JUST PURCHASED: 1986 911 coupe - a few questions.

[mghorayeb]

Hi,

I take delivery tomorrow/Wednesday of a beautiful 2 owner 76K mile (documented) honest car. Very excited to be back in a 911 after a 3-month break.

Questions:

- How to replace fuel door cable?

- Windows and sunroof all stopped working simultaneously per previous owner - how to address?

- 16" tire recommendations?

- Oil recommendations?

- Sourcing 80s vintage Blaupunkt?

- Sourcing parts? Pelican the best?

- Good independent mechanics in Naples, FL?

- Any other sites recommended?

- Additional advice?

I will drive car daily, and car will be gently tracked once in a while.

Thanks in advance.

Edited August 13, 2013 by mghorayeb

[Uwon]

Welcome to Porsche land. You are in for a treat of a ride.

Fuel door cable-pretty self evident if the fuel door is open. If it is shut, then use a coat hanger wire with a small hook on the end and with the drivers door open, slip it into the hole at the top in between the fender and door pillar. Try to hook the locking lever and pull back.

Windows and sunroof- sound like fuses, either dirty or corroded. Fuse box is in trunk drivers side wheel well.

Tires- limited choices for 16". Toyos and Bridegestone are my favorites. Don't care for Dunlop and Pirrelis. I just bought a set of Bridgestone RE-11's for my 911 project-tough looking treads good in dry and wet.

Oil- read

http://www.lnengineering.com/oil.html.

Only use oil with high ZDDP. I use Valvoline VR-1 20w50 and I drove my '86 and it had over 250k miles before I crashed it. Change oil and filter at least every 5k if not sooner. Drive the car lots and lots.

Old Radio- probably Pelican

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/

Parts-Pelican primarily although I have found Sierra Madre quite competitive particularly for air cooled Porsches.

Other-download the '86 parts catalogue from Porsche

http://www.porsche.com/usa/accessoriesandservices/classic/genuineparts/originalpartscatalogue/

Buy the Bentleys repair manual

Subscribe to this and Pelican forums. Lots and lots of air cooled guys and gals around to help on a moment's notice.

Join the Porsche Club of America. Great people, publications and events. Go to the local monthly socials. Best $40/yr you will have spent. The monthly Panorama magazine is outstanding.

Excellence magazine is also a must.

Good Indy in Naples- search this and Pelican forums

Welcome and enjoy

Cheers....

Edited August 13, 2013 by Uwon

[mghorayeb]

Dear Uwon,

Thanks for the detailed response. I will certainly check out all the resources you suggested and am excited to join the PCA. We had been active with the excellent Porsche Club United Arab Emirates till our recent return to S. Florida.

[Uwon]

Mark,

Glad I could help. One more thing- buy yourself a spare DME relay (yours is located under drivers seat) and keep it in the car. Do some searches on the subject so you know the signs next time the car won't start.

Cheers....

[mghorayeb]

Hey Uwon,

Funny you should mention that. The previous owner told me that the car would occasionally die completely (every 200 miles or so). It would always start up after a few minutes. He showed me the invoice where he had recently changed/repaired that relay. I will have the car by Friday afternoon at the latest, and will report back after that...

[mghorayeb]

Been tinkering for a few days already. I need:

- clear instructions on how to reassemble the fuel door latch mechanism - need to install new cable, but mechanism is in pieces. Missing the bumper and cable, but having a hard time putting latch and spring together.

- do all instrument gauges have replaceable bulbs?

- are A/C compressor and fan knobs lit (backlit) or not?

- had to disconnect passenger side window switch as fuse #1 was tripping slowly. How to easily figure out if it's switch or window motor that needs replacing?

I'll have other questions shortly. Thanks in advance for the assistance.

[Richard Hamilton]

All the gauges have conventional bulb backlighting. Some people use LEDs to make them a bit brighter. It is worth putting a fuse in the backlighting circuit, as they are not fused at all.

I don't think the a/c controls are backlit. If they are, mine don't work either!

[mghorayeb]

A helpful member turned me onto the "Impact Bumpers" site, a real gem for those of us with the older cars.

http://www.impactbumpers.com