New to the Porsche

my2rotties · 05-23-2005, 02:34 PM

Hi all, my husband and I purchased a 1981 911sc. It has the F2 spoiler, wide body, and Gemballa fenders. It is a beautiful car and has been meticulously maintained all of it's life. We purchased it for $25000 Canadian. I first thought that was a lot of money, until I started researching what they are going for. The engine has been redone, and the clutch is brand new. Aside of a few little things (discolored white roof liner, which we have a replacement), and a small tear on the leather seat, the car is mint. I really have no idea of what we are getting into when we try to replace that roof liner...

I can say at first, I wanted it to be a 1968 Camaro. Chevys are what I know, and it think my brief aprehension was fear of the unknown. It also has a brass racing clutch and made me look like a fool when I tried to drive it the fisrt time (still not that great off the line on hills). I can drive anything, and used to race cars back in the day. This car made me feel like a typical woman driver.

I am a Chevy girl and know plenty about their drive trains and histories or the cars. Now with the Porsche... well... it is all German to me. I did not even know how to get the gas door open (had to call previous owner whom chuckled), and took a few minutes trying to get under the hood and trunk.I ordered the How to rebuild Porsche 911 engines by Wayne R Dempsey to get a better understanding for myself and my husband. I have no idea of where anything is or how to identify it. For now, I have just enjoyed detailing it, since that is one of my passions. I spent nine hours with a clay bar, and power polisher to make it look right to me. It gleams like a jewel, and people go insane when they see it. I had no idea that it would get that kind of response.

Upgrades that we have already done are a new exhaust system, I ordered some 18" tires and rims to replace the BBS gold honey comb wheels (would like to sell them, but have no idea of the value). After that the brakes will be redone since they will be visable. The car does not have a turbo, so in the future that would be nice. My husband wants to put the car on nitrous (until the turbo), but I have reservations about it, since we really don't know alot about the Porsche yet. I think it is a macho thing, since he does not want to be beat by anyone. He does not want to go nay higher then 50-75 HP. I think it is a waste, but that is just my opinion. He has a grerat understanbding of nitrous, and has built many cars with it. I just think the Porsche might be much different and don't want to damage the engine.

I just wanted to introduce myself, since I have been quietly lurking around for awhile. Please forgive my ignorance about the Porsche, but I am here to learn. Now that we have aquired this fantastic car, I don't know if I will ever look back at anything else. I am amazed at how such an old car can handle and go like snot. They are truely amazing automobles. I feel lucky to have one in the garage, and withdraw my reservations about it not being a '68 Camaro.

Diana

Steve87-911 · Steve87-911's Garage

Welcome and Congrats! Pics?

If the gas filler cap was a mystery, then you might want to search on how to check the oil level properly, unless you already know.
911s rock.
Best.

HardDrive · 05-23-2005, 02:49 PM

"put the car on nitrous "

*shudder*

Scooter · 05-23-2005, 02:53 PM

Hey Diana, since you are a lurker, then you know about the mandatory newbe picture posts, right?

Welcome aboard!

my2rotties · 05-23-2005, 03:22 PM

I do know how to check the oil. Made sure to ask that after I could not figure out the fuel situation. We noticed the belt is making noise, so we have to take the car in have it shimmed correctly. It's not something we are going to touch.

I am not enthusicastic about the nitrous either. Hopefully my research on these boards sway him. I see more negative then positive on the subject. I would sooner have a running car, rather then a blown engine that costs in thousands to rebuild. I have had nitrous on a couple of my vehicles and never used it, not even once. Did not want to chance anything, since everything seems to break when I am using it.

It is raining outside right now, but I am working on pictures. I was going to wait to post until I had them, but decided to introduce myself now. I wanted the new rims to be on the car before posting pics as well. I know the BBS wheels are nice, but I find them to look too small for the car. The Dunlops on the car really don't compliment it either.

Give me a day, and I'll post some pictures. I am pretty excited to share.

Vipergrün · 05-23-2005, 03:34 PM

The '68 Camaro MIGHT be a bit quicker off the line, but I guarantee you'll blow by it on the first turn. Also, be careful of the 18" wheels, there was a TSB from Porsche recommending against it on the "older" cars. Before making any mods, you should get the car out on a track or the twisties. You seem to be indicating you'll be doing the brakes for visual purposes? You can upgrade to Boxster brakes easily for an increase in performance AND that cool Porshe script on the calipers. Enjoy!

wholberg · wholberg's Garage

Diana,

I had a 68 Camaro for 26 years, and it was a great car. I am on my second Porsche. Both types of cars have their appeal, but to me the Porsche is something special. I sold my Camaro 6 years ago and occasonally wish I had another. I sold my 911SC in '93, and thought about another Porsche nearly every day until I bought my current one last year.

I have discovered that I can live with being Camaro-less, but Porsche-less is much more difficult.

There is a reason that these cars ignite such passion...enjoy it!

my2rotties · 05-23-2005, 04:09 PM

I just curious as they why Porsche recommends against 18" wheels? We went by a specialist and he said those would fit. We were going to run 225/35/18 on the front and 295/30/18 on the rear. Any reference I saw seemed to allow for these sizes.

I'll check inot the Boxster brakes for sure. The shop we are using (built our car) specializes in Porsches. I am not sure which brakes he was going to put on the car, but I know they were Brembel (spelling) brakes.

Quote:

Originally posted by bb80sc
The '68 Camaro MIGHT be a bit quicker off the line, but I guarantee you'll blow by it on the first turn. Also, be careful of the 18" wheels, there was a TSB from Porsche recommending against it on the "older" cars. Before making any mods, you should get the car out on a track or the twisties. You seem to be indicating you'll be doing the brakes for visual purposes? You can upgrade to Boxster brakes easily for an increase in performance AND that cool Porshe script on the calipers. Enjoy!

Oh Haha · 05-23-2005, 05:50 PM

Welcome aboard Diana and mystery husband!
Do a search here on Pelican for "wheels". If you have the huge flares from Gembella, you should be able to fit a 295/18 rear tire with the right backspacing. Just be sure the offset is right. That's a lotta cabbage to shell out if you get the wrong size.
I too have run nitrous on a Camaro I used to race, except I used it ALL of the time. I would not use it on my 911. These motors are too expensive to experiment with to get the combo just right. Supercharging or a turbo seems to be the way to go for reliable, safe power upgrades.

Yellowbird RS · 05-23-2005, 05:57 PM

Welcome on board.
yes keep away of nitrous, go for Twin turbo if you are looking for a lot of power, about the wheels just check the o/s for right set up and watch for a big spacers

Westy · 05-23-2005, 05:59 PM

Diana, don't listen to anyone here. Keep the Porsche, and get a Camaro. I'm on my second Porsche, and the third Camaro should be at my door in a couple of weeks. You don't DE a pick-up, and you don't take the SC to the dumps. Every car has a purpose!!!!

DavidI · 05-23-2005, 06:32 PM

Diana, I am very impressed with your enthusiasm about cars! How can I get my wife to "clay" my car?

David

my2rotties · 05-23-2005, 06:44 PM

I think all of our money will be tied up with the Porsche for awhile. I would love my '68 Camaro, but now I want to the Porsche for myself, and hubby can have whatever he wants. It amazes me how much money one can spend on one single vehicle. First you have the purchase price, and then you have to add all the extra to make it your very own. Chevy parts are a bargain compared to Porsche stuff.

We did look into the twin turbos, and know we have to redo the engine first. It has 10:1 compression, so even nitrous would be iffy. I don't really want the car on the bottle, but you know how all of you men listen to your wives. I don't think he will do anything with the juice until he does a lot of research on how Porsches work. With a car that looks like our's, you don't want any rice burners beating it. I don't really race the car when I have driven it. I have lost my license too many times for racing and speeding. My insurance is finally cheap (as far as insurance goes), and I don't need anything to make it go up. I admit, the clutch gets the best of me too at times. I was stalling the crap out of it the first night we had it out. I have never driven anything with a brass clutch, and really find the one in our car to be tempermental at best. The last thing I want is to get wasted at a set of lights, because I have stalled in the intersection. also everything breaks when I am using it, and I treat my stuff with respect.

I still have no idea of how these engines work. Heck, I did not even know they had two cam shafts. What blows my mind is that the engine block can be carried easily. I was also told by a local speed shop that super chargers do not work well on Porsches.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. BTW my husband's name is Frank, but he is not one for posting online. He has been lurking though...

Oh Haha · 05-23-2005, 06:50 PM

Hi Frank!!

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

Man...I want to see this car, sounds great. Pics?

Its great when the women get into these cars...even married ones. jk

my2rotties · 05-23-2005, 07:07 PM

Thank Sonic. Actually, I get guys beside me in traffic and they have nothing but disdain and disgust in their eyes. When hubby is driving, people hoot and hollar. When I am driving, I get silence. I find thre car suits me better anyways. It is shapely, and feminine (sorry boys, it is a girly car). I do notice there is no nice way for a woman to get of of this car. I would never wear a skirt if my life depended on it. I am well above the average height for woman, and find it amusing to get out gracefully.

I promise to post pics soon. It is raining, and I won't pull it outside. It is also an ordeal to get it out of the drive way, since it scrapes no matter what angle you take it at. It has a really low air dam, with the headlights mounted in it (the fenders have no headlights, opposed to the pop ups). It looks hot, but I sweat when I see speed bumps.