So, little background on me:

Graduated from RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) with a BFA in Advertising Photography back in 1998. I am a trained studio photographer, with a knack for making people feel comfortable in front of the camera. A very difficult task. Something, I've been told by many a professor, that can't really be taught well, but needs to come naturally. I've got it.

I have a family, a job as a multimedia designer, and now my car.

So, an ongoing argument is that I "take more damn pictures of your car than your OWN children. It's embarassing when people say to me ""Oh, Andrew must take SOOOOO many pictures of the kids, you are SOOOOO lucky"", when all you do it take pictures of the DAMN car!"

So, you know what, I spent an hour or so with my daughter, and captured a shot that means a lot to me.

Screw everyone else, they can't make images like I can, mine count more when I actually take them because I know what the hell I'm doing.

Sorry, little rant...I wasn't supose to be here on St. Patty's day.

MY SEATS ARE IN.

The drivers seat took a heck of a long time to get in, but I got it. Looks like leather, smells like leather, feels like leather, and in fact it is NOT leather, but a meterial that ACTS like leather, only better and cheaper. They feel great, look great, and the price was out of this world ($150 for both, professional job too).

Now, for all your purists out there screaming "but the stiching isn't EXACT"...no, it's not, I gave him images for reference, and we talked about the pros and cons of the original stiching, and we came to this conclusion:

It needs to look good, feel good, and last a heck of a long time.

So, this is what I've got, and they're great.

For those who follow these postings, if you refer back to Sunday, February 22nd, 2004, you'll see a broken screw lodged into a movable bracket for my drivers seat. I was a bit frusterated at the time, so I didn't drill it out and re-tap it.

If you look up, you'll see that today I did drill it out, and have re-taped it. New screw fits like a glove, and I can't wait to get my seats back in. I've been told that I will have my seats tomorrow afternoon.

Due to me being curently sick with strep, I doubt I'll have the energy to get the seats in till I start feeling better. Drilling out the old screw, and re-taping it took enough out of me to realize anything more I do will have to wait.

I love this car. Everytime I think I'm working my "to-do" list down, another little thing pops up.

I was looking at the my drivers side door, and there seems to be a place that is bent. As I look closer, and open the door, part of the problem is a missing screw. Why? Who knows. Seems odd to be missing a screw right here, but hey, what do I know. The more I find missing/worng with the car the more I love it. I really want to know EVRYTHING about this vehicle, so keeping an eye out for missing things, or odd items helps me learn.

So, I figured I'd take the rear grill off and clean the underlying metal. In doing so, I noticed some broken screws, so I attempted to unscrew the finishing bolts, and take a closer look at these unique screws.

*SNAP*

The threaded rod snaped off inside the finishing screw, and the only option I have currently found is a black plastic version of the grill. Not good enough, so I'm still looking. I might look into a metal shop to see if they can custom make the pieces I need.

Unique screw, finishing bolt.

That gap is where the unique screw went. Now I'm in trouble.

So, it was driving me crazy that I couldn't find my heating system at Tweeks, Performance Products, or even Pelican Parts of all places. I check online, in catalogs, and in all my 912 manuals. I even asked a couple people about it. You see, it wasn't for lack of trying, it was for lack of correct information.

Above me is a scan from the lastest Tweeks catalog. This is infact my heating system. Do we all notice something a little odd...I'll give you a second to really look it over...it's for a 356, not a 912. I have a 356 heating system and I have a 356 stock muffler. AH, the things you learn when you happen to notice your buddy looking at the back section of the Tweeks manual and low and behold:

"Hey, that my muffler...there is it!"

Anyhow, looking at the diagram, if you loose the "C", and connect "G" directly to the engine, you have my heating system. So, the question is, since it's in not so great shape, do I (A) replace the heating system with a 912, or (B) replace the system with a new 356 heating system to match what I currently have?

It should be a sismple answer, but I'm really not sure yet. And I really don't have the money for either, so I guess check back to see what happens.

You know, I was pretty sure I bought a 912...

This all came about due to me wanting to replace the muffler to a Bursche muffler, and trying to figure out what straps and other hardware I needed to make it seemless.

I know, just a little "rich" looking. It's being looked at next week. I get my seats back on Sunday, so after I install them, this will look a whole lot better.

My stock 356 muffler. At least the brackets look good, so some new muffler support bands, I should be in business...after the money comes in.

So, I was a bit frusterated with the Sears staff at Independence Center.

"Uhh, sorry dude...uhh, I dunno...uhhh, are you sure it wasn't, like, just an internet special...uhh..."

Keep in mind, I had my 4 year old loose and 10 week old in the stroller. Anyway, I got it, and it works great.

A million small projects being crossed off one by one. Tonight (sick, and getting worse, so you can imagine my pounding head after I crawled up from under the car) I replaced the broken springs that help with the opening and closing of my heater boxes. I'm not sure, but I think I have a european heating setup, since I can't find mine referenced in my catalogs. I'll need to research some more.

My nasty old hoses from the heat exchanger to the body. I'll be ordering a new set this week with brackets.

Both removed, and ready to be replaced.

So, after a long couple weeks waiting for parts, money, time, I set aside the whole weekend to do 2 things: install the short-shift kit & repair the pedal cluster. I'm 1 for 2, but a bunch of smaller projects were accomplished as well, so not so bad.

During the "break" from the car I did drop off the seats to have them professionally re-upholstered, but since I didn't have my camera with me, I didn't document that. When I get them back, then I'll post.

I figured I start with the short-shift kit first. As you can see from the image above, this is with the shifter removed. Take note of a couple things:

1. My heat regulator is the far left with the off shaped wire around it
2. Note the missing busing in the center...the reason I had such sloppy shifting
3. The orange ring that’s other side had completely dissolved away.

I crawled under the car to repair the heat regulator. I got it almost done (minus 2 new springs I need to get), but that took extra time. Everything about this job was ok.

What was left of the old bushing, and the new one.

I'm jumping ahead, but take a look at the first photo. You can see inside the receptacle that will house the new bushing. Looks good, right? Wrong. After I put everything back together, I had a 1/4 inch gap which I couldn't figure out. After a bit, I realized that I hadn't cleaned out the WHOLE inside. The old busing broke down so much, and packed in so much, I thought it was part of the receptacle.

Anyway, after I got it ALL cleaned out, it shifts great.

Here's a picture of my modified short-shifter bracket to allow the heat regulator to close and open all the way.

Thank's to Dave for that suggestion.

My helper.

Making sure I did everything right.

Sunday wasn't so successful.

I pulled up the carpet. I removed the wooden floorboard to find the retaining bolt rusted off the threads, and in essence one big ball of rusted metal mass.

I moved on.

I took a look at the gas pedal and found MORE rusted bolts and nuts. I soaked the nuts and bolts on the pedal cluster while I attacked the gas pedal.

*SNAP*

Ok, so I was going to have to drill out the bolts. Oh look, nuts under the car that are rusted to the threads...thank god for the Dremil.

So I drilled out the broken bolts, taped them, bought new bolts, nuts, and washers, and installed my new gas pedal.

Keep in mind; I have no current way of jacking up the car except for the original jack, so getting under the car was a pain in the ass. I know for a FACT that I need to replace the plastic bushings in the pedal cluster with the bronze ones I got, but after a long weekend, and even longer week, I'm just happy my gas pedal is sloppy anymore (the old one was ripped, causing it to flop around).

I'll look into getting a big jack this week, hopefully I'll get my seats back, and then I car drop off the car at the mechanic to mess with the engine. THEN I’ll fix the pedal cluster and move onto lord only knows.

Don't get me wrong, I haven't been happier working on my baby!

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