Jamie's 3.2 - ongoing diary

[JLewis]

Well, after years of window shopping, reading the porsche magazines and nosing on the net, I finally realised a long held ambition and purchased a Porsche 911 last week.

 

Back in 2001, I started a long winded career change process which meant far too many years at night school, exams and general upheaval to achieve. I decided back at the start of the process that I would need to reward my self with something when it was finally completed, more I think to keep me motivated through all the years of studying. The only choice would be to buy, finally, a 911. Over the time, I kept changing my mind on what I was going to get flipping between either a targa or coupe, also between an IB and 964.

 

The studying etc was finally completed last year and I got as far as looking at a couple of 964s before an unexpected house move came up and put the plans on hold for 12 months. The two 964s had some very very expensive bills within their service histories which really helped to make my mind up for an IB.

 

A couple of months or so ago I finally managed to green light the idea and start searching in earnest. Either a decent targa in white or a coupe of any colour.

 

Nosed at various cars and made contact with a number of sellers. My search led me to this 89(F) 3.2 Carrera in Black. It was local to me only being 20 minutes away and owned by a really nice decent chap who after 5 years was looking to sell it on and replace with a Boxster S tiptronic. Previous owner to him had it for 12 years.

 

Pictures I took at the initial viewing:

 

 

 

 

Excellent service history and has been looked after by Glasgow specialist, George Morrison. 102,000 miles, no leaks. Other than the later cup wheels and a stainless steel exhaust (unsure of the make), its standard. While it was clean and tidy, it did need a polish so that was the first job when I got it home. This is the result of a quick wash and polish and I will be going over the car properly inside and out when I've more time. Nevertheless, seemed to come up ok for the first pass:

 

 

 

 

Plans for the future

 

- upgrade the steering wheel to a momo

- smoked front lights and side repeaters

- upgrade the exhaust system

- some bodywork tidying up next year - there is some slight surface corrison around both screens which will be sorted next year.

- main plan though is to run and enjoy it!

 

Driven around 200 miles in it so far and starting to get settled into it now and feel comfortable. The clutch etc took a bit of getting used to but after a few miles its fine.

 

My aim with this thread is just to keep a track on the cars progress, modifications etc as time progresses.

 

I'm also hoping to make it to some of the meets and shows.

 

Jamie

Edited August 30, 2010 by JLewis

[Dr Rock]

They always look good in black and welcome to IB!

Get your screens out - it's surprising how they can go under the seals. Good to nip things in the bud as far as windows are concerned.

 

Looks like your rear wiper isn't quite parking properly....

[JLewis]

thanks! yes, window areas are a job for spring next year. Weather looks good for September so will just be hitting the road with it and enjoying!

[Nige]

Looks in great shape, certainly a good foundation for choice tinkering and serious driving fun!

[MarkJ]

Great looking car Jamie, well done and hope you really enjoy it

 

Get some nice 'Destiny' curnabau wax on that black paintwork and it will look like liquid oil over those curved flanks

[EJH911]

Get some nice 'Destiny' curnabau wax on that black paintwork and it will look like liquid oil over those curved flanks

 

For fear of turning this into a DetailingWorld thread-alike, I can also recommend P21s (think it's now R222) wax for black IBs. Really easy to use (minimal effort compared to some other unctions I have in the car-cleaning box of doom) and gives a really good shine on a black IB. Doesn't last too well in poor weather but ease of use and the shine more than makes up for that.

[JLewis]

plan is to give it a good couple of coats of polish and then a decent waxing session at some point over the next couple of weeks. I've also been looking at some of the previous threads around prepping for the winter so will be giving the door seals etc some attention and also checking over the underseal.

 

I was in touch with the previous owner today to send him a couple of quick post polish shots. I've done over 250 miles running about in it since picking it up on Wednesday night - he did 730 in the previous year!

 

Jamie

[Dr Rock]

I was in touch with the previous owner today to send him a couple of quick post polish shots. I've done over 250 miles running about in it since picking it up on Wednesday night - he did 730 in the previous year!

 

You'll fit in with IB no probs with this attitude

[JLewis]

There was a wobble from the steering at about 60mph so on Friday, I took the front wheels off and took them down to the local tyre and exhaust outfit and they very kindly balanced both wheels free of charge which i thought was really decent of them. Made a great difference.

 

With the wheels balanced, we had a great return trip from Ayr to Rhu yesterday (around 140 miles) for a family do and it really did run well. Checked the oil when we got back and it really is clean. It was changed around 1000 miles back and can only presume the engine was flushed as well given the colour of the oil. I've now done over 500 miles in the first 10 days of ownership.

 

My brother with his Boxster S was in convoy with us and when we got near to Dumbarton on the A82, we were joined briefly by a red 60 registration 911 Turbo which looked fantastic!

 

Jamie

[ChrisD (RIP)]

Looks brill Jamie.

 

Whilst a b***er to keep clean a black, well polished, 911 looks great.

 

Welcome and enjoy.

 

C

[Dr Rock]

Good that you took your wheels off for balancing: don't want no monkeys jacking your car up where it shouldn't. Might want to check your front wheel bearings for play etc

[JLewis]

Looks brill Jamie.

 

Whilst a b***er to keep clean a black, well polished, 911 looks great.

 

Welcome and enjoy.

 

C

 

Thanks!

 

 

Good that you took your wheels off for balancing: don't want no monkeys jacking your car up where it shouldn't. Might want to check your front wheel bearings for play etc

 

There is still a slight shake so will have a look at the bearings as well.

 

Cheers, Jamie

[JLewis]

its leaking water!! just back from two weeks holiday and its been sitting outside at my parents. Very wet inside which seems to just be in the passenger side front foot well but water has moved to the other carpets. It very wet and I've removed the carpets and water is just running out them.

 

Time to search for the water leak threads!

[burgundyben]

JRR Tolkein said

 

There are 911 owners with leaking cars and 911 owners that haven't found out their car leaks yet.

[uberview]

its leaking water!! just back from two weeks holiday and its been sitting outside at my parents. Very wet inside which seems to just be in the passenger side front foot well but water has moved to the other carpets. It very wet and I've removed the carpets and water is just running out them.

 

Time to search for the water leak threads!

 

Jamie, I spent a lot of time chasing leaks after a rebuild on mine, let me know if you need advice.

 

Another Lewis

[JLewis]

JRR Tolkein said

 

true!

 

Jamie, I spent a lot of time chasing leaks after a rebuild on mine, let me know if you need advice.

 

Another Lewis

 

Thanks Lewis, that's really appreciated. I'm going to get the hose on it at the weekend to see if i can try and trace it. I'll clean the sunroof drain channels and see how i get on. Will let you know...

 

Cheers, Jamie

[uberview]

true!

 

 

 

Thanks Lewis, that's really appreciated. I'm going to get the hose on it at the weekend to see if i can try and trace it. I'll clean the sunroof drain channels and see how i get on. Will let you know...

 

Cheers, Jamie

 

Hi Jamie, if the front footwells are 'the most wet' its doubtful the sunroof channels are blocked unless the car was parked on hill, facing forward. Its more likely one of the following;

1. Front screen

2. Door seals

3. Missing or damaged weatherproof plastic behind the door cards

 

chris

[JLewis]

Hi Jamie, if the front footwells are 'the most wet' its doubtful the sunroof channels are blocked unless the car was parked on hill, facing forward. Its more likely one of the following;

1. Front screen

2. Door seals

3. Missing or damaged weatherproof plastic behind the door cards

 

chris

 

Thanks Chris.

 

It was sitting on a slight hill with the nose down.

 

Main carpet sections have been removed together with the over mats. The interior has been dried out. I used both a watering can to pour water over the windscreen, doors, sunroof etc and really doesn't seem to be much of anything coming into the car. I've also used the hose over it when washing today and again not much. There is a slight drip underneath the dashboard so its possibly the front screen. Both screens will be coming out in the spring to have some slight bubbling sorted so that will be the time for new seals. I will also replace the door seals while i'm at it i think.

 

Its all clean though and I'm heading out for a blast while the sun is shining!!

 

Jamie

[JLewis]

the gritter has been out here this week so its time for the clio runabout to hit the road again. Will be strange not using it everyday for a few months as I've quickly got used to having the pleasure of driving it everyday...

 

Jamie

[R2D2]

Thanks Chris.

 

It was sitting on a slight hill with the nose down.

 

Main carpet sections have been removed together with the over mats. The interior has been dried out. I used both a watering can to pour water over the windscreen, doors, sunroof etc and really doesn't seem to be much of anything coming into the car. I've also used the hose over it when washing today and again not much. There is a slight drip underneath the dashboard so its possibly the front screen. Both screens will be coming out in the spring to have some slight bubbling sorted so that will be the time for new seals. I will also replace the door seals while i'm at it i think.

 

Its all clean though and I'm heading out for a blast while the sun is shining!!

 

Jamie

 

Hi Jamie

 

Lovely car - black does look very fine.

 

RE water leaks -

 

Check dem pesky sunroof drains! The front ones can block easy enough at the drain tube elbows (which are visible with the door open just below the corner of the windscreen). When blocked water can back up and will find its way into the front of the cabin. Also check your front fresh air blower dam drain accessible via the luggage compartment. Doors seals and windscreen seals, as noted above, can also be the cause. With the front screen, a stop gap solution can be to use some windscreen sealant (not mastic!!!) injected under the seal with a sealant gun. This stays pliable and works with the seal rather than gluing things together that shouldn't be!

 

Have you checked under the sound proofing behind your rear seats? The "buckets" under the rear seats can collect water from otherwise undetectable leaks due to blocked rear sunroof drains and or leaky rear window seals. Eventually this water sloshes over the rim under the rear seat and onto the floor, usually this "rear" collecting water is dammed by the metal ridge that exists in the floor pan under the front seats and so doesn't always get to the front.

 

Anyway - you'll sort it I'm sure - enjoy!

 

 

Cheers

 

Nathan

[JLewis]

Hi Jamie

 

Lovely car - black does look very fine.

 

RE water leaks -

 

Check dem pesky sunroof drains! The front ones can block easy enough at the drain tube elbows (which are visible with the door open just below the corner of the windscreen). When blocked water can back up and will find its way into the front of the cabin. Also check your front fresh air blower dam drain accessible via the luggage compartment. Doors seals and windscreen seals, as noted above, can also be the cause. With the front screen, a stop gap solution can be to use some windscreen sealant (not mastic!!!) injected under the seal with a sealant gun. This stays pliable and works with the seal rather than gluing things together that shouldn't be!

 

Have you checked under the sound proofing behind your rear seats? The "buckets" under the rear seats can collect water from otherwise undetectable leaks due to blocked rear sunroof drains and or leaky rear window seals. Eventually this water sloshes over the rim under the rear seat and onto the floor, usually this "rear" collecting water is dammed by the metal ridge that exists in the floor pan under the front seats and so doesn't always get to the front.

 

Anyway - you'll sort it I'm sure - enjoy!

 

 

Cheers

 

Nathan

 

Thanks Nathan, thats appreciated. Hadn't looked under the rear seats so will need to have a look at that as well.

 

Cheers, Jamie

[JLewis]

Its now tucked away in secure storage for a couple of weeks and is keeping company with some extremely nice machinery at the storage company! Sold my mini last night so hopefully will have the garage cleared and ready for the 911 to come home in the next week or so. I've got a few small jobs i want to do to it over the winter so looking forward to getting started!

 

Jamie

[JLewis]

spent most of yesterday clearing out the garage so just about ready to collect the 911 from storage. Couldn't believe the amount of junk cluttering up the garage. Our A6 Avant was stuffed full on the way to the skip!

 

Another week or so and it'll be out of storage and tucked away in the garage for the winter...

[JLewis]

A couple of weeks longer in storage than originally planned, however it was collected yesterday and is now tucked away in our recently cleared garage. Great to have it home!!

 

[JLewis]

snow and ice has thawed (albeit briefly - due back next week!) so it was out today for a quick blast and then back for a session with the power wash. Couldn't believe the amount of dirt and crud which came out from the arches! All salt removed, cleaned, dryed and back in the garage.

 

Really do love this car!

 

Jamie