What a great day

My 1969 911T targa finaly came home today. I had it at my uncles garage until I got it stared, and we were able to drive it home. Talk about fun! That was the most fun I have ever had, I can't imagine what It will be like when I get my liscence. While we took the Porsche for our first ever road test, I did notice a couple problems. One, the idle was set way too high. Whenever my dad took his foot off the gas, the rpm was no lower than 3,000*. We think the was to solve this is to look into the screws on the carbs. While we sprayed the carbs with carb cleaner, we must have messed with the adjustment, so we will tune them. Then, if that doesn't help we will adjust the acceleration pedal. Is there anything else I missed?

*The other problem I noticed was when we got home and turned off the car, blue smoke came out the fan, and more came out 30 seconds later. Well, we were in a rush because we had to drop off the plates, so we left to drop up the used car dealer plates and insurance card, because that was the only way we were able to drive on the street; it's not insured.
I think that this smoke was coming because the car overheated. I didn't notice the temp gauge go up, so that could be broken, and even though it was maybe a 10-15 minute ride, taking side streets and not exceeding 30mph, that high idle, no lower than 3k rpm makes me believe thats what over heated the car, if it was overheated.

The car sounds great, its a loud (very loud) roar, with the pops and small backfires. I don't know if this means I need to tune it, or if its normal, and it just seems bad, or loud because the exhuast is leaking. I know the exhuast is leaking because when I put in too much oil, and the car smoked I saw smoke leak out from near the axil. Now, there isn't much smoke, and its hardly noticable. Also, after we ran the car, there was a small 1-2inch diameter oil spot under the car, and its still that big. Looks like I have no serious problems. The previous owner said the car had a rebuilt clutch, and my dad didnt notice anything wrong with the tranny, although we never went higher than 2nd gear. We turned many heads, and it was just fun overall having the targa top off, and the wind in our heads. Looks like I got a great deal, a running car from somebody that didnt know much about cars, had it sitting for a couple years because he couldnt start it, and the only problem was a bad wire, and a distributor (which I got for free). A great day overall

[rstoll]

A good day indeed! Reminds me of the day I stole my SC.

[Wayne 962]

Overheating that engine, even slightly will cause major damage - get that temp sensor fixed ASAP before you drive it again...

-Wayne

Thanks for the advice Wayne.
Well, this is my first Porsche, and I don't know what that smoke coming out of the fan is. If this happened to anyone, input would be nice. I'm guessing it's either overheated, or thats junk burning on the engine because it's been sitting too long. If it were water cooled I would see steam, but I have no idea how to tell if an aircooled is overheated, and that my temp guage doesn't work. My oil guage was reading 60. But I guess since the car wasn't at high speeds, and rpm wasn't lower than 3k, it might be overheated. What do you think?

Also, now that I think of it, that smoke coming out after the car ran could have been what blew out, and that could be oil that was on the engine. When I first got the car, I put in too much oil, so it blew out. Maybe the smoke started coming out when the car was off because the fan wasn't blowing it in. But I still don't know about over heating. The temp guage went up a little, I think. This was only a 10 minute ride, a couple side streets home, would that be normal for the temp guage to go up a little, and wouldn't that be to short a ride for the car to overheat?

[tobluforu]

My 72 does the same sometimes. The cause is oil that leaked on the heat exchanger. I live with it.

That could be it, thanks for the info. I'll check the car tuesday because its raining now, and I dont have light in the garage. I should be able to see a burnt oil stain on the heat exchangers right? I think all my guages work, or I hope rather. I know my clock does and thats usually the first to go right? I have one problem though. Everytime I'm not running the car, I have to disconnect the battery because somethings draining it. I don't know what. Anyone have any idea as to what it is, where to start?

EDIT: tobluforu: When your 72 does that, do you see smoke coming through the grill, or is it something small and you have to open the hood to see smoke?

Wait a minute, can't that cause a fire if oil's dripping on something hot? When the mechanic put too much oil in my moms firebird, oil blew out, and the whole thing cought fire. Oil blew out of my porsche when I put too much in, and maybe thats what the smoke is. What's the best way of cleaning an engine?

Ok guys, this is the story. I drove the car 2.8 miles from my uncles garage to my house, a couple stop signs (quick stops) and maybe one or two long redlights. Other than that, I hit 30mph (side streets) and the rpm was never lower than 3,000 (even on the red light) My engine temp was a little over 120, and oil was reading 60. Are these normal numbers? Is my temp guage working? I would expect it to go up higher, but then again It was only 2.8 miles. Oh, and how sould I lower the idle? Its at 3,000 rpm now, that means its lean right? How should I set the carbs, whats the default?

[Bill Verburg]

120&degF is too cool, 120&degC is too hot. How is your gauge calibrated? The oil cooler thermostats(both internal and external if so equipped) open at ~80&degC(~176&degF), normal operating temps are usually ~80-105&degC(~176-220&degF) though I used to get uncomfortable much above ~100&degC (I'm very conservative)

I'm preaty sure that was F, 120 was the lowest number on the gauge, on the bottom. It was a little above that, I dont remember exactly, maybe 125, 130

[silverc4s]

Just a thought. If the car has been sitting parked a long time, and smoke came out of the fan the first time it was driven - well, I would be concerned about a rodent nest in the cooling area under the fiberglas, on top of one or more cylinders.
This will RUIN your motor by causing a hot spot if it is not cleaned out in short order. Be sure to look in there some how. Consider dropping the Fan & alternator, even tho its a PITA.
Bill

[Superman]

I'd almost be willing to bet that a family of mice have been behind that fan, and that the smoke was hot, dry mice nest stuff burning or nearly burning. I would unbolt and lift the big plastic air shroud before I drove it anywhere.

The carbs are probably dirty and may work poorly until they are disassebled and cleaned. This is a job for an experienced wrench user or a novice that is VERY VERY VERY slow, meticulous and organized.

[rdvnac]

Peter is right on. BTDT. (My 914-6 has the same engine.) Check the hand throttle.