1974 911 targa under 3 ft of water, still runs... Your advice is greatly appreciated

nikos · 07-21-2003, 07:35 PM

First of all,

I want to thank all of guys for giving me good advice on an earlier post I made about a potential 74 911 that doesn't run but has a great looking body.

Anyway, so that is one option.. Buy the 74 911 that is dead but looks nice.

As my luck has it, I found another local 911. It is a 74 targa and 3 weeks ago, during a HUGE flood, it was in a garage and it got drowned. 3 ft of water went through it.... Insurance company put it through an auction with a flood title and this guy bought it.

I looked at the car today. It runs, the interior is OK, but the gauges are acting weird (no sh&^!!)

How risky is it to buy a car that has been submerged in water? It still has the original engine and i drove it around the block... it;s ok.. better than the other one that doesn't turn over I guess....

He has it for $5500, but I got him down to $4500. Now, I need your input to the worst scenario possible or the best scenario

The color of the car is not my style but I am not picky right now.

724doorE · 07-21-2003, 07:55 PM

If I bought a recently wet car, I would take it completely apart and dry it out, otherwise I would expect some bad rust in some odd spots along with a musty stink! This may be the only way you can be sure the electronics can be straightened out as well.

nikos · 07-21-2003, 07:56 PM

I read that only 246 Carrera Targas built in 1974.

Is this true or just ebay lies?

masraum · 07-21-2003, 08:16 PM

If it's a 74 then it's not 100% galvanized. I would be wary of a flood victim. It may not be a bad thing, but for me the risk would be too large. I would pass.

350HP930 · 07-21-2003, 08:24 PM

I would take a blown engine over an early model flood car any day.

Galvanic processes have already begun on the flood car that will never be easily or cheaply addressed. In time you will probably be guaranteed to have body/chassis rust from hell and/or electrical problems galore.

dtw · 07-21-2003, 08:25 PM

There are lots of fun places for that water to sit and fester into unchecked rot...places you can't get to without a reciprocating saw or plasma torch. If you want a car that rusts from the inside out and has inexplicable electrical gremlins, buy an MG. Otherwise, my recommendation would be keep looking.

KevinP73 · 07-21-2003, 08:49 PM

If you want to dry the flooded car out, I'd suggest purchasing one of those portable garage's. You know the big bubble you drive your car into and then inflate it. But instead of inflating it, vacuum all the air OUT. Water boils off in a vacuum.
Let me know what happens if you do try it !!

Garyo4 · 07-21-2003, 10:44 PM

Run Forest........Run....

rob justice · rob justice's Garage

You want one of these beauties:-
http://www.carcoon.co.uk/
It will dry out every nook and cranny within a couple of days.

JackT · 07-22-2003, 04:09 AM

There is a reason the federal government requires a flood title. It doesnt matter what type of car it is, you are probably going to have problems and they are usually electrical. It will never be right.

Jupiter · 07-22-2003, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nikos
I read that only 246 Carrera Targas built in 1974.

Is this true or just ebay lies?

In 1974 only 246 Carrera Targa U.S. were build, but also 433 x Carrera Targa ROW, 898 x 911S Targa and 3110 x 911 Targa. All this according the Porsche 911 red book

nikos · 07-22-2003, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rob justice
You want one of these beauties:-
http://www.carcoon.co.uk/
It will dry out every nook and cranny within a couple of days.

I want to believe.

By the way, you guys are right.. I should try to find a commercial oven and bake the car for a couple days.

rob justice · rob justice's Garage

Those carcoon's are pretty common over here - with the damp atmosphere and 360 days of rain per year - its the only way to make older cars last.
One of my mates has a Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1 - I've seen him jet wash the car - place it in the carcoon and within a couple of hours - its dry - pretty neat piece of kit.
To save money though - you could try speaking to a paintshop - they might let you place the car in their oven overnight or at weekends when closed.

07-22-2003, 08:37 AM

This swimmer will probably be the most expensive car you'll ever buy. To ever get it dependable, you need to replace every electrical component in the car. This is a $3000 parts or race car.

350HP930 · 07-22-2003, 08:55 AM

I'm glad to see the opinion on potential chassis and electrical problems are unanimous.

And to think that none of us have brought up what kind of shape the motor and tranny is in yet and how someone got it running again.

dd74 · 07-22-2003, 09:03 AM

I have to side with the others. Unless you're completely bent on owning this car, and as much as I obviously love the '74 model year, I wouldn't put the $4.5K into it. By the time you cocoon it, replace electrical (which WILL happen), and then address the rust issue (BTW: if I missed it, was it saltwater or fresh water?), you're in the cost for, possibly, a Carrera.

KevinP73 · 07-22-2003, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74
was it saltwater or fresh water?),

Good question !! If it was salt water I wouldn't even consider it.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

er..... no...

sfierle · 07-22-2003, 12:52 PM

Flood cars scare me, too many potential problems. I personally would buy it, except maybe as a "parts car". Just my opinion.

Zeke · 07-22-2003, 01:24 PM

It runs, but why are you driving it? There's got to be water in places where it shouldn't be. Like the tranny.

Being the eternal optimist about cars, I would buy it, but for what the guy probably paid at the auction. maybe around $3000. That way, if things don't work out, you part the car and recover your money.