I understand now...

[erobinson]

This is in response to an earlier thread about how if you have to ask you woouldn't understand.

I understand now....

Last night (yes Friday the 13th) I bought a 77 911S Targa. It is my first one.

It leaks oil, the Targa top is a little ratty and the old 2.7 has a midrange slight load miss to it (I am blaming it on needing a tune up for now....). And I probably paid too much for it.

Sorting out a taillight electrical problem in the Target parking lot resulting from someone apparently plugging the wrong wires on the wrong terminal and enjoying it, I understood.

And running home at midnight with the top out, no radio on(it works but I preferred to listen to the car), the H4s the PO had installed lighting up the world, and cruising down the two lane blacktop with sweeping curves, I understood.

When I go out today and it probably fights me to rouse from its slumber, I will be patient and understand.

It truly is a unique experience.

Eli

[Por_sha911]

Welcome aboard. We have a thing around here that new folks must post pics of the car. I hope you can comply.

[Yellowbird RS]

Welcome!
where are the pics. for your new ride.

[erobinson]

Will post tonight! :-D

[erobinson]

Also its a 76 not a 77 (thats what I get for typing in the dark!)

From the front on view a dent in the hood and right front fender are very apparent. I used a body hammer and some finesse and have these worked as best as I can without doing major paint damage. On the engine cover is painted over paint damage and right underneath....ta da brand new coil. I smell someone leaving the ignition on and frying the coil and messing up the paint. These pictures are from the previous owner's house.

Today I worked with it some. It needs new plug wires on it but no one can have those here until Monday or Tuesday, so I routed them so they werent rubbing anything or each other as much as possible. The midrange miss is still there but not as bad.

My current plan is to just drive the car and have fun while sorting out the mechanics. I figure it would be a waste to run out and spend money on a repaint just to have some mechanical problem spring up such that I have a pretty yard ornament.

Made a todo list somewhat prioritized.
Fix safety latch on front hatch!!!!!!!!!
Tune and check valve adjustments and fix oil leak on cooler. Change all fluids just in case.
Fan swap to 11 blade.
Shifter bushings. It has a lack of these at the moment...or so it feels.
Fix driver side arm rest.
Detail engine (this may get moved up on the list if I find the engine needs to be dropped for the oil cooler fix.)
I may end up doing an engine drop just to give it a once over and inspect all of the studs, look at the tensioners, just make sure nothing has slipped by that my inspection of the car didnt find.

But I drove it today and was all

Eli

[North Coast Cab]

Welcome Eli.
So often you see people with hobby cars or bikes and it seems they either love to drive them or love to work on them. The 911 is so unique in that almost everyone who ownes one, and certainly those on the BBS, love to both work on and drive their car.

John

[Por_sha911]

I love the color. I hope you keep it when you repaint. It looks good with the targa.
Looks like you have a good list of things to do. You definately want to play with the mechanicals first. If you haven't, get Wayne's 101 Porjects, Bentley's Repair Manual, and a brand new Credit Card for the stuff you'll need. If you plan to drive a "work in progress" then you may want to get AAA. Lastly, we LOVE to help one another. Most times you can do a search and find info on stuff you need and then ask questions if there are holes in the info.

[erobinson]

Yes I enjoy the color as well. Even with all of the imperfections in the paint it looks really nice that color. I plan on keeping it that color because it looks nice and it makes painting it easier.

I am considering when I detail the engine of painting its shroudwork a nice magnesium gray and polishing the fan and ring. The green kind of clashes with the burgundy exterior.

I am probably gonna use this car as a commuter to school and work which will generally only put me 25 to 30 miles from home at the most. Atleast until I get the bugs worked out.

I really like the tan interior as well. Its very becoming ot the exterior color.

Is there supposed to be a board or something over the spare tire in front? (yup it has what appears to be an unused spare and the toolkit with it) Of course the included fire extinguisher is worrisome.

Eli

[DonDavis]

Great color! Stick to the mechanical aspect for awhile. Get to know the workings of the engine/trans/electrical. You may find the cosmetics not as critical as a great running car. If it has a few blemishes but runs good, they won't bug you at all. However, if it looks fantastic yet runs like a pig, the paint won't seem to shine no matter how much you buff.

And don't be stranger here. Ask your q's, twist a wrench and drive, baby drive.

[lateapex911]

Thanks for reminding me....need to get my fire extinguisher recharged!

Welcome to the madness!

The worrisome thing is NOT having a fire extinguisher!

[vash]

eli, that is a nice car. you make me miss my 75. that is a nice list on you todo list. i would include brake issues, but that is just me. also, check to see if the PO installed headlight relays. i smoked my turn signal switch, by not having them. easy and cheap!

where are you located? looks bay area-ish. but that may also just be me. welcome aboard.

[erobinson]

lol middle georgia the car came from near macon anymore 911s nearby? I am one of only two regularly running cars in my county. There was another mid year around (very red) but I think he blew the engine because I havent seen it in forever and it sounded rattier than mine does last I saw it. I also know of another which is parked but never seems to be driven.

Monday I am journeying to our local wrecking yard. I remember when I was there last they had a totaled out cab, a sideswiped Targa (both unfixable (well I guess that is relative.....) the cab was a hull only but he may have a clean title to it), plus an early car (SWB coupe IIRC) which was absolutely rotten. You could pull the trans from INSIDE of the car it was so rusty, but the engine was still there and I think it had either Webers or MFI intact. The aircleaner was still on it. He also had another relatively good shell with a locked motor. I am searching for it because I KNOW it had an eleven blade fan and it MAY have been a Carrera even. I didn't own my 911 then so I just glanced over them out of curiosity and the shell with the locked engine (had adjustable wrench with me) had either stripes or writing on the lower doors.

Its sort of amazing that I atleast have some secondhand part sources nearby consideirng I live in a small georgia town.

good idea about the headlight relays, I hadn't thought to look yet.
the brakes are nice, I am gonna give them a bleeding but nothing shakes and you can take your hands off the wheel and begin applying them and it doesnt pull or anything, straight and true and the bias seems correct. I will probably do a more thorough examination of brakes and suspension when I pull the wheels to repaint the blackened parts.

[kach22i]

Your car sounds a little like my 1977 2.7L targa.

I recommend:

Oil:
Stick with dino, stay away from synthetics.

Shifter:
Install the Seine Systems modification, well worth the money.

Tranny:
Swepco 201..........it's da bomb.

Wipers:
I see someone flipped them over.........you lucky bastard, that's still on my to do list.

[Por_sha911]

"middle georgia the car came from near macon anymore 911s nearby?"
Contact your local PCA-there is a very active chapter in your area.

[azasadny]

Eli,
Nice targa! Have fun and be careful, I was in the same place as you 2 years ago, it's a disease! Welcome aboard, the folks here are great and will help as long as you post pictures. Take care!

[toolman]

Art, that almost looks like your car!

[cowtown]

Nice car. They're not the fastest, best-handling, quickest, highest-tech, or any other -est, but there's just something addictive about them.

[billh1963]

Originally posted by erobinson
lol middle georgia the car came from near macon

Whereabouts in Middle Georgia? I live in Macon as well. I recently sold my Turquoise Blue 993 C4S and am closing a deal on a 2001 C2 996. Maybe I'll see you around!

[SIR70T]

Eli ( re you first post)

Beautifully said!


I understand aswell

Shane
SIR70T

[azasadny]

Toolman,

You're right, his car does look like "Helga"!!!