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morghen · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 8879 Location: Romania

What you have is already pretty good.
I run the following:

-26mm front sway bar
-18mm rear sway bar
-275Nmm front springs
-200Nmm rear springs (added to the existing torsion bars)
-complete set of polyurethane bushings

This transforms the car once again, one step up.

Beartooth · Joined: 05 Apr 2022 Posts: 205 Location: Roberts, MT

Gatornapper, we must be related somehow. Not just because we stumbled onto the exact same car (US introductory model 931; mine's the same color scheme, interior, and four-lug wheel, disk/drum setup), but I'm also a runner and built my own log house. Sounds like you've got a few more years on me, but what's that in the grand scheme? Glad to hear your car's working so well. Unfortunately, I've got further to go with mine: it didn't actually sit as long, but from what I gather, it wasn't in great running shape when it was parked. I'm fairly certain the last guy to drive it wasn't too skilled or knowledgeable, and I don't see much indication of proactive maintenance. But hopefully I'll get there! I keep worrying I'll find some big show-stopper, but nothing so far. Anyway, it's pretty cool that two of virtually the same cars (out of 600 made) would show up at the same time!
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1980 931 diamond in the rough

Gatornapper · Joined: 23 Oct 2021 Posts: 294 Location: VA

BT -

Hmm...that is amazing. Yes, all the introductory models were the same. Only variance was some had the M471 Sport Pkg. with 16" 5-lug Fuch's wheels & rear disc brakes. Sway bars the same.

Love to see some pics of your car and log home! BTW, our logs came from Victor, MT from extinct Glu-Lam-Log Company, wood is beautiful dead-standing Canadian Lodgepole Pine. Logs look like the day we laid them 22 years ago!. Each log is an ANSI-Std. stamped structural beam - they don't shrink, warp, twist or crack.

I miss running so much, am now 25 lbs. overweight and even walking distance can be a problem. Hate that after being fit most of my life. I still cycle occasionally.

What's the serial number on your car? They began with 93A015000 or 5001.

Last owner of my car wasn't that skilled or knowledgeable either, nor was he good on maintenance. Had car from about '85 to last Nov. - car needed tons of stuff. Think I have about 250 hours in it now.

GN

Gatornapper · Joined: 23 Oct 2021 Posts: 294 Location: VA

Really sounds sweet Morghen!

Hope to add polyurethane bushings soon, and maybe a 26mm front sway bar.

Where might I find one?

Don't your stiffer springs raise the height of the car?

GN

Beartooth · Joined: 05 Apr 2022 Posts: 205 Location: Roberts, MT

Gatornapper · Joined: 23 Oct 2021 Posts: 294 Location: VA

Beartooth -

Wow! First the car - yes, mine is in incredibly good condition, inside and out, engine & suspension. Drives like new car. Love it.

House - I couldn't stand to be out in the middle of the prairie with no trees for protection! NAKED! Our house is in the midst of heavy hardwood forest, most untouched for over 100 years.

AND NO KIT! Kits are a RIP-OFF by the log home industry taking advantage of the public's ignorance. 40 years as commercial builder/designer, I just bought logs and beams.

And yes, you have the requirements down for using your own logs - YEARS of waiting. Also, you should get DEAD STANDING Canadian Lodgepole pine. That will minimize the waiting/drying, etc.

Some pics:

Big house? I have 8 kids. 2 of my sons & I built the house with our own hands. Older one became an electrician & manager for large commercial electrical contractor. Younger one got Civil Engineering degree and is PE and Structural Engineer designing largest bridges in Virginia. So proud of both.

GN
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'87 944 S, looks & runs like new - sold my sweet 931; '76 914 2.0 mostly restored; 2011 Porsche Cayman S in Meteor Grey, 3.4L, Softronics ECU tune 355+hp , PDK w/Sport Chrono. Got this thing for Porsche's.......

Gatornapper · Joined: 23 Oct 2021 Posts: 294 Location: VA

Oops - double post - deleted.
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'87 944 S, looks & runs like new - sold my sweet 931; '76 914 2.0 mostly restored; 2011 Porsche Cayman S in Meteor Grey, 3.4L, Softronics ECU tune 355+hp , PDK w/Sport Chrono. Got this thing for Porsche's.......

Gatornapper · Joined: 23 Oct 2021 Posts: 294 Location: VA

Triple post!

Beartooth · Joined: 05 Apr 2022 Posts: 205 Location: Roberts, MT

GN - I (perhaps erroneously) refer to my logs as a "kit," I guess because a dealer put the order together rather than my ordering piece by piece out of a catalog. Very different than the custom log kits that some people pay outrageous prices for. How much of a rip-off it is depends on your perspective, I suppose, but a good builder can achieve the same results for much cheaper.

Anyway, you have a beautiful house! I love the multi-level setup and daylight basement; seems we think alike on that. My house is far bigger than I need at present since I'm the sole occupant, but I'm still hoping that'll change; I'm definitely glad I didn't try for any bigger since it's already been a stretch of my time and budget. Still, if twenty years down the road I find myself with more time and money than sense, I might get a load of dead-standing lodgepole and go to town!

As for being on the prairie vs. in the trees, that's partly different strokes... I grew up here and love open spaces; back when I lived in WA, I sometimes felt a little claustrophobic in all those trees. But they're thick there, and it's made worse by the frequent cloudiness. The biggest thing I don't like about my location is that there is nothing to stop the wind when it's howling. Hopefully some day I'll have enough water to get some trees going for a windbreak. The view is what makes it all worth it though. I love the mountains, and while practicality pushes me to live nearby rather than in them, I've gotta at least have a view and fairly quick access.

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1980 931 diamond in the rough

Gatornapper · Joined: 23 Oct 2021 Posts: 294 Location: VA

I understand - Big Sky country is addicting for those who grew up on it.

My big issue too would be exposure - I love the protection of the forest. We have plenty of sunlight around our house and on our property - partially cleared 6 of our 15 acres for partially-shaded pasture & paddocks for horses, but daughters, all mature adults, have no time for horses in their lives as when they were young.

I grew up in suburbs of Indianapolis - flat land, cornfields with occasional small patches of forest. Very monotonous. Moved to Virginia when I met my wife in '72, stunned by how heavily forested the state is. "WHO owns all this forested land?" I was used to land having to be productive, income-producing.

Now, by the grace of God, we own over 20 acres of that heavy forest - and love it. A walk through an old forest is therapeutic, cleansing, refreshing. The drive to our home is 1/2 mile twisty, rolling, through heavy forest and after 40 years, never boring.

But I do love the mountains more than here. We are rolling hills below mountains, but if I could, I'd live on a river in the VA mountains...or have a mountain home. Our family did have a mountain home at the Wintergreen Resort from '87 to '97 & it was wonderful, 12 months a year.
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'87 944 S, looks & runs like new - sold my sweet 931; '76 914 2.0 mostly restored; 2011 Porsche Cayman S in Meteor Grey, 3.4L, Softronics ECU tune 355+hp , PDK w/Sport Chrono. Got this thing for Porsche's.......