'77 911 repaint. original yellow or other

surfdag911 · 06-25-2009, 12:33 PM

Hey folks,
I am in the process of painting my 1977 911s (conversion to SC). I have stripped all paint other than inside the front truck and engine compartment. I used PPG PELF two part primer on entire stripped parts. Body work (needed very little) on top and then PPG DP primer on that. Car is ready to be blocked and painted.

??Here is the big question I've been pondering on for the past 8 months while working on this project.??

The car was a very nice light yellow. lots of white. Here are a few pictures before any work was done.

I was thinking of pulling the motor and all front trunk innards changing the color. Maybe a bright light silver or darker silver heavy black metallic.

I'm reaching out for some advise..

Thanks,

Dave

Jim Dorociak · 06-25-2009, 05:48 PM

My thoughts are if the whole car was in pretty good condition (paint) and you can get away without painting the very difficult areas I would paint the original color. Time period correct colors that are freshly painted are really nice to see on the road. However in the end it is your car to do as you see fit and enjoy. At least you got a fully galvanized body and the late style pumpers. How is your drive train? Jim

surfdag911 · 06-25-2009, 06:23 PM

Hi Jim,
Thanks for the reply. The restore on the car in all cosmetic. No Rust!! Thankfully. I have restored my MG 4 times all metal rust issues.

the trans is strong in all but 3rd. When I bought it I had an issue with 3rd gear popping out while coasting. I made slight adjustments but have not had a really good chance to test my work. I went straight to the restoration. Open for fix it suggestions.

Do you think (if properly done) the change in color Will effect resale?

Thanks,

Dave

Jim Dorociak · 06-25-2009, 06:53 PM

Dave - forget about resale. Seriously it is yours, once done you have pride in the job, it is a quality automobile that will bring miles of smiles. After the paint job, you will probably mess with tires and wheels, the interior, and most importantly your drive train. A nice SC/Carrera have been known to go 300,000 miles and up. Nobody has to know the exact year your car is, what they will do is marvel at its glory as you build it. These are great cars, space out your projects do it right and then it will not have to be done again. The transmission in your car is a stout tranny and when you have it rebuilt it will last another 15 years I bet. Same goes with the engine, actually most people upgrade to either a 3.0 SC or 3.2 Carrera engine instead of rebulding the 2.7 in your car. Better case, more hp, lives longer, ,more torque and they live forever. Jim
There are some great threads in the other sections where the guys restore/backdate their car. Do some searches if you have not already.
Remember to post pictures as it is what we all live for.

surfdag911 · 06-27-2009, 11:38 AM

Great Advice. I will have some new pictures posted soon. I have been looking at a few 3.0 Sc engines. Have you heard of anyone having luck with turbo charging the 2.7??

Jim Dorociak · 06-27-2009, 11:59 AM

Probably the best bang for the buck is a 3.2 as it has a more modern motronic fuel injection over the cis of the 3 litre. Sure you can turbo charge almost anything - but it will get expensive and you do not want to build a ticking time bomb. The aluminum case 2.0, 3.0 or 3.2 cases are the best to build on. You save money at the machine shop without the issue of the 2.7 mag case and their age. Port sizes are larger and these are the engines that seem to last forever.
Bruce Anderson has a very nice book - great reading Porsche 911 Performance handbook.

Jim

rogman · 07-25-2009, 01:21 PM

im with jim do what makes you happy.....im in the middle of a full restoration on my 72 E and the original color was sepia brown......yikes!!! im told from a dollar vaule it does not matter much many pelicans have said.....i will say there is a cost and or time of pulling motors etc if you can live with the original color then i would go for it!!!

honestly if my car were your color i would have rolled with it!!!!!!! best of luck....

roger

Jim Dorociak · 07-25-2009, 01:29 PM

Many years ago, my first 911 was a 72T Targa painted the light pale yellow. Beautiful car and compared to my first 914-4 a rocket ship. Funny how so many now want the older look on their 911 before the crash bumpers in 74. Jim
Keep us up to date.

yel911 · yel911's Garage

My 74 911, when I bought it, was white. When I got into it, I found the original color to be the "light yellow" which is what I went back to. Back then, I thought it should be original, but the yellow was so bright, it grew on me. Best choice I made, then it got a 3.2 motor, because selling my running 2.7 for $2500 with SSI's and adding $2700 to it, got me a 1988 3.2!!! Boy, you've gotta love torque.... then the steel flares, Fikse wheels.... want me to go on??