Mandatory Things To Do When You Buy a Used 911

[randywebb]

This might make a useful compilation... I'll start it off:

Sure, you're excited that you just bought a "new" 911! You want to drive it; wash it; polish it...

But first - FIRST - save yourself some money and maybe save yourself from crashing and do the following safety related checks:

1a. Unless you are absolutely certain that the rubber brake hoses are new, get some new oem ones and change them.

1b. You will have used a special socket to take the wheel lug nuts off (one with a soft insert so it won't damage them). Take a look at the studs and at the lug nuts - be sure all the threads look good, feel good when you were turning them, and the surfaces of the lug nut look good and are not distorted. Put a tiny amount of anti-sieze on the threads and on the convex curved surface of the lug nuts when you put them back on. Torque them and then check the torque after 100-200 miles.

2. At the same time, flush out the old brake fluid and replace with new. Ate is good and so are some others (Ford HD is the cheapest quality fluid). If the current fluid is blue you can use Ate 200 (yellow); if it's yellow now, then you buy Ate Blue. You will do this every 2-3 years at least - more frequently if you race the car and are paranoid.

At the same time, inspect the brake discs for thickness, cracking and general condition. You can remove the pads easily and take a look at them and the caliper piston dust seals.

3. Be certain the tires are properly inflated and are not more than 6-7 years old. When old, they get hard and slippery.

New high performance tires are the best upgrade for any car.

4. Put the car up on jack stands and get under it. Check that each of the 4 places (2 on each side) where the CV joints attach have small plates that are shaped like half-moons under every 2 bolts. Look up the proper torque for your bolts, and check that they are that tight. If not tight, torque them, then check again after 100-200 miles. If you can see small round washers under the bolts with serrated toothy edges (Schnorr washers) then good. If you are sure they are not there then BAD. If you can't tell, then either remove each bolt and check, or trust to luck and to the torque checks you do.

Again, check the threads and the concave wrenching feature (where the Allen or triple square drive bit fits) to be sure it is not messed up. You can reuse the bolts if they are good. They are cheap tho, so replace if you want. They are special strong bolts, so don't put in something from the hardware store. The moon plates can be reused, but it is always a good idea to replace the Schnorr washers with new ones.

Search up and read thru the long thread on this by Randy Cale, recale. It is illuminating.

[randywebb]

Note the lack of things to check on the engine.

Everybody obsesses about the motor - becuz it motorvates us.

BUT, an engine problem won't kill you. Brakes, Tires, and some suspension issues can kill you.

You will want ot do these check and replacements even if you had a mechanic do a PPI on the car. Just to be safe and get familiar with the car.

Now, you can wash and wax it.

[nesslar]

randywebb!
I am motorvated to flush my brake fluid (it's been on the schedule) and I'll get the hoses, too.
I am having the rear adjusted just a bit tomorrow, and I'll have the shop look at the bolts and washers setup at the CV attachment area.

Thanks, and frankly, a good thread idea, I think. New owners without this kind of knowledge should be grateful and appreciative. I am! We all need to learn.
Several things you mentioned were obvious to me, and have been fixed, mainly the tires. What garbage they were! Would you believe the PO had the fog lights reversed from side to side?!?
Targa!

[asphaltgambler]

FIRST thing to chek for is available CC balance

[nesslar]

Right! Good one! Did check the balance even before the buy, and man has it dropped since that first check!

Oh, well......
Gotta' toss the money into some hole somewhere!

[nostatic]

my dad used to say, "there are two things your car has to do: steer and stop...the rest is optional."

[M.D. Holloway]

I once tossed money into a hole...been paying child support because it eversense!

[nesslar]

I'm just "hole lucky" maybe. Back when, my wife actually just said "go for it, get the car." I think I just got her to the point where she just wanted me to quit looking, buy, and shut up.
Whatever!
The Porsche seems pretty solid, too.
'86 Guards Red Carrera 3.2 Targa, w/new tread!
...of course.....

[nostatic]

well, when the ex buys me out of the house I'll be able to finish some more work on the car...

[SandyI]

Drove mine straight to Otto. Been driving it there ever since.

[Grady Clay]

The first thing you say after you buy a 911 is: “Phew, I’m glad I did a through Pre-Purchase Inspection! I could be finding those things now.”

Best,
Grady

[1982911SCTarga]

Buy a lift.

Brian

[nesslar]

I think I WILL buy a lift. How much for that one? Guess I'll just add it to my list....
I just got a raise of almost 10%.
Wonder how I'll spend the dough.....
Coupla' hours of suspension work tomorrow, valve adjustment soon, re-check the rear alignment, a little cosmetic body work/paint, more leather conditioner, blah, blah, blah.....

[AtomicDog]

nesslar wrote:

Wonder how I'll spend the dough.....

Yep, you're new. LOL

Welcome and congrats.

Chris

[lindemans]

Originally posted by randywebb
Note the lack of things to check on the engine.

Everybody obsesses about the motor - becuz it motorvates us.

BUT, an engine problem won't kill you. Brakes, Tires, and some suspension issues can kill you.

You will want ot do these check and replacements even if you had a mechanic do a PPI on the car. Just to be safe and get familiar with the car.

Now, you can wash and wax it.

Engines only kill you financially.....

[nesslar]

Another good one. Beautiful.
Leather much softer now, man I found some good stuff.....

[304065]

1) Remove the oil sump plate and look inside the engine. Look for hunks of chain tensioner, bearing, bolts, your 1979 tax return, etc.

2) If the engine does not have an oil sump plate, say, "What the heck did I buy this fancy new car for?"

SWBWDP

[nigel911]

1982911SCTarga,

Brian, where did you get that lift? $$?

That is very cool, no more squeezing under a car on jack stands.

[1982911SCTarga]

Nigel,

My lift is a Harbor Freight 39-inch mid-rise. More here.

Brian

[Bill in OKC]

My 22-year-old car did not have any service history so I am going through everything just to be sure.