Know SC Problems...?

[ed bates]

As I get closer in purchasing myself a 911, I was looking to see what are the known problems with these cars. I have narrowed it down to the years between 1978-1983. I know carrera tensioners and pop valve are must updates, but what other things go wrong or weakness of these cars. Where do they rust....and how many miles are too many miles????I have seen cars with 300k on it, but with rebuilds, so is this car done or worth a look.........

Let me know.............Thanks!

[MOMO3.2]

The biggest problem will be wiping the smile off your face after you drive it!

Have a ball.

Mike

[emcon5]

Broken head studs.

In my opinion, the higher the mileage, the more important documentation becomes.

Tom

[qcwang]

Hi Ed,

Along with the chain tensioners and Pop off valve, the rubber centered clutch is probalby the third major thing that can go wrong and needs to be replaced. From what I have read these three are the most common failure/problems in the 78-83 years.

I am new to the SC myself, I have had mine since August of 2003. I added the pop off valve myself and had a P-mechanic do the tensioners. The clutch is still the rubber centered one. Still drives well with no problems at 96k miles. The mechanic advised to leave the clutch until it begins to clunk.

Thus far very happy with my 83 SC. All the other things I have done are normal wear and tear of items that are now 21 years old. Have replaced oil lines, turn signal switch, oil level sender, shifter bushings, etc. Now I am looking to replace the window seal(see my thread, help if possible). These are little things that I expect to replace, but for the main function and reliability of the car, its all been great thus far. With keeping up with regular maintenance, I expect it to last a very long time.

Good luck on your search!!

[markwemple]

Tensioners are far from a must and to some people a must not. Rethink that and include the possibility of collars. Afterall carreras fail too!!

[Victor]

The SCWDP must be out to lunch.

[epbrown]

The most important thing is documentation. After all this time, a full history is more and more rare, but the last few years is still very desirable; any problems that came from the original owner missing an oil change are pretty much cured by now Good recent maintenance and a solid PPI are more important, especially the compression test on high-mileage engines.

The cars are galvanized and rust isn't usually a problem, except for the exhaust system (muffler and heat exchangers, maybe the heater flapper boxes) and around the windshield seals front and rear.

Don't understimate the cost of fixing cosmetic problems properly. Redoing the seats can run you a thousand bucks easy, carpet kits and new floor mats half that, and the sky is the limit on fixing paint problems.

Beware the bone-stock Porsche unless the owner's a concourse competitor - you want a guy that's upgraded things over the years, imo - H4 headlights, SSIs, polished/painted Fuchs or upgraded wheels, nicer seats, these are the signs of a Porsche whose owner cares about it and uses it. A big honking subwoofer, neon kit, fake carbon fiber, a Jedi cares not for these things!

As the saying goes, you're paying the previous owner for the quality of his maintenance, and getting the car for free.

Emanuel

[Joe Bob]

Originally posted by Victor
The SCWDP must be out to lunch.

Physically AND mentally.....but no one EVER EXPECTS THE SCWDP......cue music.....Nostatic sweeping in ahead of Leland a Surflvr all dressed in monks garb......

Bring on the comfy chair cries 'static.....

[Mike Kast]

Just keep a couple of bucks in the bank. It's a hobby car for most of us here and if there are no problems with your car you will likely spend money on it anyway.
I like what nostatic said "911 aren't that expensive to buy, they can get expensive to own and keep running well" uhhh, it was something like that. I'm just lucky to be independently wealthy and have absolutely no budget when it comes to my old car.
Check under the battery for acid spills and look under the carpets. If you can get to the peddle cluster, that is where a master cylinder leak would dump break fluid and possibly cause rust in the floor.
A year ago I was shopping for my first Porsche. I don't know how I could have learned what I have without owning one. It's a trial by fire thing. If at all possible, don't rush. When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

[stealthn]

No we're here, but nothing goes wrong with SC's so we didn't need to post

I think you've captured everything.

[Speedy1]

aint no thang.

[Victor]

Why does your speedo stop at only 85MPH? Is that where SC's top out in 5th?

[Speedy1]

mine goes around twice

[sammyg2]

IMO the SC problems are as follows (in order of importance to worry about):
1) pop off valve, a must do
2) rubber centered clutch, not if but when
3) lower head studs will eventually break

Notice I didn't list the carrera tensioners. I'm one of those that don't buy into the theory of that fix being manditory.

[aigel]

Originally posted by Victor
Why does your speedo stop at only 85MPH? Is that where SC's top out in 5th?

There are two years, I think 81 and 82 in which the US law did not allow any new car to be sold with a speedometer showing any speed higher than 85mph.

Palo Alto speedometer will convert your speedo for a fee to the correct 150mph.

George

[Victor]

Wow. I take it this was the same evil regime that banned H4's, normal sized bumper overiders and imposed goofy ride hight?

[aigel]

"3) lower head studs will eventually break"

I don't think so. They *can* break. Is it likely? I don't think so. It is something to check in the PPI and while you adjust valves. It is not going to "eventually" happen. It may never happen until the engine needs rebuild and you put all steel studs. I think if the car has lived in a rust inhibiting climate, studs are also less likely to go.

"Notice I didn't list the carrera tensioners. I'm one of those that don't buy into the theory of that fix being manditory."

Same thing here. I believe they are a waste of $ unless you drive 15k or more miles a year and wouldn't want to check the non fed ones ever 3 years. Chain Tensioners Rebuilt? Only reason to do mine would be the old ones gone bad and a resale of the car coming up. I think many folks want the upgrade, so I'd put it to fetch a better price...

There really isn't much that goes wrong with these cars. Let me summarize what I have done over the last year though:

Naturally all of them, at this age, regardless of mileage, will need a suspension overhaul, if they haven't had it earlier on. There goes about a grand, if you do it yourself and want some upgrades, like fresh torsion bars, turbo tierods and a strut brace.

The interior may be very worn and there may be some need for at least touching up the paint. As mentioned above, cosmetics can run up a bill quickly. I just put a new dashpad in mine a few months back: Almost $600. Then a pair of Sparco sport seats, a roll bar, paint on the decklid, euro headlights, harness, halon extinguisher. And have I mentioned the MOMO corse wheel and the extra set of 15x7 and 15x8 fuchs with Kumho VictoRacers?

One should also mention the window gaskets which start leaking very nicely at advanced age. I replaced front and back. $100. Not bad, actually, but two half days gone, right there. Of course a brittle gasket isn't a show stopper in buying an otherwise good car.

Sooo, you see, one can have tremendous fun and the mightaswells and the 'would be nice' things get you big time.

Only think I'd check very thorroughly is the engine. Head studs, compression etc. PPI is a very good idea. Everything else you can see if you pay attention and guesstimate how hard and expensive it will be to freshen up.

Cheers, George

[aigel]

Victor:

I have heard that the 85mph rule came about in times of the 55mph speed limit. There you really have to ask, why would you need to show anything more than 30mph above the limit... Of course they were hoping to keep folks from speeding that way. I can tell you, it doesn't work that way... 4000rpm is about 90mph, 5000 rpm is about 110 and if it gets to 6000, it would be 135.

Can you imagine receiving a 911SC in 1981 that you just paid 37k for (in 81!) and it shows 85mph on the speedo? My 71 Olds Cutlass Supreme has a 120 speedometer!

George

[nostatic]

our chief element is surprise...fear and surprise. TWO elements in our aresenal are fear, surprise, and a ruthless devotion to the SCWDP. THREE elements....on wait...I'll come in again.

qcwang, I doubt very seriously that at 92K and 20+ years you have the original rubber centered clutch. It must have been changed at some point in time...or you have the world's record.

As for weak point, they've been mentioned. Tensioners are a "depends" (although I had mine done at 57K miles after a year of ownership), popoff is "yes, do it" although there are those (Denis) that claim it is a waste as long as you keep your CIS system in a good state of tune. Head studs are always looming, but they are with 3.0, 3.2, and 3.6 engines, so it is just a fact of life.

Beyond that, the problems are that these are 20+ year old cars, and parts wear out even if they don't have many miles. But everything can be replaced (at a price). They are pretty tough cars if well sorted, and very fun. As for me, I've got a new Sparco Speed sitting in the garage that I have to figure out how to install. I did a test sit and it feels a little tight in the thighs, but we'll see.

The downside is that once you get the car sorted, you start thinking about mods. It is a sickness. But healthier than drugs (albeit more expensive).

oh year...fear, surprise..yada yada. Nobody expects the SCWDP inquisition...

[Victor]

And by now Ed is asking himself WTF is this SCWDP thing. I think it is some sort of support group for the less assertive male and stands for:

Sport
Coupe
Womens
Domination
Program

Or something.