A popular update for ’74-’84 911s is adding a front fender, radiator style oil cooler, as installed in ’85-’89 factory 911s. While this cooler does a very good job lowering engine oil temperatures, it has one design flaw. The problem is not in the cooler, but in the installation. Placed in the right front fender behind the headlight, turn signal and fog light, it doesn’t get much direct airflow at speed. Continue Reading

It seems for some reason that failures come in groups and this month was no exception.

During the first quarter of this year I have been inundated with requests for information and repairs on ‘74-‘89 911 headlight hi/low switch failures.

These are commonly known as headlight dimmer switches or hi/low switches or turn signal dimmer switches.

It is the combination switch on the left side of the steering column that operates the turn signal and headlight hi/low/flash feature. Continue Reading

In 1974 Porsche updated the interior door treatment on 911s. Along with the new door pocket storage arrangement came new inside door handle linkage. This system seemed to work very well for years of trouble-free service. However, Continue Reading

There you are driving down the road in your Carrera and you notice a wall of red light in your rear view mirror. Obviously, the law enforcement official behind you is a connoisseur of fine automobiles and just wants to Continue Reading

Recently, I was performing some extremely overdue service to my 911SC (you know what they say about the cobbler’s kids going without shoes). Before finishing up the service, I checked throttle, clutch and emergency brake linkage. When checking the throttle linkage, I noticed Continue Reading

One of the great design characteristics of early 911s is their infinite design interchangeability. While the cars have evolved gradually over time on the outside, what’s under the skin remained similar enough so that scavengers, such as myself, can find just the right parts to transform their cars into a more advanced version of what they once had.

The part interchangeability we’ll talk about today is the rear sway bar. Pre-‘89 911s use two different Continue Reading

In the past several months I have seen a number of “HOT ROD” 911s all complaining of various abnormal noises. These noises have been described as anything from cam chain noise, to 5th gear noise, to ring and pinion noise. Are all these cars just getting noisier? Are gear surfaces failing? Or are these owners just becoming less tolerant of an inherently noisy car? Well no, most likely not. All of these cars Continue Reading

One of the best things about a 911 is the sound; it is what draws many people to the model in the first place. Anything that can improve that sound can only add to the personality of the car.

This is no recent revelation on my part; companies have been selling aftermarket exhaust systems for 911s since their beginning. The problem with making a better exhaust system for your 911 is Continue Reading