My 'new' 1973 911T 2.4 is here....

[Highfield]

Just a quick post to say that I have been over to Francis Tuthill and collected my 'new' 1973 911 T/E now running on Webers.

More pics and info to follow, but just wanted to share for now.

Initial pictures (pre clean, waxoyl and new front carpets) are here on msn.

http://porsche-pages.spaces.live.com

Lots of detail cleaning and zillions of little improvements to come in the future - looking forward to meeting up with the pre impact bumper crowd (if you are in the UK!).

Car is a rust free california import that was to have been used as a base for one of their $200,000 rally cars, but was too good !

[Eric-325I]

Wow, love the white over black! Great looking example, grats!

Eric

[Highfield]

Eric,

I have always liked the 911 in white, from any era.

I didn't specifically set out for white, but am very happy with this car. Look out for lots of small write-ups as those jobs get tackled.

[CharlesJones]

Man, that looks just beautiful. I love the clean look of early cars - they just look great.

It's interesting to see you've gone for from a 3.2 to an earlier car. I am perfectly happy with my '84 at the moment, but I reckon if I was to ever change it it would only be for a much earlier car. Is it radically different to drive?

[Leland Pate]

That, holy ****, is a beautiful car.

Man, I wish I could buy a long hood over here in Europe and bring it home with me.

[Highfield]

Originally posted by CharlesJones
Man, that looks just beautiful. I love the clean look of early cars - they just look great.

It's interesting to see you've gone for from a 3.2 to an earlier car. I am perfectly happy with my '84 at the moment, but I reckon if I was to ever change it it would only be for a much earlier car. Is it radically different to drive?

Charles,

Haven't done enough miles yet, but yes it is different - more engaging - you have to be more involved, a little like an old MG, Alfa etc. Not as fast, but on our roads that is no big deal.

[CharlesJones]

It sounds great. Yeah, it's the level of engagement which makes older cars more fun to drive I reckon.

Good luck - I look forward to hearing how you get on with it.

[SandyI]

Tell us more about the engine... Why the red S shroud?

[Highfield]

Originally posted by SandyI
Tell us more about the engine... Why the red S shroud?

I believe the engine starts 613 so a T spec. from 1973 - infact it was a T/E but converted to Webers.

I need to try to contact the previous US owner to get any history I can.

As an aside, can I trace owner history in the US by the chassis / engine numbers ?

The engine is very clean and could well have been rebuilt not that long ago, as it has very clean SSI and all bolts / pipes etc.

Not sure about the shroud colour - perhaps the PO liked red.

It also has a PMO sticker on the rear of the engine bay saying it had a PMO Carb Conversion for this engine number - did PMO ever fit Webers as they to look very new.

Keep those questions coming......

[Yellowbird RS]

nice car
Congrats!

[SandyI]

A point of clarification. The 1973 911T's were considered "F" program cars, not "E". Your engine was originally fitted with the CIS injection system. Many of those engines were "rebuilt" with Webers solely due to an owner's failed attempt at fixing the fuel injection system when it failed. You may want to consider switching back to CIS for the added performance if you know a first-rate Porsche shop specializing in early 911's. By the way, what's PMO? And sadly no, there is no legal way to trace the previous owner through the VIN here in the U.S.

[azasadny]

Very, very nice! Welcome aboard!!

[dezzmo]

Beautiful car Highfield, good for you!


Do I see an anodized engine lid grille? If so, that's a very nice touch. 73 911's came with black anodized grille's and a lot of us 73 911 owners are trying to backdate them to look like yours.

Along with the rear chrome bumpers!

Very nice!

[Grady Clay]

Ian,

Great example! You are going to have fun.

Yes, you should be able to trace the title history using the VIN. I would start from both ends with a CoA from Porsche and a California title search.

Was your 911T equipped with MFI or CIS (it could be either)? Particularly if MFI I encourage you to re-fit the system.

I like the trim touches.

What general philosophy are you going by? Do you intend to restore it to original? Do you want to continue to have subtle “improvements”, back dating and updating? Obviously it won’t become a track only car. Will its functionality be improved with the normal suspension improvements, shorter gears, LSD?

I’ll encourage you to do only what can be undone. There is plenty of room for creativity within that limit.

Soon it would be wise to repair the driver’s seat back. I can see non-original screws holding the seat back to the recliner and the classic wrinkle in the upholstery. The problem is the threaded inserts in the seat back failed and the screws worked loose. An upholsterer can remove the covering. You can have someone fabricate a reinforced version of the threaded inserts and then use original plated screws. If left unattended the seat back can fail to the point where it isn’t repairable.

Your greatest challenge is going to be to not have the chassis rust in your wonderful British climate. If it were possible a dipping in a vat of Tectyl would solve the problem. As it is you will have to protect everything piecemeal.

Your first place to clean should be inside the rear fenders, to the front, between a “hat shape” reinforcement on the inner fender/chassis and the bottom of the door latch striker panel. That is a place that classically collects dirt and your climate will allow the dirt to stay wet. The panel can rust through in an unbelievably short time.

If you want to play, the engine can be converted back to the original yellow fan shroud and MFI but underneath be a 2.8 911S, high compression, hidden twin plug. Nothing like 275 hp for fun runs.

Whatever you do, please keep the flat sides. You can squeeze a 7x15 and a reasonable tyre under there.

I would only repair the obvious interior issues. Good used original is very appropriate.

Again, congratulations.

Best,
Grady

[wreckah]

that is a gorgeous car! congratulations!

cheers, jan

[Porsche]

Very nice, congrats!

[911-32]

Nice car Ian - you would be welcome to share it on the IB forum with your old IB buddies.

My first 911 was a 2.4T with Webers. Going back to CIS would IMHO be a backwards step for performance. If you need more performance then my vote would be cams and 2.7 barrels and pistons with the Webers - should get you close to 2.7RS numbers. This was the plan my mechanics hatched for my old T before I sold it.

If you are interested, I can also tell you what we did with the suspension set-up to make a great fun road and occasional track car.

Richard

[Highfield]

Thanks everyone for getting back to me with positive views on the car - as I knew you would ! Now lets see if I can put answers to questions / statements.

Sandy & Grady are for CIS / MFI retrofit, whilst Richard likes those Webers. I don't know what it originally came with, but if anyone has an easy way to identify, let me know. Budget says stay with what I have for now, but I will start a new thread on the best induction for a 'T'. What colour shroud goes with each induction type ?

Sandy - PMO are the carburettor people - I have a label that says they did the carb conversion, but not up onm PMO so don't know how to find out when they did it etc.

Dezzmo - the Grille, Porsche Letters and 2.4 badges are as I found them. Yes the Grille and Porsche Letters look polished / anodised - is that original then ? 2.4 is chrome - what should it be ?

Grady - how do I do a California Title Search (I am in the UK) ?

Grady - philosophy is to 'improve by bolt-on' that can be undone if needs be. Items like steering wheel, seats, driving lights etc. - it already had early lightweight door trims. I will keep it flat sided.

Grady - Car is 99% street driven but will see a few track days and my wife even says we can do some 'regularity rallies' with it.

Grady - I will pull the seats and replace, but will restore or sell as is - are they worth holding on to ?

Grady - well up on salt etc. over here, and I am aware of the kidney bowl trap from the work I had done on my 3.2 Carrera - thanks for the warnings though, and I will get it waxoyl treated before winter.

Richard - I will post info over on IB site, as I am a regular reader over there still - great bunch of lads, and your car looks so tough with that new stance, duck and lettering - great car.

Richard - I am very interested in what you did to the suspension, as I will need new dampers next year.

Well that is enough for now, so keep the comments and questions coming - I know I will.

[SandyI]

My only experience with fuel injection versus Webers was on the track at Streets of Willow. A guy in my run group had a '72 2.4 running Webers (140HP?). I have my 2.0 E with MFI (140 HP). Out on the track, after I passed him, and watched him recede in my mirrors, I was glad I had what I had and not what he had. But there is a slim chance that your car came from the factory with Zenith carbs. If it did, your Webers would be a definite step up. But Webers versus Fuel Injection? There's a reason Porsche installed MFI then CIS instead of Webers back in the day -- Superior throttle response and fuel delivery.

But the only way to truly find out how your car was equiped when it left the factory is to waste your money on the Porsche Certificate of Authenticity. If it's listed there. Many of them issued for early 911's are far from complete.

Good luck and have fun!

[BK911]

What's the VIN? If the 5th digit is a 5 it was a euro car and came with carbs. If it was a US car and the last four digits are 1500 or more it came with cis and a black shroud. Else it came with MFI and a yellow shroud.