Mike J

Yeah, the vinyl cable with the sliding weight works great.

Be interesting it someone can find the source for those bearings - its like a well protected trade secret. One of these days, we will find out..

Cheers,

Mike

IXLR8

Frank, a crowbar is a medieval tool.

Use something like this...


It came out super easy using that method.

JasonAndreas

I have never had any issue whatsoever (2 993 and a handful of 964s) but I have always removed the drain plug and drained the crankcase of oil prior to pulling the distributor. I wonder if there is a partial vacuum that is keeping it stuck? Mike J, you've done more of these than most, do you remember if an oil-less engine made any difference?

nine9six

Marc,
If the belt snaps, you still have your primary (gear driven) distributor working and in proper time with the motor. I think you will notice immediate power loss, and I would not imagine an issue as long as it gets addressed ASAP. I would not drive the car with a broken belt, if thats what you're asking...

The secondary plug would not be firing, so maybe incomplete burn within the cylinders, which may have an eventual detrimental effect, if dirven and left unattended.

EDIT: In looking at the photos again, if the broken belt somehow got lodged and locked the primary distributor, I suppose the pin or even the drive gear could suffer catastrophic failure, depending on the circumstances.

Distributor drives are somewhat independent of cam, valve, piston rise and fall timing chain driven system, in that the only connection is the primary distributor drive gear. If all the teeth were to sheer, as long as the cam timing is kept in line with the crank, such destruction as pistons banging valves should not occur. Hopefully, I'm not sticking my foot in my mouth...

If incomplete burn, and left unattended, then maybe the cat would suffer from the build up, and possibly a premature life. Kinda the same as misfires...

Personally I cant vouch for holing a piston, but I'm sure MikeJ or Steve W experience base could tell you much more...

mgianzero

No I'm certainly not suggesting driving the car with a broken distributor belt for long periods of time.

What I am concerned about is IF the belt snaps, if issues would lead to significant engine damage such as valves or P & C concerns immediately. A firing of a plug at the wrong time, in theory, I guess could damage things. But if I'm wanting to drive just to get off the road, then I guess I'm okay.

cgfen

anybody have the p/n for the update kit that includes the plastic fitting and tubing to evacuate ozone from the dizzy?

nine9six

If the belt snaps, there will be no firing of the secondary plugs in their entirety, so no worries per your secondary statement of getting off the road and to a shop, seems acceptable to me. in my understanding of the system...

JasonAndreas

If the rotor stops directly in line with one of the six distributor cap contacts, a single spark plug will fire continuously. And this will eventually burn a hole in the top of the piston. Disconnect the low-voltage connectors from the ignition coil and (not the distributor) you should be okay to drive. (MY97 might not be able to?)

sebastian993

Reference the crowbar nothing was broken or even marked. You just need that extra leverage and something that hooks up and under the base. It wasn't a full size in case anyone has images of me attacking it with a 2 foot length of steel! I used a 10 inch "crows foot" that is basically a crow bar albeit a mini version. Hook the feet round the base, tap the top of the bar in the opposite direction with a rubber mallet and hey presto it "pops" out. That's what it was in my case an udible "pop!". I tried the rope/string method to no avail. If I was doing the job again I would definitely use what I did.

In regards to the holed piston it was only me having a little fun at the forums expense. Yes this is the "doctor pepper" scenario if your really unlucky (I know of at least 1 owner this has happened to) but the chances are extremely remote according to every expert I have talked with. The worst you will encounter is rough or lumpy running (just for the record mine wasn't down on power at all) which is all the sign you need to investigate (these cars are really good at talking to you).

I was actually referring to the bearings seizing when I mentioned this and not just the belt snapping. You can all see the terrible condition they were in and that's just one of them (think there are 3 in total).

Anyway the silver lining here is once its done its something that can be ticked off the list of the never ending list of things to do. That and the car runs better than ever now!

-Seb

frankv

Thanks for the tips on getting the distributor out. I'll give it a go again this weekend.

- Frank

IXLR8

You read that on p-car. I wonder how the author came up with that one? If vacuum were holding it in, the minute you pulled it out an inch, it would be drawn back in if you let go.

IXLR8

I believe Pelican Parts has them. Sunset Porsche for sure.

96PCarrera993mg

Here are all the parts you'll need:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...2533%2529%2520

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...2538%2529%2520

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...520ml%2520tube

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...602-922-00-OEM

IXLR8

If you mean the distributor gear drive pin...

Porsche part number: 930 602 922 00

96PCarrera993mg

Thanks Alex!