Suspension Pan / Tank Support replacement

domtoni · 09-07-2006, 05:27 AM

How much time would be required to change the above on a 1969 911? Are we looking at 2 days or more?

Person doing the job is a good at making these repairs, but he has not done a 911 before.

Best
Dom

LakeCleElum · 09-07-2006, 05:36 AM

In the late '80's, I paid a body shop $165 to do the job. I forget the # of hours and the owner was a friend that did it for 1/2 their normal rate. I would guess it was under 8 hrs...

domtoni · 09-07-2006, 05:42 AM

Thanks. My job included draining the gas tank etc. Was this guy experienced at the job or first time through?

thanks
Dom

304065 · 09-07-2006, 05:50 AM

Run, Dom.

You do NOT want to be the guinea pig for a shop inexperienced with pan replacement. The reason is, the front suspension bolts to the pan, and any misalignment, whether caused by preload on the chassis or the failure to locate the replacement pan in EXACTLY the same spot, will cause the torsion bars to bind, your hair to fall out, your portfolio to decline and your flying-buttress door handles to melt like butter.

Also, the front pan has been superceded probably more than once. Replacement sheetmetal may not be identical, so you should verify that what you are getting to replace the old pan is in fact exactly what you need. Experienced guys face this all the time.

If I were doing it I would take the car to someone with a Celette bench that can strap the car down and ensure that the front pan is precisely realigned prior to welding.

domtoni · 09-07-2006, 05:56 AM

Thanks John. I should have asked this before hand. The guy doing the job is an experienced body rebuilder. He has not done a 911 before. His training was at Rolls Royce.

Best that he knows that the pan needs to be aligned before welding.

Best
Dom

domtoni · 09-07-2006, 05:59 AM

John, I should have noted that the replacment parts came from Dansk.