windshield washer tank on 1973.5

randywebb · 04:53 PM

Where on the 1973.5 cars, did Porsche put the windshield washer tank?

On my car, there is a large plastic tank at the front of the left fender well. But there is no filler for it under the gas cap cover.

There is a tank lying in the front right wheel well, but it was obviously added by a PO.

There is a hole in the center front support member for a washer tank but no tank there.

If the tank under the front left fender is not a windshield washer tank, then what might it be??? There is a black rubber braid covered hose, maybe 1/4" dia. that penetrates the side sheet metal near the top of the fuse box and appears to go to this tank. The other side of the hose is not connected. It doesn't seem to be related to the evap. emissions apparatus, and I can't find any place that it can attach to (tho a PO did delete the carbon canister, which might have been up front on this vintage, before moving to the rear by 1975...). Any thoughts?

This is a 73 1/2 car not a straight '73.

PET is not very enlightening - the oblong tank shown looks like nothing on my car.

Jim Sims · 01-09-2005, 03:04 PM

Tank under DS fender is part of the emissions control system. Standard location of 73.5 windshield washer tank is up front where you note the hole. However in the instances of factory A/C it was moved elsewhere to make room for the front condenser blower; I have a picture somewhere of this alternate 1973.5 location. I'll post it if I can find it.

See following for figures of the 73.5T emissions system:
Getting there......

Jim

Jim Sims · 01-09-2005, 03:32 PM

Image showing alternate location of windshield washer tank in 1973 911S with OEM (factory) A/C:

Image of front fuse area in 1973 911S with OEM (factory) A/C; the black plug in the lower right corner is where the windshield washer tank filler neck would be normally (cars without A/C) be located:

Jim

Jim Sims · 01-09-2005, 03:38 PM

Missing image of alternate location:

randywebb · 01-09-2005, 04:16 PM

Thanks, Jim. It's a very large tank. I'm wondering what it will take to reconstitute the evap. emissions system....

Jim Sims · 01-09-2005, 04:27 PM

"what it will take to reconstitute the evap. emissions system...."

The hoses are easy to obtain. You might type in the part numbers for the tanks, hose tees, charcoal cannister, etc. and see what comes up - they still might be available. I've never checked. Otherwise you'll need to look to the used parts sources like Parts Heaven or E-bay. 20th Street (Porsche wrecking yard) in Phoenix, AZ used to have a wrecked '73 911E that I've bought parts off.

randywebb · 01-09-2005, 04:58 PM

Thanks. I'm not sure how long the activated carbon in the canisters lasts. Thirty years is asking a lot in terms of absorbing and then ... desorbing? the gas vapors.

The p/n for a new one is 911.201.183.00, but the Pelican database self-destructs when putting that in.

I just finished updating all the clear hoses for vapor. The other tirck will be to figure out how to connect it into the now carbureted engine. Or maybe it doesn't need that done, and I can just vent the tank to the expansion chamber, the other chamber (whatever that is called) and then to the carbon canister with the clean side going to the atmosphere.

randywebb · 01-09-2005, 05:00 PM

Related thread for anyone thinking about restoring the venting system:

Need to vent, my gas tank
- this one is the simplest but doesn't solve the problem of dumping raw gas vaopors to the environment.

HarryD · 01-09-2005, 06:18 PM

Randy,

For the canister, I would try Gary at Parts Obsolete to see if he can fix you up. The carbon canister is just a tank with carbon and you can always make one from some pipe and fittings. You can see the "official" system on this thread: myster hose in trunk. But then again, you already knew that, didn't you?

For you, the simplest would be to delete the air pressure line and connect one end of the carbon canister to the intake manifold. You would connect the other end to the fuel tank vent and the vapor tank. Finally, you would have a fresh air port to pull in air to remove the fumes. It would have a very small opening to prevent unwanted migration of fumes. FWIW, my '79 Spitfire had a system like this and if you can find a diagram, that may help you figure out how to hook it up. Also, the carbon canister used was somewhat smaller than what Porsche used and it may fit nicely.

pwd72s · 01-09-2005, 06:30 PM

Hey, no biggie...if you overfill the tank, just route the hose so the excess spills on the ground. The early 911 evap system was designed to comply with the regulations of the time. Complying with the regulations and achieving the intent of said regulations are two different things. Probably as true today as it was then.