buckboard

I,ve just returned from my maiden voyage in my '87 911 cab. It's the first time I've really had a chance to drive it after I bot it because of this long winter. Since I'm new to these cars, I was pleasantly surprised at how sweet it handles and accelerates.
I'm hoping some of you oldtimers will give me some advice on the following observations.....are they querks to porsche, or just mine, and shoul they be fixed?
Do these cars ride like buckboards...I don't mind a firm ride, but if theres a seam in the pavement it bangs and pounds up through the car...sounds like a dwarfs under there with a sledgehammer. Also, should I be concerned if my cars speedo is 10+mph off when over 50mph? Finally, with the top up, I have trouble getting the window on the drivers side to fit under the top unless I lower it and then raise it after closing the door. Other than a squeeling fan blower motor and steering wheel shimmy at 70mph it's perfect.
Thanks for any advice!

No dwarfs living under my '85 Carrera. It's firm but that's about it. I had a shimmy with mine a while back too ....wheel balancing and alignment sorted that one out though. As for the speedo error, what tires and rims are you using, if they are not stock size the rolling circumference may have changed which will cause your speedo to over/under read depending whether they're bigger or smaller.
Here's a prety cool site to calculate tire sizes http://www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi

Ralph

I'm using 205/55r16. I'm assuming the speedo pickup is in front. Thanks for the help.

Originally posted by Wolfman:
No dwarfs living under my '85 Carrera. It's firm but that's about it. I had a shimmy with mine a while back too ....wheel balancing and alignment sorted that one out though. As for the speedo error, what tires and rims are you using, if they are not stock size the rolling circumference may have changed which will cause your speedo to over/under read depending whether they're bigger or smaller.
Here's a prety cool site to calculate tire sizes http://www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi

Ralph

Has the car been lowered? After purchasing the wife's '80SC I had it raised back to factory specs. She protested (she really prefers the lowered look), but afterwards agreed that it was worth it for the ride difference.

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jrdavid68
1986 911 Carrera
1980 911SC

That's an interesting thought, the car has 19000 mi. which are verified...I can't believe the bushings etc. would be bad. Was it an expensive procedure, and how did you discover it had been lowered?
Thanks
Has the car been lowered? After purchasing the wife's '80SC I had it raised back to factory specs. She protested (she really prefers the lowered look), but afterwards agreed that it was worth it for the ride difference.

[/QUOTE]

We could tell it was lowered just by looking at it - plus it was a no brainer when sitting next to the '86. I took it in for a four wheel alignment and to raise it back to factory spec - the quote was for about $140 (if I remember correctly). That turned out to be significantly more becuase I also had to replace a front strut.

So how's Iowa today? I grew up in Iowa and graduated from ISU in '91.

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jrdavid68
1986 911 Carrera
1980 911SC

Also, try checking your tire pressure and see if someone has overinflated them.

Kurt V
72 911E

There was a thread about this a while back. Jack up each side and spin tire and watch for true. Someone had posted a while back when tightening lugs down they didnt seat properly and cause the wheel to run out. Remedy is to loosen all lugs and retighten, check again for true. Good luck.

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944

Originally posted by qwak:
I'm using 205/55r16. I'm assuming the speedo pickup is in front. Thanks for the help.

I believe that the speedo pickup is on the tranny (thats where mine is I think).

But if you have a newer tranny G50 that could be the case


Adam Roseneck

The pickup is on the transmission.

Maybe your Prev Owner installed polygraphite bushings and stiffer torsion bars? This will harden the ride, but improve handing. Otherwise, you may just have rock hard bushings in need of replacement. The car should ride hard. Its a REAL sports car, not a Lexus, don't set your expectations too high. But not to the point of thinking you are damaging the suspension every time you hit a bump. I'd look into it some more.
If the prev owner lowered the car, chances are that they may have upgraded bushings/torsion bars at the same time.

Nick.



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_ _ __ _ _
Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe
nickshu@yahoo.com
PCA -- Rocky Mtn. Region

I don't think my expectations are too high...I must confess I hadn't spent much time in these P-cars until I bot this one, and I spent even less in it before buying it. It seems quite harsh and noisy and seems to have no suspension at all, almost like it's riding on the axels. It literally sounds like someone is beating on the underside of the car and it reverberates throughout the interior...is this normal, am I being too fussy...maybe it's my age...I turn 50 this year.
Thanks

[/B][/QUOTE]

You should check with whoever does the work on the car. (If that guy is you, then get a dial caliper and a digital camera, so you can post some observations and specific questions here). Check if any modifications have been made to stiffen the suspension (thicker torsion bars, sport shocks, antisway bars). Bushings can break down over time, even without a lot of miles. And a Porsche mechanic can test it and tell you if it's substantially different than other 911s.

Even stock, these cars have a harsher ride than your typical American sedan. You'll apprecate this less when you're running out for milk at the 7-11 than when you're racing through a canyon pass at speed. The stiffer suspension keeps the car planted better, with the wheels aligned more correctly with the pavement. It's possible to go too far, though, which leads to very poor handling (and possible molar cracking). If you suspect something is wrong with yours, get it checked sooner rather than later. If something is out of whack, then your dental work isn't the only thing that could be suffering from the abuse.

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

[This message has been edited by JackOlsen (edited 03-25-2001).]

Hello

Speedo is feeded by rear drive/trany.

Sidewindow and rubber can be adjustet.

Bade ride is normaly worn out shocks and rubbers. Or a race set up. Feeling is hard but totaly different. Worn parts feel hard but loose and generate rattle and other noise. Sport set up is stiff and generates other noises.

Grüsse

Is this another alias post?