Introduction and have a Question

[windsoreight]

Guys I just picked up an 85 Targa ROW car. It is in ok shape. I plan on a resto this winter. I picked up the car form a customer at our shop. He bought it over a year ago for 12K and never really used the car. The fresh air motor caught fire and melted the intake. The transmission is a little funny, I suspect syncronizers. He got fed up with the car and brought it into the shop and said he wasn't coming back for it. I picked it up for 2K. I know the tail is not stock. I have serviced it and plan on having fun with it for the summer. Now to my question. I have an oil leak at the vacuum valve above the oil tank. What is that valve?

[snbush67]

You stole it.

The tail is an early Turbo Tail, most likely a replica, but goes well on your ROW.

Can you show a picture of the leaky valve?

[windsoreight]

The valve is where the red arrow points, mine looks something like that one:

[Buckterrier]

I believe it's a fresh air valve. Something to do with letting air in while the car warms up. There are a few threads about the valve but they are from a weird noise coming from them, like a kazoo, not oil leaks.

[jrumiano]

If you have an oil leak there you may have over filled the engine/oil tank. The car needs to be fully warmed up with the engine running to check the oil level.

Nice car for 2K!

John

[tcar]

Agree on possibly overfilling oil.

Only check on level ground, while the engine is idling at full operating temperature.

Fill to half way between the F and L lines.

[windsoreight]

It was probably overfull. I don't know who last serviced the car. The leak looks old and the valve is oil soaked. I didn't check the level before I serviced it. I have yet to put any real miles on it yet so it is probably fine. Yea I couldn't pass the deal up. It is going to be a fun car. Also what is the HP difference between the US and ROW cars?

[AFCuk]

Originally Posted by windsoreight

It was probably overfull. I don't know who last serviced the car. The leak looks old and the valve is oil soaked. I didn't check the level before I serviced it. I have yet to put any real miles on it yet so it is probably fine. Yea I couldn't pass the deal up. It is going to be a fun car. Also what is the HP difference between the US and ROW cars?

The ROW cars if its a 3.0 will be 205bhp, the us cars had around 185bhp i think.
Someone will chime in and give you the correct numbers.
A very nice car for the money
But i would say that

Paul

[maxman]

You did steal it. Very nice.

[windsoreight]

It has the 3.2. I believe the US spec was 207 or 217, just not sure of the ROW spec.

[1982911SCTarga]

Nice beach buggy.

As a first step in sorting the dodgy transmission, check the shift coupler bushings (access panel in the center rear floor). Likely it is the synchros, but you might get lucky (again) as you did with your super buy-in price. Enjoy the car!

Brian

[windsoreight]

Yea, Brian I am going to try there. Also the shifter is a bit sloppy. I changed the fluid and it seems a lot better.

[1982911SCTarga]

Good on ya. You probably know this, too, but check the clutch cable adjustment as well. Glad to see the car's found a proper steward.

Brian

[tcar]

Originally Posted by windsoreight

It has the 3.2. I believe the US spec was 207 or 217, just not sure of the ROW spec.

US is 207 HP, ROW is 231 HP for the 3.2.

Oh, and the ROW 3.2 should have premium gas; 10.6:1 CR. (US is 9.5:1).

[Helios59]

windsoreight, your '85 Targa has Porsche's old 915 transmission.

It does best with non-synthetic fluid...I'm using Swepco 201, but there are other choices out there as well. There are a bunch of threads on this.

The slick stuff is better left to the newer G50 trans, which came in 1987.

[windsoreight]

I put non synthetic in it. I think the shifter is the biggest problem. 1st is into the dash and 2nd is into the back seat. I may be exaggerating but the shifter is sloppy. I took it out tonight and flogged it. The air valve didn't leak a drop. The 2 main things I am going to concentrate on is the shifter and it has a rough idle. The idle is a little lopey but the car runs fantastic. The car has been sitting for 9-12 months. I found no vacuum leaks, I am hoping the idle clears up.

[Helios59]

You're not exaggerating by much! Porsche shortened the throws in '86, but it's still long.

You have plenty of aftermarket choices, including Porsche's own Short Shift which was an option at the time. Pelican has a good selection.

As for the idle: mixture, O2 sensor, idle control valve, cylinder head temp sensor...the usual suspects. What's the RPM when your engine is warmed up?

[windsoreight]

I never really looked at the RPMs but the idle RPM sounds about right. The idle is just a little rough and probably fluctuates up and down 100 RPMs. The idle dosen't change from the time of cold start to operating temp. The shifter is really sloppy, I will pull it apart this weekend and see whats up. I suspect I will find something amiss.

[ramonesfreak]

nice car. sloppy shifting and "transmission is a little funny" are not the same thing. if the gears change ok but the shifter is sloppy, its probably the bushings and, the fact that your not used to these shifters...when i got mine it had new synchros but the shifter still seemed like an old tractor....to a degree, thats just how they are and you get used to it....but still check the bushings and maybe install a short shift kit

[ramonesfreak]

my idle is rough when cold start this time of year....surges up and down... been that way since i got it 4 years ago..once its hot, it idles perfectly and during summer, even on a cold start the idle is ok when starting. ive learned to live with it until i have the budget to diagnose and fix. its not a big deal to me

does the idle normalize after a long drive?