Differences between a '76 and '86 911

[86 911]

Hi,
I have recently bought a 1976 Porsche (with a '79 engine) with the 1986 look, but I do not know all of the interior and cosmetic differences between the two years. Here is what I have come up with so far for the 1986 that the 1976 does not have:
1) has power seats
2) has rear seatbelts
3) has fog lights put "into" the lower bumper
4) Emergency signal light switch is placed in front of the shifter
5) Speedometer goes to 160 MPH
Am I missing anything? If you would like to see photos, go to these previous forums I have created:

1986 Porsche 911 headlight

and scroll down the page for these photos...

3.0 and 3.2 engines

Thanks to the the people at the Pelican Parts forum for answering my previous questions, you all are a great help,

Matt

[jazzbass]

Here are a few:

- 86 has larger Carrera brakes front and rear. Look for a 13mm spacer in the caliper halves.
- 86 has 25mm rear torsion bars, 76 has ??? 23mm I think
- 86 has larger sway bars.
- Different seats. Hard to explain how, but just a different style.
- 86 will have the newer style dash with bigger A/C vent in the middle, one large defroster vent that goes across the most the dash, and large heat vents on either side of the lower dash.
- 86 will have a CASIS light in the dash, which is driven from the 3.2 Motronic brain.
- Because of the larger vents on the lower dash, the hazard lights and cigarette lighter have been relocated to the center console.
- Central locking was standard in 86 (I think - can someone confirm?)

Funny thing is, these cars are way more similar than they are different. Not many cars 10 years apart you can say that about

[86 911]

Chris, Thanks for the informative reply!
Also, one more question. Did all of the 1986 models have the headlight trim the same color as the body of the car? Mine is red, but has black headlight trim.

[jazzbass]

This is what stock, US spec headlights looked like in 1986:



They used a selaed beam headlight with body color, "sugar scoop" style trim rings. From the looks of your car, someone has installed Euro-style H4 assemblies with black primered trim rings. The idea is that you paint the trim ring to match you body color. A better idea is to buy the finish rings - these cover the primered ones you have and can be painted a lot easier than the ones that are part of the headlight.

Do a search on this board for "H4*". You'll get more info than you ever wanted on H4 headlights.

[eddiehotrod]

It looks like your headlight trims have been removed, if I take off my body coloured headlight trims, the mounting rims beneath are matt black.