ether_joe

What's up fellas. I'm a new 968 owner in the Sf Bay Area and I'm looking for some help.

I just purchased my beautiful 92 968 with 75K miles. It's an early production model, clutch-type limited-slip, #56 off the line, I am really diggin the car.

I have a small laundry list of routine maintenance (brake pads, power steering hose, sticky clutch needs adjusting, Variocam inspection, changing fluids). I am really interested in doing the work myself.

Here the catch -- I have a lot more computer experience than car experience.Rather than pay a mechanic to do the work for me and I get no experience, I thought maybe I could set up a deal with a local Pcar enthusiast.

I provide: compensation in whatever form desired (cash, beverages, tickets - I work for Ticketmaster - etc.)

You provide:
- tools until I amass enough of my own
- shop space
- your time and expertise

As I get more experience, my needs will get smaller and smaller. But for now I'll be asking a lot of questions. I'm sure in a year I'll be running my own shop, helping friends change their oil, and modding the hell out of my ride.

Anyhow, rather than pay a mechanic I thought I'd post here.

Thanks guys and happy motoring!

cas951

Where you located? I'm in Santa Clara and a few of us will be doing some wrenching for the next couple of weekends this month. Next weekend we'll may start doing a front eng reseal and possibly a K27/6 turbo swap depending on parts arrival. I'm not too familiar with Variocam but can help and guide you on the other items.

MyBlackCar

Congrats on the purchase. Did you get the white 92 968 that was $14K in SJ? That and a red one was on craigslist for the longest time.

luckett

I'll be doing my torsion bars and springs this weekend at Steve's (ckathens) place in SF. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you came by to work on your laundry list.

chris

ckathens

Yup you're welcome to come on over... Send me an email if you think you'll be coming, and i'll get you directions. ckathens (((AT))) yahoo.com . I live in the Parkside district near Lake Merced, off of 19th Ave.

Dmitry S.

Efren, call me up when you work on your car.

josephsc

Hey Sean, good to see you here!

The only way to learn is to start wrenching -- though watching other wrench is inspirational and can be a good experience. Start small (like fluid change and brakes) and work up!

BTW -- IIRC, he's in Alameda.

FRporscheman

I just got my 968 last month and I just finished servicing my variocam. You're welcome to use my special tools (I have the special wrench for the balance shaft sprocket, and the 6-speed flywheel lock). I live by City College. To check your variocam you just need a basic socket set and an allen key. Pop off the valve cover and look around. Anything look broken?

Most 968s out there need a basic variocam service - this'll take a couple weekends. Basically you'll need to buy new tensioner pads, maybe a new chain, and new gaskets for the cam cover and spark plug holes. You might as well also do a front engine seal job, since the cams need to come out, and if you're doing a seal job you better change your belts and waterpump, since they'll be off anyway. This can become expensive if you get carried away (or find problems). But don't just go and buy parts - they can be very expensive. Here's a list of the stuff someone else replaced when they serviced their variocam:

Originally posted by Hughett:

Balance shaft belt (polyrib) 944 102 219 04 $81.71
Camshaft drive timing belt 944 105 232 02 $74.14
Balance shaft tensioner Roller 944 102 025 07 $16.05
Balance Tension Roller 944-102-277-06 $19.62
Intermediate shaft O-ring 999 701 652 40 Two @ $1.97 ea
Timing belt roller 944 105 631 10 $57.21
Timing belt tensioner 944 105 172 03 $83.98
Camshaft belt tensioner roller 944 105 241 02 $27.98
Camshaft belt roller 944-105-241-04 (new number) $27.98
Camshaft oil seal #1 999 113 282 40 $15.17
Plastic camshaft seal #2 944 105 321 00 Three @ .42 ea (these are the small wafer thin gaskets, 3 needed)
Camshaft rubber oil seal #3 999 113 424 40 (30x48x7) $16.30
Camshaft rubber oil seal #4 999 113 425 40 (30x47x7) $14.85
Crankshaft seal 999 113 331 40 $10.77
Crank 0 ring 999-707-283-40 $1.91
Thermostat w/gasket 944-106-019-00 $5.10
Thermostat Thin gasket also needed 944-106-929-05 $1.07
Thermostat snap ring (Circlip) 900 042 025 01 $1.10
Thermostat O-Ring 951 106 155 00 $5.10 (Note: this is often pressed into new/rebuilt water pumps for cam tensioner
Copper oil supply tube seal rings 900-123-050-30 Two @ .32 ea.
Cam chain 944-105-501-05 $22.52
Cam chain tensioner pads/guides 944-105-509-00 Two @ $19.45 ea. (these are two "uppers" that apparently are used both top and bottom by most people since the lower pad with a different number are sold only with the complete cam chain tensioner unit)
Woodruff key for balance shafts n-012-708-2 Two @ .31 ea
Woodruff key for crank shaft 900-117-036-00 .51
Bolt hex head 900-075-043-02 (M10x30) Two @ .51 ea
Bolt hex head N 010 445 2 (M10x45) .60
Locking nut 900 910 034 02 (M 10) $1.66
Washers N-011-527-12 (A 10, 5) Two @ .13 ea
Water Heater control valve 928-574-573-03 $46.42
Valve/Cam Cover rubber grommets for bolts Thirteen @ .93 each
999 707 283 40 O-ring $1.91
999 707 875 40 O-ring $1.12
999 707 078 40 O-ring $1.12
928 144 443 08 Tower Plug Gaskets Four @ $1.85 each
Valve Cover or Cam Tower Gasket $12.72
Porsche Remanufactured Waterpump Kit w/thermostat and bolts $174.87
928 106-921 XX Waterpump gasket $16.67

Welcome, and feel free to ask for info or help!

ether_joe

I was really close to purchasng that one, it was a 95 and in beautiful condition.

When I had the PPI done, it revealed that the car needed the pinion bearing fix. While renegotiating the price based on the cost of repairs, another party jumped in and bought the car. I assume they didn't know or didn't care about the pinion bearing issue. (It was really loud though).

That car really is beautiful. Mine is in similar condition, 20K miles less, early production run and I got a great price, so I think it worked out in the end.

ether_joe

thanks guys for the responses, what a great community!

I am indeed in Alameda.

ckathens, I'll shoot you an email. And Arash, we'll have to get together also. We're both also going to be swimming with the Sharks on 3/5 I believe.

ether_joe

kewl. I was planning on purchasing one of the heavy duty cam chains from RS Barn when I did this. I'll give you a holler.

cas951

Dmitry,

We're planning for next weekend. Did you have a flywheel lock? I need to borrow that from you and your long breaker bar. I'll need it for the crank bolt. Jim ordered the K27/6 yesterday and should be here on Wed next week. We're also doing some light work tomorrow at my place. Come by if you can.

Ef

ckathens

Arash, you're welcome to come on over on Saturday too... Send me an email (same email address above) and i'll send you my address.

I'll be doing a quick Partsheaven run in the morning as soon as everyone shows up so if you're interested in coming to that, lemme know..

Dmitry S.

Efren-

I have to work at Devek this saturday morning, so I'll pick up my tools then. I'll probably just work on adjusting my headlights at your place. The bodyshop was lazy, and now they go up, but won't go down. It's unlikely that the 83 n/a will be running (Engine is out right now), but if it is, I might bring that.

Andial951

Steve,

Would it be ok if I came over as well? I'm still diagnosing my brake issue and just cant figure it out. Could use some assistance on that. Plus I have an overboost issue.........might be fixed once I install the MBC.