I need you guys

I mean that in a purely automotive nature I can't wait to rave to you all about how my insurance just dropped me and the bank wants to reposses the car cause I'm in Europe and I can't get any other insurance cause I'm an american... but I'll wait till later for that. (Breath) 2 Topics:

1. After a long, long time of an oil free 87 911, I have a very small amount forming on the aft end of the crank case. Looking at it I can only guess that it is the rear crank seal. I get like 1 drop on the ground a day. No big deal and I should consider myself lucky, but I am all about preventative wrenching. Can I change it while it's in the car? Any other possible causes? I've already done some thought to be impossible things on this car but how hard is this going to be?

2. I am getting this very annoying noise from the rear of the car. Sounds like that big four wheel tire noise. It is really prevalent at low speed and does not change with engine RPM or transmission/clutch changes. Directly related to wheel speed. Tire pressure has no effect. Braking just barely changes the pitch. I am thinking bearings, something in the axle, or brake/rotor. I don't think it is gearbox related. Does not sound like any one side clearly. A rear reach might be that my tires have worn to a point wear they just started making lots of noise (Bridgestone RE71 half tread-life). I dunno folks I'm at a loss and am just going to start replacing things and that, as you all know, gets expensive. I'm pretty down right now with all this stuff and I could really use a lift. Fixing some of this stuff would pobably do it for me. Sorry for being long winded.
rj... oh p.s if this insurance thing gets me I'll have a nice 87 Targa for sale.

There is a plate, and gasket at the rear left of the engine (closes to the bumper) I think it's an intermediate shaft thing, rather than the crank seal. I'm told these leak. Not easily, but this can be replaced wiht the eingine in the car.

Your rear end noise is almost certainly a rear wheel bearing (if you're sure it's a rear noise. Bad bearings make a lot of noise. Like a tank. They roar almost.

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'83 SC

I could not tell you about the oil leak but the noise you hear is most likely wheel bearing. When mine went out it sounded like I was riding in a toyota 4X4 with 44 micky thompsons. It was that bad. My doors would occasionally vibrate.

To replace them, rent or buy a slide hammer. It will save you time and your knuckles. Good luck

The oil leak may be the oil seal under the fan belt pully or the intermediate shaft cover plate as pointed out. There is an o ring under the cover plate. It can be changed in the car by taking off the mounting crossmember and rear sheet metal and supporting the motor on a jack. I would do both the pulley oil seal and the intermediate cover seal at the same time. Good opportunity to check chain housing cover gaskets and chain housing to case gaskets.

Also, there is an o ring between the cam thrust plate and cam housing and a gasket between the thrust plate and the cam tower, you'll know if its these if you look up closely behing the cam hosings on either side. These are not usually a problem as they are static seals but probelms here mean an engine pull.

Thanks, I'll start with bearings and see if it goes away. My insurance company did drop full coverage on me and the bank is beating on my door to get it covered. I have exhausted all my options here. It looks like I may lose the car unless I can come up with something quick. I guess I'll be making somebody else a good Porsche

Never heard of a bank requiring full coverage ... the only difference between liability-only (including 'other than collosion' of course) and 'full coverage' is the deductible, right? Seems a bit unecessary to demand full-coverage, and even illegal some places, depending on local/state regs.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

The bank just wants to make sure they get their money in the case of robery or total.

Yup, the bank is trying to protect it's investment. I may have come up with the cash to pay off the car but that leaves me driving around for a year with only liability on the car. Yikes! With my luck I'm dead. Anyway, I was leaning towards the bearing idea and I will replace those first. It appears to be a little more involved than my other cars. Looks like I'll need to take the control arm off...yes? The Haynes really stinks. Any tech articles out there. I've looked and have not come up with any as of yet. Not afraid to jump in but I will have to preorder eveything. I can not get anything where I am in England. What should I be replacing while the back end is apart? Control arm bushings? Parts lists anyone? Car has enough miles on it to go through whatever wear items are there... I am just not thouroughly sure and I will only get one shot at this... Thanks folks!
rj

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rj cilurso
87 911 targa