The 951 Combustion Diary (or "How I got a 911")

[Porsche-O-Phile]

As some of you know, I had the recent displeasure of having my 951 explode into flames whilst enroute to (of all things) meet up with a couple of local Pelicanites for a beer after work a few weeks ago. As a result of this, I ended up in a predictable wrestling match with my insurance company (I'll summarize the outcome of that in a moment). I appreciate all the help, input, good wishes and outpourings of support from everyone on here. I really appreciate it. That said, this story has a happy ending so I hope you'll read along. . .

To summarize the insurance situation (and the reasons I couldn't really talk about it up until now), there was a big hangup over whether or not my policy was subject to what's called a "U137 Exclusion". Basically "newer cars" have any comprehensive claims (including fire) settled based on "fair market value, determined by book value, comps, etc. "Older cars" (they never defined exactly what constitutes this), a made-up number is assigned to the car as far as a "value". This number is, as best I can tell, backed by nothing. It has nothing whatsoever to do with book, fair market value or anything else that I can tell. The insurance company couldn't even tell me where it came from. In the case of my 951, the "value" stated was $4900 - considerably less than what the "fair market value" of the car was (I estimated in the neighborhood of $9,500 to $10,000). As a point of note, I strongly suggest that everyone on here check their policies to see if some sort of similar "value" has been assigned to your vehicle(s) so you don't have to go through the kind of screaming matches and arm-twisting that I did.

My wife is the one that actually deals with our insurance agent - I actually don't think I've ever met our agent (I've spoken with her on the phone I think once in 10 years). My wife is the one who tends to have occasional time off during the day (I don't), so it's logical that she handle that kind of stuff. It turns out that way back when I bought the 951, she and our agent did have a discussion about the car's value. There was a form I was supposed to have signed, which basically said that I agreed to the "U137" value. I never signed this. Whether the agent never gave it to my wife, my wife lost it or whatever, the outcome is the same - I never saw the form and never signed it (and frankly, I never would have even if I HAD seen it - there is no way I ever would have agreed to $4900 as the value of the car). So the reason I couldn't discuss this here on Pelican was that I wasn't sure whether or not the insurance company was going to try and use my failure to sign the form as a grounds for denying coverage. I repeatedly just threw it back on them, telling them I refused to accept the $4900 as the value of the car and was willing to inundate them with receipts and comps until the end of time which would prove it was worth considerably more than that. I told them (repeatedly) that the burden of proof was on THEM (not me) to prove that I had agreed to this bogus, arbitrary $4900 payout amount. I told them that when they could present me with a copy of the signed form that said I agreed to that value, I'd capitulate (knowing they'd never be able to present it, since I'd never signed it).

They have finally admitted that I was NOT subject to a U137 exclusion (probably when - surprise, surprise - they couldn't present a copy of any form signed by me agreeing to their bogus undervaluation). So long story short, even though the policy SAYS "4900" on it, unless the form is signed, it doesn't mean anything. I'd still recommend that people check their policies and don't take any chances, however.

The insurance company, upon realizing they had nothing to hang their hats on as far as my agreeing to a value about 50% of the "fair market value" of the car, finally reached a settlement value with me a lot closer to where I wanted to be. They are also letting me recover my 911 RSA sport seats and the Fuchs wheels (and a few other things) from the car, so I'm satisfied with the total value of what I'm getting as a settlement - check amount plus parts. I'm actually ending up okay and I'm actually pleased with the outcome, although I had to go through a LOT of hell to get to this point.

So that's the good news. I have to (unfortunately) go visit my baby in the morgue (auto auction yard) this coming week to strip those various parts off her, which I'm sure will be a less-than-pleasant experience. I will then thank her for the good memories and say my final goodbye. . . and hope that her remains go to enable other 951s to live on for many more years, bringing many more "turbo-induced smiles" to their owners.

As a result of this experience, I have to admit I've been somewhat turned off to 944s in general - at least to the later models which run the fuel lines over the exhaust headers from the passenger's side fenderwell. I've always thought this was an idiotic design flaw on Porsche's part, especially given that they "got it right" on the early cars (the fuel lines run up the middle of the body, straight up over the bellhousing and back of engine to the fuel rail - never crossing above the hot exhaust headers or the primary electrical wires on the early cars). While I'm not sure EXACTLY what caused the combustion of my 951, I'm sure this fuel line routing didn't help matters any, even if it wasn't the outright cause. I did note that the fuel lines had separated from the metal-to-rubber connection points due to the heat of the fire once the FD had put the fire out, so either one of the hoses split or failed in some way, causing the fire (although I saw no direct evidence of this) or there was an initial fire in that area (I sort of suspect there might have been an electrical fire or related problem first) to the point the hose eventually failed from heating, turning a small/isolated fire into an inferno. Either way, I'm done with cars that have this particularly stupid design/routing for the fuel lines. If I ever DID get another 951, I'd re-route the lines and/or replace them with steel braided ones IMMEDIATELY. It's probably not a bad idea anyway as Wayne and a few others have pointed out, since the crap they're passing off as gasoline these days has a lot of additives and blended stuff in it that can be harsh on rubber fuel lines and seals. . . Just a word to the wise.

Ironically I had a set of brand new steel braided lines sitting at home, just waiting to be installed. I hadn't gotten around to putting them on the 951 because when they came from the place I ordered them from (no names), they were missing one of the compression fittings. It was on my "to do" list to follow up with them and try to get them to send me a new fitting so I could upgrade them, but it simply never got done - I had no reason to suspect the lines were bad (I checked them) so it got deferred.

So the 951 is gone. I'm selling my 85.5 n/a 944 as soon as I can get some pics of it taken and list it on Craigslist. I'm probably selling my motorcycle too (given the luck I've been having, it's probably wise to stay off bikes for a while). That leaves my Callaway 944, which I haven't decided what to do with. I may sell it and be done with 944s entirely. . . not sure yet. I'm waiting to see if I can make myself get excited about it again, but it's slow going and everytime I see the 944, I just think "all that hard work - it can just go 'kaboom' and be gone in seconds - just like my other one".

So it left me in a dilemma. . . what to do? What should I do for a P-car fix, now that my love for 944s has been altered forever and even my one-of-a-kind Callaway project might be over for me if I've "lost the love" for 944s in the foreseeable future?

Well. . .

I started looking around. And thinking. And talking to people. I realized I had a "hole in my soul" that only a Porsche would fix, so I looked some more. And thought about it some more. And finally I realized that I needed to find a way to turn this whole unpleasant negative experience into a positive one and rekindle (perhaps a bad choice of words. . .) my love for the Porsche marquee again.





So I bought a 911.

I'm picking it up in a couple of weeks (have to get it shipped out here, it's not a "local" car). Here are some pics the seller took - I can't wait!!!





I've done it.

I have joined the dark side.

And I won't be signing any "U137 Exclusion forms" for this one either.

Went out and bought Wayne's book last night and I'm reading up all I can on the nuances and "things to look for" on 911s. I have much to learn - it certainly isn't any 944! Quite a different design, but I'm looking forward to getting into it and keeping it in tip-top shape. I'll post more details in a few weeks when I get it home and have a chance to go over it with a fine-toothed comb, but I'm pretty stoked right now. The anticipation is actually motivating me to drive my remaining 944 (the Callaway) more and consider keeping it after all and seeing the project through. Only time will tell if I do, but I expect the experience of "going air cooled" will be a positive and cathartic one in wake of a miserable end to my 951 days.

The real test will be to see if I get that "big ****-eating grin" on my face from the howl of that flat-six at redline that I used to get from the "slam-you-back-in-your-seat" boost kicking in on the 951. We shall see, but my expectations are high.

[slodave]

Ah, a Targa. The true darkside . Looks like a very nice 911. Enjoy, they are fun!

Dave

[livi]

That is great! Good to see that you have finally move up to the top of the line - to live the legend, as it were.

[BeerBurner]

Congrats on the 911! Some day I'll have one of my own...

BB.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Congratulations Jeff! Car looks beautiful. A month in and you'll wonder what you saw in 944s. Good luck.

[Noah930]

Congrats. It looks beautiful. These next couple weeks are going to pass by soooo veeerrrryyy sloooowwwwlllyyyyy.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Silver lining my friend, silver lining. From someone that has owned both, I think you'll find that while the 911 does not have a incredible acceleration of the 951, it has a lot more soul. Don't sweat it, you'll get that same grin, just at more legal speeds.

[VINMAN]

Congrats Jeff ! Good luck with her.

[azasadny]

Jeff,
Excellent news! Congratulations!! I'm glad some good was able to be made out of a bad situation.

[CJFusco]

Congrats. Even though I consider myself a "944 guy", this has a lot to do with financial situation. I love the 944 series, but I have driven 911s and do want one some day.

This episode makes me very paranoid about my car. I am wondering if I should buy some of that exhaust wrap for my headers around the area of the fuel lines, in order to keep temps down?

[Gene Wilkes]

Black cabs RULE! Congrats! More pics please!

[Tim Hancock]

Congrats Jeff! I just put my my '87 951 on the lift this morning to pull the power steering rack for rebuild/reseal and to hopefully replace a bad bearing on my AC clutch. My 951 had been parked 2 years ago after an extensive repaint (my wife was hassling me for how many cars we insure/register). I have been driving my '79 SC for the past two years and while it was always my dream car and I love it dearly, the return to the boost of the 951 and more modern feel has been pleasant for the last two weeks I have had it out. Your new 911 WILL "feel" doggier, but I am guessing you will like it.....completely different animals!

[thamlin000]

Congrats on the outcome and the new 911 purchase, love those fuchs. Enjoy it.

My advise is to keep the 944. I go back and forth between driving a 993 and an early 944. Different beasts in their own great way.

[WolfeMacleod]

Congrats!

Looking forward to seeing your reports on the new car when you get it. Would also be interedted in seeing your opinions on the driving differences of the 911 vs 944, and you've stepped up to the 911 like I have...and have conflicted feelings about it. I wrote an article for our local PCA mag on the 911 vs 944 after my first 911 Autocross...

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by CJFusco

Congrats. Even though I consider myself a "944 guy", this has a lot to do with financial situation. I love the 944 series, but I have driven 911s and do want one some day.

This episode makes me very paranoid about my car. I am wondering if I should buy some of that exhaust wrap for my headers around the area of the fuel lines, in order to keep temps down?

There's a kit out there with longer SS lines, that re-routes the fuel lines around the exhaust manifold. I don't know if heat wrap would work, it only takes contact with a single hot bit to cause combustion. You SHOULD check it out though, Jeff's car is not the first to go up in flames. I saw it happen several times on RL during my 951 days. I replaced my lines with new rubber ones, because I was too poor for the nice SS kit.

[many944s]

Congrats...
A very nice choice!

[DanielDudley]

Have a fun Fall !!!

[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

There's a kit out there with longer SS lines, that re-routes the fuel lines around the exhaust manifold. I don't know if heat wrap would work, it only takes contact with a single hot bit to cause combustion. You SHOULD check it out though, Jeff's car is not the first to go up in flames. I saw it happen several times on RL during my 951 days. I replaced my lines with new rubber ones, because I was too poor for the nice SS kit.

If I remeber correctly, fuel falling onto a hot exhaust won't just ignite. It needs something else to do that, such as a spark from a breaking down plug wire for example. Oil or brake fluid onto the exhaust on the otherhand goes straight up - don't ask me how I know!

The Stainless braided lines I got for the '84 944 were 24" long and came with the compression fittings to join them onto the hard fuel lines. I don't think these are available on Pelican, but I won't post the name of the company I got them from without Wayne's approval. For the early car I did need to buy a male/male adaptor to join the line to the fuel rail, but for the $100 dollars or so it cost me I though it was better than Jeff's experience as the other possible option.

Anyhow, congratulations on the 911 Jeff. I'm sure you'll enjoy it every bit as much as you think you will. It's good to know that the 951 didn't suffer in vain.

[nostatic]

two words: track

oh wait, that's only one word. Let me try again.

one word: track

Sell the Callaway, prep the 911. Slip slide away.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by nostatic

two words: track

oh wait, that's only one word. Let me try again.

one word: track

Sell the Callaway, prep the 911. Slip slide away.

targa's on the track require 2 things:

BK harness bar on the inside

any good strut tower brace under the hood.

strongly recommend:
22/29s
Bilstein sports revalved against the bars
stock sway bars
Elephant Racing bearings front and rear

and a set of fixed backs. Best thing about a targa with fixed seats is you can step in, grab the windshield and lower yourself in.