Just wondering:
How do I determine if the clutch in my 86 911 is still good?
I've only put a few thousand miles on it, and haven't driven it very hard since I've owned it. I really don't know how old the clutch is. I have noticed though that the two times that I've goosed it off the line I smell the faint distinct scent of cluch material, and the tires don't spin.
Otherwise the car has awesome performance, (including 1st gear) and I have no complaints with its shifting or otherwise.
Maybe its just normal and is OK?

 

Go up a hill, shift from 2nd to 4th and gas it. You will know when the clutch slips.

 

Alan is right,......when you do that test, observe whether the RPM rises faster than the speed increases,....thats the tell-tale that its time for a new one.

 

Mine is fine then.
I guess it just hooks really well in first.
I never drive it that way anyhow.
Does anyone know the option code for limited slip diff? I'm not sure if my car has it. I wouldn't mind interpreting my codes.
Thanks.

 

It does really hook-up off the line if you dump the clutch due to the excellent traction with the rear engine. Its precisely for this reason that I tell people not to dump the clutch on a 911, unless they like replacing transmissions- its quite a shock to the running gear vs. dumping the clutch on a 5.0 mustang that has a light rear end. In fact, in 14 years of having a 911, I only dumped the clutch once in my first 911 and that was in the rain- the shudder of the wheels hooking up made me never do that again!

Have fun with the car & happy holidays!
Andrew

 

Thanks Andrew,

I have owned Seven 5.0's:
(An 86GT Conv, 86GT, 87 LX, 88 LX, 88 LX, 87 GT, 91 GT, 5.0's) so I am very familiar with just how different the handling is. Thanks for pointing out that I shouldn't expect similar characteristics off the line.

Regards,

Drew

 

Drew:

Lift the rear end of the car so the rear wheels are off the ground. With the tranny in neutral, rotate one rear wheel and observe which direction the opposite wheel is turning.

If they rotate in opposite directions, you have an open differential,....if they rotate the same way, you have an LSD.

 

Another way to test the clutch is to start from a dead stop in 2nd gear. As said before, if the RPM's rise faster then the speedo then you have a problem. But it sounds like your baby past the "2nd to 4th gear on a hill test" so it sounds like your 911 is doing just fine. Best wishes - Jay

 

AHEDAU- not to get off topic, but I have a 1978 VW convertible (I just changed my avatar to show both the 964 & VW). My brother in law just got a MINT 1993 GT convertible from his cousin. All stock, with I believe 36K miles- only problem is it's an automatic not a 5-speed. But he got it for a good price from his cousin who wanted him to have it as a weekend toy

 

GOOOOD COUSIN!

 

Well he did have to buy it from him, but at a great price! Great fun...if I only had enough money and garage space I'd have a 1990-1993 5.0GT mustang, a 1960's Cobra Mustang, a Hemi (any of the Hemi cars), a 355 Ferrari Spider, a 550 marinello, a 1990-1999 500SL Benz, of couse a Twin Turbo 3.6 911 turbo, ....sorry once again I'm off topic. It is Christmas time....any Santa's out there