Replacing Front Suspension Pan?

[SeaDweller]

The only rust on my car is in the front pan, where the battery must have leaked at some point in time. Why the heck didn't Porsche use some kind of battery box or tray????

Anyway, I was wondering what I could expect to pay for the replacment of the pan.

Thanks!

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Michael
'78 911SC Euro

[epbrown]

This is the only repair bill I've had since getting my 911 - it was $1450 installed, and I think the pan itself was less than half that. I see them advertised in the mags all the time, take a look.

Emanuel

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Everybody wants a normal life and a cool car;
most people settle for the car." Chris Titus
1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
1983 Porsche 911 SC Targa

[dtw]

Michael,
That's a pretty major job- usually reserved for when serious, penetrating corrosion has taken hold of the front pan structure. Are you sure you don't have some spot rot or surface corrosion that can be cured without major surgery (and cash???)

Got a digital camera? Post some pictures of it.

-d

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Dave
1972 911T (E motor) RSR replica project
http://members.nbci.com/dtwinters/garage/

[sewell94]

I replaced the pan in my 1970 911T. it wasn' that bad of a job, the one that i ripped out wasn't orginal, ran into alot of stuff that wasn't how it was supposed to be. If you have just a little bit of mech. ability you can do this yourself. If you want details, email me and i'll give them to you, aligning the new pan isn't that hard, I didn't get my pan from restoration designs, buy that is where I would get it from again if i had to do it over, best quality available( my opinion). good luck
tom

[Brad_H]

The pan and gas tank support package is $195 from Restoration Design
http://www.restoration-design.com
I'm in the middle of the job - it's a lot of work which is why labor cost is so high.

[GIBSON]

I did it a few years ago on a 67S. It is labor intensive but really not a bad job.
The new piece fit is like a puzzle piece, really nice. Aligning the front suspension mounts is simple. I'd say anyone inclined to
try it would be glad they did.

Bruce Herrmann

[SeaDweller]

I know about as much about welding as I know about quantum physics, so I'm deathly afraid of tackling this myself. I do have a friend who just finished a 10 year restoration of a 50's Ford Crown Victoria, so I'll check with him to see if he can assist.

I'd sure love to be able to save the labor cost!!

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Michael
'78 911SC Euro

[GIBSON]

Michael, I would consider it with your friends help. The replacement parts,in my experience, have been good fits with little adjustment necessary. You have to remove the gas tank, of course, but that is not
difficult, unbolt the front "A" arm mounts and you are just about ready to remove the old pan. Buy a good recipricating saw and a good grinder and learn to remove spot welds and you are home free- well almost.
I vote for doing it yourself with some good research and help from the board memebers.

Bruce Herrmann

[Mark 69 911]

Are these pans only spot welded? Or is there some bead welding also?
If only spot welded, it would seem that a couple of claps and a spot welder is all that is needed.

[atr911]

Have any of you considered using the 3M epoxy to put that pan in, I understand that it has been tested to be stronger than welding, easier to work with and MUCH cheaper than a welder.

Just a thought, looking for advise.

Adam Roseneck

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1978 911SC 3.0
roseneck@cyberbeach.net

[richenry]

I just had the job done a month ago. I paid 1000.00 parts and labor and the job was done right. I think my mechanic undercharged me to tell you the truth. It's a messy job but one that should be done it it looks like the rust will interfere with the front suspension.
Rich

[dtw]

Adam,
I know they are starting to assemble entire unibodies with epoxy.

I know that properly applied epoxy withstand more stress than steel and welds.

I know that epoxy does not rust.

But it would be nearly impossible for me to swallow the idea of my suspension being held together with glue as I blasted into turn 1 at Road Atlanta- seeing the trees I am going to hit if my front comes apart. I've got to have more data! Can the adhesive stand the constant, repetetive stress that the pan has to withstand?

Hey Michael- back to you- tell me more about the rust damage you've got. I'm having a hard time believing you actually need the pan replaced....what's up?

-d


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Dave
1972 911T (E motor) RSR replica project
http://members.nbci.com/dtwinters/garage/

[Bo]

I'm also in the middle of the process right now.
Bought sheet-metal directly from Germany (I'm in Sweden) -paid approx USD250 for it (upper and lower metal, and a tow hook).

I removed the front bumper and gas tank myself before leaving the car with my wrench. He's done the job countless number of times, and gave me a quotation of around SEK3500 (around USD350) for labor. Sounds like you are paying w a y more on your side of the Atlantic....

Should add that my wrench has a national reputation in dealing with Porsches, so he knows what he's doing.

I'll post some before- and after pics once it is done.

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1972 911S Targa
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My project!

[atr911]

Dave, From what I understand and have heard, this 3M stuff has been used to build an entire car and it has had better tolerances then the same version that was weled together. If i'm not mistaken it was a pickup truck that they did.

Does anyone have a like or the actual name of this stuff?

Adam Roseneck

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1978 911SC 3.0
roseneck@cyberbeach.net

[john walker's workshop]

don't even think about glue. try it on your wheels instead of lugnuts and see how long it lasts.

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

Porsche used a vent pipe to vent the acid outside the car also avoiding H buildup in the trunk and following expolsions.

It is not the fault from Porsche that some mechanics can´t think from breakfast to house door.

Now the pan is a thing that is mostly not needed mostly the battery support needs a replacement and some derusting does the rest.

If you need the pan then there is the quest how far will you get. A front section might work. If you need the complete pan you also need the axle rig and have to add some serious welding at the front thread hules where the steering rak is fixed to the body.

The rest is tac welding.

There are several construction glues around. They work very well as long the application was done proffesionaly. To glue a complete car you have to construct the car for that or use a Pick up with a subframe.

I had been in some technical books about that and right now welding is much cheaper and safer then glueing.

Audi does mainly glue there Aluminium cars but also use welding, soldering and riveting.

BTW Porsche uses some glue applications since the 928 and I can remember they allowed section repairs on non structural parts ( Doors, Fenders, Hoods )

In the late 70s Opel and Ford startet to glue cars and use it to repair them. All of them get junked sooner or later and most insurances didn´t cover the costs anymore.

Grüsse