Swap everything into another 911

[v9ff]

I've been having this crazy thought recently so tell me if I'm smoking crack or what...

I have a 1984 911 Cab




But I've been thinking about ditching my 84 body and switching to a pre-1974 one.

I thought I would by a pre-1974 roller and swap over the soul of my 84 911 into it... interior (what's left), engine, tranny, suspension, EVERYTHING! Except for the cab.

I'm sort of over the Cab thing and my 911 is no longer a daily driver so I can go crazy with it. Being in California, if I swap into a pre-1974 body then I can REALLY go crazy with it! I plan to do the work myself... buddy has a garage that I can leech off. Plus, since it's not a daily driver, I can take my time and do things the right way. As for the body, I'm thinking RSR style, maybe even RSR widebody.

So my question is... is this a bottomless blackhole that I'm thinking about diving into? It sounds pretty simply in theory... take it off the 84 and put it in the 74, right? My 84 runs well so nothing needs to be rebuilt for now.

What do you guys think?

[Plavan]

Sounds very silly to me. Just sell your car and buy a pre 1974 and you are a head of the game in time and labor. Have you ever tried rebuilding a whole car? We have stripped cars to make race cars and it is a PITA. That is not even putting everything back in. My .02 cents

[LakeCleElum]

Let's just trade - '73.5 T......Recently spent of $6,000 gettting it sorting out. Runs, drives and shifts great, new interior.....

[v9ff]

Originally posted by LakeCleElum
Let's just trade - '73.5 T......Recently spent of $6,000 gettting it sorting out. Runs, drives and shifts great, new interior.....

heh heh heh Don't think you want my 911. Mechanics are cool with all the upgrades... Wevo, Bilsteins, Sander Engr, Rennline, Powerhaus, Borla, Fabspeed and others. But the interior is gone except for the seats and RS door panels. The body is a 6-7 depending on how picky you are. That's why I considered this crazy idea. Plus, I would have a 3.2 euro engine in a lighter body if I got an early 911.

[JP911]

I've considered doing this as well, primarily based on the wonderful new smog laws in CA. If I can't pass smog in 2005, I may very well end up making this my next project. I'd have to register my 911 as non-op, find a shell, and find a place where I could do the work. Oh, I'd also have to find a good lawyer to represent me in the divorce proceedings that would ensue when my wife got wind of this plan.

[LakeCleElum]

I offered to trade him cars - I'm not trading wives!!!!!!!1

[89911]

Do what you want. Nothing really makes financial sense when it comes to 911 and upgrades anyway. It's the work involved that you really have to plan for. Figure about a year of part time work. That alone is reason to buy one already done.

[jmshepard]

I've had the same thought myself. What percentage of pre 76 parts makes a vehicle a 1976 model? If it is not written into law, would cutting out the left side "A" pillar from the donor car and welding it into a post 76 vehicle make it a pre 76?

[randywebb]

That's a great way to make a super early car. Best done by getting a rolled Carrera and an early T with a blown engine.

I've posted on this before so you can search it up -- don't forget to swap the better shift tower and if the seats aren't power they will be lighter too. The F & R susp. & brakes are easy to do and you will want to put oil press. & temp. sensors from the old engine onto the 3.2L.

[Todd Simpson]

It would be a shame to part out a perfectly good car, bad Porsche karma I suppose.

Besides, what parts do you really want from your cab? Euro 3.2, 915, Al trailing arms but what else? If you wanna go nuts the rest of the suspension, interior, brakes and body parts won't do you any good.

Sell the cab and start with a nice early car that has a few upgrades. This one is really nice and seems priced right.



http://www.drivelineac.com/porsche70_911t_100035/index.htm

[Hetmann]

Yes it will be a giant PIA and yes it makes no economic sense, but it uses the devil you know. There's something to be said for that. In the end you will have a nice long hood with new hardware throughout. I say go for it.

[ubiquity0]

Originally posted by jmshepard
I've had the same thought myself. What percentage of pre 76 parts makes a vehicle a 1976 model? If it is not written into law, would cutting out the left side "A" pillar from the donor car and welding it into a post 76 vehicle make it a pre 76?

err.... I think thats highly illegal.

[Dantilla]

I did it!

Sort of......

I bought a 1973 coupe from an insurance auction after it had an engine fire.

Then came an '87 Targa that was hit hard in the nose.

The '73 now has the engine, suspension, and rear flares, along with a bunch of bits & pieces from the '87. An awesome car to drive.

While it was an ideal situation to have the two cars side by side in my garage, I'm not sure I would take apart a complete, running car for the project. The '87 was beyond repair, and the rust-free '73 was a perfect candidate because the engine was already toast. Very crispy toast.

[jmshepard]

I agree that swapping an A pillar is probably illegal.
(disclaimer: the question was a hypothetical and not a recommendation)
However, the question is still hanging out there. What precentage of pre 76 parts are required to make it qualify as an exempt vehicle? Switching the roof with the VIN plate attached? Moving the doors, hood and engine cover from one to the other? My 80 SC has a large percentage of removed and replacement parts. Has a threshold been established?

[W Scott Shores]

As long as you don't have an emotional attachment to your cab, then go for it!
You need something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7943464433&category=6783

[Shaun @ Tru6]

what does a 6-7 mean for your body?

if you do it, I may want the tub to take everything off my 84 targa and put on your cab body. either that or I cut the bar off when I paint in April.

[unclebilly]

I don't think swaping the A piller is illegal at all. I got into this discussion with my insurance company one time... this is what we settled on, if your car were to get into a accident, the insurance co is going to put in as many used parts as they can get away with. If the A pillar needed changing, they'd change it out too. It is however illegal to swap serial numbers...

I ran into a similar situation a few times, my 4runner actually has a pickup VIN on it for similar reasons and yes, I've had dealing with my insurance company on this vehicle with the truck VIN on the 4runner. My 4 runner was a wreck when I bought it with 6000 kms on it and it does have some truck parts in it... the frame is out of another 4 runner all together too. It came down to which VIN do I use?

A guy at a stag took my quad for a ride (without my permission) and totalled it and broke his leg. Let's just say that the only pre-crash parts on my quad are the engine, seat, rear tires, wireing harness, and plastic. The newer frame and suspension are 5 years newer than the rest of the machine and I insured and registered it with the newer VIN. The insurance co didn't want to do it until I pointed out that the parts that I used were used (much like they would have used had I claimed the damage on my policy) and that since the new frame (and VIN) were newer, and it is illegal to change VINs, it has to be registered with the newer VIN. They went for it.

[cstreit]

You'd be a class A loony! I say do it.

[russort]

I am currently doing a spin on the same theme. I have a 86 Carrera, and a 73T. A few years ago I sold the T and now miss the vintage feel that car had. I decided to change my 86 into a pre 73 model. I bought and re-chromed Moveable door window frames, vent quater panel windows. Had door handles rechromed, as well as all the trim. Long nose was obtained by trading one of the front fenders. Both front fenders obtained from local roller for 100U$D. Replaced rear engine cover for 50 U$D. The reason I did not just buy a pre 73 is the 86 has the rust protection that I did not want to loose, along with the 3.2 that was recently rebuilt. I am having some fitmeant issues with the rear steel bumpers but will have local shop modify original equipment. I do not like the fiberglass rear. purchased all additional seals/hardware for our host. This is doable and a good project for a porsche NUT. Good luck to you, and have FUN

[dd74]

v9ff - I think this is a great idea. You'll have everything that's good about the later Carrera - engine, brakes, transmission, suspension, but without the weight. This makes great economical sense, too. I only suggest you consider the wheels may not fit if you use those pictured with the cab.

Good luck. Tell us how it comes out.