The Stig

The clutch on my car is ready for the scrapheap (173,000 kms, not bad). Sadly my wife/CFO(Chief Frustration Officer)/boss doesn't think a clutch job and all the other "while-you're-in-there" stuff is in this year's budget.

So I have to park the car. I can't drive the car until I get the 2013 964 Budget approved and earmark funds for the clutch. This got me thinking, what free or virtually free or really cheap DIYs can I carry out in the mean-time? This will allow me quality time with the mistress and time away from the wife.

Shall we create a little repository of stuff-you-can-do-on-a-budget? No parts greater than $100.

I'll start off (in no particular order) and continue to maintain the list as responses come in.

1. Clean headlights
2. Replace exterior rubber trim (shark fin, door sill, around frunk, tailights, headlights, along cowl/A-Pillar base)
3. Clay, polish, wax/seal anything and everything
4. Cup car floorboards
5. Clean ISV
6. Clean fan
7. Brake bleed
8. Replace brake pads
9. Replace fuel filter
10. Replace ignition coils
11. Clutch Master Cylinder
12. Clutch Slave Cylinder

xeps

Random thoughts:

Distributor parts are pretty cheap, and worth doing if its been a while. The dizzy belt is also a fairly involved but inexpensive job.

While you are cleaning the ISV, might be a good idea to pop the intake manifold off and clean it out as well.

Power steering fluid could probably use a refresh.

As good a time as any to at least visually inspect the oil lines, such as the ones leading to the front cooler.

Pedal cluster... cheap bushings and clutch roll pin that can be replaced.

Remove / replace that damn falling engine bay sound deadening

Refresh the rear lights with some inexpensive red vinyl.

xeps

Shift linkage bushings also. Cheap. Mine looked like well chewed bubblegum after 20 years...

RSAErick

Hilarious!

Ok, how about changing the transmission fluid...

HalV

Fan/Accessory belts
Oil change
RS Short Shift kit (probably a little over $100)
Forza to practice driving, while it's parked

boxsey911

or change the wife?

Ghengis

How about cleaning up those wheel arches.
Removing arch liners and cleaning and protecting behind with a wax.
Paint brake hubs & calipers
Rear spoiler bearing.
Cavity waxing anywhere you can get it.
Repaint or replace all those little black screws that hold the interior trim in place.
Replace or refurbish the bumper/fender support brackets.

Lots to be getting on with then.

Babalouie

I don't think that counts as a "cheapo DIY"...well not the first part anyway

The Stig

Wives as with 964s - it's cheaper to keep 'em.

Great responses so far. I'll update the list shortly.

Sultan

Changing the wife would cost more then stripping the 964 and building a Singer version.......

So are you seriously out of commission for the rest of the year Cliff??!!

mb911

why not get the clutch religned. that is pretty cheap probably about $100 bucks and last you a while until you can afford the other things or are you looking at this as an opertunity?

The Stig

Ben, I've never heard of a clutch re-alignment.

With 173,000 kms on the original clutch, am I just throwing good money after bad? I've got a mate that is very handy with Porsche engines (torn apart and rebuilt many 2.2L and 2.4L flat sixes) who's offered to get stuck in and replace it. I'm afraid I'll be out of my depth. I have visions of it being a massively complex job.

mb911

What they do is take your disc and put new material on it so they call it religning much like religning brake shoes of the days. or sometimes it is just called "rebuilding" you should eb able to search and find a shop to do this though it will not be a porsche shop more then likely someone who deals with heavy equipment or your local parts store may offer the store. I personally have not had it done but know of the service locally and it is very cost effective and should last you years to come.