Should I buy a 911S

I am considering the purchase of a 77 911S Targa with a whale tail and aftermarket compmotive wheels with flared arches (I think) 225's on the rear and 205"s on the front. Apart from the hot running 2.7 engine and the possibility of pulling studs (74K miles on engine) What advice can I get from you guys. I know 356 porsches quite well and have 30 years of experience on air cooled engines but know relatively little about the 911. What came standard on a 77 911S Targa and should I be thinking that my first option would be a front mounted oil cooler?
Any and all information would be helpful and also opinions on what a good price may be. The car has no rust and has always been garaged and never wrecked.
Thanks

I think the 77's are nice cars and are really low in the marketplace right now. You have the advantage of it being a buyers market. The reason it's a buyers market is because of the reasons you've stated. From the mileage you've stated this car probably hasn't had the motor rebuilt so expect a $7000 repair bill if it hasn't. You see the 2.7 crankcase should be completely redone with timeserts etc. when rebuilt. Making it more expensive to rebuild than a 3.0 for instance. If originallity isn't important to you figure in the cost of putting in a used 3.0.
If the motor hasn't been rebuilt but shows excellent numbers from a compression check and the studs all check out you could add an oil cooler remove the thermal reactors and run high octane gas you might be fine for quite a while.
If you go the rebuild route these motors are good for a long time if the case is done by a real pro.

Bobby

PS. check out the thread "Who has the highest mileage?" There is a guy who has a 74' that has 237k miles without a rebuild. So maybe its' not that big of deal. Still I would figure in repairs to be on the safe side. Just remember the money runs out before the good deals do.

Bobby

[This message has been edited by Bobboloo (edited 10-21-2000).]

Did they come with 11 blade fans in 77? Well if it does not have one, change that too.

s



[This message has been edited by H20911 (edited 10-21-2000).]

Hey the fan is a good point. In 76'+ 77' the fans had five blades. I would go with the 11 blade 245mm with 1.67:1 ratio that they used on the Turbos.

Bobby

On the negative side read my posts (experience applies to any 2.7liter) in the thread:
"New to 911's Continued... "

Davey,

Since you are obviously familiar with most of the 2.7 issues, you have one of the best possible backgrounds for making the transition to 911 ownership, assuming that you have done most or all of your own engine work, of course, over the past 30 years!

The only caution I would have is, even if the car is in perfect running condition this week, that could change at any time ... with the breaking of one or more of the bottom row of Dilivar studs, which I believe all of the '77 production had originally, or were retrofitted by dealers in a 'quiet' campaign, once the heat issues for 2.7's were realized by the factory! I would encourage you to read Bruce Anderson's recent comments in his technical column in Excellence regarding the 2.7! If the price is where you think it should be considering the rest of the car, and are prepared to do a top-end rebuild if it already has TimeSerts, or a complete rebuild if it hasn't ... then by no means avoid what may become an enjoyable 'project' car! I wouldn't recommend it be used as an 'only' car and primary mode of transportation, but at least you aren't walking into this one 'blindfolded' or ignorant of the risks.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa