1977RoW in South Florida?

Navaros911 · 06-23-2005, 02:58 PM

Guys, I need some serious feedback.

There is a position in South Florida (Fort Lauderdale area) that has been offered to me. It is very important to me that I can take the 911 with me (time to set priorities).

My 911 is the RoW model without the heat exchangers and still running on leaded gas (well unleaded with the lead replacement). It is currently registered in Belgium and does not need a yearly expection anymore... no smog tests or anything.

How would I go about getting this car registered in Florida? Will it need to pass smog tests? Is there a special classic car registration (like I have here) that exempts these cars from these types of tests?

By the way, how do these cars handle the heat and moisture in the air? Do they rust faster there?

As a daily driver I was thinking of a Boxster... but we'll see about that.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

does your car currently have a/c? expect to swelter big time..BIG TIME..

south florida is lucky to have good breezes, but there will be a ton of heat and humidity you may be unaccustomed to experiencing. if your cor is a '77, it should have the galvanized body which is more resistant to rust factors, so that's in your favor. i love my mid-year car, but i'd bet that a boxster would be a more 'conveniently comfy' car without argument if it's a big concern.
ryan

Navaros911 · 06-23-2005, 03:26 PM

No a/c and it is black

-> a/c is loss of power

I realize it will not be my daily driver... but I will not part of the car. I love this car and will keep it as long as I can. It will most likely spend it's summers in the garage except nights and come out in the winter time.

It has the galvanized body, but that makes it only a bit more rust resistant... it is no gaurantee against rust.

dweymer · dweymer's Garage

We do not currently have emissions testing in FL. Just walk in and register it, they will confirm the VIN, but that's it.

H20911 · 06-23-2005, 04:38 PM

No A/C and you will not be able to drive it when the sun is up from april - sept with any comfort. But I will probably die here because it is beautiful in Florida......in air conditioned comfort of course

Navaros911 · 06-24-2005, 04:24 PM

bump...

What about taxes/import? Any modifications required (lights, ...)?

dweymer · dweymer's Garage

That I do not know, check with federal Dept. of transportation. or EPA :
Best bet would be to contact an import agent.

Navaros911 · 06-25-2005, 04:55 AM

Since it is a 77 I don't need to worry about EPA stuff...

Does it need light/lens modifications?

ChrisBennet · ChrisBennet's Garage

The is absolutely no need for lead replacement. The guides in your car will be fine with normal unleaded gas (of the correct octane of course).
-Chris

donstevens · donstevens's Garage

Navaros911,

Bring it over. I had a 73 Euro S that I believe originally came from Begium. A previous owner imported the car and I brought it in to the state from Georgia and had no inspections and no problems. It ran fine on our premium unleaded. You can get leaded race gas in some shops but you probably won't need it.

dweymer is correct that we do not have state wide emissions testing in Florida. There were some counties that had testing several years ago but I believe that has been eliminated. I know it was eliminated in my county and I am pretty sure that Broward County (FT Lauderdale) does not require inspections anymore either. Go here for more info: http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dmv/faqmotor.html....If they do require and inspection for a Euro car, I am sure we can find you a shop in south Florida that will help you. There were many Euro cars brought in through Florida in the 80's.

Lenses, bumpers, etc. No problem. Back in the 80s new Euro cars were required to be modified to meet DOT specs but your car will most likely be exempt. Even if they ask you to change them for a DOT isnpection, you can always change them back. There are lots of cars running Euro Lights on Florida roads. The Police either do not know the difference or don't care.

Rust? No worries. Sure there is a lot of humidity and some salt from the sea breeze in the in the air but I can virtually assure you, the climate in Florida is no more harmful than what you have in Belgium from a rust perspective. The sun will do more harm to your paint, dash, and rear panel than the sea air will do. Be sure to find a garage for your car when you get here. Yes it is uncomfortably hot in non A/C cars in the summer and your black paint will make the problem worse. But, if you have a another car as a daily driver, you can enjoy your car on some summer evenings. The winter is fabulous.

Good Luck and let us know when you get here. We have some great driver's schools at Homestead, Moroso, and Sebring that you might like to check out once you are over here.

Don

Navaros911 · 06-25-2005, 03:54 PM

Thanks for the advice everybody... I'll bring her along to FL and keep her indoors for most parts of the summer (except nights).

M.D. Holloway · 06-25-2005, 09:25 PM

Navaros911 - I have a 77 ROW and I drive it in the Texas heat once to two a week. I haven't had any issues. Belgium has a climate similar to New England? Great for Porsches. The Summers in Texas are as bad if not worse than FLA. You will be surprised how often you drive her. Is it a coupe of a Targa? Any pics? Still have the 5 blade or did you switch it out?

Navaros911 · 06-26-2005, 01:07 PM

LubeMaster:

Belgium has the New England climate (or is very close to it). The car runs fine with the old trombone oil cooler (at 90 deg Centigrade - supposed to be ideal). The fan is the 11-bladed one (just switched it out as I found a used one for $25). I have all the parts for the carrera oil cooler and plan on having it installed before she goes off to FL.

Pics... here you go (note: the carrera emblem is gone now - these pictures were taken when I was heading out to have her registered):

SpeedracerIndy · 06-26-2005, 01:51 PM

Wow, beautiful car! Some interesting options (or lack of) there. Rear wiper, no sunroof, no rear fog lamp, Carrera valence, SC flares. It's a 77, but does it have the 3.0 motor or 2.7. I know the euro cars didn't switch over to the 3.0 at the same time the US cars did.

Too bad you can't bring that TDI A3 over too.

jlb911c · 06-27-2005, 12:34 PM

I live in Ft. Lauderdale and drive a 86' Euro m491. You will not survive without ac around this part of the US. It is not a big deal to add ac to these cars and part are frequently available on this forum and ebay.

You are welcome to take a look at my ac setup if you ever make that decision. I would recommend going with a procooler and other modern fittings when you do upgrade the ac. This will probably run you about $ 2000 if you do it on your own.

Johan

Navaros911 · 06-28-2005, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SpeedracerIndy
It's a 77, but does it have the 3.0 motor or 2.7.

Too bad you can't bring that TDI A3 over too.

Still the 2.7... and not having any problems with it (approx 45k miles on it - for understandable reasons -> insurance recovery).

The rear fog light just made it look messy I though... so it just HAD to go (personal preference). The SC flares give it a much better look (don't know if this was a standard option or if it was added later). The carrera valence... well who knows where that came from (I always suspected this to not be original, but never was sure about this). The engine lid had a tail at some point, but was replaced with a tail-less carrera lid (and that carrera script had to go).

The A3.... hum, I'm not the biggest fan of diesels and that is putting it lightly... I was given this car by my employer, so can't complain too much.

Navaros911 · 06-28-2005, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jlb911c
I live in Ft. Lauderdale and drive a 86' Euro m491. You will not survive without ac around this part of the US. It is not a big deal to add ac to these cars and part are frequently available on this forum and ebay.

You are welcome to take a look at my ac setup if you ever make that decision. I would recommend going with a procooler and other modern fittings when you do upgrade the ac. This will probably run you about $ 2000 if you do it on your own.

Johan,

Thanks for the advice... but at this point (in my ignorance probably) I would try to stay away from A/C for now. Especially since I don't plan to stay in Ft Lauderdale long term (just a few years).

I may come back on this statement later, but I'll see when I get to Ft L. So I'll keep this in mind when I change my mind.

Note that this will not be a daily driver... I'll get something with a/c for that

Navaros911 · 06-28-2005, 03:09 PM

OK officially I agreed with the job... so the paperwork is being taken care of now. My best guess is that I will be in FL somewhere around September with the car following shortly after that.

Anybody around Fort Lauderdale/Plantation willing to show me the neighbourhood?

donstevens · donstevens's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Navaros911

Anybody around Fort Lauderdale/Plantation willing to show me the neighbourhood?

I live in Clearwater which is on the other coast and 225 miles away. I do get to Ft. Lauderdale on business ocassionally and I hate to eat alone. I would love to get together to talk Porsches over a sandwhich and a few Duvels or Chimays !!! ...Plus, as I mentioned before we have a great driver's ed program at Sebring (only two hrs. drive form Ft. Lauderdale) and we'd love to see that black 77 on the track.

Let us know when you get here.

Don

juan ruiz · juan ruiz's Garage

I live in Plantation once you are down here give me a call .