Pistol Pete

Ok, I'm doing the cap, rotor, and wires on my 87 N/A. Got the old cap off, new rotor on, and I'm ready to put on my new cap. They go on with these L-shaped fasteners with screw-heads. They are also spring loaded, so the head fits into the cap. It's very difficult to describe and picture, so if you've done one and know what I'm talking about, your opinion is very valuable. How do I get the spring loader to set and the cap to stay on? I've been at this for close to an hour now and its very frustrating. I didn't think I'd be defeated by a simple fastener...

The DareDevil

hehehe

Just push in and turn in 1/4 increments. Once it catches, the L-shaped fastener won't pop out.

Calmchaos

I really hate that thing.....

robert944h

Yep, they can be a pain in the ****! Just like DareDevil said 1/4 increment turns. I use a pretty long screw driver which makes it a little easier

sillbeer

yes...spring loaded fasteners FTL....:thumbsdown: Why couldnt Porsche have used bolts like everyone else!!!

boxdoc2

Marking them has been the easiest for me. Here's where I learned the trick! www.clarks-garage.com

Installing the Distributor Cap

Holding the distributor cap in the orientation that it is normally installed (i.e. one locking screw on top, one on bottom).
Turn the screws until the 90° tips are pointed to the left (looking at the front of the cap).
Using paint or fingernail polish, paint the left half of the screw head (side closest to the tip of the screw).
Install the distributor cap. The screw tips should slide easily into the elongated holes in the housing with the cap centered over the rotor.
Using a flat tip screwdriver, turn the bottom locking screw 270° counter-clockwise. The painted half of the screw head will be point up or toward the center of the cap.
Turn the top locking screw 90° counter-clockwise. The painted half of the screw will be pointed down or toward the center of the cap.
Connect the spark plug wires to the distributor cap.

StoogeMoe

How timely. I was just putting on my rotor today and was getting frustrated using a screwdriver. The problem is the bottom fastener. It's hard to push and turn and the same time because there's no room.

So I decided to try something different. I got my 1/4 ratchet, a deep socket 8mm, and a screw driver bit that fits in the 8mm socket. I could easily push the ratchet while turning the handle. Problem solved. I had that bottom fastener on in 5 seconds. Never again will I use a screwdriver.

__________________________________________
1986 944 NA Guards Red all original 91K mi. - minty
1983 944 NA Platinum Metallic w/LSD 6000 mi. beginning a new life
1985 944 NA Guards Red w/LSD (donor car)
1984 911 Carrera Coupe (gone, but not forgotten)
"If you're not living on the edge, you're not living."

Pistol Pete

Thanks a bunch guys, I finally got it. Paragon's tech section has some good pictures and a decent explanation. Now, however, I got it all put together and I'm having more problems. I started it up and it made a funny, "uneven" kind of sound so I shut it off immediately. Upon checking my connections and trying to start it again, no luck. It just turns over and doesn't fire.

Calmchaos

do you have the plugs on correctly?
4-2-1-3 from top left to bottom left clockwise.

Pistol Pete

yes, plugs are in correctly. Do the other ends of the plugs corrspond to the numbers on the head, as in 1-3-4-2 from left to right?

Calmchaos

1-3-4-2 is the firing order. Not the order of the pistons? Im not quite sure what you are asking.

tyro

read this. Cylinder 1 is at the front of the car..then two..then three..etc

https://rennlist.com/forums/showpost...28&postcount=2

Pistol Pete

thank you, its up and running. It popped off quicker than it ever has for me.

UncleMaz

I am embarrased to say, but those spring screws were the beginning of the end of me even thinking I could fix my own blown headgasket.

shiners780

FWIW/Future reference, a 24" long flat head screwdriver makes easy work of that bottom lock screw on the dist. cap., and the Clarks Garage tutorial works perfect.

Clarks Garage + Rennlist =