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Restoration Archives #3- 9/98-3/99

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From: Rudy Santo; Mon, 29 Mar 1999; COOL62SS@aol.com; how is the rear view mirror on the 1968 912 removed ? Pop out, slip off, or some other method ? Thank you for your assistance,
Rudy Santo

From: Ray & Linda McCormick; Thu, 25 Mar 1999; themacs@hevanet.com; I am actually the wife of the 912E owner! We are thinking about selling one of our 912 "bookends", the '76 912E not the '67 912. What is the best way to come up with a selling price for this car? I read there were only 500 made with the sunroof, which is what we have. Another dilemma is that the rear deck lid needs to be repainted because the previous paint job wasn't good and it is cracking. We can either do just the lid and a few other small areas for around $1400 or do the whole thing for $2250. We budgeted $1000 for the job so now we have a decision to make. What do you recommend? Also, I am impressed with this website and someday will get my husband on to see it. In the mean time I will report back to him. Keep up the good work.

From: John Hart; Mon, 22 Mar 1999; jhart@bcpl.net; I have had it out of commission for nearly 20 years, hauling it around with me as I have moved. The bottom is badly rotten and there is rust in odd places. How have people approached the restoration of the pan and other body parts - do you know of a Maryland body shop that handles these cars?

From: PRaym78191; Mon, 8 Mar 1999; PRaym78191@aol.com; I am working on replacing the carpet in my "68" 912 and was wondering if anyone has come up with a good replacement for the nasty looking stuff , (padding) under all of the carpeting? Any help here would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

From: Jon Powell; Sun, 7 Mar 1999; JGPowell@aol.com; This morning, I had the rather frightening experience of finding some rust in the floor pan, passenger side, of my '67 912 Coupe. I have already had the front suspension pan replaced. My car is not pristine--it's one of those cars that looks great if its moving or if you're not closer than five feet. I drive it every day, rain, shine, or snow. I paid $4500 for it and it has been well worth the time and money that I have put into it since the initial investment.

I hate to say this, but I suspect that most people who say their mid-sixties Porsches have no rust have not looked in all the right places. Here are a few that one might, or might not, want to check (besides the obvious, like the front suspension pan):

1) under the hood seal. Take a plastic ice-scraper or wrap a putty knife in electrical tape and very carefully go around the hood seal, moving it from side to side. Use a flashlight and listen carefully for that stomach tightening "grunch."
2) under the windshield seal. This is much more difficult to assess, but if you take a glass of water and pour it down your windshield from the upper corners, some of the water should pool in the lower corners. Watch that water and see where it goes. If it seems to disappear, it's going to a very scary
place where rust grows.
3) floor pans. As another contributor has already mentioned, that black, fibrous, sound-deadening material on the floor pan holds water. Take a stiff hair comb or "pick" and poke that fiber-stuff at about a 45 degree angle all over. Look for that dirt-red powder; it isn't dirt. Look under the car; there is a round "crater" that often has rust around its edges.
4) jacking points. Enough has been said about these elsewhere.
5) rear pop-out windows. Look very carefully along the chrome strip at the bottom of your rear quarter windows. Push down gently on the chrome strip and listen carefully.
6) tail-light sockets. Remove the two screws that hold the tail-light assembly in the socket and VERY carefully remove it. Remember that your wires are likely very brittle with age, so again--be carefull. Even if your car is/was never driven in the rain, if it is washed regularly, you still may have rust here. Make sure the drain holes are clear before you re-install the tail-light assembly. DO NOT overtighten the screws or you will crack the glass!

I hope that everyone who looks in these places finds no rust, and I hope that those of you who do find rust can take care of it before it gets any worse. I know that my summer projects are: Replace the hood seal, fix rust.  Remove seats and fiber coating, fix rust. Remove tail-lights, fix rust. Frankly, I
kind of look forward to it.
Good luck to all,
Jon
'67 912

From: Jim Reisinger; Sun, 7 Mar 1999; Lilgrn912@aol.com; I'm restoring a 1967 912. It was in pretty rough shape, and has been a challenge given that it is my first attempt at a restoration. It's been more of a rebuild than a restoration. I've just tacked in the new floor pans and am getting ready to tackle the suspension pan. Things are progressing nicely. With some time and a little luck, i may be driving this summer. I'm hoping so. I was wondering if anyone out there might have a dash cover. Mine is shot and I've looked at a number of used Porsche specialists and have found that most are in the same condition as mine. Have had a really hard time with the catalogues. They either have none for the 67 or are more expensive than i believe they should be. Any help you can offer would be appreciated. Keep up the good work. Regards, JIm Reisinger

From: GEORGE PRICE; Thu, 04 Mar 1999; priceg4@lakehurst.navy.mil; At what point do you stop trying to restore a 912?  I have a new front suspension pan welded in, floor cut out, inner rockers welded in, and I am still finding rust between the walls where the rear suspension arms bolt on. Any one what to buy a project 912 with a lot of new sheet metal, and a rebuilt engine? George

From: Maarten Van Buuren; Sun, 14 Feb 1999; bosheks@hotmail.com; My '67 912 soft window Targa (vin# 550 524)is slowly coming back to the living.  I bought her a 3 years ago an have been restoring her since. I'm almost done with the body, but I still need to do some welding.  When she's ready, shel'll look like she just came from Stuttgart! I will send some pictures of the car later. If anyone has questions   about sheetmetal repair or bodywork, let me know. I've replaced many parts (pans,inner/outer rockers, front, tank support, taillight housing, parts of the fenders and much more!) I might have some usefull tips. I live in the Netherlands (Maasland, Zuid Holland) so if there are any Dutchies out there, laat eens wat horen, misschien kunnen we leren van elkaars ervaringen.

From: Nate Patterson; Fri, 12 Feb 1999; nmpatter@lcs.net; my name is Nate and I am attempting to restore my 1968 912. where are the least expensive places I can purchase rubber parts and other assorted parts ? Please e-mail me at nmpatter@lcs.net Thanks for help and advice.

From: hiroshi takada; Thu, 4 Feb 1999; hiroshi_takada@keg.komatsu.co.jp; I will get a long blank key for 912 '65. But, I do not know the shop which deals it.   Please let me know the shop.

From: Morten Johan Løwer; Tue, 2 Feb 1999; bjels@tm.telia.no; Hello fellow 912 owners! This is Morten Løwer from Norway calling. I wonder if anyone can help me locate the uoholstery for the drivers seat in my 67`912 coupe. Maybe some of the people in the registry have one lying aroud. The color is tan/beige and it is made of vinyl.  Best regards Morten Løwer mailto:bjels@tm.telia.no

From: Noble Frye; Fri, 29 Jan 1999; nfrye@ctg-net.com; I had my 1976 912E painted about 5 years ago by a highly professional painter of classic and Porsche cars, the car was stripped completly before prime and paint. Within about 3 years the paint started to developed a sand looking finish under the paint and kept geting worse, not a blister but a dull sand type finish. I asked to repaint the car, the painter had the paint manufacture take a sample from the side of the car and test it in their lab. The manufacture came back with a report saying the paint was ok (not our fault) therefore the painter said not my fault. The painter is saying (suspects) that Porsche goofed when they treated their 1976 car bodys metal with rust preventive that it is causing a reaction to the paint applied to the car. The painter does not want to repaint the car with fear that it will happen again. What is strange is that the aluminum parts are ok (spoiler, panel between hood and windshield window, and even more strange the top). I am at a loss for what to do, I love the car and I want to keep it the rest of my life.  Someone please help!!!
Noble Frye, Thank You!!
nfrye@earthlink.net or the attached address.

From: Andrew Cooper; Fri, 15 Jan 1999; Andrew@cooper.co.uk; Dear 912 Gurus, Should my 1966 European spec have had a heater fitted?  If so where would the switch have been?   Also How difficult is it to replace the headliner?  and  Does anyone have any suggestions for keeping the rain outside of my car improving door seals etc.-- Andrew Cooper

From: LJolsen; Thu, 14 Jan 99; ljolsen@kacf.com; I just purchased a 1968 912, am surprised at all the chrome on the engine: fan cover; oil filter hsg; mounting bar; valve covers... Other photos of 912 engines I've seen don't seem to be so chromed out. Was this chrome engine deal standard on some years or did a previous owner of my car have a chromium fetish?

From: Mark Tracy; Mon, 11 Jan 1999; mtracy@prosoft-technology.com; Rick and 912 group, hopefully I can get some good responses from you out there.
Having torn elbows deep into my '66 912, I have discovered some rust plagued areas. These were covered ...... with Bondo, and I have now discovered them. I'll give a description of the problems, and hopefully some of you will have some good suggestions and helpful comments.  (Junk it would even be considered useful input!) Well, here we go.
The body is in excellent shape, no rust found here. The engine and tranny appear good. The interior is in great shape, original dash and upholstery, no tears or cracks.
Rust in the front U channel of the front suspension pan. The area where the sway bar attaches is completely rusted apart, one side of the bar is floating in space.
Bad part: rust in the rear pan where the rear torsion bars run. The torsion bar tube is attached OK, but rust is starting from the bottom of the torsion tube support up. Jack point areas are rusted out, and appears rear section of heater tubing in pan is rusted out.
The center parts of the pan, where the rear seats floorboard, and main floorboards are in good shape.
The rear part by the torsion tube is where I am worried the most. I have heard people replacing the front suspension pan, and have seen them for sale at various locations. I have not heard anybody doing any work around the torsion tubes, and have not seen any of this area for sale anywhere.
Again, any input would be appreciated, such as how to go about repairing, should I take it to a "pro" to do it, or does it sound too far gone to fix, and just part out the car. Fortunately, I did'nt pay a whole lot for the car, but enough!
Thanks to everyone on the registry in advance.
Mark Tracy
rusty '66 912

From: W. Hartley; Sun, 3 Jan 1999; HikerDuke@aol.com; Has anyone ever replaced the window scrapers on your 912? I am wondering if this can be done without removing everything from the inside. I know the chrome strip on the outside of the door is held in place be two screws and some type of clip. Any ideas on this or should I start disassembly of the door? W. Hartley HikerDuke@aol.com

From: Phil Bovigny; Tue, 22 Dec 1998; phil_mary@span.ch; I'm looking for original side rearview mirror on my 67/912. It has now Talbot one.  Can someone show the one who was factory supply in 1967.  Thank you. Phil.
[Webmeister note: According to Dr. Brett Johnson's book The 911 & 912 Porsche, A Restorer's Guide to Authenticity, pages 25-26, "The optional outside rear-view mirror was mounted on the driver's door. The standard mirror used from 1965 through 1967 was the same Durant mirror used on the 365C....."
"A Talbot mirror was offered from 1965 through 1968. Both right and left mirrors are listed in the accessories catalogs, along with text stating that they were not installed at the factory, but for $13.40 (1965 price) they were a bargain."]

From: Joseph Armstrong; November 1998 ; josepharmstrong@one.net.au; G'day Rick, Just got back from the Australian Porsche 50th celebration tour. Yesterday's parade, there were 850 privately owned Porsches in total, & from the pre '73  911/912, three 912s' came gold & silver. Mine was the silver. Attached is one of the pictures taken on the Australian Porsche 50th celebration. As I mentioned earlier, the 912s' won gold & silver placing. My car is the one on the right (the only one w/ fog lights). It just shows you that you don't need a 6 cylinder to be a winner.  Later mate !  Regards, Joseph Armstrong

From: wschmahl; Mon, 12 Oct 1998; wschmahl@cwix.com; I have the oppourtunity to buy a 912. It is between 1967-1969. I own a 914 so I am aware of its rust prone areas but 912, im lost. What are some specifics to look for w/ the 912. Can you guide me to a basic 912 site that might tell me all about this car? All I know that the body is of a 911. The engine is 356 design, dont know much else.brakes?HP?Transmission woes? Engine Woes? As you see im in the dark big time. Please send help. The car is parked outside in the weeds and may spend its first winter covered with Nebraska snow. The car is signal orange. Thanks, BillFromOmaha

From: raymond mendez; Sun, 04 Oct 1998; rmendez@swbell.net; I'm in the process of restoring my 67 912 and my question is on the condition of my car.  The car needs to have the floor pans installed and the car has plenty of rust . Where should I look to see if the car is worth fixing is there a place that I should inspect that will let me know that the car is worth saving or is just a junker and I should sell the parts that are good. Any suggestions will help.

From: Horst de Lorenzi; Mon Sept. 14, 1998;  hdelorenzi@activedata.com;  I've been meaning to register at your site for several weeks now, but never seem to get around to it. I've enjoyed several articles though. Maybe you can answer a couple other quick questions for me?
a) My car has steel slotted wheels with chrome hubcaps. However, I also received a set of Fuchs with the car. I haven't been able to find out if the Fuchs were an option on my car or not. I'll run whichever tire is more "accurate".
b) I can't locate any info on the mysterious "hand throttle". My car doesn't have one, but nearly every picture shows one and most catalogs list hand throttle parts for both 911s and 912s. What does this thing do and am I supposed to have one?
c) My car has no front rollbar, there's just a plate covering the opening. Was this standard/ common?
d) Will a '69+ dash fit my car. I'd like to find a new '68, but if I can't - you know.
Thanks in advance, Horst.

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