Will I have trouble passing inspection?

[shrouded]

I think I am going to go ahead and try out a little Solo2 with my '82 SC. I am interested in other 911 owner's experiences with passing tech inspection. The car runs well, but does lose (as so many do) a little oil right now. It doesn't lose enough to cause mechanical issues, but it is enough to leave a small drip-spot on the driveway. Will this be noticeable? Should I wipe down my undercarraige a bit before I go? Wait to autocross until I can address the drips (at least one of which will require an engine drop)?

[Dantilla]

It's normal for the bottom of the engine to be wet. If there is dripping in the short amount of time the car sits waiting for tech, you may have a problem. Most tech guys are nice. They are not looking to disqualify people, they just want a safe event. They may point it out to you, ask you to look into it before the next event, then let you run.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Just get out there and run. One drop overnight isn't nearly enough to fail tech with PCA (they know that most aircooled cars leak a little!), nor with anywhere I've heard of so far...

With a 911 the battery is held pretty securely by the shape of the recess it sits in, but you should make sure you have a hold-down of some kind keeping it in there securely. You should also check your front wheel bearings to see if they need tightening. We grab the tops of the front wheels and push in and pull out. A little "click-click" is OK, a large "clunk-clunk" is not.

Make sure you've got a good return on the gas pedal--it's worth inspecting the return spring on the throttle body. Look for anything that might jam the throttle open. Make sure the steering is reasonably tight, not real loose and wobbly. Make sure the brake pedal has reasonable feel. Make sure you've got some brake pad and tire tread left.

Check the oil level, make sure you've got enough gas to get you there and run around and get back again.

All of this falls under "the car should be in this shape if you're driving it anyway". The biggest thing that doesn't fall under that category: Take all the excess "stuff" out. Anything that isn't securely held down, and that isn't in a compartment that positively locks or latches closed, should come out of the car. It's easiest to take everything out at home, then put back in the stuff you're gonna take with you to the autoX. (Any tools you'll need, spare tire, cooler, etc.) That way, you don't have to spend 20 minutes frantically dumping stuff out into the parking lot before you can run.

--DD

[aigel]

This is autocross? You won't have a problem. You wouldn't around here. If it were Time Trial tech, you could be in trouble if it is excessive. At our Time Trial tech, the car goes on a lift and I know people that did not pass due to big oil leaks.

Hope this helps, George

[banjomike]

I do tech inspections at our local PCA autoXs and the most common thing I see is a battery that isn't secure. There is a bracket that bolts into a threaded hole in front of your battery. The braket is like $10 here at PP.

Other than that they ought to look for lots of slop in the front wheel bearings, check that the brake pedal doesn't go to the floor, that the throttle pedal returns, there isn't any cord showing on the tires. In other words if you car is safe to drive to the AutoX it will probably pass!