TheSamba.com :: View topic - Porsche Powered Mid-Engine Double Cab Build

Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:22 am

So the engine cradle setup is a good way to go for ease of removal? Looks super clean and cool!

Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:23 pm

Looks good all back together. Will be good to have it back in the shop soon and wrapping most of it up!

Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:24 pm

I have been working on some of the smaller details which have been built many times (in my mind), this time for real.

I mocked up the cable shifter which I bought a year ago at a Porsche swap meet (it was off a late model turbo 911, so is "super fast").
I made a walnut and aluminum shift knob for it, to ease it into the retro setting.

I also started on the seat base / engine cover, which is made of birch multi-ply and epoxy for strength, then skinned with aluminum sheet on the engine side to make it fire resistant.
Lots left to do with this part as it needs to be covered with foam and the stock T.M.I cover put on. I also need to fab a hinge for access.

I made a mold from plastacene to pour some two part R.T.V. so the stock seat pedestal is fully sealed on the floor side for heat and noise isolation.

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Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:05 pm

Lookin good. What are you doing for instrumentation? Porsche, Autometer, vintage VDO?

Mon Apr 11, 2011 12:08 am

Thanks,
I am going to use a Porsche 911 Carrera tachometer in the stock speedo pod and have black face v.d.o. gauges (oil temp./oil pressure/c.h.t.) from my previous alterations in the overhead vent.
The fuel cell sender is a G.M unit and I will buy a black face, black bezel to match.
I am planning to put a Spa digital speedometer in the radio block off, it is the small rectanglar version and is programmable for your tire size (hall effect pick-up) also can record speed distance runs ect.

I also picked up a early green face 911 tach at a swap meet last year and had thoughts of gutting it inside and putting in the motronic tach movements for a more period look, but then I would have to get all the other gauges to match (and gut/install newer movements), so too complicated at this stage, I have plenty of other things to do. :shock:

Mon Apr 11, 2011 1:26 am

67dubcab wrote: Thanks,
I am going to use a Porsche 911 Carrera tachometer in the stock speedo pod and have black face v.d.o. gauges (oil temp./oil pressure/c.h.t.) from my previous alterations in the overhead vent.
The fuel cell sender is a G.M unit and I will buy a black face, black bezel to match.
I am planning to put a Spa digital speedometer in the radio block off, it is the small rectanglar version and is programmable for your tire size (hall effect pick-up) also can record speed distance runs ect.

I also picked up a early green face 911 tach at a swap meet last year and had thoughts of gutting it inside and putting in the motronic tach movements for a more period look, but then I would have to get all the other gauges to match (and gut/install newer movements), so too complicated at this stage, I have plenty of other things to do. :shock:

Hear me out here, but have you though about looking into doing the digital speedo IN the tach? My wife has a mini cooper that has the speedo in the center of the car, and I really don't like it, BUT I can program the digital display on the tach to show a speedo also. here is a picture:

in this picture where it has the time and outside temp, I have mine set up to have the speedo. I don't know what the inside of your tach looks like, but if you have the room, might put the display in there, and put the function buttons elsewhere that is easy to get to. I know that I find it 100% nicer than the center speedo. Just a thought......

Mon Apr 11, 2011 3:29 am

with these skills its hard to be upset at cutting a DC. it'll be better than stock. Keep up the good work.

Mon Apr 11, 2011 10:31 pm

Hey delamaize,
I hear-heard you loud and clear!
I have the Carrera tach already but have not purchased the Spa speedo.
It is very small and my hope is that I can fit it into the Porsche speedo but I won't know until I get it in my hands, the function buttons will need to be mounted re-motely so as long as the Spa case is not epoxied shut and I can solder new wires I will mount it in the tach (if it fits), as you can see I am not adverse to modifying the occasional part or two. So ya, excellent idea!

I also may be able to drill the tach cover and work the function buttons, not first choice.
If it goes in the radio block-off plate it is smaller than the stock opening so no dash cutting for me, that would just be a hack.

Thanks for the support fastwagens, I am just trying to infuse a little modern ( 80's) technology into an old workhorse.

Mon Apr 11, 2011 10:51 pm

Just throwing this one out there, your instrumentation plan sounds pretty cool already. If you search really hard sometimes you can find an older programmable (aftermarket) VDO electric speedo with non-digital odometer and tripcounter wheels

I asked the seller of the above example if it had instructions and a sender and they said no, but I've seen them new in box before. The guts would swap into a Porsche or VW speedo housing/face with a little work, to make a stock-looking speedo that's programmable to your wheel/tire combo, and can be mounted anywhere. They have about a dozen little selector switches, so having the instructions is pretty important. North Hollywood speedo can also adjust a Porsche electric speedo accordingly, if you can afford them.
NHS also builds these if you wouldn't mind having a bone stock-looking tach that fits right in the speedo pod:

Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:53 pm

That speedometer looks nice, but I am only going to run the tachometer in the stock 911 location front and center and then there is no room for a full size speedo.
The stock 911 tachometer has turn signals and high beam indicators and my version(84 to 89 Carrera) has the super useful upshift arrow so you know when to shift during government mileage testing.

I included a picture of the early 911 mechanical tach which I mentioned as a possible gut and swap candidate.

I don't have a shot of the Spa digital speedo but it is for sale on the Pegasus Racing website.

Mon Apr 25, 2011 10:10 pm

Quote: Location: sebastopol C.A
You have a super-cool bus, but i live in a real Sebastopol :lol:
j/k

Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:02 am

67dubcab wrote: That speedometer looks nice, but I am only going to run the tachometer in the stock 911 location front and center and then there is no room for a full size speedo.
The stock 911 tachometer has turn signals and high beam indicators and my version(84 to 89 Carrera) has the super useful upshift arrow so you know when to shift during government mileage testing.

I included a picture of the early 911 mechanical tach which I mentioned as a possible gut and swap candidate.

I don't have a shot of the Spa digital speedo but it is for sale on the Pegasus Racing website.

If you're still considering swapping a digital readout into the 911 tach, the Porsche tach circuit boards sit 1/4" behind the face and are about 3" in diameter. However, there are only five wires and two mounting screws going into them, so you can easily extend the wires and relocate the circuit board outside the housing to a sealed project box, leaving ample room for the readout. Your tach has an extra light or two, so you'd probably have to extend a few extra wires, but you get the idea.

Thu May 19, 2011 6:46 am

:shock: :shock:

This thing is SICK!!!!

Mon Jun 06, 2011 1:18 am

Any updates on this badass project?

Sat Jun 11, 2011 12:26 pm

Sorry, not much new to show.
There have been some delays getting the D.C. back to Seth's for more fab action but I hope to get it there mid june.

tstracy39, thanks for the info. on the tach, I am still considering the digital speedo install, I will know more when I purchase the Spa speedo.

Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:34 pm

LIKE, LIKE, LIKE, LIKE, LIKE!!!

Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:28 pm

Starting on a hitch for the Double Cab. Needs some more bracing due to the drop. Drop is to line it up with the bumper.

Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:03 pm

Working on the exhaust, these down pipes look simple, but they have been very challenging so far.

Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:21 am

totally awesome. is this your first time to build this kind of set up? thanks....

Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:11 pm

I have done stainless exhaust before. The downpipes just have an unusual path, and very tight quarters to fit into. I pretty much just cut the flange off and started from scratch. Its hard to take pictures under the truck with my phone, I need to bring the DLSR back to the shop, once I unpack it.

Need to hang the mufflers before I set the tilt of the tubes, and do the last two bends.