IXLR8

I replaced the lot during the spring of 2011...when my 993 was 16 years old. All items were still original at a relatively low 45K miles.

The lower ignition wires has small cracks in them. Not an issue in my case; I just wanted the whole system refreshed so that I am good for another 16 years.

Shop around for the cap and rotor prices. There was quite the difference between AutohausAZ and Pelican Parts at the time. The ignition leads can be had for about $155 since all you need to do is replace the leads (I made my own); the rubber end caps are usually fine.

The dual distributor belt and pin for the gear are well under $15.

96PCarrera993mg

Thanks Alex! What was the condition of the distributor belt like at 45K miles?

IXLR8

My belt was fine, but our ambient temperatures very rarely go much above 90 in the summer, so my engine bay temperatures might be a lot cooler than those in the deep south. Your ambient temperatures might be similar to ours.

But replacing the belt gives you a chance to inspect the bearings...done by feel, although that isn't a 100% test.

JasonAndreas

The tops of the caps should be marked (see below) and OEM wires are silk-screened with the plug and cap numbers.

bjornebo

Success!

I finally figured out that I wasn't twisting the booths far enough to free them from the cap posts. Once I did that taking them off was relatively easy (easy being a relative term given the limited space around the distributors).

I have the Beru wires with the silk screened numbers on them (they are in good shape; PO replaced ~30K ago). Between the numbers on the wires, the numbers on the caps, and Alex' excellent photos of where each wire goes and how each is routed WRT the other wires, I am sure that I got them back on correctly.

I wasn't up for pulling out the distributor and replacing the belt. Perhaps next time.