Questions From A Noob: '75 911S w/issues and kinda ugly!

[Winter]

Folks, Not sure what I was thinking, but I found this car on Craig's List and decided to go for it! This car has been molested. It's a '75 with a 901 5-speed transmission and a 2.2 L engine which has been converted from the original fuel injection to Weber carbs. The wiring is ugly, the PO put in a switch at the battery which disconnects the electrical system to prevent a rapid battery drain whenever the car is parked. It seems to have some sort of sport suspension on it, it's very stiff and has been lowered. I have no documentation about prior repair work, etc. Pan is solid, with the only rust being at the bottom of the passenger door and inside the lip of the driver's side door to the rear of the car. The is an oil leak towards the front of the engine which drips on the heat exchangers (both sides) and makes this sucker very stinky! Does not smoke on start up or when running, though. The tires have dry rot! The front windshield needs to be replaced due to a tree branch falling on it. And the map pockets on the doors were so damaged and ugly that I removed them so they wouldn't fall off.

It took me - literally - two days of cleaning to make the car look like it does in the photos. Even with three windex treatments on the interior glass, it still needs a 4th go-over! Yes, this car was dusty, dirty and ugly, but I'm pretty pleased with the way it cleaned up, and it's now time to address some mechanical and other issues. At only $3000 for the purchase, I think it will be a fun project, although I may have spent too much!!! Yeah, the Porsche fixation. You guys will understand.

It runs fairly well from what I can tell, and feels pretty fast and tight, but I've just insured it and will have it properly registered by the end of today, and then will take it out on the highway.

Here are my initial questions to deal with the most pressing issues:

1. Instrument cluster. There is a red light on the instrument cluster marked "G" what is this light for? If anyone can post a link to a pdf of the owner's manual for this car, particularly the pages which describe the instrument panel, I'd be very appreciative.

2. The Oll Leak: the PO said it was from the valve gaskets. Is this a common source of oil leakage. If so, I assume I have to pull the engine to addess the issue?

3. Tires: The rear tires are 225.50.15, the Fronts are 205.50.15. I'm used to driving Audi Quattros where running any odd mix of sizes is verboten. Should I attempt to replace these with a different size set up, or stay the course?

I'm sure sure I'll have plenty of additional questions as I start to get dirty with this vehicle, but those are my initial ones. Also, my apologies for Porsche ignorance. I've been hanging out at Audifans.com for the last 7 years or so, with a case of the quattro bug. Obviously I've now caught a new disease. - Tom

[Danny_Ocean]

Price is good! You have at least $3k of parts if you ever had to recoup your investment.

1. "G" = Generator light.
2. Valve cover gaskets (upper & lower) can be re-placed with engine in.
3. Do not drive with dry-rotted tires. The sizes you have are about right for that car/height.

P.S. - Get rid of that plastic fuel filter before you have a $3k car-b-que. Change the oil/filter, too.

[Moses]

Is that a factory hard top on your targa? If it is, it's worth nearly what you paid for the car.

[Gene Wilkes]

Welcome to the forum and looks like a nice purchase for the money! Red light is probably the alternator light. Oil leaks are common on these cars. Clean it up and see where its coming from. Valve cover gaskets are an easy on car repair! Oil sending unit on the topside/forward is a common culprit. Two sizes of tires is the norm! I suggest that you take your time and go through the car from front to rear and take care of issues!

[Winter]

Oh, yeah the dry rot! No need to tell me not to speed around on those tires. I'm frantically looking for some cheap used ones, as the car will be mothballed for winter to address the issues I've raised above and the issues that will certainly arise when I do - when one domino falls. . . .LOL!

Danny-O, thanks for the pointer on the valve cover gaskets. And the fuel filter!

And, yes, Moses. It is indeed a factory hard top. Near new condition.

As I said, this car was molested. A lot of weird stuff, some good, some bad. But, I think, the foundation of something that can be a fun weekend runabout. I've got a '95 S6 with a bunch of RS2 goodies on it and an MTM chip, so that's my daily driver. Kinda fun to have both cars in the garage. Bruthus from the same mutha.

Tom

[cubby911T]

congrats and welcome! hey, don't know what your budget is, but you could do a lot of interesting stuff with that car! 3.2/3.6 engine conversion.....RS/RSR backdate.....???? Or just drive the snot out of it as-is .

Going by the door jam, looks it was originally a darker color (black?).

Good luck and have fun!!!

[Winter]

Matt - yes, black. Now white. Not sure when the paint job was done. It shined up well on the front of the car, but has a bunch of small cracks on the rear top of both fenders.

I just blew my tuning budget on my Audi, so even shelling out for this was a bit painful, but, man, I've wanted a 911 for a long time and when I saw the ad, something snapped in my brain and I just went for it.

I definitely think that a bigger engine could be in this car's future. Right now, though, I need to address the basic stuff, and pray that I do so before winter really hits so I can take the top off and enjoy. . .

Tom

[barney911rs]

The 901 tranny with the 2.2 would be a correct match. My guess is the original 2.7 this car would of had melted down and it was replaced with something on hand. The mid 70's cars were not as desireable as the early cars or the bullet proof SC's starting in 78. You may find that trying to bring this car back to factory specs will cost more then it's really worth. That being said, this car should be a fun car to get started with and learn the ins and outs. Do with it what you please and above all, drive it and have fun when the weather alows in CO. Glad to see the car rescued.

[Zeke]

Not being sarcastic, but buy some books. Our host's "101 Projects" is a great starter. For a lot of very good general information and an easy read, get Bruce Anderson's book, "Performance Handbook." Get a Haynes for your model. You can order these from our host.

Soon, you'll be answering other's questions.

Welcome and good luck. You found a "find."

Oh, and do your brakes. First thing to do to any car that has sat.

[RWebb]

yes, and buy an owner's manual -- read it carefully, these are lots better than those for most brands

- search on sand, saning + valve covers for how to fix - do that when you change the oil - you want to change ALL fluids ASAP, check for metal braided brake hoses and discard (replace with new factory rubber ones)

Here is a thread that will keep you busy for a while:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/189572-long-term-commonly-neglected-maintenance-post2955054.html#post2955054

[Winter]

Milt - already got the books, both the Anderson Performance Handbook and the Haynes 911 manual. Your advice is well taken, though.

Via the Anderson tome as well as the forums here, I'd discovered the problems with the 75 engine, so I'm guessing that Barney911s, you are most likely correct. That engine's problems led, I'd reckon, to the 5 speed + 2.2 engine that currently resides in the car.

I just paid a very nice visit to John Eisenbud here in Denver. I live rather close to his shop, so I just risked it on the rotting tires and drove over there. He confirmed that the engine is a 2.2 from a 911 E, converted to carbs from fuel injection. Funky, but it runs.

I was also able to source 4 used tires from him for $40. They're not in the greatest of shape, but much better than what I have and will allow me to drive around when the weather hits 70 on Thursday. Very stoked.

The next big issue is the oil leak. I cleaned the engine and after my short drive, it appears be leaking only slightly from the lower valve covers. I couldn't get a real bead on the upper valve covers, but the leak seems to be coming from the front of the engine, I'll have to get the car up and really get under it to I.D. the spot.

I'll take islandmanpa's advice and check out the oil sending unit first. John Eisenbud was pretty cool, but advised me that the car would best be kept as it is, with the minor issues (ugly wiring fixed up, oil leak resolved, tires, oh, and the turn signal doesn't work either) fixed unless I wanted to spend a ton o money.

We'll see. If my bad habits from Quattro ownership spill over to the 911, it will be a very slippery slope and soon this car will have some sort of massive powerplant, etc, etc.

Thanks much to everyone here for the warm welcome and initial advice. I divide time between Den and Vail, so if anyone needs extra hands for wrenching in the Front Range area, I'm happy to donate a day or two. I'm sure I'll learn plenty in return. - Tom

[Gogar]

Congratulations. True, that's a funky car, but absolutely worth what you paid for it. And you got good advice from Eisenbud's. If you can clean up the wiring and get it to leak a little less, you're probably doing great! Turn signal problems are often just dirty bulb sockets, poor fitting bulbs, or other easy stuff. that battery disconnect is probably just what the PO did because he got frustrated and couldn't find the real problem.

And remember, there's tons of CO pelicans right down the street. I live pretty close to you, but I'm an idiot and may not be of much help.

[911boost]

Good find. While not near Vail, I work out near Boulder by Flat Irons and live in Fort Collins. That could be a fun little car.

I agree about the weather this week. I drove the turbo in today due to the sunshine....

Bill

[Winter]

Good God, RWebb! This is a daunting list:

"Here is a thread that will keep you busy for a while:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showt...54#post2955054"

Busy for awhile? Like the rest of my life.

Especially since this car is so funkified! - Tom

[photoeditor]

Winter,

Like Bill, i'm not close to Vail (in Ft. Collins), but nice find. And - if you're up for it, and if the weather cooperates - contemplating a Black Friday Phun Run somewhere north of Denver...

Welcome.

Michael

[Winter]

Yeah, keep me in the loop for that. I actually divide my time between Vail and Denver. I lived in Vail for 15 years or so, met a Denver girl and got married. Now spending a lot of time down at 6th and Corona way, since she owns a home here. Still escape the the mountains when I can.

I have a few clients in Boulder and spend a ton of time there, too. So, any event son the front range, I'm into, schedule permitting. - Tom

[BottleNose]

Nice score! I'd rather have that weber carb 2.2 911E engine than the 2.7 smogged CIS lump that came with the '75s...I'll bet that thing is faster than a stock one! Enjoy it!

[RWebb]

- you can prioritize the various tasks

but when cars get old they need to be maintained in ways other than oil & brakes & motor rebuilds

you can bet all the rubber is lousy

[darkbeer]

Whey two goe......3K was a steal for a decent "Middy" platform that, as stated above, can go in SO many different directions....Grand Prix White = 1st class look...even for a "rough" car !
I have a 75 GPW Targa too, that I spent only a slight bit more for. I would drive it & enjoy it as is & spend your time learning what you can about the myriad of options that you have...I had the 915 2.7CIS in mine & have now given up on the 2.7 & bought a 3.2 '87 motor but will keep my '75 915 5 spd. ...You may want to check out the "Mid9" registry, join for free...lots of support here & there for you & your project. WELCOME TO THE P-WORLD ........your life will never be the same!

[HarryD]

Personally, your list should be:

Rust: Verify that it is truly minor. No sense pouring a ton of money into a rust bucket.

Safety items: Brakes, tires, fuel leaks, exhaust leaks, wheel bearings, headlights, brake lights.

Secind: Change ALL the fluids, Brake, engine oil (see this thread for what you should use-http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=367300) and transmission oil (use SWEPCO 201).

Third: Chase down and eliminate the battery drain.

Fourth: Determine oil leak/loss rate. If you can get 700+ miles to the quart, this is a low priority, if higher, determine if leak or worn engine (worn valve guides or rings etc). If still leak, party on.

Fourth: Other items as you wallet, time and inclination feel the need.

Nothing wrong with a "rolling restoration".

One more thing, before you start any serious mods, spend some time looking and reading about what others have done. Go to some Porsche events (your local PCA Chapter would be a good start), and see what others have done and what you like and dislike.

Above all, HAVE FUN!