Damian suggested I put a thread here, since this doesn't overlap as much as I expected with the 924/944/968 forum, so here's the 1992 968 that I picked up yesterday:



I had initially thought I would like it as a road car, and would keep my 951 (basically a track-only car) to do track duty, but depending on how it seems mechanically, I may try to finally make the dual-use vehicle I have been imagining for a few years.



Here's what I understand from the PO (I'll verify next week when I finally get it up on the lift):

• New clutch
• New belts last year
• New motor mounts
• New rollers and water pump five years ago
• New cam chain tensioner pads (and chain?) when the PO got it five years ago
• Fresh brakes
• LSD
• Good ride, though a little soft for what I'm used to
• Seems generally healthy, though I'll do a compression test next week before pulling the valve cover to check those tensioner pads

Some additional notes:

• The brake pedal is a lot softer and goes deeper than my 951, which could just be more vac assist, but I'm going to bleed the brakes and see.
• The clutch (new stock Sachs) requires almost zero effort, but seems to hold fine.
• It sounds a little agricultural when you turn it over. It might just be the starter, but I'm not sure.
• There is no noise at all from the driveline (Ernie warned me about the pinion problems, but I don't hear anything unheathy).
• The lower slats of the front bumper cover are drooping (presumed accident damage). I will likely prep everything for a repaint this winter, but will I be able to correct their shape, or should I be looking for a replacement cover?
• Instead of the rubber seal between the body and the plastic rocker covers, someone has sealed that gap with caulk. That it is an impressively well done hack repair is one thing, but I would like to correct it to OE-spec when I do the paint. Is there a link to a thread on the various 968-specific body rubber seals?
• The graphics are all coming off, ASAP.
• I suspect that either the cam timing is off, that the timing belt is off a tooth, or both, since it idles well but feels a little dead between 3,000-5,000RPM, and shakes the car a fair amount at idle as though the balance shafts may be a little off.
• I keep shifting from 2nd to 5th, skipping 3rd.

 

Jealous! Nice looking ride

 

starter on my car just kept getting worse and worse, sounding more and more terrible before finally replacing it.

new one (oem) sounds fantastic.


motor mounts last about 10 thousand miles before they're well shaken.

from there, the situation worsens and you end up with a rather angry vibrating thing.


so, the car feels a bit lifeless until the variocam comes on (especially around 3000 rpm).

true that. situation fully normal.


love the color. badge will never be a favorite, but it's not as bad as seeing a huge TURBO logo draped over the fenders of the old 944T's.

don't know if a respray is desirable. the paint looks great.

 

If you pm Jeff968 here with your VIN he's in possession of all the original exterior/interior color and options list for the build of your car.

 

Looks good, lots better than mine. I thought the vario cam cam in at 1500-5500? After getting mine running first thing I'll do is check the tension pads. Have fun.

 

The six speed shifting has a very different feel compared to the 944 transmissions. I put in all new linkage, plus a few custom tweaks to the system. This made it a lot better, but it feels nothing like the positive feel of the 944 linkage.
I think you're right about the timing. They are difficult to setup correctly and your car has had some top end work done on it. It could be that the chain is off by a tooth (lots of work), or a simple adjustment at the cam sprocket could fix this. If your compression turns out to be low (it should be around 200psi) this could be the cause.
The nose slat droop is an easy fix. Does your car have the original plastic grill piece? The slats are supported by the grill.

 

Thanks, I'll take a look at the timing. I don't think it has the plastic support piece. Does anyone have a link to the parts diagram?

 

Sorry to seem like such a newb, but could someone PM me links to the WSM and PET for a 968?

 

Much to my consternation access to the WSM is unavail. I had to buy a CD copy off ebay. Roger at 928srus can get the PET info, yes also for the 968. He is sourcing all my resto parts at very good prices.

 

Welcome & congrats Charlie,you got a PM.

 

I found a copy of the WSM and Parts Katalog online the other day...PM me if you're in need.

 

http://www.porsche.com/all/media/pdf...SA_KATALOG.pdf

 

Okay, I have some new reading material -- thanks to all who replied.

I took the car for a longer drive today to deliver some things to the farm and on the way home with the windows up, I noticed that the fuel pump seems a little loud.

I'm also in the market for a full AC system (I'll need everything, including hoses) and a nice coolant expansion tank if anyone has something kicking around.

 

+1 your the man!

 

Congrats, looks like a good example.