Fix my Targa or build a roller?

[MichiganMat]

Hi all-

First let me show you a picture of my baby:



She looks incredible and I've been working on her day and night for months now to make her perfect but I've run into a major problem. You see, I decided to be a cowboy when I bought the car and didn't have a PPI done on it. (Im embarrassed enough by it, please save the criticism) I knew there was some rust in the chassis and I could see a few problems but nothing "looked" serious. A recent trip to a local PCA-respected body shop brought out the truth of the matter:

• The chassis is bowed and will need to be bent down (as often happens on targas)
  
• The passenger side front clip was replaced, probably due to an accident
  
• The front suspension pan is rusted through and will need to be replaced
  
• There is sagging in the right corner of the rear of the car and is obvious that the deck-lid isn't fitting well and will need to be stretched.
  

All in all its just bad all over. We're talking like in the 3-4K range here, and its much more money than Im willing to sink into a '74 Targa.

The rest of the car is solid though and I think I have enough parts on it to build another car from a roller and ditch the Targa shell:

• Low mile 3.0L SC motor
  
• Decent 915 trans
  
• torsion bar updates
  
• Recaro SRDs
  
• RS Door panels
  
• New tires on Fuchs
  
• Fenders and doors are in good shape
  

I guess what I want to know is has anyone built from a roller on here and what are some of the pitfalls. I really need some advice here because I love my Porsche, I think I can build a new one, and I think I can do it for cheaper than having all of this body work done. Also, what is a decent price to pay for a 74-83 Coupe shell / roller? Please help.

mat.

[svandamme]

for 3-4K only ?? i'de say fix the Targa !

[JonT]

gorgeous car--fix it like it deserves to be! Then put a 3.6 in it.

[geof33]

Building a roller would likely be WAY more costly once all is said and done. Too many "let's fix/replace this" going on. Plus the time is huge.

To find a super clean roller your in the 7-10 range for those years. And good luck finding a super clean one. If your roller needs paint alone your talking 3-4000.00 easy.

Fix the very nice looking Targa.

[Series900]

The chassis is bowed and will need to be bent down (as often happens on targas)
________________
BENT DOWN? Hmm sounds to me either the car was hit and not correctly straightened, or the longitudal/inner rocker/rocker are compromised due to rust and bending is going to make it worse!

The passenger side front clip was replaced, probably due to an accident
_______________
There is your possible explanation of a remaining"bow"

The front suspension pan is rusted through and will need to be replaced
_________________________
Thats common and repairable

There is sagging in the right corner of the rear of the car and is obvious that the deck-lid isn't fitting well and will need to be stretched.

Stretched? this sounds like some kind of pretzel. If youwant this car take it apart and get it on a Celette, jigs will tell all and give you a straight car when done. The roller project will cost more than 3-4k

[slakjaw]

fix it

[MichiganMat]

The car was definitely in an accident, its obvious from the repair work on the front clip. Whether it caused the bow or not is water under the bridge. The problem I see is that there will be a new suspension pan welded into a clip that has already been replaced.

The bowing in the chassis has caused major gaps where the doors meet the body and latch. The targa top is not fitting well either.

As for the rear of the car, the right side of the bumper and body are noticably lower than the left. It looks like a elephant sat on the corner of the car and it sagged down. All I see is dollar signs.

To make matters worse, at least one of the front tires isn't sitting properly in its wheel well because they certainly don't look the same.

Im hearing that a roller project would cost more but Im not convinced. I've seen resonably complete rollers for under 2K that include everything (doors, glass, panels, suspension, new paint). Also, if I were to get a shell with no doors or panels, it would almost be a complete transfer from one to the other. Yes, it would be a lot of time but in the end I would have a structurally sound vehicle without a history rather than a Frankenstien with its a$$ kicked. What am I missing here?

[boston95]

Where did you find Frankenstein. I would send more photos to Series 900. When it comes to saving a p-car and spending $$, most posters will lean you towards the former.

[Rot 911]

Matt it sounds to me like you no longer have the interest you once had in your car. If that is the case then move in a direction in which you have interest, as long as you have the money to do so.

[MichiganMat]

Don't get me wrong here guys, I love this car and I've put nearly every minute of my waking hours from the last 3 months into making it something nice and Im happy with the results. Im just a little (ok, more than a little) concerned about repairing body panels that have already been repaired. And after all is said and done and the money is paid the car will still not be as complete as it was before the accident.

5K in body work = Mostly nice Targa with a history
5K and a few months = Complete car with no history

Im just looking for ideas here guys, Im not gonna take her out to the woods and leave her.

[Bobboloo]

Hi Matt
I feel your pain. My 72' Coupe held some surprises for me as well. I guess no one said an education would be free.

I vote no on fixing it. From what you describe you would be throwing good money at bad. I think you will also find that when it's fixed it still won't be fixed. This is the conclusion I came to. I doubt you'll ever get the panels to line up right. It would cost way more in time and money in my opinion to make this car right than to replace the shell.

I suggest use it as a beater while you search for a donor shell.

When you think about it, if the donor is also white, all you'll have to paint is the rear quarter panels since every thing else on your car can be transfered. Plus when your done the extra parts can be sold off to offset the cost of the shell maybe even pay for it.

I've seen fresh painted rollers go for as low as $2500 here on Pelican. I think you could find one that needs paint for as low as $500. I recently gave away a 72 Targa roller to Otto who turned around and stripped it to a shell and sold it for $500. 82SC got his 73' Targa roller free as well.

So take your time and find a nice one. Preferably with the wire harness intact. For some reason people hack the harnesses when they're parting a car for reasons I'll never understand. Replacing the harness is a huge pain in the *ss and that's if you can locate one that's complete.

Another advantage with buying a roller is that they're usually easier to inspect for rust and collision damage.

Good Luck

[Bill Douglas]

Could you buy the body of a crashed Targa, one that has been stripped out already, and cut out the bits you want and get them welded in. The crashed Targa body wouldn't cost much. The solution may not be the best, but it would be cheap, and you would be in a lot better position than you are in now.

[red-beard]

I have a 1974 roller - Very good body, but bad paint. 2.7 Engine with pulled case studs and a 1974 915 tranny that I don't want to part with. PM me if you may be interested.

James

[surflvr911sc]

Originally posted by MichiganMat
All in all its just bad all over. We're talking like in the 3-4K range here, and its much more money than Im willing to sink into a '74 Targa.

I’m far from an expert but I think you would be better off doubling that estimate and then make you decision. I really don’t see you getting out of this car that cheap.

I can understand going for it after all the sweat and tears you have in her but if you do, make sure you have it done right otherwise it will be better and definitely cheaper to just start over. My .02, I wish you luck, either way you decide.

[geof33]

Dood... NO way are you doing a roller swap for 5000.00. I've got over two grand in a tail, and new bumpers alone, and I'm doing MOST of the work...

Try 10,000 min. Unless you get REALLY lucky.

Why in the world would someone dump an engine out of a perfectly nice car and then sell it? I'm sure it's happened but not in the P-car world too often. Save the classic, you'll never regret it.

[rcm]

Fix the targa! 3-4 thousand is not bad. That's a great looking car.