Porsche 911S (early to mid 70's) Questions
 

Hey everyone, frequent motor forum lurker here:

I'm looking to purchase a 911S (hoping to find a decent 1972-73), but seeing that it's an older car, there is the possibility for some pitfalls.

I'm going to start heavy inquiries to car ads that I find in magazines and the 'net...are there any specific trouble spots you guys can think of with older cars that I should ask about?

I mean, I know 'rust in the wheel well', 'clutch', 'tranny', etc

but are there any specific 1972-73 era issues to look out for? perhaps parts that wear out quicker than others that I should see if they've been replaced?

Or should I take this to a porsche forum?

Any help would be appreciated guys!

If it all works out, i'll post pics :D

Oh, the purpose of the buy is for enjoyment of an older porsche, original parts is not a must.

i own an old bmw (2002tii to be exact) and i would sugest you take the questio to a porsche site as well because i know there were some extremely specific things that i was told to look for and it really helped me find an awsome example not to say the answers aren't here just saying it dosen't hurt to get multiple point of views especially from enthusiasts of that era car also your going to want to find an independent dealer to look over the car for you preferably one who knows porsches real well

good luck and remember so matter how much trouble it is it is worth it to have such a beutiful car

I agree that you should ask a Porsche forum, but I know a little about these cars.

One of the main things to look for is that the timing chain tensioners have been replaced with a newer design. The stock tensioners had a tendency to fail with no warning, but this problem was fixed on later engines, so most people have swapped them out.

Also, I think that the fuel pump usually fails around 100k, but I might be remembering that wrong.

Rust is probably the main issue. These cars had very minimal rust protection from the factory, so they can get pretty bad. Look all over; not just in the wheel wells.

I'd love to hear anything you discover, I've always thought about getting a classic 911 myself - so please, if you do find out anything interesting, let us know.

In the meantime, here's a web-site I go to every now and then just to get the saliva flowing...

http://www.911virgin.com/

The best porsche forum is http://www.rennlist.com
I love the early 911s, it is the coolest car ever.

A big must on that entire generation of Porsches is to check for rust behind the headlight assemblies. The gaskets are known to let water in, where it pools and starts doing damage.

I'm currently looking at a 1975 911S Targa, clear coat is cracking, minor rust along the door where the water run off is. I haven't been able to visually inspect the actual car, only photos. The dealer handles collectible sports cars and what not, my soon to be brother-in-law got his porsche there and my cousin got his porsche there.

The engine has been recently rebuilt, blueprinted, and ported/polished. New transmission and a new clutch.

I've already gotten estimates for redoing the clear coat and handling the rust, as well as a tip to check parts of the undercarriage.

If it has not be done so already, i'll be doing a zinc undercoat on the car.

70k miles on it :D

The interior is in excellent condition, only minor fading on the seats.

I'm setting up an appointment to inspect the car, i'll post pictures when I can.

In the older models, i know of one thing that may aggrivate you if you dont know yet. The older models had a floor hinged clutch, so instead of the cluth being pushed in like in newer cars, it feels like it is pushed more downward. The idea was for faster race style shifting, but i find it very hard at first. Just thought u might wanna know.

My soon to be brother-in-law has a 74 911S, i've driven his, quite fun to drive :D

Alrighty here is the current scoop:

I'm just clearing up the financial end of things and then i'm good to go. I should have the car secured for purchase within the week (hopefully). I'll be providing a list of the work done to the car (there was a full print out of the work done when the engine/tranny/clutch were rebuilt, blueprinted, ported/polished. As well as some of the repair work that's been done. I gave the car the best visual inspection that I could with their mechanic on hand. We raised the car and took a look at the undercarriage, which turned up a few problems that they said they could solve for roughly $1500. (Shocks were leaking, stated that they should be replaced, as well as most of the seals that could be visually inspected). The car is now undergoing their full inspection, electrical blah blah the works to make sure that nothing else is left out. I'll be replacing the tires (the previous owner has a pair from the 80's on it...not safe). One thing that has happened with the car in the 80's and 90's was the airbox was replaced 3-4 times. I'm not sure what the problem is with that or how much of an issue it will be. They stated that the C02 mixture will likely have to be tweaked just a tad as well, (had a rough start).

As members of my family have already bought two cars from this guy, and he's a friend of one of the most respected chicago-area Porsche collector's, my gut is to trust their word. Once the car is purchased it will be taken to another facility where it will get a full check up (free of charge, they offered because my father uses them so frequently). As for rust...the receipts showed 'minor restoration' done on 'outer surfaces' and nothing more was stated in regards to the location. I didn't have a magnet with me so I could not check but as all three of us visually inspected the car we came to the conclusion that the current rust spots on the car (doors only, where the water runs off the bottom and even that is minor) is probably the location of the restoration, or along the lower edges of the car.

The front suspension area was not rusted and seemed secure as well as the rear. The shocks were leaking something that seemed like oil, which they will be replacing upon purchase.

Its a Sea Green Metallic color, with minor clear coat wear that actually blends in with the rest of the car. As I am going to be keeping it in a heated garage for the winter and not driving it in rain for awhile or at all if i can help it, i'm holding off on redoing the clear coat.
Pics will follow in a bit.


If any of the above sounds fishy to the gearheads here, please let me know!

I completely forgot about that question, we did look in the hood compartment and there was nothing out of the oridinary. I'm going back for a round #2 next week with my father and I'll be sure to bring that up!

Well, I haven't posted an update in awhile as i've been hanging out over at rennlist (thanks McG) and working through the details with them.

I've settled on the car, tomorrow we go to put a deposit on it. We're putting roughly 4-5k in repairs/paint. (a near 50-50 split). I'll port some of the techinical data i posted on Rennlist over to here so you guys can check it out. I'll have pics up shortly.

congradts do have fun

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...-FrontView.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...p-SideView.jpg

This is after the paintjob...the outside shots well...I didn't take them so they didn't come out as planned, i'll get some more this weekend though :D

I have just a few things left to handle on the car, we've got to look into replacing one of the Targa locks, price it out and what not. Everything else about the car with the exception of the interior is wonderful. I'm in love with it :D

*note* I'll get some interior photos up this weekend, the seats were recovered sometime awhile back, they're actually really damn nice, just some fading on the driver side. The carpeting is pretty good overall, the edges near the door paneling are bleached from what I can only assume is armor-all. I'm not overly concerned about it, as it's just the interior. I'll have to get new floormats down the road, the current ones are a bit shredded.

I need to give the engine bay a healthy cleansing, so pics of the engine will be up either this week or the next.

That is such a sexy car. I envy you.

nice ride...

my father had one for a few months... factory with dual webbers.. it was nice but he didn't like the high insurance premiums. so he got rid of it.

Next time anyone starts questioning your sexuality in WoW, I'll just tell them about your car. Then there will be no question!

Ok, just kiddin' - serious envy here.

im not a fan of the rear bumper tho, those big black rubber things arent really streamline.

Nice car! Great color, too.

(I like the 928 in the background, too. :thumbsup: )

Me too, another 8-10 years (hopefully, I hope my dad continues driving it for that long) and it'll be mine :D

It was one of the compromises I had to make, i'd rather have a car with the nasty 70's bumpers than a car with somewhat decent mechanicals and a crappy paint job :)

My sister's fiance has a '74 that was converted to dual webbers..sounds MEAN when he's passing :D

haha good point :P

Cool car man, i also love those sexy 928s