Serious advice needed!

RC76 · 01-22-2004, 06:22 AM

Well, I know I will get burned for this but your the best people I know to get this type of advice from. As you know from previous posts I have been considering selling my 82SC. I want like something a little bigger, namely what I had before the 911, a 330CI. Needless to say, my budget will not hold the 911 and the 330 at the same time.

I have the 911 posted for sale in a few places for an asking price of $14,500.00. It has a new altenator, starter, headliner, front shocks, clutch cable, A/C system, fresh tranny fluid, and the engine was rebuilt in 1998 to the tune of over $8,000.00. The paint is original, except for the doors and rear which were resprayed, by the original owner, due to door dents and nicks. I am the second owner, and it's my daily driver. No problems thus far, with almost a year of daily driving.

The problem: I had a buyer last week, guy was ready to come pick up the car and everything. I insisted on him getting a PPI b/c I didn't want any confusion over what he was buying. No after purchase problems. PPI found a few minor problems and one big one. I have compression of 170 on all six cylinders except the third, which has a compression of 130. I'm getting a 2nd opinion tomorrow, including a leak down. I just need to know if I'm screwed. I lowered the price to $12,500.00 after the PPI but the buyer still bailed. What am I looking at? Is it impossible to sell? I really do not want to put $5,000.00 into it, which I don't have, if all I want to do is sell it.

Thanks.

mjshira · 01-22-2004, 06:25 AM

sometimes a leak down like that can indicate a problem that is not terminal. maybe you have a sticking ring or a carbon build up on a valve seat. before going crazy and losing $$$ run the car with some race fuel or additive and run it hard (good freeway sprint to Gal. and back at 90+ or in 4th gear) then redue your PPI. When was your last valve adjustment? who did the rebuild?

OldTee · 01-22-2004, 06:35 AM

A lot of things not so bad could cause this indication. Maybe the technicain did not seat the tester just right, maybe a little carbon got under the a valve, maybe the ring lans were lined up. Run some injector stuff through it and drive it hard for a day. Then do a differencial compression check comparing that cylinder to the one next to it. Check if air is leaking through the, case, intake or exhaust. Have a young mechanic do the listening, they have better hearing unless they like loud rock bands. Too bad you lost the sale, but don't get seller shy. SC's are in demand.

Rot 911 · 01-22-2004, 06:37 AM

mj and old tee have given you good advice. One time I had a very low compression on a cylinder due to my bad adjusting of a valve. Readjusted the valve and compression went back up.

RC76 · 01-22-2004, 06:41 AM

I hoping all I need is a valve adjustment. Its been about a year since I had a full maintenance with valves adjusted. I put Techron in on Monday, hopefully tomorrows tests will improve.

RC76 · 01-23-2004, 11:33 AM

Well, it seems my worry was for nothing. The compression and leak down tests I had today came back A-ok. Compression was 145-140-140-150-145-140 respectively, and the leak down was 0-4-2-2-2-0. Either the techron did the trick or the compression test done last Friday was faulty. Thanks again for all your help. By the way, the car is still for sale.