DIY Projects for 86 Carrera

[kyngfish]

Hi All,

I just bought an 86 Carrera. I love it. I want to do a few things to it and I wanted your input.

• Oil Cooler Fan - I was sitting in the Miami heat the other day in traffic for about 35 minutes. The temp eventually got right ON the second white hashmark. Luckily I was moving before it went higher. Should I worry about this, or will the car do something to start cooling itself down after hitting that hashmark? Most of the time, even under normal traffic conditions, the temp is between 1/3 and 1/2 between the two white hash marks.
• 915 transmission - already went ahead and ordered the bushings for the shifter. There's a lot of play and sometimes the shifter snaps out of first. 1 to 2 is really difficult under hard acceleration. How hard is it to get that center console up? Anything I should watch out for?
• Transmission and Motor mounts - I will check them to see if they are flat, but the way the shifter pulls around, my gut says they need to be replaced. Do I have to raise the car up on stands to do the motor mounts? or just jack up the engine? The DIY stuff I see online isn't clear. Also, I'm just looking to clear out general consumables/maintenance issues for now, and mainly concerned with ironing out shifting issues. The price difference between OEM/Wevo and Uro is pretty outrageous. Is there anything wrong with the URO as a temporary stop-gap? I'll probably replace again once I work over the suspension and start making upgrades.
• Oil level gauge. My oil looks clear and is halfway between the two hashmarks. When cold, the oil pressure is at 4 bar on idle, when hot, it's just under 1 bar on idle. The oil level gauge is almost always in the red except when the car get hot, then it acts like it's having spasms. Replace? Repair?
• Quartz clock - it doesn't seem to run all the time? Am I missing something?
• Tachometer doesn't work, the place I bought it from says they will replace it, but it's been a few weeks. In case that doesn't happen, how good is Pelican Parts' rebuild program

Any other pointers are welcome! Thanks all.

Martin

[Mony]

Also just bought an 86 Carrera, subbed. Interested in the answers.
Show us the pictures!

[monkeyodeath]

I suppose you could change the mounts w/o the car being on stands, but I wouldn't subject myself to that kind of torture. Easy enough to jack it up and put some jackstands under the rear torsion bar mounts.

Check the connections behind the gauges, which are a bunch of fairly primitive spade connectors.

[Barrpete]

An oil cooler fan will make big difference. Particularly if you're running the AC. I installed the one Elephant Racing sells.
Elephant Racing | Oil Cooler Fans | Porsche 911

[ganun]

Oil cooler fan,>>> the oe fan switch is set at 245F ( fan on) which corresponds to the second hash mark, check fan function by jumping the blue and brown wires (small white plug)with a paper clip just in front of the spare tire. You should hear the relay click and fan running. A stock temp switch should prevent the temp from going over the second hash mark.
Pic shows location of switch, which could be swapped for one with a lower set point. I just did this but have yet to test it. I want to try and keep oil temp between 1st line and but below 9 o'clock.( Several smart folks on the forum have said that valve guide wear in 3.2 engines could be from running too hot. Makes sense to me!)



915>>>> Console is a bit of a pain, after removing the black plastic forward cover just remove the 3 screws( 1 per side and 1 near the e-brake) then lift over the shifter and just lay aside without disconnecting any wires. Check the rear coupler too under the inspection cover.

Oil level>>>Read gauge ONLY after car is at Operating Temp, Idling, Level ground. Never hurts to clean the spade connectors on the oil tank, behind RR wheel.

Clock >>> fuses on these cars are really flaky, replace them all with new ones and while at it, really clean the fuse holders, I used a Dremel with their tiny wire wheel.

Hope this gets you going

[kyngfish]

Hi.

Thanks a lot for the feedback. I'm fairly sure the 86 didn't come with the OE fan, so I think I'll pick up the elephant racing one and install. The oil level gauge is never steady. I'll check the connectors near the oil tank.

If the clock fuse was blown why does the clock work sometimes? Maybe as you say, it's the connectors or fuse holders.

[Jack Stands]

Excellent advice on the oil cooler fan - certainly won't hurt. Since you need to use the AC more in Miami than we do up north, the incoming air to the engine us already prewar end (both from the outside temps and the AC condenser).

Check your oil level wth the dipstick when warmed up, level, and idling. Then you will get some sort of feeling on what the guage is telling you.

Replacing the bushings will help, but remember that the 915 isn't the fastest shifting transmission out there! Treat it gently and you'll both be happier.

[darrin]

oil level gauge -- if it's simply jumping around when oil's properly filled, the sender likely needs to be replaced -- There are threads on the forum discussing how it can be repaired (it's basically a potentiometer/variable resistor that's triggered by a float in the oil tank), when mine failed the cost of the sending uint was low enough that I simply replaced. Be sure to pick up a gasket before removing/replacing as you'll destroy the gasket getting it off.

[kyngfish]

I understand, I'm definitely shifting slower than usual, but it WILL not go into second under hard acceleration, and I just can't believe that's how the tranny was designed to work.

[Porsche 2]

Do yourself a favor and replace the gear shift rod coupler with a Wevo PSJ (Precision Shift Joint)- bolt in coupler. Easy pezy and much better action.

[Porsche 2]

Our host carries them.

[ganun]

Yep, no fan up to 86, sorry.

[RedCoupe]

Originally Posted by kyngfish

I understand, I'm definitely shifting slower than usual, but it WILL not go into second under hard acceleration, and I just can't believe that's how the tranny was designed to work.

We have an 86 with a 915 and it shifts the very best at high revs when it's warmed up. I would treat your car to a transmission oil change. That will give you a chance to look for any debris on the drain plug. The gearbox pros on this forum like non-synthetic gear oil for the 915.

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by RedCoupe

We have an 86 with a 915 and it shifts the very best at high revs when it's warmed up. I would treat your car to a transmission oil change. That will give you a chance to look for any debris on the drain plug. The gearbox pros on this forum like non-synthetic gear oil for the 915.

Yeah. I just need to find out if the thing has LSD or not! Also isn't some debris expected in the drain plug?

[RedCoupe]

Originally Posted by kyngfish

Yeah. I just need to find out if the thing has LSD or not! Also isn't some debris expected in the drain plug?

I think a bit of tiny metallic particles isn't unexpected, particularly if you have no idea how long the gear oil has been in there. On the other, larger pieces such as bits of dog teeth should make your credit card start to smoke.