Lowering stock 911, Easy or difficult?
 

my 89 has never been dropped. I've read how to do this but it seems very precise in calculations. Is this something a modest guy with tools can handle from home or should i go to a Porshce mechanic?

Small adustment = not so hard
Big adjustment = pretty hard

Aside from the alignment changes, the most difficult part is if you have to re-index the torsion bars. Do a search under "corner balance" - you don't want to "drop the car" and upset the handling by taking it out of balance.

You will change the alignment when you lower a noticeable amount. Armed with info from the search it's a non complicated job, although maybe ball breaking. There is even info on doing your own wheel alignment.

As previously stated, minor adjustments are relatively simple with the right tools. The only problem is the 'while I'm in here' mentality.

Once you get the car off the ground and the wheels off you might as well,

Replace the strut inserts and shocks
Replace the old worn out bushings
Put on new tires
Rebuild the calipers, turn the rotors, drop in some new pads
Put on Turbo tie rods
Bump steer kit
Check the wheel bearings
etc
etc
etc
:)

It is reaaaaaaaaly easy. Drive the car to johnson's alignment in Torrance.
Tell them you want it lowered.
they will lower it for you, inspect and replace anything that needs to be replaced, do the corner balance and align, all you have to do is sign the check.
Piece of cake.

This may seem like an expensive way to go but in the long run you will end of with a better handling, better looking, and better working car.
Trying to lower a car yourself will not save you time or money unless you're a pro, and you would still have to take it in for an alignment and should have the corner balance done. Some folks do the tape measure thing but that will only get you reasonable close, that won't get it just right.

Plus they will be able to tell you if anything really needs to be replaced.
You don't want to go through all that trouble and expense, only to find out you have bad bushings or shocks a few months later and have to do it all again.

BTW there are only a handfull of shops in So Cal that can really do this right and not charge you a crazy amount.

Have a "lowering party" and make sure someone brings the knowledge and the tools. Then pass on the knowledge the next time someone needs the help. I've managed to fully reindex the rear torsion bars to set the rear ride height on both sides in under two hours. It isn't bad at all with the right tools.

Hire Oprah Winfrey to drive it for a few days.

How much should it cost to lower and align? One local shop told me an alignment was $280 and 1 1/2 hrs labor to lower it

I'd say that's fair. Sam is right unless you just want something to do. There are a lot of tricks that need to be understood or you are going to work way too hard. Like, how do you keep from breaking off a bolt on the rear outer bushing cup? How do you free up a stuck torsion bar. Johnson's does this every day. They know the tricks.

However, you CAN do this if you want to.

I know a very experienced P shop wrench that chased a front brake locking to a corner balance prob. His 1st thoughts were the usual suspects. It took time.

the 911's stance looked great.