83 sc

robisc · 09-06-2006, 01:56 AM

I have just purchased a 83 sc with a "european" distributer. What are the pros and cons of this, I know nothing about it, Thanks

S2GART · S2GART's Garage

First, congrats on your "new" car. Second, where are you from? I have never heard of a "European distributor". European suspension settings yes, but not specific ignition part. Who told you it had a European distributor?

Vin-barrett · Vin-barrett's Garage

I think he's saying he has a ROW/grey market car.

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

The rotor on a "ROW car is different than the rotor on a USA. Rotor on ROW has a built in rev limiter.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 09-06-2006, 06:45 AM

You'd get more replies if you posted a more meaningful title than simply "83 sc." A lot of people look at that and think, "Yeah? So what?" Try something like, "Need info on 83SC European distributor."

I see it's your first post, so it's just that you're not yet accustomed to what works best.

Welcome to the forum!

Stephan

robisc · 09-06-2006, 11:35 AM

Wow...a varied response,
I have a US car that I just purchased from the original owner, it has 57k doc miles with good records and some perf mods. I am just learning about the SC because I planned on buying a 1987-89 911 but found this car and could not pass it up. I was told that it had a European distributer and was given the original along with other stock parts that had been changed (stainless exhaust, turbo steering wheel, radio...nothing major) He told me it gave the engine additional hp. At the time I did not question the information because there were other things that were more important to the purchase. I have no reason to disbelieve what he told me because it was information presented after the sale, but...I have no idea what he was talking about and was hoping someone in this forum would know. Anyway...just getting my feet wet. Thanks for the helpful input!

kühn tune · 09-06-2006, 11:46 AM

The fuel distributor on the European cars is different, probably for emmisions purposes, maybe for the higher compression.

As I recall, you can have an early SC, non-o2 sensor distributor rebuilt to euro specs.

javadog · 09-06-2006, 03:08 PM

If you are talking about an ignition distributor, there were several different ones used for the 911SC. In general, US and "Euro" cars had different ones. Likewise there were those used in '78, '79 and '80 and different ones from '81 onwards. Obviously, the differences are in the advance curves. As ruf-porsche mentioned, the rev limiter was done differently on some cars.

If you are talking about fuel distributors, then you also have a bunch of different ones used. The main difference related to whether the car was fitted with an O2 sensor or not. There were differences from market to market and year to year. Porsche changed something or another in the injection system every year.

All this is to say that, maybe you have more power as a result and maybe you don't. What would concern me more is if you have more ignition advance and are subject to getting a little detonation as a result. It's hard to hear it if it occurs in these engines, particularily if they are new to you. An '83 SC had lower compression in the US than Europe, but it was quite a bit higher than the first few years of SC production. I'd be real curious to know which distributor was installed and what timing the car had.

Whenever I buy a new (used) car, I take a careful look at what previous owners have done. I find I undo more modifications than I keep. I don't want to make you nervous unduly but I always suggest a good shop take a look at the car as early in the ownership process as possible.

Happy driving, and welcome to this asylum...

JR