front suspension pan repair

911kiwi · 911kiwi's Garage

Need to repair front suspension pan on early 911, front cross member damaged. Anyone done this & whose products did you use?
Both Perf Prods & Stoddards have the repair panel - $179 & $190 respectively - has anyone had expertence with these panels?
Both are repros - PP states theirs are made in the Orient (so what isn't???)
Would prefer to go with the better quality panel rather than the cheapest - also would prefer to get something local (LA or CA).
Any other options anyone knows of.
Thanks an advance,

dtw · 09-15-2004, 12:45 PM

Do a search. One of the most extensively covered topics on the board. Also see www.restoration-design.com

Britain Smith · 09-15-2004, 01:03 PM

I did this repair and posted some pictures on a thread a while ago...

Formal Introductions...Turbo 912 Project

The only thing to make sure of is to get the two suspension support pieces. All the parts you need are in these two pics:

If you want to buy the parts in Cali, call Rich at High Performance House (650) 364-6234. He has the parts from someone other than restoration design and they fit great. I have several other pictures of the process on my website.

http://www.britainsmith.com/Porsche/912Progress/index.htm

na2ub · 09-15-2004, 02:54 PM

I got the Restoration Design ones from our host. They worked great. The book I found most useful was "911 Restoration" by Haynes, and the thread I found most useful was by Pat S. Try searching on "suspension and shiny". I believe his thread was titled Shiny new suspension pan.

911kiwi · 911kiwi's Garage

Thanks everyone for your input!

Oldporsche · 05:08 PM

These parts don't include the side panels. Repair of the front pan depends upon how far the rust has gone. I have found that it often migrates rearward to the front suspension mounts. Generally it follows where dirt has settled in the cavities within the sheet metal of the body.

I have used factory parts from the dealer. They weren't repro to the best of my knowledge. The pictured parts look a little cheap by comparison to the parts I have. When you get done spraying undercoating on it though, you can cover a multitude of sins.

This is where the wire welder used in a spot mode really does a nice job.

Good luck,
David Duffield

Zeke · 09-15-2004, 06:20 PM

I found the thread if anyone is interested. Here.

911kiwi · 911kiwi's Garage

Thanks na2ub & Zeke - Pat S's thread was very helpful too.
The rust is isolated to the cross member - has not migrated back any further - we've checked by thoroughly stripping back all surrounding sheet metal. Will I need the tank support panel or will just the front susp repair pan do.
The body shop guy was going to just patch across the length of the cross member but I decided that this was false economy & too "bodgey" for my 911.
Any thoughts?

Willem Fick · 09-20-2004, 06:42 AM

Just finished repairing mine!

Tried to buy the kit from Restoration-Design first, but their service was not too good - gave up on having parts collected after being messed around three times! Finally bought it from Mid America Motorworks. Part fit is generally good (tank support not as good as pan though!)

Please keep in mind that it is virtually impossible to do a good job of re-fitting, without replacing the two box sections on either side of the tank, these adding almost $200 to the cost! DON'T opt for a patch job only!!! Its kinda important to have the wheels remain where they are, and a botch job won't guarantee that!!

Also: make sure you get the alignment of the new pan right by measuring from shock mounts to front suspension mounting points, both parallel and across, and by making good use of a builders level!

na2ub · 09-20-2004, 07:10 AM

In theory you can patch, as long as the front torsion bar mounts are solid. If they are solid and you can patch without moving them, I don't see why not. If you get a new pan, I would opt for a new gas tank support. By the time you have drilled out the welds and separated the two, you might as well get a new one. Good luck, plan on extra time, and don't breathe zinc fumes.

Doug

911kiwi · 911kiwi's Garage

Thanks Willem & Doug,
Will put that advice to good use! The torsion bars mounts are soild - but I figure that based on your responses I may as well do the job thoroughly ONCE & then know that's all I have to to to that area.

Gary