[Big Ed]

It's been 2 years since I bought the first Porsche, during which time I've been studying the boards and trying to learn more about the cars. I've paid some serious dollars to very capable wrenches to keep my habit in tune.

End of last year, before putting the cars into storage, I noted that the alternator on my 930 was getting noisy. Mental note to address that come spring. Having had all winter to gather my courage, I decided I was ready and ordered the new alternator to install myself (already armed with the Bentley manual and 101 Projects).

This past Wednesday was fairly warm (48 degrees, warm for MA in March). so I played hooky in the afternoon to do it. Intercooler off...check. AC belt off...check. Alternator pulley...DAMN, what's the deal here? After much effort, got that off and worked my way down the process.

Got stuck for a while at getting alternator out of the fan housing, getting PO'd, took a break and did a search on Pelican. John Walker's advice was spot on, just like I'd heard on these boards so often...JW is the MAN!

Putting it all back together, that fan is giving me grief again. Something just doesn't seem right. Refer to "other" 911 in the driveway, and there you go, looks like the fan and outer pulley are toast. Battlefield decision, the targa is giving up her parts for her big sister. Got it all back together and good to go! YAY!

I realize that this isn't a huge project, it's not a motor rebuild for god's sake, but it felt big to me. Thanks to all on this board without whom I'd never had the courage to take on anything larger than an oil change in my fun ride!

BTW, project 2, done today, was replacing the turn signal/dimmer switch that went bad. Piece o' cake. Feeling more comfortable workling on the car more & more....

Had a fine ride today with the top down too. Good for the soul after a long, cold, New England winter.