Please walk me through door panel removal. Popped window spring
 

I think my window spring pivot pin retainer thingy popped (a while ago), and I can hear it rattling in the door.

I have read that removal of the regulator is a real PITA, so I might leave it alone. The window seems to work just fine, so I am not overly concerned.
But, I would like to remove the broken pivot pin.

I also recall there being two styles of retaining nut (notch alignment?), so maybe as a first step I will open the door and at least see what part I can order. Do I need to remove the regulator to see the pivot pin style?

I guess I will try to follow this guide to remove the door panel, but I hate directions with no photos. Any general tips or advice on this process?
Porsche 911 Door Panel Removal | 911 (1965-89) - 930 Turbo (1975-89) | Pelican Parts DIY Maintenance Article

Anything worth doing while I have the door panel off?

The Bentley manual gives an excellent writeup with photos for door panel removal. It's really not too bad, just a lot of little screws to remove. Be sure and disconnect the battery while doing this, and label the wires to the window switches before removing the switch. There are five wires in a tight area and if you don't disconnect the battery they'll short out and blow a fuse. Once you have the panel removed, you can reconnect the switch and reconnect the battery if you need to raise or lower the window.

You can also simply remove the speaker on that door and fish around with your hand or a magnet. I did this a couple of weeks ago.

-replace moisture barrier
-lube door latch mechanism
-replace window switch retainers with stainless versions

Before hitting step 7 of the procedure you referred to, make sure you have a hex key that can properly reach and turn the two bolts that are hidden under the door pull, as it's kind of a bad angle (it was a giant PITA on mine).

Also, if the window is going up and down, it's probably NOT the pivot pin, but more likely a spring retaining pin, which seems to be guaranteed to break sooner or later. A search for "window regulator" will show some pretty clever jury-rig fixes for this.

Once you start this process you'll realize you don't need a manual or anything. It's really simple. I tore down both doors a few weeks ago. Absurdly easy and obvious.

LOL, nothing about fixing cars is absurdly easy and obvious (to me)...
Once I fish out the part, I will post a photo.

Sug.... some pics... that may or may not assist. From '80 but your '86 is probably close to this config.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1466870192.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1466870346.jpg

I did this a month or two ago and used the Bentley manual. But like Puma writes, you don't have to have the manual to figure it out (helps, tho). It's enough of a PITA that I wouldn't do it just to remove the broken spring pin if everything is working. My window motor had burned out and the plastic ball socket joint thingee for my central lock mechanism had broken, too, so I killed 3 birds at once and fixed them all at the same time. Not hard, but enough of a PITA toake me motwant to do it for a small rattle.

My spring pin (not the pivot pin in the center) had snapped off. There is no replacement part for that (unlike the center pivot). So I used a small carriage bolt/nuts and red Locktite to shade tree a repair. You can buy a central pivot to replace the broken one, but will have to spot weld it into place on the regulator (which has to be removed to do the job). But if the center pivot was broken, your window likely wouldn't be working.

This...

Never understood why Porsche used soft pot metal and then swaged it in place for something that sees as much force as it does.

I had the same failure mode and repair method - ton of info here you can search for, or buy the Bentley.

Don't need to remove the regulator to retrieve the part, but you will if you want to fix it.