alternater strap

4to8m8 · 4to8m8's Garage

I want to start taking apart the fan/alternater on my 84 911 and am a bit curious why Rennline says that when removing the strap the ignition distributer is taken off. My coil is not on the strap so the removal process looks farely straight forward. I only see one 9mm hex head. Thats it right? Strap should just bend out?

I plan on purchasing the Rennline strap and having it and the fan powder coated red and the housing done in silver.

Ray B.

Andras Nagy · 05-06-2005, 04:05 AM

Hi Ray, Rennlist may be saying to remove the coil first, because on stock SC's the coil is on top of the fan housing, as in the picture of a bone-stock, never molested SC.

You must always take everything with a grain of salt, since there is usually lots of missing information neither asked nor answered.

If your '84 doesn't have the coil on top, then it may be elsewhere. If your car runs, it has a coil - somewhere.

Pat Crellin · 05-06-2005, 04:56 AM

Good looking engine Andras.

That's right. When you reinstall, notice there is a slight bend in the strap on the left side, this is to accommadate a mount that supports the housing. That needs to be lined up or the bolt won't be long enough. Only hitch I had.

You'll love the engine after you powdercoat, what ever colors you choose. Just don't stop people on the street to show strangers your engine like I did. You'll only embarass yourself.

Ron.G · 05-06-2005, 05:17 AM

You can get the strap out without removing anything else?
It looks like there is a sending unit in the way on the right and the distributor on the left.

When I did my alternator I thought about it and tried to slide it out, but it didn't seem like I could do it without removing the sender and what ever else.

Nothing like putting the crudy strap back on my newly rebuilt engine

Rot 911 · 05-06-2005, 05:36 AM

I suppose you could get the strap out without removing the distributor, but it only takes a couple of minutes to take out the distributor and it makes removing and installing the strap sooooo much easier!

oneblueyedog · oneblueyedog's Garage

I overcame the fear of removing the distributor after setting the engine to Z1 and making sure the rotor pointed to the engraved mark on the distributor cup (1TDC). It is a very easy part to remove and service. Removing the alternator-I hated it.

Put a clean rag in the dist hole after removal. Remove it before you put it back in. I almost goofed once.

When you put the beautiful PCoated strap back on you'll have less of a chance marring it.

4to8m8 · 4to8m8's Garage

Not going to remove the distributor. Doesn't look like it's in the way. Hope I'm not wrong. Has anyone gone as far as to having all the gold metal hose clamps powdercoated?

Will post picks when finished.

Andras Nagy · 05-06-2005, 08:04 AM

Hi Ray,

I didn't have them powdercoated, for I polished them with Simichrome, and they glisten. The yellow comes off, and it shines like chrome. It took me all of 10 minutes of rubbing with the Simichrome, on a shop rag, with my index finger. You can even do this while you're watching the boob tube or talking to your S.O.

Look again at my picture, and you'll see how everything is either black or "silver"; quite stunning in real life!

coloradoporsche · 05-06-2005, 08:20 AM

Just don't forget to disconnect the battery. There are some hot wires on the alternator.

david914 · 05-06-2005, 08:37 AM

Hey Andras, how often do you have to "touch up" your polished fan and housing? I seem to remember reading that the magnesium loses it's brightness fairly quickly.

4to8m8 · 4to8m8's Garage

Andras - Thanx for the tip on the clamps as this will be my plan. Can't wait to start!

Andras Nagy · 05-06-2005, 08:55 AM

Hi David,

Woops, I was wondering when that "frequency" question was going to come back to me!

Actually, my fan housing is powdercoated by a "chrome colored" paint that my powdercoater had, and it is only all the clips that were mentioned by Ray that are polished. I've also polished the bolts heads (by putting Simichrome on a rag, then putting the rag flat on the table, and rubbing the bolthead over the rag; much easier than trying to rub the bolthead directly).

Since these clips are easy to remove, I can get them out of the engine and into my kitchen table (I have a very tolerant wife who married into this Porsche madness).

Soooooooo, these non-magnesium clips seem to keep their "brightness" for at least two years or so, but they never "tarnish" so much as just get a little dull. But a quick touch-up brings back their luster, and you don't have to remove them from the compartment to do that..

Are we all sick-o wack-o's?

david914 · 05-06-2005, 03:44 PM

Ah, OK. I was wondering if you were using some special type of elbow grease that prevents magnesium tarnishing! I'll have mine powder coated when the time comes. Thanks for the clarification!

TerryH · TerryH's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Pat Crellin
Good looking engine Andras.

That's right. When you reinstall, notice there is a slight bend in the strap on the left side, this is to accommadate a mount that supports the housing. That needs to be lined up or the bolt won't be long enough. Only hitch I had.

You'll love the engine after you powdercoat, what ever colors you choose. Just don't stop people on the street to show strangers your engine like I did. You'll only embarass yourself.

hmmmm.... I installed the Rennline strap a couple weeks ago. Not crazy about the engineering as it wants to dig into housing. My bolt wouldn't reach, so I used the longer bolt from the original strap.

RoninLB · 05-07-2005, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kurt V
I suppose you could get the strap out without removing the distributor, but it only takes a couple of minutes to take out the distributor and it makes removing and installing the strap sooooo much easier!

I'm with Kurt on this one.

I painted my strap ruby red and can't imagine finessing the painted strap back in without dizzy removal.