Inspecting a 1984-'89 Porsche 911 Carrera: Everything you need to know 

Nathan - you have out done yourself with this vid! Your Porsche nerdiness is your super power!

Holy Moly- I have an 88 Carrera Coupe with 109,9xx on her. I’ve owned her for 8 years and watching this video is THE most comprehensive information I’ve seen. Thank you SO MUCH for your time and dedication. I ran out to the garage a dozen times looking at her. Now I need a third job so I can start saving for many, many projects.

This is now the 3.2 reference! Thanks

What a beautiful Porsche. That year and in targa is such a classic look

My life long dream of Porsche ownership is finally coming to fruition. This was very informative and enjoyable to watch. Aloha from Hawaii! 🤙🏽

I’m considering buying an air cooled 911 of this vintage. I’ve learned more from this video and Nathan’s other videos than any other source out there. Great presentation style. Definitive stuff!

As an original owner of a 1985 Carrera Targa, I have enjoyed putting every one the 281,000 miles on it to date and have only used four Porsche specialists in the life of the car do any service or maintenance. I say four of them because finding those knowledgeable guys is very hard and they tend to retire or pass away as the years go by. I have to say I thought they were passionate and knowledgable about 911's but your two videos show casing the 3.2 liter models just blows my mind. Your presentations are show stoppers and the breadth of your knowledge of the history, details of manufacturing and eye for details down to the bolt heads is just stunning. You sir are in class all by yourself.....thank you for the mesmerizing master class.

kudos. Nathan is a tremendius resource & asset. His videos will become the reference point going forward. Improving the community, for the future of the hobby. A+

You’re hired ! Great info dry ice really something else. Good luck with the sale!

Great video! Really helpful information not only for a 3.2, but also for any Porsche with a little age on it. Thank you for taking the time to make these.

Nice job by the cameraman.

I have an 88 Cabriolet, great video, learned heaps.

Well done, my kinda of guy that's fanatical about the details. The number one item missing on this series of cars and the 964 and 993 is the black plastic plug covering the side view mirror bolt. The second most missing item on the 3.2 is the black cap over the fan nut. Thank you for all!

Outstanding! Very important information, what is mandatory work on a low milage car. Thanks so much for this.

That black car is immaculate 😍

Such valuable information! Absolutely outstanding!

Love my 87 Carmine Red Targa. 91k miles and it’s never seen a rain drop or a snowflake. Rehabbed 2 yrs ago. 35k. Tons of rock chips on the side mirrors, front valence and a few on the bonnet. I’m sure I’ll have it for 26 more years.

If you mentioned corner balancing it escaped me.

best vintage Porsche Video I've ever seen! I've learnt so much I wish I had known before starting to refurbish my 930.

That was a big bill for service

Awesome! Thank you for taking the time and effort to share all of this information.

This is a great video! Thanks.

Excellent content. Can’t wait for the 964 edition!

Great video as always. Thank you!!! I think it would be extremely helpful to show a car that actually has some issues instead of trying to show what could go wrong on a car that looks 100% perfect in all aspects.

I was in the club when these cars were new. Reisentoter region.

Just an f.y.i. for the ocd afflicted, those rubber drain plugs at 23:58 are no longer available through Porsche. They are also labeled VW and are available aftermarket with no writing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. It is a direct flashback to my Uncle Lew. Only a few chosen people can appreciate fine German Engineering at its best. To have grown so extremely knowledgeable with Porsche 911s is so much more than a hobby. Having a 911 is like losing a lot of weight. It isn't the diet, it's a life style change... Too bad as close as I got so far was a 1987 944. It sounded like a helicopter downshifting around corners. It seems like torque tubes need replacement a few times in a 944's life time. Not to mention, unless the 944 is a turbo, half the time you want to open the driver's door and help scooter the car along...LOL

Excellent video. I bought a 9k mile M491 car a couple of years ago that had been sitting for almost 20 years. My first Pcar. I was waiting to see if you replaced the shifter and steering bushings! Mine were dust. What a wonderful car. Your videos are fantastic. Thank you.

Nathan , great video! caught my first 3.2 Carrera based on your first video. Now use this video to take great care of my 1988ROW32! Thank you!

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing 🙌

Had my 3.2 since 2017. Did like 25k+ very happy kilometers since then. Had some doubts about the fuel lines, some of the hoses looked fresh, but still, fuel lines were on a to-do list when the engine will be out. Now, went to have look at the color of plating. Not only it's yellow, turns out the date code was just in front of me for the whole time - 02/85 (!!!) That's it, parking the car, calling the mechanic for the appointment and ordering a new set. Kinda sad, the warm/dry season is not long where I live, and it will likely take most of it, but at least now I know. THANK YOU!

Nice biceps Nathan! 💪 And great content! Thank you 🙏

Thanks for the helpful video! Can you tell me what kind of wheels are on the blue Porsche in the background?

Great vid thanks for sharing including your feelings along with the technical details, it is valuable, best wishes.

Wow that 89' is amazing! Always informative Nathan, Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.

Love these videos! And, wow, I had no idea the S-02 was on Carreras. I thought it was introduced on the 993 TT. Loved those tires in the rain....

Thank you so much for another insightful and informative video. I’m hoping to eventually know enough to have the courage to buy one.

Loved the video. Thank you so much. I am presently helping a friend restore a 1989 911 Carrera convertible with a 3.3 turbo engine, so this was super helpful. It is in relatively good condition but sadly the hood has a 2 inch long tear just above the drivers seat headrest and the plastic back window is badly perished. The difference in the plating colour between the new and old fuel lines is quite interesting and could be due to the fact that in the 1980s Porsche and many other car manufacturers used cadmium plating in some metal components, as it offered much better corrosion protection in high temperature areas. Like zinc, some forms of cadmium plating have a yellow appearance. In South Africa, as in Europe, Cadmium plating has been banned as it is hazardous, a known carcinogen and emits toxic fumes during the plating process. It can also leach out over time on old components. So I guess those new silver OEM parts will most likely be using a Zinc/Nickel alloy plating which is the equivalent and much safer replacement to cadmium plating. New plated parts with yellow plating use zinc plating but as this type of plating deteriorates at higher temperatures, such components will be for lower temperature applications like body fasteners and brackets. From personal experience yellow zinc plating is cheaper than silver zinc plating.

INCREDIBLE information! Can’t thank you enough.

Is that a custom cover on the engine bay insulation pad on the 87 Carmine Red Targa? It is covering the factory pad and body colored tabs that are normally exposed!

Wow ...great video! lots of useful information!

This video is incredible. thank you!

The nerdery! Love it!!!

Such incredible information. Now i know my beloved 3.2 anniversary hotrod is a compete frakenstein and I'm going to drive the brakes off of her.

Look no further than this,if you re buying a 911 3.2. As a 911 SC owner I really am in debited to the Original 911 book by Peter Morgan.With that book this info here you just cannot go wrong plus of course the expert inspection.The 911 3.2 is a very good car indeed.

Hey Nathan, are the zip-ties on the throttle cable of the black car original equipment? Another extremely informative video. Thank you.

Any chance of doing a vid whereby you have a car with some of the imperfections You speak of...maybe been there, done that?

I own a 1987 Carrera convertible And I love it Aircool life😎😎😎👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾 Awesome video 📹 👏 👌 👍

super interesting - thanks Natan and PCA. It’s funny that there is no comparably good channel in Germany that sticks in such details; … come on lazy Germans 😅😢 Or any recommendations for such german channels and deep reviews?

Made me miss 88! I do love the 997 though;) Great video!

1987 Porsche 911 owner since 1991 - surprised the hard rubber section that runs across the door sill where you step into the car (when opened) didn't shrink by and inch or so! also the rubber and the material attached to the rubber between the Targa roll bar and window didn't show wear? were they replaced? have recently been treating my rubber seals with a Honda silicon lubricant someone recommended at a PCA event, supposed to keep it pliable. Other areas that seem to wear are the plastic parts near the door and the arm rest (crack). The odometer plastic gear part also fails eventually, had to get that replaced last year when I reset my trip meter while driving after a gas fill up 😥. Single coat paint, have only waxed once a year with Zymol (Carnauba Bees wax) and even when treading lightly the Guard Red paint comes off slightly. So I use Maguire's Ultimate quick wax every other year, which doesn't remove any paint. great video - helpful.

hi, why dit you change the original fuchs rims? what size and number are the new rims and what size are the tires, all measurements please, thanks in advance Rob D from the netherlands

What’s your thoughts on PPF on an original paint Ruby red metallic color car that you intend to drive?

45:19 Are those zip ties original holding the cruise control cable?

Why do some 964 targas have the the vent slats on the targa bar but the vast majority dont. I know all the 3.2s have them and my 964 has them too but most don't and are smooth..Looking for a definitive answer. Thanks

Ceramics on classic cooled original paint is the single BEST protection method for original OEM paintwork. Paintwork is perfected with artisan touch which carefully removes impurities such as oils and metal as well as oxidation. It then creates on a molecular level a smoother and smoother OEM paint which creates gloss and shine ✨ this increased smoothness itself protects the paintwork from re accumulating contaminants. The Ceramics is only about 5% of the work while 95% is in the paint preparation. The ceramics then protect the work that has been done on the paintwork as well as well as add an intelligent perpetual system of care that can take these cars into the next century. I respect this guy, but he’s no paint restoration specialist, and ceramics IS currently the best Preservation for your irreplaceable original OEM Porsche paint. There is absolutely no reason to justify the preservation of scratches and environmental contamination, especially if it is detrimental to long term care of your classic Porsche. The Real answer is… -Take special care in choosing your paint restoration specialist -As well the type of ceramics you apply, which should only be whatever is currently the highest level of protection on the market. This would be professional level ceramics specifically 10 yr + coatings. Otherwise basically Every time you take that beautiful classic car out for a drive, come back, inspect and count the new rock chips and paint damage. Some protection is critical, in fact whenever I buy a new classic Porsche I definitely protect the paintwork. Check out some of my work☝️ And I’ll change your opinion about ceramics and modern professional level cosmetic preservation restoration. Again Absolutely No Reason To cherish and preserve Scratches and Contamination In original OEM paintwork Rather care for it and restore it to preserve for another 100 yrs… My professional opinion And holder of several record Porsche sales… There is absolutely No 👎 Way Top Level Paint Restoration-and Ceramics, will take away from your classic Porsche either in value or joy… But we all have opinions ☝️ Some like tee shirts & jeans Others prefer an impeccable suit & tie…

More excellent content from Nathan. Thank you. My '86 Targa did not have the lift points illustrated here. Was that added later in the production cycle for '86 models?

Could you do one on 944 S2/Turbo?

I see polish in seems, which of course says it’s been polished, which then begs the question 🙋🏻‍♂️… why…why would you not protect your polishing work with ceramics 🤔 Anyways Point made!

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