If you could get a 1990 C2 Coupe for less then $10k, would you?
 

I'm thinking about a track project and I don't feel like shelling out $60k for a Cayman S. I've located a car that might go for the amount listed above and would then strip out the car entirely. History on the car sounds vague, and there is an oil leak that sounds like a RMS. Run away?

The problem is what you will get for 10k will in all likelihood end up costing you 17-18k once you do what needs to be done. You might get lucky, but I doubt it :)

It's probably worth $10k in parts, right? Where's the risk? If this was your first 911 experience I'd say run, Forrest, run, but if you're going to gut it for a track car I'd say you understand the risk involved and are willing to pay to play. PPI a must, however.

agreed. If there is nothing horrible about it, snatch it up, gut it and hit the track :)

-Chris

Do it! sum of parts is well over, even if the chassis has been salvaged.

Doug

One thought, in my investigations it is much cheaper to prep an early car for track then the 90 and later. Just because of the numbers built I guess? You can throw in used T bars, struts and elephant bushings in the front of an SC for $700 if you do the work you self. The coil over kits for the later cars are half again that much. Also, the strut top bearings on our cars are $100 cheaper than the later cars. etc. I guess if you by the parts new its not as drastic a difference in price but the parts are pretty readily availble used.

Plus there is a ton more knowledge on setup etc.

That said it would be fun to track a 3.6 car!

Re: If you could get a 1990 C2 Coupe for less then $10k, would you?
 

All the 1990 ones I have seen leak - mine leaked bad around the power steering pump. It also had the weeping around the cylinder to head connection.

That said - Coil overs (the early c2's had the smaller rear brakes) but better front brakes. Smooth underbody (that you can really tell with when going fast) G-50 tranny - easy to lighten - and easier to start with a twin plug 3.6 to make into a 3.8 twin plug - of and easier to find performance porsche wheels (17" and above") for cheaper and with a bigger offset.

A friend of mine bought an early 964 on impulse. Then he spent $8K resealing the oil leaks. These cars spewed oil from the lack of gaskets at the cylinders.

for 8 k he could have bought a 993 vario cam engine, sold the 3.6 as a core and spent 2 k on suspension...

Actually, after he put about $12K into the 964 he sold it and bought a 993. When the CEL light bug hit that car he traded it toward a new 2006 Saleen Mustang.

He's not lucky with cars, but he can afford not to be. Retired at 45, I hate him. ;)

Hard to find a 964 for cheaper than that.

Obviously it's cheap for a reason. But you don't go spending big $ on a nice example of a car to make a track project- that's just throwing money away IMO. The build of a track car is never a wise investment, so don't even go there if you don't want to lose money. That's why the obligatory response is always "buy someone elses completed (relative term) project."

Obviously #2 is use the oil leak as buying leverage. RMS should be evident at the trans-motor junction, and is not a hard fix. It's an engine drop and some fiddling with clutch components.

Like I said, hard to find a 3.6 with a car around it for that price. But the "if it seems too good.........." cliche' should always be in the back of your mind. :D

Michael, If you put 10K more into your awsome machine......WOW!

Thanks for the replies to my "thinking out loud". I've been doing DE's over the past 6 years and need a new outlet. After my last event at the Glen, I've come to realize that the soon to be new track king is the Caymen S. I've usually had no problem outrunning Boxsters and the S's, but when a car comes up on you and passes you will nothing left in you vehicle, it's rather humbling. In fact at this DE, my car was one of the oldest Porsche's out there. Plenty of 997 Carrera S's and other cars that are just flat out fast. So what to do? My car is at its limits unless I start stripping the ***** out of it, and I just can't do this to a perfect car. I just don't have the energy or time to build an umpteenth RS replica. Besides, thats a money pit you'll never climb out of. 993 are still too much money to strip out and track. It seems the 964 fits the bill. Coil-overs, G50, 3.6, twin-pugged. Add some headers and custom chip and you can get close to 300 from what I hear. And if you think the 993 is depreciating rapidly, check out the 964. They are showing up at dealers like the one I am writing about and the bluebook has got to be beating them up. I actually wouldn't mind if the car was even a salvage title or wrecked so I can add fiberglass. Seems like a car that could be had for less then $20k and wouldn't mind burying in a tire-wall while your trying to stay ahead of a Cayman S. Buying a Cayman S to me is like cheating.;)

How light can you make a 964? The last C2 I saw on the scales was 3100 lbs.

Ugh...

I don't think a Cayman S is exactly a featherweight either?

964's have a lot of amenities to get rid of, just like a Carrera but worse. A 964 3.6 in a fairly light car is pretty quick. einreb has a 3.6 in his '88 and wow does that thing scream. But his motor has supposed Carrera Cup Car mechanic history. Anyhow, there's a bunch of stuff to lose weight from. HVAC crap, power steering (find a manual rack for it), fender liners, exhaust, etc. Hundreds of pounds can be pared from a 964 pretty easy- especially if you get serious and rid it of any sort of convenience item.

That's the same thinking I have when people talk Z06. Yeah, I could do that too. Just go to a car store and buy a used C5 Z06 off the lot........... hey look........ i'm faster than you now! :p

Mill down those pistons and turbo charge that beast. That will keep em in the mirrors. Should be able to do for <$10k.

Twin plugs - 3.4 Carrera body = Think we are talking redbird here.

What's another alternative? What can you get for less than 10k on today's market? Midyear S? SC maybe? Sure 964 is a better platform to start with.

I bought and sold some parts of my buddy's crashed C2 a while ago. Sure, I've got close to 10k for all of them. I still have some in my garage. So, if for some reason this car doesn't work out for you, sell parts, make money. I did.

On the other hand, I found and bought 1990 C2 several months ago for 12.5. Can you say ultimate conversion to 3.6, G50 and coilovers? For 12.5? I sure can say so...but, car that I bought had top end , head gasket issue fixed and head studs done. Doesn't have a single sign of oil leak, doesn't use oil either.

Evaluate the car, go through possible scenarios, see if they fit your situation, make your decision. Best of luck!

C2 is a GREAT platform for a track car. You'd rather have a 92, but for $10K and a working engine it's a slam-dunk.

I would have built a 964 based track car (RSA clone) if a 993 didn't fall into my lap.

If you pass on the car would you mind giving the seller my phone number and asking him to call me. I need a track car project.