At some point I'd really like to pick up a set of AMG replicas and have the center section painted to match the body color (why I would rather get replicas vs. the real thing). For now the wheels that are on there are working out great. Speaking of cosmetics, I'm still thinking about tint + clear corners + smoked, all red tail lenses...

The radio is working great too - it's heading out before long to have a line in added by Becker so I can listen to my ipod. I'm going with the stock look but adding an amp, sub, rear speakers and an equalizer so I can fine tune the sound from there. I also need to find a bit of carpet that closely matches the original since I'd rather not cut it or drill holes in it. I need to make a panel to hide all that stuff and mount the speakers on.

Right now the car is in the garage but it's in far fewer pieces than it was in a few days ago. So far the a/c is the only serious thing that I've needed to do. After we hit too many days over 100/heat index of 125 I had to take care of it. A new compressor, o-rings, and drier are in and I'm waiting on an expansion valve to come in before I can vacuum and fill it. The instrument cluster is out, odometer gears are on order, and new capacitors are going in the clock tomorrow.

Luckily I was able to operate the center vent flap with the mity vac so the crack in the heater box isn't bad enough to affect that yet, and pod 40a still works. What was keeping air from coming through the center vent was pod 38. Both diaphragms are bad along with the floor vent pod, but new diaphragms are on order to fix that. I may try and repair the vent box from the outside sometime later... I have an idea involving a doubler and some sealant + short screws to lock it all in. The dash cap had to come off (for now at least) so I can either make a hole for the temperature sensor, or repair the cracks and leave it off. Looks like it was there for at least 5 years. Maybe the dash will get sent out in a few years to be recovered... who knows.

The tape was a good idea but the Charleston heat was just too much for it. It shrunk but the adhesive stayed behind (result = sticky stripes, but goo gone cleans them). You're right - seat covers cost way too much. I made my own seat bottom covers from some left over fabric and plan on really recovering them sometime this winter.

It's been loads of fun to drive around and you did some great work on it. All stuff I know for sure won't have to go back and be addressed like on other cars I've owned, and for that alone I owe a great deal of thanks. I totally understand how catching up all the small things takes a ton of time - been there / done that with a 944 a while back. This car had an interesting history, probably in the Philadelphia area in the late 2000s from the business cards and receipts I found while disassembling things. I can't wait to get everything back together later this week so it can hit the road again. It does get tons of looks from walkers in the neighborhood - even by some high school kids that hang out across the street.