[Auburn968]

I'm a 35 father of two girls, born and raised as a car nut. Growing up with Jaguars, mostly broken down, i've had my share of fun on the side of the road or junk yard. I've branched out from Dad's Jags into Alfa Romeo Spiders. Even though I have several projects in process i'm always thinking a step ahead. Hence my introduction to the 968 forum.



Seriously for the past 2 years I have viewed this once blue 1994 968 parked behind a local dealership. The car is mostly there but cosmetically in need. Showing less than 65K on the dash and with a very nice set of 911 Turbo Wheels make this car stand out. I must have set in the car everytime I drove by just to show some love . All that change over the years were the amount of dirt accumulating on her blistered paint and the number of spider webs at the base of the tires as they went flat with dryrot. The interior also seemed to get more sun burned each visit. The carpet faded and turning to dust. She was dying slowly and it seemed such a shame.



Friday I take my normal drive thru and once again make my weekly trip to see "Blue". One of the managers informs me the lot is being cleaned up and the car must go. He and I both make calls to the owner, which had left the car years ago in hopes of selling. Over the years the price was just beyond my limit for projects at the time. I had recently sold my jag and was needing a replacement. This seemed to be perfect timing. Now my wife was the main hurdle. LOL



I personally talked with the owner, picked up a set of keys and with the help of two boost boxes fired her right up.She had been sitting without juice for over a year and other than a few stumbles the engine sounded great. I slowly drove her to the nearest gas station to dilute the stale gas and air up the tires. Slowly at first got her back on the road with little issues. The battery drain was causing some issues but the AC worked great. I looked her over once more just to make sure this was a real posibility and I popped the stick into gear when she died. Dead, Cold, nothing.



Most would take this as a sign to send the car packing and move on. I see it as she felt at home and didn't want to leave my garage. Sorry to make this so dramatic but passion is what drives our reason to do what we do either by turning the wrench or signing the bottom line. I've not made the deal yet, I always review my forums first then proceed. I've talked at length with the owner and feel she has had a unique and easy history.



Hope to have her added to my ownership list soon. Wish me luck.

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[Rap]

Look at service records and have a mechanic inspect it for you. If all of those work out ok, meaning you don't have to invest a tremendous amount of money, which in some instances you might have to, stop torturing yourself and do it. This is a great place to ask questions and learn about the 968. Good luck!

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[flash]

congrats



if the car has been sitting for years, GET THE BELTS DONE NOW!!!



it makes no difference how few miles are on them. they need to be replaced every 3 years. second guessing that can easily be a $5k mistake

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[tamathumper]

Welcome. So, you drove it initially, then it decided to die?



Each time you start the car with the old belts is the peak danger point, where they probably receive the most stress and risk breaking and destroying the valves (and maybe more). if you pull the trigger, make sure you don't turn the key too many times (if at all) before those belts and rollers and perhaps the water pump get replaced.



Good luck with your decision!

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[Gotter]

When I lived in Phenix City, I brought my 968 to Performance Services (http://www.performance-services.net/) in Opelika. Owner used to race 968s. Very knowledgeable. Tell him J.C. with the white 968 cab sent ya. Good luck!!!!

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[Auburn968]

Hey thanks for the advice on the purchase. I know the belts were all replaced 3 or 4 years ago but the car has mostly sat down rather than being driven. He does have the tool so hope it will make it easier to do. In general since i'm on limited access to the forum how difficult is it to replace the cam belts? I always worry that cars not used are potential trouble versus used and abused cars.



I look forward to this being my gateway drug into Porschedom.



Thanks,



blake

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[flash]

your limitations will disappear very quickly. the tutorial explains all of that. then yes, you will probably join us down the slippery slope that is owning a 968.



3 or 4 years is still at the limit of belts, even though they may not have many miles on them, and especially if they are conti. you might buy a little bit of time if they are gates, but not much. the balance belt should have been retensioned at least twice by now (timing belt is automatic tensioning).

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[tamathumper]

Just a few more posts to overcome the limits.



The belts are easy enough to do, but there is a little bit of puzzling up front to get parts, tools, and the few gotchas out of the way.



Start with the service manual, and supplement that with clarks-garage.com. There might also be a helpful post or two on pelican parts.com.

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[Auburn968]

Ok its official. I own my first porsche. I had a local car guru check it out and mostly good news. He pulled off a cover and checked the cam belts. He said they looked great and had appropriate tension. I'm still on the cautious side and if you say do it i'll do it. I'll post pics as soon as I have access to do so. The car was apparently a Michelin Tire Company test vehicle from new. It had a roll cage installed and basically sat at the track. Second owner had it a very short time until <acronym title='previous owner'>PO</acronym> # 3 purchased it in 2004. He removed the cage and went on a service run thru. I have a long list of issues he solved and small changes he made.



Apparently the sunroof works and the odo works as well. I have ice cold A/C, and seats that partially work. My first change will be the toasted gear shift and boot. After some lengthy interior work and a repaint she will shine like new again. Currently she is a gorilla in the mist. Don't get to close or you'll get scared.

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[tamathumper]

Good from far, and far from good, as they say <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />. Enjoy!

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