Question about Euro spec SC

[SpeedracerIndy]

Since I do not have access to my 911 for about a week, all I can do is look at pictures and think of things I want to do to it. I'm probably going to get home with a laundry list of things to do that would cost as much as the car.

Anyway my question is reguarding my 81 Euro SC. When Euro spec cars were imported I know a host of things had to be done when they were federalized. What I know of is: front corner lights, rear light covers changed to red, added cat, possible changing of windshield to a laminated type, speedometer changed to mph, and side impact door beams added. The side impact door beams are what concern me. I know that they were not always added and when they were, it usually hacked the car pretty good which is one reason Euro's go for pretty cheep compared to US spec. How do you tell if you have them? Looking at my door jam, I do not see anything that indicated them. On the inside (toward the front of the car) door jam, there is nothing that is extra. However, on the catch side (toward the rear of car) of the door there is a small (about 1.5" x 1") black plastic piece with two hex head screws in it. This is the only thing that does not look stock. Could this be where the beams were added? Or what else could this mean? Also, what other things were done to federalize Euro spec cars when entering the US? Thanks for any replies.

[Bill Verburg]

Just look at the door as in this pic. A marks the aft end of the NSHTA required door beam, there is a similar bolt at the leading edge of the door

[cmonref]

You would not have had to change anything on the engine -- including the cat you mention -- if the car was imported prior to July 1, 1987 and the car was five years old. An '82 would have qualified under the rules that were in effect then. If imported later than 7/1/87, I understand that full compliance with emmissions laws would have been required.

Also, a VIN plate readable from outside the car would be required, "fireproofing" of the fabric in the seats (a "spray-on" treatment), replacement of bumper mounts with shock-absorbsion units (the ROW mounts were solid bars with no telescoping/shock-absorbtion), US-legal bumperettes in the rear (the ROW ones are quite small), US-license plate holders front and rear, and US sealed beam headlights (required new headlight trim).

The ROW cars did not have night-lights in the hazard warning switch.(the bulb was there but not hooked up).

Back then, Porsche used all US-approved glass, so no new glass should have been required.

[thabaer]

One of my horror stories revolves around the black iron pipe that was screwed into my doors when federalized. The exterior evidence was black hex-head screws, two at the rear and one inside the front edge that all began rusting almost immediately.

I'd recommend going ahead and pulling the door panels to check the window mechanism for cuts or other damage, the idiots actually cut off an entire arm of one of my regulators!

Other things off the top of my head (April '84):
- it didn't get a cat added to the exhaust
- the red tail lenses are an improvement over orange on a red body
- a VIN sticker on the A-pillar (cheap glue let it escape out the window)
- a key buzzer cable-tied to the brake master cylinder
- kept the H4s!
- no bumper change kept small bumpers
- windshield gasket wasn't new an shiny, so prob no new glass
- had to make my own license plate adapters, the rear euro holder had siezed screws so left it on


hmmm, 20 years, can't remember what else...

[1980SC]

Here is a shot of the 4 mounting bolts for my door bars (euro '80)



Sorry it's not a clear picture. They are allen head bolts, each with a stripe of white paint sealing them where they meet the door.

I've had both doors apart to fix the power windows, and my door bars look factory installed. If not, someone did an excellent job installing them. How are the bars attached in the USA cars? Did the euro cars ever get them?

Rob
198SC euro

[SpeedracerIndy]

Thanks for the replies. I'm still not sure if I have the door beams or not. I have a small square with two hex head bolts in it, but it is much lower than all the ones in these pictures. When I get back in town I will take off my door panel and check things out. Mine must have been imported prior to 87 because I have the small bumperettes and H4's. I didn't know that there were that many differences. So, since Porsche used US glass, does that mean I have laminated windshield?

edit: I also do not have anything that would indicate a door beam at the leading edge of the door.

[ZAMIRZ]

Hmm, interesting. I have two allen head screws in the driver's side jamb similar to Rob, but they're placed much lower. they're about at the level of the black cap at the bottom.

[SpeedracerIndy]

OK, so what could the hex head screws near that black cap in the trailing edge of the door be? I have nothing in the leading edge of my door to indicate a door beam.

Bill: What wheels do you have on your car? Do you have any pics of them?