What is this weird contraption?
 

Hi all,

I've been lurking here for months but recently became legitimate by buying my first 911, an 81 SC in zinc metallic with dark blue interior. Needless to say I adore it. I'm not sure about the wheels - part of me would like to put on some original Fuchs, but another part says the 993 type twist wheels (17 inch Italian copies) suit the SC, especially as its quite low (perhaps too low) and it lets it run pretty wide rear rubber. What do you think?

Anyway, I'm really posting to try and figure out what the mess in the passenger footwell is (next to the central console)? There is a largish gap there between the footboard and a round metal object with some rather vulnerable looking thin copper tubes (see photo). I wonder if I'm missing something to cover these up? As you look at it, remember that here in Oz our 911s are mirror image (right hand drive).

Dave

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186223377.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186223436.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186223466.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186223553.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186223606.jpg

Hi Dave,

I don't have an answer to your question, but I do have a comment regarding wheels. I think the twists look great on your car - it must be the color. They really update the look. It looks almost like a 993. In my opinion though, the old SC's and Carreras look best with deep dish rears. You may want to look into Moses' 17" Rota Fuchs or a pair of used Fikses. They will give your car a more aggressive look.

I don't know what those lines are either, but I'm a newbie too...

That first pic should be posted in the Art thread! My goodness that's beautiful! I say go for Fuchs, but I'm one of the ones that has pre-ordered for Moses' Rota Fox wheels. Here's a link about the wheels:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/355278-rota-fox-wheel-samples-post3410284.html?posted=1#post3410284

Suby Dudes Site - where to order them:

http://www.subydude.com/osc/product_info.php/products_id/634?osCsid=a8fe566530fb1a624aaa8b8b9b140331

Its the flux capacitor which is required to achieve 100,000GW of electricity :)

Looks like some contraption from an A/C unt, that said I don't see one of those things in my car but, ac's on 911's have been experimented with for years....

I dont know what that is either, I've had mine apart around there and sure I dont have one of those.

I have to say you car is gorgeous but I dont think those wheels do it justice, I think the only wheels that work on SCs are Rufs or Fuchs and even better the 17 inch rota wheels which will really make you car (black centers please ;) ). I want some too but have to wait a while til they make the wide body versions.

If that's a RH drive, then questionable article is either an expansion valve or a left over prop from the mini series Alien Relived.

Yes, it's the AC expansion valve. The silver part is the powerhead with the small copper capillary tube coming out of the center. Here is a pic of one from Pelican's website:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1186230468.jpg

On the wheels, I'm a purest when it comes to fuchs but those twists look great on your silver car. I wouldn't change them.

[QUOTE=equality72521;3410509]Yes, it's the AC expansion valve. The silver part is the powerhead with the small copper capillary tube coming out of the center.

Yes that looks like it! Glad it didn't turn out to be some kind of alien tool to create warps in the space-time continuum. Its pretty amazing how complex the plumbing for the A/C is on this car - its seems to involve every corner and spare bit of space. But where this valve sits is right under the shoe of my (frequent) passengers - this is a family car after all :) so I'm worried that it might get damaged (the copper is quite shiny!). Is there a missing panel that would normally conceal this gizmo? It looks to be covered in tar and felt, as though it was once encapsulated in some way...

Thanks all for the wheel suggestions. Sounds like the Rota wheels might be worth a look once they become available.

The sticky tarry gook is casually called AC dum dum.... comes in 2" wide rolls most of the time.
Its used as insulation over the expansion valve and it would probably be a good thing to buy about a foot of it and rewrap the expansion valve or at least where peoples shoes are rubbing it, if everything is working good.

Left hand drive cars have a thin plywood cover over that area.
I Donno how the right hand drive cars are setup. Seems you could make something to go over that to protect it while leaving return duct air space around the edges.

+1 on khamul02's comments. Those wheels look good on your car. Must be the color combo. Unless you plan to do Concours and need the car original. I'd leave them alone.

The car/wheels look great. Nice combination. Welcome aboard!

87 blk coupe

Thanks for the suggestion. Are you saying that there should be an air-space there (a gap between the passenger foot board and the center concole) to allow air back into the heater system or something?
Dave

I'm with Spence88MPH and nut11, I have an '88 silver coupe that is box stock except for lowering (PO)...however, have to admit that I prefer the Fuchs and if I had the jingles would
be ordering up a set of Hyper black Rota wheels for mine.....

Thanks for sharing your pics, nice combo! :D