ed devinney

I'm glad this thread came back since I missed it the first time. I just checked my vacuum fitting and it's flat as a pancake. Time to call around and get a new part. Thanks for the tip!

InTheAir

Ed -

See the link in my post (#119) for a link to the part at Pelican Parts.

Chuck A.

FYI, I replaced mine with the new part a while ago and that is collapsed as well. I think the best fix is to put a big spring in there so that it allows airflow, but stops the rubber from deforming. The questions is where can I get a spring that has the same diameter as the part...

epj993

Ed, I'd suggest that if the piece is in good condition just to do the insert since a replacement will collapse again sometime in the future.

ed devinney

Chuck, Eric, you guys are flippin' geniuses. I'm working at home and a lightbulb went off - I'm a gun guy in addition to being a motorhead and I thought I had a spring that would work. So I took 10 minutes and went out to the barn. Took about 5 minutes to:

* pull the fitting
* grab a spare Bren machine gun recoil spring & check diameter
* cut off 3/4" or so with the dremel and pop it into the fitting, check flow
* refit the vacuum fitting, start and test.

I didn't drive the car but the fitting stayed fat and round with the engine at a variety of rpms. The spring coils show vaguely through the rubber fitting but it did not stretch the rubber too much at all.

So, in thanks for the knowledge I'll send an inch of Bren gun recoil spring to anyone who PMs & sends a padded SASE (it's too thick for a regular envelope or I'd just send them out). I've got another spring so should be able to lop off about 20 lengths. If you need any Bren parts you can let me know that, too :-)

Thanks all!

InTheAir

Ed, you've got the proverbial PM.

epj993

That's great, Ed. Yet another solution for the RL archives For those who don't have that type of spring, pick up a 1/4" copper union at your local hardware (OSH out here) and cut with a hacksaw to 5/16". Sand the edges smooth, apply a little dish soap and insert into the fitting. Be sure not to block either of the holes.

At .04 this was the best & cheapest DIY yet!

InTheAir

I'm gonna have to stop you on that one. The "best" DIY is the bumperplugs DIY. That was my first.

Chuck A.

See, another good reason why machine guns should be legal!! However in NJ, we're lucky if we can get a FID card without too much hassle....

ed devinney

Well, ya use the tools you have at hand - repair your Porsche with items commonly found about the home :-) .

OT, the Bren parts are for a semiauto build, while my local LE would sign off on a legal machine gun a full auto Bren costs about as much as a 993... But I grew up in NJ so even the idea that he'd sign is something!

Anybody else? I'm going to cut the one spring up tonight so they'll be ready to go.

Jack of Hearts

I'll bite Ed, thanks. Sending you a PM.

Robin 993DX

Just took a look tonight.....So I assume my varioram is not working either......



I assume the spring trick you guys are talking about looks something like this? Just cut the spring into length and insert it in there....

gonzilla

A big thanks to Ed for the newest solution to this annoying problem. I received the spring and installed it in the vacuum distributor. Hopefully this weekend the "new" piece will go in the car. Thanks again Ed!

Jeff96-993

I checked my brass fitting over the weekend, no problem, it was still in the right spot.

But based on the experience of others, I went ahead and pulled it out, scuffed it up, and re-installed with RTV, making sure not to cover the small holes with the tube or excess RTV.

I was pretty sure it was OK before, but now I'm really sure that it will stay in place.

BTW, the spring fix is very slick...

Robin 993DX

I do have a question regarding a workign varioram.

I remembered when my car was new whenever the RPM passed somewhere around 5500 RPM I could hear the varioram open up and there was a distinctive "vooom" sound.

For some reason now I really don't hear it at all. Even after the above fix....

I wonder if it has anything to do with the muffler noise overpowering the varioram sound.... or that my varioram is not working....

I can't remember the vario test to be exact.

Plug a vaccum line and then rev the RPM to 2500 maintain it for how long? And then shut the car off and turn the key back to on position again? And then the varioram valves should move....

I know it is listed in the shop manual somewhere....