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[ScottyB]

the work really shows. looks flawless. still jealous of such a great find and its nice to see it getting the attention it deserves.

[CaptainHenreh]

A fuckin' Plus my dude.

[Steve85]

Love this and all the detail improvements!