Total newbie looking to sort together spare parts for 3.2 carrera

[PatrickS]

Hello All,
First time owning a 911, just starting out and would appreciate your suggestions on my gathering of basic items for spare parts and tools to keep in the car. Spares I think would be wise; belts, dme relay, fuses, shims, tools, oil.

For the v-belt, is there a noticeable quality or performance difference in Porsche branded vs the OEM Contitech? 999-192-176-5A
Same question (Conti vs Porsche) for the A/C belt? 999-192-254-50

Fan pulley wrench, I was considering getting the Pelican, though old posts here suggest it was junk and haven't found updated reviews? Fan Pulley Wrench PELTOLP209 - SIR Tools - PEL-TOL-P209 | Pelican Parts
(and keep some spare shim washers)

Since I'm lacking "5mm finger pressure" experience, I also picked up a Krikit belt gauge as an aid.

For a spare DME relay, the F9T seems to well received. Does the additional $20 pump-prime version make a more positive influence for the car or is there any negative side to it vs the standard besides cost? Focus 9 Technology, LLC

Spare fuse assortment, 5A, 8A, 16A, 25A

Torque wrench + metric sockets, modest set of additional tools

1-2 Quarts of spare engine oil

Compressor

Any other suggestions are very welcomed! Thanks in advance.

FWIW, I plan to preserve the original tool kit and instead only use replacement components.


Next up for the home garage will be oil, brake and transmission fluids, spare exterior bulbs, wiper blades, some better cleaning supplies, and for the longer storage times here a CTEK maintainer.

For references the Bentley manual and Dempsey book, and pelican forums. I will work up to things in steps, fix what I can and take to the shops for things beyond my grade. I'll begin with changing fluids and filters, with one of the goals being to learn to adjust the valves myself.

Thanks All!

[steely]

Hi Patrick,
Belated Welcome. I think you're off to a good start, I assembled a spare-part kit but confess that it has sort of grown over the years w/o my trying. Certainly a belt and DME relay with some tools for sure. I think I threw in some pliers and a couple of metric sockets, but I didn't go over board. I've had mine almost 10 years now, and frankly I haven't needed to do any emergency work, save for a belt change at my brother-in-laws house the day after I got the car.
(I've only needed to replace 1 fuse)

I can't comment on the belt or relay questions - but new is always better, and you'll find a ton of advice from past posts here as well.

I concur with the resources/references you have - the PET parts catalog is an awesome reference as well, I printed one out and put it in a binder, but truthfully I found I mostly use the soft pdf version and just print out the page I want when I need it. (avail free from PCA online). I have a Haynes but rarely use it.

I have tackled more jobs on my own as I developed confidence from smaller jobs. I also spent more than I expected during the first few years of ownership taking care of this and that, and now my routine maintenance costs are much more reasonable.

I've kept a log and receipts, but am still torn as to what to do with old parts I have replaced.

HTH

[JRSIII]

I keep a set of 3/8" drive and a set of 1/4" drive metric sockets in the car that I got from Lowes for $19.99 each. I'd suggest that while you need a torque wrench in your home tool kit, it probably isn't necessary to keep in the car since you should be able to get by tightening well enough to get home for any roadside repairs you might make. Otherwise maybe add a set of jumper cables.

[Luccia at Pelican Parts]

Welcome to the Pelican community, Patrick! Looks like you're on the right track for everything and yes, those books + our forum should be very helpful for you and your newly acquired 911. Don't forget to check out our free articles as well: Porsche 911 (1965-1989) Technical Articles - Pelican Parts. For the maintainer, we utilize this brand here: Porsche 911 - Battery Tenders specifically on all of our in house projects/vehicles. They have proven to work very well for our needs and its why we sell them in our catalog. Also, assuming you're storing the vehicle inside, maybe check out our GarageGuards here: Garage Guard Car Cover Material - Pelican Parts. If you have any questions or need any assistance with parts, forum stuff, etc. please do not hesitate to let me know. Enjoy your time here.

[PatrickS]

Thanks Everyone, I appreciate the suggestions and your encouragement.

steely, I hope to have as trouble-free experience as you've had. Its hard being a n00b and over-thinker to not to go overboard. A good motivator is to keep the weight down. We're planning some decent road trips, so I might be a little heightened currently on what to have. Trips on the east coast of the US, then back to MN. Another planned westward from MN to Jasper/Banff, down into western Montana and over to Oregon. With hopefully some minor maintenance and fluid changes along the way and make it back without much for mishaps would be amazing!

JRSIII, I almost forgot about the jumpers, good call! For 20yrs I torqued 30Nm, 16Nm, and 8Nm on a daily/weekly basis, adding up to a few thousand times overall; but I couldn't tell you where 130Nm "feels" like on the lug nuts if you tested me. So for the time being I'll keep a torque wrench for now until I get decide whats best.

Luccia, the articles your site provides are a wonderful resource, I've been checking them out for a while and bookmarking. I have old moving blankets laying around that I was going to use under the car cover. While I had seen the carbag the garage guard is new to me, thanks for pointing it out. I will investigate further, it might be a lot easier to deal with than multiple blankets. We find neighborhood kitty paw prints on our cars when we leave the garage door open for a long enough time during their rounds - hopefully they keep rodents and pests down in return for the provided climbing gym.

Eventually I might want to source a vintage luggage rack... at least to carry all these spares.

Thanks again Everyone, its great motivation!

[Mark Salvetti]

How about a tire plug kit? I'd rather do that than try to run on the old spare for any length of time. I've had good luck with the Dynaplug: Dynaplug Tubeless Tire Repair

For sockets, don't forget some hex bits. Maybe also a cheap voltmeter. Tire pressure gauge.

I carry a small scissor jack instead of relying on the Porsche jack. Fits in the front truck behind the bumper. You can get an adapter that slips into the jack ports on the rockers so you can use a non-factory jack, but my scissor jack will slip under the suspension and let me change a tire, so not needed.

Mark

[sugarwood]

Congrats!

You sound like you're trying to stock up for a nuclear war.
You do not need spare wipers. When you need new ones, go buy one.
You don't need to stock pile tranny and brake fluid.

You do not need spare shims unless you plan to skip your current ones down a river.
Got 6? Then you're good.

The dealer belt fits better. Read this:
Can't remove the alternator fan belt ....
Anyone else's fan belt keep getting loose?
Dealer alternator belt that is way too small/tight? (9.5 x 710)

Make a list of projects you want to tackle, and start building your tools set.
Tools are what you need. Not spare parts. Tools make or break this hobby.
You will learn this one way or another.

My valve adjust experience may help. I chickened out.
Do B&B headers block removal of valve covers?
Is there a "while you're in there" for an oil change? (Valve adjust? Gasket?)

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

My valve adjust experience may help. I chickened out.

Next time to get in there, SugarSportin'aWoody, I plan to really ladle on the peer pressure so you don't get Bobasourous Kontak's "Foghorn" award again!

[ChrisBennet]

The way I tension the belt:
If I turn the fan nut and it turns over the motor without pinching the fan belt, it's too tight.
If I turn the fan nut, "pinch the belt" and turns the motor, just right.

The fan Conti fan belts have been weirdly sized (10mm wide instead of 9.5mm) but have usually fit OK. I'm thinking the last one I got had me using the shims at one extreme in order to get it to fit. I can't remember if I had the pulley halves as narrow or as wide as they would go.

Remember, any "extra" shims *must* be used on the outside, under the big washer and nut. Otherwose, the nut may bottom out.

[steely]

Well now, after reading your post about your plans for trips involving real distances, then I would like to amend my comment a tad. I was thinking more along the lines of spares for daily driving as opposed to longer hauls when I answered above, but you got the basics here. I'd encourage you to check out what some of the folks here may have posted before they went on more real journeys, as I think that spares list will be longer.

Maybe a small extinguisher and definitely yes, something for the tires - I keep a kind of fix-a-flat.

[PatrickS]

Originally Posted by Mark Salvetti

I carry a small scissor jack instead of relying on the Porsche jack.

Thanks for the added bits, and I am considering the scissor vs standard as well. Do you use a hockey puck or similar for between the lift point and the jack?

On a different note, I think you were referring to that jack pad adapter our host sells 10-6641-030-M230, it would appear to have a precarious angle to the jack as the raised height increases?

Originally Posted by sugarwood

You sound like you're trying to stock up for a nuclear war.

You've seen our new President right?

Kidding aside... Those links are really helpful, thanks for posting your trials. PET shows the 999 192 176 50 9.5x710 – and will source that. I hear ya on having the right tools for the prioritized projects desired, my old man was an aircraft mechanic but unfortunately passed away when I was young so I missed out on his guidance. Fortunately I was able to have some of his tool before they were lost to me, I have an okay starting point. On squirreling fluids, its mainly if the ones I want are at a really good price. While at it I could pick up some extra spending money getting VR1 for those California guys, ha! Valvoline VR-1!!!! It will be back!!! The road trips will factor oil requirements. Btw, the wiper blades are getting close to the replacement point, getting the spare is just reminds me to change them out.

Originally Posted by Rawknees'Turbo

Next time to get in there, SugarSportin'aWoody, I plan to really ladle on the peer pressure so you don't get Bobasourous Kontak's "Foghorn" award again!

^^^ forum hog pile = forum tough love

Originally Posted by ChrisBennet

The way I tension the belt:
If I turn the fan nut and it turns over the motor without pinching the fan belt, it's too tight.
If I turn the fan nut, "pinch the belt" and turns the motor, just right.

The fan Conti fan belts have been weirdly sized (10mm wide instead of 9.5mm) but have usually fit OK. I'm thinking the last one I got had me using the shims at one extreme in order to get it to fit. I can't remember if I had the pulley halves as narrow or as wide as they would go.

Remember, any "extra" shims *must* be used on the outside, under the big washer and nut. Otherwose, the nut may bottom out.

The tips are appreciated. With further research, it appears that a proper working Conti belt “usually” just requires different shimming, but there is still a bit of hit/miss based on quite a few posts. I plan to source the Porsche/goodyear 9.5 X 710 and go from there.

Originally Posted by steely

Well now, after reading your post about your plans for trips involving real distances, then I would like to amend my comment a tad.

Your first recommendations were valid, glad you saw we’re stocking for nuclear winter. Thanks for the additional supplies tips for the fallout shelter.

[JRSIII]

What year is your car? Do you have the jack feet in front of the rear wheels and in back of the front wheels, or do you just have the square receiver tube in the chassis?

[PatrickS]

Originally Posted by JRSIII

What year is your car? Do you have the jack feet in front of the rear wheels and in back of the front wheels, or do you just have the square receiver tube in the chassis?

1984, square receiver tube

[JRSIII]

The jack pads you noted are very handy for jacking up the car using a hydraulic floor jack. There is a photo showing this on Page 17 of 101 Projects. Note that as with the factory jack that is inserted into the square tube, it will jack up the entire side of the car. You'll want to read up about safe jack stand points and always support the car with one when doing anything other than changing a tire. It takes a while to get used to the center of gravity on these cars. As for the angle, I've never had any problems with the pads, but wouldn't use them to jack the car up high enough for say an engine drop. They work well however for changing tires or jacking it up high enough to get it on jack stands.