A Moment in Dallas
While we were waiting for the drive shaft to be rebuilt and working through the Hummer electronics, it was nice to take a moment to decompress.
It had been a battle for a while, and sometimes you need to step back just long enough to reset.
Moments like this remind you the journey is not just about the work, but also the experience.
After that, it was right back to business.
From worn out gray to original black
As you can see here, the upholstery interior was in horrible shape. It had the gray interior, and it just didn’t belong. So I made the decision to gut everything completely, including the dash, and bring it back to what it should have been from the beginning. Clean, sharp, and restored back to its original black.
That’s what I do here. I take something that’s been worn down, overlooked, or done wrong… and I bring it back to life the right way.
Reworking the Porsche climate system the right way
Next up on the Porsche, I pulled out the old Mannex units and plumbed in the amazing Danhard units. I also fitted it with a new 18-inch fan and a thick condenser below. One fan unit was enough on this system, and the result came out incredible. The air conditioning is freezing cold even on a 100-degree day, which is exactly what I wanted to make sure our loyal clients stayed comfortable.
Little details like this make a huge difference. It is not just about getting a vehicle running. It is about making sure it performs the way it should and delivers the experience people expect when they step inside.
The shop that helped me get back on the road
This was the place that assisted me with rebuilding the driveshaft while I was stuck in Amarillo, Texas. They took care of me, helped me get the shaft rebuilt, and played a big role in getting me back on the road. I will never forget their help. Moments like that stick with you.
Reengineering the Porsche suspension the right way
Next up was the suspension. As you can see here, the entire suspension system had to be gutted out and the springs had to be replaced. When you see the springs already assembled, it may look simple, but there was a tremendous amount of engineering involved in making this work correctly. The shock system I came up with allowed me to fit springs that were much larger, much stronger, and far better suited for the application than what was originally there.
As you also see in the photos, the difference in ride height from where the Porsche originally sat to where I was able to get it is very substantial. Before, it was basically only enough to hold the driver and maybe one passenger. It was sitting far too low and was nowhere near what it needed to be.
By reworking the system properly, fabricating what needed to be fabricated, and using a much stronger spring and shock combination, I was able to completely transform how the vehicle sat and how it performed.
The vehicle rides smooth as butter now.
This is one of those things that looks simple when it is finished, but getting there took real thought, real fabrication, and real experience.
Bringing the Porsche back to life in white pearl
This was the finishing stage of the exterior. We went with a beautiful white pearl essence, and the vehicle came out extremely nice. The body on this one was actually very straight, and one of the best parts was that we did not have to deal with major rust issues, which is rare on builds like this. Everything came together clean, and the final result really speaks for itself.
One of the biggest advantages on this build was how straight the body was. We did not run into the typical rust issues that usually come with projects like this, which made a huge difference in the final outcome.
The refinishing process came out beautifully, and the white pearl really gave the vehicle the presence it deserved.
One of the few builds where the body worked with me, not against me.
Next up will be replacing the glass, which was in pretty bad shape and starting to delaminate. But overall, the exterior came together exactly how I envisioned it.
Going through the Porsche the right way
Once I got into the mechanical side of the Porsche, there were quite a few things that needed attention. The valve covers were leaking, so those were addressed right away. I also replaced the spark plugs and ignition coils to make sure everything was firing properly.
There were also issues within the emission system. After performing a smoke test, I found several lines with leaks that had to be repaired. Everything needed to be sealed properly to make sure the vehicle would pass inspection and run the way it should.
On this particular model, the starter sits underneath the upper intake, so I pulled the intake off and replaced it. While I was there, I also did the upper intake gaskets and addressed the coolant passage pipes. These are plastic from the factory, so I upgraded them to an aluminum kit as preventative maintenance.
Fix it once. Fix it the right way.
I also replaced the headlight units and fog lights, upgraded the alternator for better charging capacity, and installed a higher output water pump for improved cooling performance. Everything was done with long-term reliability in mind.
This is the part most people never see. But this is where the real work is. This is what makes the difference between something that just runs… and something that runs right.