997 Tandem pump covers

[Roundm]

Hi,

I've read loads about the only piece of ungalvanised mild steel in the engine bay of a 997.1 - the Tandem pump cover and how these need replacing.

I've also found apc making an aluminium replacement cover - and a plastic one (and 9m a stainless one) with negative comments about how aluminium and stainless behave as bearing surfaces - but the comments don't seem to be from anyone with real experience of using any of these covers.

So - has anyone tried one of these replacement covers? - which seem to have nice properties (half the price of a pump and no corrosion problems) but I struggle to find any real knowledge.

looking at the design911 website - http://www.design911.co.uk/fu/pt856_859_2366_-cma8...

you seem able to buy replacement pump innards but not the cover separately (I assume therefore you reuse the cover - which is the bit that rusts!)

any tips here (please!) and thanks

Mark

[STiG911]

I've been trying to find out more about this myself, just because I'm interested.

I've found that there are a number of suppliers selling either replacement covers, or entire pumps. Basically, everyone agrees that it rusts and will need working on at some point or other.
The guy on 911uk.com seems happy with his 9m cover (fitted about two years ago) and the UK chap seems to be doing his due diligence in the types of material best suited to use for replacement covers given where it is sited on the engine.
For my tuppence, I'd say if it's corroded but not life-threateningly bad, rub it down gently and paint in heat resistant paint. If it's beyond saving, get a new punp fitted after coating the cover in some heat resistant paint.

[Roundm]

Stig

Thanks for the reply - It's not leaking at the moment - although I haven't finished buying the car yet, so can't really poke and prod too much

I was thinking of cleaning loose rust off and trying to treat it with something containing phosphoric acid as I seem to remember my school chemistry teacher saying something along the lines that it will convert iron 2 oxide into iron phosphate and that the second is impermeable to air (and so will prevent further rusting). I think you can paint over this layer.

However the idea of a plastic or aluminium cover instead of the pressed steel original is appealing - if it works. 9m seem to have no more stainless covers in stock - and didn't indicate when any might be forthcoming - which makes me suspicious that they were not successful somehow. The others seem new and there seems little experience with them - hence my post.

Hopefully an engine builder might comment (someone from Hartech if I'm lucky) with knowledge of these - pros/cons and perhaps life expectancy and failure mode would be a complete pic.

fingers crossed someone has tried one/some of these.

Mark

[YoungMD]

I have a 997 and am very interested in the answer but can add little other than mine is rusty too, very but not leaking ...

[Andy 222]

I had exactly the same thought process. I was going to get a 9M cover and have a local garage fit the thing, but as you say there were none in stock (10 months ago) which is obviously still the case. So I ended up just taking it to the OPC and having a replacement fitted.

[Bullet-Proof_Biscuit]

Chief ancient post excavator here.

Wondering if Theresa latest best fix for tandem pump cover replacement? Aftermarket aluminium / stainless are successful?

Mine is quite bad...



Beers!

[Roundm]

Hi. I have an aluminium cover replacement on my current 997.1tt. I never actually had to replace the tandem pump on my previous 987.1 or 997.1

Having said which - the tt came with it already fitted and it’s given no reason to doubt it at all in the 9k Miles I’ve done since getting the car (and it looks nice into the deal - I’m a sucker for brushed ally).

[Bullet-Proof_Biscuit]

Roundm said:

Hi. I have an aluminium cover replacement on my current 997.1tt. I never actually had to replace the tandem pump on my previous 987.1 or 997.1

Having said which - the tt came with it already fitted and it’s given no reason to doubt it at all in the 9k Miles I’ve done since getting the car (and it looks nice into the deal - I’m a sucker for brushed ally).

Thanks, where did you source the aluminium aftermarket covers?

Cheers

[hermes]

https://alternativecarparts.co.uk/shop/997-porsche...

Not sure if they still produce them however.

[Roundm]

Bullet-Proof_Biscuit said:

Thanks, where did you source the aluminium aftermarket covers?

Cheers

I didn’t - it came with the car. Although the part was from ACP as per Hermes answer

[Steve Devaney]

I fitted an ACP billet cover to my 997.1T a couple of years ago.
No issues to date and the quality of the part is first class (supplied with S/S fixings too). When compared to the cheap pressed piece of rubbish fitted to the pump originally, it's a no-brainer.