Question for Porsche 911 experts: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Oct. 10, 2011 11:04 a.m. slefain SuperDork

I'm helping my boss do his due diligence on a 1986 930 slant nose purchase. We have deduced that it is a very nicely done slant conversion using factory parts. He is bugged by two leaks. The first leak is coming from the oil drain plug. I think there are two actual plugs on this car, but I'm not sure how bad fixing this would be. I'm thinking a new copper washer and it is all good. The other leak is at the power steering hoses. Other than that the PPI came out clean. Compression is good (135, 133, 132, 134, 129, 132) and it is clean as a pin.

I know a few of you are Porsche nuts (or recovering Porsche parts sellers), so please doth impart thy wisdom.
Oct. 10, 2011 11:07 a.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

1986 911 shouldn't have power steering in the first place, so I'd very carefully check what these hoses are. Could they be the ones going to the oil cooler in the front fender? They're notorious for leaking and there is plenty of scope for berkeleying up the repair if there's any sort of corrosion involved at the connectors.

Drain plugs might be anything from "needs new washer" to the aftermath of gorilla-wivva-toothache tightening the plug. The latter is going to be fun (read expensive) to fix.

Compression sounds a little low to me (although it is a 930 so it might be spot on), depending on the engine it's got. Get a leakdown test. You don't want to have to redo the engine unless it's cheap.

Have you checked the kidney bowls for rust (expensive repair) and the windshield surrounds for rust/filler/newspaper/concrete?
Oct. 10, 2011 11:08 a.m. Woody SuperDork

Well, here's your first problem: 1986 930's don't have power steering.

The PPI should have caught that....
Oct. 10, 2011 11:09 a.m. Woody SuperDork

Damn, Timo, you're fast.
Oct. 10, 2011 11:10 a.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

I type for a living .
Oct. 10, 2011 11:53 a.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

Yeah... those are going to be oil cooler hoses unless this car is a 964 based slant nose.
Oct. 10, 2011 12:15 p.m. slefain SuperDork

Well, it turns out that it has a lot of tuner parts on it. An Allen Johnson upgrade, brakes, short shifter, G50 trans, and probably a few other upgrades. I told him that authenticity is out the window at this point. It is just a nice, low mile 930 tuner.
Oct. 10, 2011 12:42 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

Check how the G50 is fitted - IIRC it's not a straight swap for the 915 trans so verify it's been fitted properly. I'd also want to make sure it's the turbo G50 and not the regular one as you don't need it throwing cogs around.