Greetings All

[skystryd]

Just 'moved' over from the 944 list. Traded it for a 67 912. Worked my way thru several MG's. Intentions are to do the same with the 912.
Years ago worked/played with VW's. Hoping to find similar situations with the 912, by that I mean ease of work -simpler, fun.
Starting off with (I think) timing/plug/points problems. PO did his "first ever" tune up on the car.. and it runs terrible. Pulled plugs- #1 had no gap at all and looked smashed. Voltage req has a brown wire just hanging down, not connected. I see an open slot so..........
Basic Q's. Is the car a basic 1600 VW? will that and/or other Bug type engines work?
Speedo looks like its working in k's instead of MPH. magic switch hidden anywhere?
Thanks in advance.. out to garage time.
Chuck
N. TX

[dimps8]

smashed spark plug electrode? sounds like a big bore kit with the wrong spark plugs???

[Morrie]

Engine is a Porscher Boxer horizantally oppiosed 4 cylinder with dual carbs. A bug type 1 engine is a drop in replacement (pretty much) so its possible you have one in there....

Speedo is mechanical, tach is electronic. Engine is a derivitive of the 356 speedster motor... an evolved big brother.

Join the 912 Registry (http://www.912registry.org) its a good place to start.

Welcome to the 912 party

Morrie
67 912 Coupe

[skystryd]

Thanks for the heads up on the 912 reg. tons of good info within.
The smashed plug? I think it went in that way. Perhaps a hammer gap adjustment?
Honey do's took up my time today and now its back to work -ratz, should be rich. work really gets in the way at times.
Will try to find a few hours to check points and timing.. any tricks to it? Or straight forward follow the book and numbers given.?
While I will hope the engine checks OK.. not holding my breath.
Push comes to shove I'll look for something basic (VW?) to use while I have fun upgrading the 912 unit. I know the pure at heart may not smile at the idea.. been there before. I have a 3.8 V6 in my MGB.. pure? nope.. runs good or better? yep.
later,
Chuck
the colony, tx

[bemumford]

Glad to see another MGB owner crossed over. If you still have an MGB (I do), it's a trick to switch between the two. Pedal placement and (of course) gearshift operation are so totally different. I can't say which I prefer. The MG is perhaps more fun in town, but the 912 is a much better highway ride. Mine is a 67 soft window Targa and, even with the top and rear window down, it's much more civilized at speed than the MG.

One big difference between MG's and 912's is that there's comparatively little mechanical literature for the 912 that's affordable. There's no Bentley reproduction of the factory repair manual available for $45 as there is for the MG. Porsche factory manuals are expensive.

Earlier posts mentioned the California 912 websites as good resources. Also, be sure to check Dave Hillman's 912 website at www.hillmanimages.com/912. Dave has done a splendid job of documenting a lot of 912 repair operations, and his photo illustrations are extremely helpful.

[skystryd]

Well.. cross or expand? Still have the B 65 buick v6 T5, 71 midget and two more Mg types on the way.. and yes my wife has mentioned something about space, or lack of, in the garage.
I found two books on the 912, slightly different contents..should help for the more basic needs.
Very much so on the number of books available for the MG's.
Looking forward to 'messing' with the 912. Looks simple nuff for even me to work with.
Still have not had time to check gap and timing. Night shifts are OK..however makes for a tired puppy when trying to do things during the days.
later,
chuck
n tx

[tronman]

I'm also in the Dallas area...live out on I20 between Balch Springs and Terrell...we need to get together...I'd like to check out your ride. My little 69 is down for the winter...getting new carpet and rust proofing the floor pan. I'm sure if there are any irregularities in the engine bay we can compare the two and figure out what is what...I also have a great Porsche engine shop manual(I think you could build an engine from a block of metal with that thing...every stinkin' measurement you'd ever want). Good luck with the car!!

[skystryd]

I am stuck on night shifts for a couple months.. off during the week. That might make it difficult for a weekend meet.
Might have a weekend off 2nd week of Dec. Whats your sked look like?
Having that manual is a plus for sure.. now how do I match my skills or improve them in order to use the manual?
chuck

[tronman]

Yeah, work sucks all around...one of these days I'm going to buy a lottery ticket so I can retire and play with cars!! 2nd weekend in Dec. ought to be fine for a get together. I'll bring the manual in and have it copied for you...like I say alot of the stuff is super indepth(way over my head...but then I don't plan on ever trying to do an align bore myself...thats what the Maestro is there for) but it gives great detail on dissassembly and reassembly...I believe its an actual Porsche shop manual(anybody ever seen these thing? Big maroon binder with all the pages in celluloid sleeves?)

[Morrie]

If mine was a little more reliable, I'd make the trip up from Austin to see you guys! I still have NEVER heard another 912 run other than mine!!

Morrie
67 912
Austin, TX

[Franco912]

Good move from the 944 if you ask me! Did the same myself. That thing was just a pin-in-the-butt from the start to work on. Imagine doing a clutch by taking half the car apart? I'd rather drop the 912 motor and rebuild it at the same time. Anyway, the 912 is much cooler and is much more fun to drive. Welcome.

Regards,

Frank

[Jones Low]

Welcome to the 912 world, Chuck.

You will find your VW background will transfer very nicely over to the 912. Oil changes, valve adjustments, tune-ups (plugs, points, condenser, rotor, cap) all look so familiar if you were rised on VW's (1960-70). Differences are oil filter, 4 carbs to adjust, and parts are more expensive, but luckly don't need to replace often. My take on the 912 is once you get the gremlins out, it's a very cool car to drive with the up keep of a VW bug. I just love it.

Jones Low
69-912
00-Box

[skystryd]

4 computers at home, dsl, wireless net'ed.. still if one screws up I can manage to screw the lot of them by the time I figure out the orignal problem. so.. been off line a couple days..
So maybe come on up from Austin anyway?
Or maybe we could do a working weekend meet thing.
The MG group has done this a couple times. Trade off.. pick one car.. bring a part or three that the auto needs.. work it during the weekend. auto owner provides food and sleeping bag room (if nothing else available-)
there are at least the three of us with in , what, 2-3 hours of each other? seems we should be able to help each other improve our 'toys'. all need to do is work out details..
ideas..comments?
chuck
the colony, tx

[Morrie]

I'm in... if nothing else, I can come up in the Stang some weekend- need to get a hitch on it so I can pull the 912 on a trailer.

e-mail me and we'll set something up.

morrie_larson@hotmail.com

Morrie
67 912 Coupe

[h.beard]

Morrie,
Where's your sense of adventure? Trucked my car in from CA.
Arrived 07/23/01. Got a little tuning done and checked brakes, tires, wheel bearings,etc. The first week of Sept 01 drove from Baltimore, MD to Watkins Glen, NY (275 miles) to the races. Had A great time. What a GREAT CAR - even though it was running it's best yet.
I figured if it had to arrive in Baltimore a second time by truck or trailer - so be it. A 2-3 hour trip, piece of cake. Haven't decided yet, but I might attempt a coast to coast to the 2nd Annual West Coast Rendezvous. You only live once - dammit. Drive that female dog up there - if you know what I mean.
Howard.

[Big D]

Howard, You want adventure. I flew to San Fran to pick up a 66 I bought on Ebay sight unseen. Drove without tools or spare back to Texas 1800 miles. 30mpg, one quart every 300, loved every minute. DG

[h.beard]

Morrie,
I stand corrected. Bought my from CA unseen also, but had it
shipped. You da man!!!!
Howard

[bmwloco]

I bought mine, sight unseen, while working in Antarctica. After 7 months on Ice, I flew into Okalhoma in late Februiary 1997.

My car, a very tidy 1967 Targa was ready to go. I drove it to Alabama, then home. It wasn't without a little drama (the starter selonoid went south), but all in all it was a great trip. Sure, I had to bump start it from time to time, but so what?

It was NOTHING compared to the rust bucket Karmann Ghia Convertible I bought in Council Bluffs, IA. I drove that one home too - no pans, no windshield wipers, one headlight. Now that was an adventure, but I made it home, no problem.

[Alan.UK]

I bought my first posrche sight unseen from Oakland CA and then had it shipped all the way to England. The first time a I saw it and drove it was when I picked it up from the docks in England.

Risky ??? but the car was great. I have since done this with a 69 912, a 71 911 E and two VW split camper vans....


Alan.UK