1988 Porsche 911 3.2 engine?

Bits of good info here already... Porsche dealers offer a final option in all areas, but you are unlikely to find anyone working there with experience in the air-cooled models. Local PCA resources can probably provide the best referral (followed by Porsche specific online resources like Rennlist or Pelican Parts)...

But since you are asking here: Patrick Motorsports in Phoenix has an excellent reputation, and extensive experience with older Porsche models.

When VW owners ask, I always point them to a local independent, because there are lots of them, they are usually VW trained originally, and it is an easy car to work on.

But with Porsche, independents are more of a risk. I like independents, but I can't recommend one for Porsche work unless I have actually used them before, because it is much harder than working on a VW. And anyone not living in AZ would be unable to answer this. Which leaves the dealers as the next logical choice. They are not cheap, but at least they will do a reasonably good job.

To answer why independents are often better, it is because once a factory trained mechanic gets old enough, they tend to strike out on their own as in independent. Partly because dealers don't value their mechanics enough, because their main goal is really just to sell new cars. Dealers only have mechanics because they are required to by the car maker. But you have less supervision at an independent, so you have to be able to decide on your own how well they know their stuff. It is not hard after a few times, to tell if they are good or not.

This is also why independents tend to be better on older models, and may not get the latest updates, while dealers mostly have young kids who will work for less.

Porsche dealers don't know diddley about older Porsches. Always take them to a qualified independent shop. You'd be NUTS to take an old Porsche to a dealership--they are simply not trained well enough for older models.

Since nobody is answering this, I'll make the obvious observation: take it to a Dealer. Despite all I hear about them charging too much, when I hear people talk about what their independent mechanics charge I'm not that impressed with the savings. And when independents screw up, it seems the Porsche people I know never get satisfaction from that mechanic again.

1. Ask the driver(s) of the most pristine, older 911s where they take their cars.

2. Join PCA and ask fellow AZ members there.