Problems with my 912 - assistance required

[rickk]

Happy New Year all

I took my beloved out on Sunday past (my wife came as well) and have noticed the following:

(1) the car is very sluggish until about 10 miles have been travelled and then it becomes more agile once warm - what could this be? It got quite embarassing when I was travelling up a medium incline at 20mph with my foot flat to the floor!
(2) the brakes are very spongy and on two occasions, I nearly put my foot through the floor to stop (quite scary) - as the journey went on though (I did 100 miles), they functioned better and better - what could be causing this and how best to fix it?
(3) although the gears all function, I need to be doing less than 15mph to go from 3rd to 2nd and it occasionally crunches when going into 1st or reverse - it is a 5 speed box. Any ideas?
(4) I live about 10 miles north of Manchester - where is the best place to take her to get a good service and what is it likely to cost?

The car comes out every fortnight so I would not have thought that any of the above are down to lack of use.

Sorry for 4 questions at once but any assistance, as always, is much appreciated.

Regards

Rick

[Nige]

difficult to give accurate advice:

1)This could be a mixture of things such as carb setup and balanced correctly, is the timing correct, points, plugs, HT leads, clean filters

2) Air in the system, bleed and refresh the fluid, check all pads and any sticking calipers.

3) Could/hopefully badly adjusted clutch cable or gear linkage, getting worse could be the clutch is on its way out, worse still worn synchros/gearbox rebuild, check in that order.

4) Can't help there, but I'm sure someone else will know.

Comes out every fortnight, lack of use depends how many miles you put on it?!

[rickk]

Cheers Nige - I am not mechanically astute so perhaps the best thing is if I get it booked in a reputable old Porsche service centre to advise of the symptoms and let them have a look into each problem.

Advice on a reputable old Porsche service centre in the North West much appreciated..... would rather keep away from main Porsche dealers if possible.

Rick

[912uk]

totaly agree with Nige on this ( which is a 1st )

too many possibilities would need more info on the back ground of the car..

also to add to the list..

Carb linkage setup eg when you put your foot to the floor does the carb flaps open fully or part open

Bad fuel

Fuel filter in the tank need cleaning or replacement..

[hot66]

Agree with Nige on all those points ( Hey Nige you're on a roll )

If you are not far from the M62 try popping along to Strasse as they are west Leeds & Dave Sunderland knows his early cars.

[912uk]

oh sorry you mentioned brakes..

Most prob Master Cylinder £100 and it's a done job..

rebuild the calipers £50 and your have the system all done with new £10 brake fuild ( replace brake lines £35 ) new system

Easy to do..

[hot66]

re Brakes, I'd bleed them 1st to see if this helps. The majority of the time it is air or moisture in teh system. Also replace the brake fluid if it has not been done in the last 2 years or so.

Next I'd check & replace all the flexi pipes. If these are damaged or are failing they can give the symptons you describe.

If these (cheap) solutions have not solved it then look at the callipers & master cylinders

[rickk]

Thanks very much fellas, all advice appreciated. I will give Strasse a ring tomorrow, er make that today with the current time!

One last point, I have spotted an advert in another car magazine I was reading tonight and in there a company called the Engine Shop in Kent are advertising 'Big Bore Thurrock Engines' in capacities of 1776cc/1835cc/1914cc). All in including fitting around £1400.

Would these fit the 912 and if so would they improve performance notably on the standard 1600cc fitted? I definitely want a bit more oomph...

Regards

Rick

[hot66]

IMHO, don't touch those thurrock big bore engines .... I think they are VW ones anyway ..... but there are many many better sources of engines form respected engine builders

[912uk]

I have to agree also some of these VW quick fix engine are not that good. and a start unit when set up and running right is going to give you 90 bhp anyway.. yes if you want more power then a type 4 converstion at a later date would been a good upgrade...

but then you would need the car to stop...

[rickk]

Thanks very much to everyone for the advice. I think I will print out all the suggestions and revise them so I sound knowledgeable when I approach the garage!

90BHP sounds fairly useful for a car the size of the 912 (same BHP as my Dad's Golf!) - to realise I suppose I am best approaching a tuning place first to see what the 912 is producing at the wheels?

Rick