[JTOMA]

Hello! I just purchased a 1992 968 w/125000 mi. The intention is to make this car a full-time Time-Trial/W2W/Solo 2 car (retiring the Supra to less stressful Sunday Driving). I am a first-time Porsche owner but am familiar with many of their attributes and am pretty mechanically adept. I received the car on Monday and determined that it is in 'fair' condition but, I am building a race car not to be driven on the street. After receiving it, I determined that it seemed to run a little rough. I had been reading up on these forums for the last couple of weeks so I knew where to start. Last night I replaced the Plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, and changed the oil (Mobile 1 for now, will be switching to Amsoil Racing). These things helped tremendously. I also purchased a new DME, oil sensor, and 2 motor mounts. I should have these installed this weekend. It has a slight powersteering leak but I plan on removing that and the AC anyway. I have also noticed a intermittent engine oil light, but it does have oil and the pressure gauge goes to almost 5 under load and a little more than 2 at warm idle. The car has obviously had some track time previously from what I can tell. As a new owner I have quite a few questoins so I thought I would make a post and just see what people think. Here are some of the most pressing...



Clutch-The clutch feel is way different than the Toyotas and Hondas I drive every day. I think that it is also time for a clutch. Do it myself or pay someone? How big of a PITA is the job? Which one to buy? Who has a lightened flywheel for this car? What is a 'typical' cost to have someone do this (sometimes time is worth more than $).



Engine-seems ok (or at least better now). I live outside Chicago and would love to have someone come and tell me that I am a)screwed b)in pretty good shape c) not bad but you need to do this, this and this. I would prefer a 968 owner to do this and I can pay with beer, dinner, trade, or $ if necessary. I am going to run a compression check this weekend so that should tell me a little more but would really value someone elses input.



Wheels-what other Porsche wheels will fit? I am obviously looking for as wide as possible without going bigger than 17" and would like to stay 16 if possible for now but am flexible. Has anyone ever used a 5x130 to 5x114.3 conversion for racing?



Any help advice anyone could provide would be great.





Thanks

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[flash]

welcome welcome and congrats!



you have a PM

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[BruceWard]

By DME do you mean the DME Relay that controls the fuel pump? A complete DME (ECU) is pretty expensive to buy new.



The 968 clutch is a 5 hour job. It was the first clutch I have changed and found it to be pretty easy. There is a writeup online at http://www.968turbo.com/clutch.htm . Many mechanics will quote for the labor needed for a 944 which requires the transaxle to be removed. The 968 bellhousing has a removable section which significantly reduces labor.



What SCCA class do you want to be in?



If you want to stay stock then factory 17" wheels with 245 front and 275 rear are about as wide as you can get. There are 928 and 944 wheels that are the same diameter and width as our wheels I assume that some of those will have the same offsets. 16" 968 wheels are easy and cheap to find and you can run 225/245 tires on them.



If you plan to be in a higher class then I suggest you look to http://www.specclutch.com/ for a clutch and lightweight flywheel package.

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[JTOMA]

[quote name='BruceWard' date='Feb 2 2006, 12:01 PM']By DME do you mean the DME Relay that controls the fuel pump?  A complete DME (ECU) is pretty expensive to buy new.



The 968 clutch is a 5 hour job.  It was the first clutch I have changed and found it to be pretty easy.  There is a writeup online at http://www.968turbo.com/clutch.htm .  Many mechanics will quote for the labor needed for a 944 which requires the transaxle to be removed.  The 968 bellhousing has a removable section which significantly reduces labor.



What SCCA class do you want to be in?



If you want to stay stock then factory 17" wheels with 245 front and 275 rear are about as wide as you can get.  There are 928 and 944 wheels that are the same diameter and width as our wheels I assume that some of those will have the same offsets.  16" 968 wheels are easy and cheap to find and you can run 225/245 tires on them.



If you plan to be in a higher class then I suggest you look to http://www.specclutch.com/ for a clutch and lightweight flywheel package.

[right][post="15409"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



Sorry, that is what I meant, the relay.



Wow, 5 hours is not that bad. When working on something for the first time I always double it, but even at 10 makes for only a 1-day job. Cool.



For SCCA Solo 2 I am planning on E-Mod, mostly because of all the lightening I plan on doing for the Time Trials and Wheel to Wheel stuff. It will be a GT2 class track car (probably).



I am hoping to get to the 255/275 widths or larger. It seems to handle pretty well so maybe I will not need to go that big but fat sticky tires always helped the Supra (granted 200 hp difference).



Thanks so much for your input!!

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[BruceWard]

[quote name='JTOMA' date='Feb 2 2006, 11:16 AM']I am hoping to get to the 255/275 widths or larger.  It seems to handle pretty well so maybe I will not need to go that big but fat sticky tires always helped the Supra (granted 200 hp difference).![/quote]



You can get that much or more rubber on the 968 with wheels of the correct offset.



Your TT Supra had a lot more torque than a stock 968. You may find that heavier tires slow the 968 down. There must be a balance in loss of acceleration due to increase in rotating mass vs being able to carry more speed through the corners from additional grip.



Does your 968 have LSD? If not that should be the first handling upgrade.



My experience is that with 225/245 Victoracers on 16s and LSD I do not have any problems with breaking the rears loose autocrossing. And that I have better times on the 16" Victoracers than the 18" 235 Front / 265 Rear tires I use for street.



If he does post, I suggest you contact Jim Child http://www.968forums.com/index.php?showuser=109 . Jim is a PCA DE Instructor and Club Racer with significant experience and two 968s.

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[ether_joe]

welcome JToma. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[earossi]

Welcome to this forum. Sounds like you are pretty serious about a track car. I think that the other posters have given good insight. Since I also live in the Chicago area, I thought I might put a plug in for Jim Becker here in Naperville. Jim has been mostly in 911's, but also has had experience running 951's (the 944Turbo) competitively. He owns Becker Service Center in Naperville which is basically a Goodyear store........but his bays are usually filled with 911's going through all sorts of work.



When I had a 911, Jim did a lot of work for me and I was always pleased. For racers, he has the ability to cornor balance your car and the skills to do just about any mechanical work or modifications. He also has no problems using parts supplied by his customers. If you already have a source to work on the car, you might just disregard this note.



If you do the clutch, you should ditch the dual mass flywheel while you are in there and put in a lightened one such as the Fidenza. A number of the posters have gone that route and really like the difference.



Good luck with the car and if you are ever in Naperville give me a shout.



Regards,



Ernie Rossi

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[BruceWard]

It does sound like you should go for a lightened one piece flywheel.



When I changed my clutch I explored the available options for a lightened flywheel but decided to reuse the DMF to stay in stock classes. After considering a factory or reproduction factory Turbo RS SMF, the Fidenza and SPEC options I would have chosen SPEC. The owner of SPEC has two 951s and will provide custom packages at discounted prices. I suggest you at least talk to him before buying a Fidenza flywheel off the shelf somewhere.

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[flash]

i also have spoken to the guys at spec - nothing wrong with their unit for sure, but i found no advantage to the fidanza, and they were considerably more expensive - it didn't make sense to me - had they have come up with a spring center disk that worked, i would have gone that route - by the way - they agreed with my assessment



after about 17k miles on my fidanza, i am happy with the decision

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[JTOMA]

[quote name='earossi' date='Feb 2 2006, 05:33 PM']Welcome to this forum.  Sounds like you are pretty serious about a track car.  I think that the other posters have given good insight.  Since I also live in the Chicago area, I thought I might put a plug in for Jim Becker here in Naperville.  Jim has been mostly in 911's, but also has had experience running 951's (the 944Turbo) competitively.  He owns Becker Service Center in Naperville which is basically a Goodyear store........but his bays are usually filled with 911's going through all sorts of work.



When I had a 911, Jim did a lot of work for me and I was always pleased.  For racers, he has the ability to cornor balance your car and the skills to do just about any mechanical work or modifications.  He also has no problems using parts supplied by his customers. 

Good luck with the car and if you are ever in Naperville give me a shout.



Regards,



Ernie Rossi

[right][post="15423"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



I am VERY serious about setting this up as a track car. I want to make the transition to Wheel-to-wheel during the next year or so and I have chosen the 968 to be me platform for this. It will still be a time-trial car and a Solo2 car also for my wife and I.



Thanks for the referal to Jim Becker. I will have to stop his shop soon. Do you know if he has done any cage fabrication/installation? I am always going through Naperville, we should get together sometime. I am interested in what other people think of the condition of my car and what needs to be done.



Thanks for the reply also. I am trying to absorb all the information I can. This forum seems like a great bunch of people.

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[Dave]

Becker did all the service for the PO on my '88 944 NA. He was even able to provide years of service documentation to me after I bought the car. Good folks that seem to know P-cars quite well.

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[JTOMA]

[quote name='Dave' date='Feb 2 2006, 09:54 PM']Becker did all the service for the PO on my '88 944 NA.  He was even able to provide years of service documentation to me after I bought the car.  Good folks that seem to know P-cars quite well.

[right][post="15436"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Thanks Dave! Seems like a good place to go. Not too far from Elgin. I have driven farther for good service and parts. I think I will have to check them out in the next week or so. Have you heard of or does anyone have any opinion of Euroquipe in St. Charles, IL?

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[earossi]

Jeremie,



Becker has done all sorts of race setups. Not sure if he does body work or roll cages, but power train and suspension work seems to be his bag. Jim Becker has the distinction of honorable mention in Bruce Anderson's book on the 911. He's a little bit quiet when you speak with him........not a lot of enthusiasm.....but he loves the marque and is very helpful if you let him.



I hate to do this, but if you contact Chris Streit over on the Pelican Parts 911 bulletin board, he will be able to give you the low down on every race shop in Chicago. Chris runs a 911 in regionals and is also the moderator of the Great Lakes Regional Bulletin Board for 911's over on the Pelican Website. Chris' user name on the board is cstreit. Hook up with him, and you'll find him very helpful.



Good luck.



Ernie

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[JTOMA]

[quote name='earossi' date='Feb 2 2006, 10:37 PM']Jeremie,



Becker has done all sorts of race setups.  Not sure if he does body work or roll cages, but power train and suspension work seems to be his bag.  Jim Becker has the distinction of honorable mention in Bruce Anderson's book on the 911.  He's a little bit quiet when you speak with him........not a lot of enthusiasm.....but he loves the marque and is very helpful if you let him.



I hate to do this, but if you contact Chris Streit over on the Pelican Parts 911 bulletin board, he will be able to give you the low down on every race shop in Chicago.  Chris runs a 911 in regionals and is also the moderator  of the Great Lakes Regional Bulletin Board for 911's over on the Pelican Website.  Chris' user name on the board is cstreit.  Hook up with him, and you'll find him very helpful.



Good luck.



Ernie

[right][post="15444"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



Ernie-



Is this the Chris Streit of Streit Racing? White 911 runs in GT2? He runs W2W with Midwest Council. Won the GT2 overall points last year. I will have to give him a call/e-mail. He is on the Midwest Council Forum also so maybe that is the best place. Thanks for the info!

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[bob blackwell]

Welcome to the world of 968 ownership and the slippery slope of racing! While you are working on making your 968 into a track car, consider the M030 front brakes. They are the same as 928S4 front brakes and may be found used for a reasonable price if you look long enough. Paragon Products has the adapter brackets for $150 (Jason Burkett at: www.paragon-products.com) I picked up the calipers from 20th Street Auto Parts for $450 and will use new rotors and pads when I change them. these are much bigger brakes and were an option on the 968 so there should not be any effect on what class you are running. Better brakes help a lot on the track (despite the increase in unsprung weight). A good set of 16 inch wheels to use might be the 944TurboS Club Sport wheels (7x16 and 9x16, forged, lightweight). Good luck! Bob Blackwell.

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[JTOMA]

[quote name='JTOMA' date='Feb 2 2006, 11:35 AM']Engine-seems ok (or at least better now).  I live outside Chicago and would love to have someone come and tell me that I am a)screwed b)in pretty good shape c) not bad but you need to do this, this and this.  I would prefer a 968 owner to do this and I can pay with beer, dinner, trade, or $ if necessary.  I am going to run a compression check this weekend so that should tell me a little more but would really value someone elses input. 



Any help advice anyone could provide would be great.

Thanks

[right][post="15405"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



Ran the compression test today. With 4 revolutions the readings were as follows:



1. 190

2. 185

3. 175

4. 180



Looks like I might have a little something going on in number 3. Do these numbers make anyone cringe? These seem kinda low to me I am used to 210+ on the B18's and 2JZ's that I usually work on.



I also replaced the DME relay with no difference in the way the car opererated. From what I have read it is good to have one or two around anyway.



The rest of the day I spent stripping out the interior (black). I make a seperate post also but if anybody needs black interior parts, make me a reasonable offer.



Thanks again for all the input.

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[flash]

#3 is a bit low - i'd check it again - the rest are good - anything over 185 is really good - 190 is great

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[JTOMA]

[quote name='flash' date='Feb 5 2006, 12:49 AM']#3 is a bit low - i'd check it again - the rest are good - anything over 185 is really good - 190 is great

[right][post="15539"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

I'll check it again. I am pretty sure that is where it was though. 4 compression strokes is what I usually use, is that enough?

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[flash]

nope - 8 - i tried the 4 thing too, and it doesn't work - oddly, it takes 8 revolutions to stop climbing - give it a go - your'e probably better off than you think

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[bob blackwell]

I agree, try again and just let it turn until the compression does not get any higher. Never counted the revolutions, I just watched the guage. After you get the highest readings with dry compression, try squirting some oil into the lower cylinder and see if it goes a lot higher. If it does then the rings are bad, if not the valves are where the compression is leaking. Good luck, Bob Blackwell.

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