Differences between an 1984 and 1985-86

[javadog]

That book is wrong...

JR

[jonmont]

Also:

'85 Has a leather gear shift boot; '84 was rubber.
'86+ Inside door releases have round 'glow' dot (as do dash vents).
'85 Larger fuel tank (22.4 from 21.1 gal)
'85 Modified syncros in trans
'85 LSD improved lubrication
'85 (optional) double-tube Bilsteins
'85 Green tinted glass all around (at least USA)
'85 Additional Cab top colors: burgundy, gray, green
'85 Heated windshield washer jets
'85 Modified circuit on power windows
'85 Central door locks with central locking button
'85 Windshield antenna includes an antenna amplifier

From PCNA Technical Service Bulletin 2/19/85

[javadog]

Originally Posted by jonmont

Also:

'85 Has a leather gear shift boot; '84 was rubber.

You might just find a rubber boot (also) under the leather one, on an '85-on car...

JR

[darrin]

"'86+ Inside door releases have round 'glow' dot (as do dash vents)."

not on my '86 targa's inside door releases, though my dash vents do (fyi)

[500_19B]

'85s were the first year of the new seat "generation", but the seat mounting was uniquely high for '85. In '86 they lowered the seat a bit. Definitely a consideration for taller drivers. I have an '85 and I don't really fit. I made it OK by replacing the steering wheel for a Momo MOD 08 (which has a ton of dish) and I have a Wevo shifter with the tall knob (so I can rake the seat back and still almost reach 1st, 3rd and 5th). Still, wish I had a lower seat!!

[dshepp806]

Probably a lot of minor things, for sure. In looking back through HAAB's book (and "only" quoting), I find a few already:

Bumpers: Recognizable physical differences in the bumpers were a hole for headlight washers, a cutout above the fog lights in 1984, and an additional cut above the right fog light in 1985. The additional cutout was to allow better air flow to the cooler located inside the front fender. Porsche announced the improvement in a 1985 technical brochure stating it would reduce temps 20 degrees C under full load, but the cutout was not on all 1985 bumpers.

Special note: It was '84 when the US Congress passed the Motor Vehicle Theft Law Enforcement Act and this certainly had varying degrees of impact thereafter.

Antenna: disappeared from the fender in 1985 when it was incorporated into the windshield.

Heavy duty cleaning system for the headlamp washers introduced as an option in '86.

'86 was the new D.O.T. regulations requiring the addition of a "3rd brake light"...First year, Porsche experimented with the placement. . Originally, light unit was mounted at the bottom at the bottom of window on coupes unless a rear spoiler was used, in which case light was mounted at the top. '87: they all went up top, but that did not always happen.

As to wheel locking nuts, it looks like they redesigned the locking mechanism, for improvement.

Just a few,..I'll continue the extract some more from this book a bit later. Have to attend a meeting for now.

BEST!

Doyle

[Barrpete]

Originally Posted by dshepp806

'86 was the new D.O.T. regulations requiring the addition of a "3rd brake light"...First year, Porsche experimented with the placement. . Originally, light unit was mounted at the bottom at the bottom of window on coupes unless a rear spoiler was used, in which case light was mounted at the top. '87: they all went up top, but that did not always happen.

My '86 coupe has the 3rd brake light at the top and no rear spoiler.

[dshepp806]

onward:

1986: panels changed to include larger side vents that were more square than the old, and vertically elongated. All the vents could be directed up, down, or to either side. They also could be closed using a recessed knurled knob. White dots were added so that the adjustments could be seen more easily.

Knee Guards: did not change until 1986. At that time the corners were changed because of the new side vents on the dash, and the bottom became more rounded.

Ashtray: 1986 they redesigned so it slid OUT instead of tilting down.

Front hood release: 1986, along with changes in the cable, the handle became fatter making it stronger.

Radios: not even standard on 911's, except for Turbos, until 1986...type available depended upon the country for which the car was intended,..very "country-specific". For the US, it would seem that 1984 through 1986 (Carreras) housed the Monterey.

(Interesting one),...the interior sensor was moved to the instrument panel, right of the steering wheel, in 1986. Added to it was a small blower to suck the air into it for more accurate results.

Console: When the controls were lowered on the console in 1986, their symbols changed again. A snowflake was on the Temp Control while a fan symbol remained on the fan control. All stop markings for the temp or fan speed, however, were around the controls,..not ON them.

Additional console notes: 1986, there was only one speaker symbol, located above the fader control. In 1986 controls for the rear window defogger and outside rear view mirror heaters, as well as emergency-flashers, were moved to the console repositioning the air conditioning controls below them.

Locking: Just below the AC controls beginning in 1985 was the central locking button when that was on the car. Pushing the rectangular button with a key symbol on it locked both doors..Standard on the Turbos and optional for Carreras until it became standard on ALL models in '88.

That's about it,..aside from HAAB'S appendices,.....I'll delve into this in a bit.

I offer the above data simply in reproducing my current data. Without question, any P-car enthusiast would go buy Mark S. Haab's "The 1974-1989, 912E & 930 Porsche Authenticity Series".

Should anyone have anything that contradicts his notes, please post. He DOES give latitudes to situations where the documentation didn't necc'y line-up with the "trenches"..

In any event, just taking some time to go through this book and share a "few" extractions.

Best to all!

Doyle

[gtc]

1984 Spark plug wires #4-6 ran across the engine shroud, under the intake manifolds. For '85-on they ran up and over the top of the fan shroud.

[gregwils]

'84 has different plug wires, and though I am not certain, I don't believe they are interchangeable with 85-89 cars. '84 OEM and Magnecor wires are different, Clewett says will fit with different rerouting. I am not sure if it is only a rerouting issue.

PS - Actually, 86 is the fastest year.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

86 has the factory short shift kit as standard, 86 has the newer style dash

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by Barrpete

My '86 coupe has the 3rd brake light at the top and no rear spoiler.

Correct.

[dshepp806]

Diggin' that sticker scan!!!

BEST!

Doyle

[PDACPA]

I want to get my car's sticker!

[euro1984]

Originally Posted by dshepp806

Bumpers: Recognizable physical differences in the bumpers were a hole for headlight washers, a cutout above the fog lights in 1984, and an additional cut above the right fog light in 1985. The additional cutout was to allow better air flow to the cooler located inside the front fender. Porsche announced the improvement in a 1985 technical brochure stating it would reduce temps 20 degrees C under full load, but the cutout was not on all 1985 bumpers.

Doyle

Very interesting. Did the oil cooler itself change form one side to the other. I also think the cooler itself may be changed to a different model on the 1985?

[javadog]

No, and yes.

JR

[whiterabbit]

I could be wrong but I think the door speaker grills changed shape in 85 or 86.