1976 Porsche 912 build with 993 motor swap by freedomperiod

8 minute(s) of a 253 minute read

Here's the deal,

The workers did indeed lick the brushes. They did indeed get sick from eating radium.

Radium can also be an inhalation hazard (for anyone refurbishing gauges)

Fortunately, these needles are painted with phosphorous and not radium. Phew!

As you can imagine, this post (about the radium) caused quite a stir among those who are intimate with my car. Thank goodness it's no longer a concern.

Tuns out the clock is a Soviet ACS-1M clock. This guy's a pro at it.

He even explains the (bimetalic) heater.

The dials are "Radium safe", but as he says in the vid, "you never know what you're gonna get, used". This clock is military surplus. You never know where it was laying around. The gauge itself could be (radioactively) contaminated, just because of where it came from.

Fortunately, I have access to a Geiger counter! After sweeping my Mig clock with a Geiger counter, I have determined that my gauge is not contaminated.

Now the question is, does it belong in the cockpit of this car? I just read a thread recently about a restomod Lincoln with a dash that didn't "flow".

The Mig clock is a larger diameter than the Porsche clock. I now know it's safe, but is it going to look bad? Would the factory Porsche clock look better in that location than the Mig clock? 

It's one hell of a conversation piece, that's for sure! It also matches the green gauges (without having to be painted green)

Since it's safe to work on, the needles could always be painted red as well.

1/30/2012

The car looks pretty much the same as when you last saw it, but it's all ready to come together quickly. As soon as we get those flares on, the car will be ready for assembly. Unfortunately, I don't think it'll be ready by the time you're here, but I'm trying to get the car into the body shop this week (flares, paint, window seals, hood latch, etc.)

I know you've been waiting years to see this one, lol! Just hang in there, we're getting close LOL!! We can head on over to the Bath Tub Gin, and have some martinis to help take your mind off it. 

Here are some minor updates...

I purchased this little beauty from Classico Wheels 

http://www.classicowheels.com/index.htm

I spoke to Jeffrey, the owner, who really impressed me with his knowledge. He makes amazing replica wheels. This guy really knows his stuff! 

This is from his website (about the wheel I bought): "this wheel is a very accurate reproduction of the special wheel fitted by the factory to the 911ST as well as other Porsche racing models. It was developed with the cooperation of members of the R Gruppe, and others. Also used by many other famous race cars of the era such as Alfa Romeo, BMW, etc..."

As to the gauges, I'm going with the green!!  

I like the way they look on this car, except I'm not sure I want to go with the chrome outer bezel. What I like about this picture, is that this owner had the faces printed so that 7K points to 12 o'clock. It looks a lot nicer than twisting the tach by hand to the same position, and having "VDO" and "RPM x 1000"read vertically.

My feeling is that chrome outer bezels look best when there's chrome on the steering wheel. Since my wheel is black, and mig Mig clock's bezel is black, I think I'm going to go with black outer bezels.

Chrome can be like opening up a can of worms. If you have it one place, you have to have it in a few more spots... and then you've gone too far. I'm already doing the window cranks in chrome. The Becker unit has some. The gauges have a little too. I think it'll be enough.

I love this pic, and haven't ever found another like it..  

See what he did there? He put white numbers and red needles on the early (green) gauges!! You can tell by the chrome inner bezel.

Although I'm sticking with the green, I put that picture up because it shows how good those gauges can look with a black outer bezel and a chrome inner one. 

I saw these in one of the Magnusmobiles, as well as (similar aluminum floor boards) in the Singer 911

I'm not into adding unnecessary weight to the car, but they sure look good. Giving serious thought to a set.

This ^ is a regular 915 flywheel.

Here's my flywheel below. It just came back from being speed balanced.

Note the flat 915 style disc, with the 993 engine management teeth on the outside. Lots of good stuff at Patrick Motorsports http://www.patrickmotorsports.com/ 

2/1/2012

There are 2 things i don't like about Jenson's car... I realize I'm being nit picky, but a lot of real RSs have that chrome rocker panel below the Carrera script. I'm leaving that off my car I think.

Also, I'd rather have these Italian style side markers  , or the clear ones on my car.

I also like the look of my round mirror more than the classic RS one. 

If I were ever going to buy a real RS, though... Jenson's would be the one. I haven't seen many in black.

I'd be scared to drive it, though. It's like a museum piece.

Oh man, this ^ white one's a beauty!!!! It's a real RS. 

It even has my beloved mirror (except one too many for my taste). Notice it has No rocker panel. The car looks a little more raw without them, and the lines of the car flow better sans rocker IMO

One advantage of the rocker, is that it does do a nice job of covering the oil lines from certain angles. If my oil lines wind up not looking authentic enough, I may need to change my mind about the whole rocker thing.

I always go back and forth about the mirror and wheel finishes, but I definitely prefer no rocker.