Could I/Should I create FrankenPorsche??

GBG1000 · 11-19-2007, 07:52 PM

I had a fairly serious engine fire (ruptured fuel line) in my recently acquired 1983 SC Targa. I did not have comprehensive, so I own it.

Most damage was to the drivers side of the engine bay.

All wiring back there appears to be fried.

Fan/housing and fiberglass shroud are toast.
MSD and upper part of airbox are toast.
Distributer cap and rotor are toast- not sure about remainder of distributer.
I have no idea about the CIS, but surely the accumulator and airbox are toast.

The best offer I have had for the car thusfar has been $3000.

Although the car was solid, straight and rust free, it never was going to be a beauty- just something I could love to drive.

So to the crux of the matter- I would love to drive this car but want to do it on the cheap. What I want is a no frills driver. Any hack that is not a safety issue is okay by me. i.e. bypass wiring where necessary, pushbutton starter switch etc.

Change it to twin carbs to avoid all of the CIS component diagnose and replace, etc.

I know this will likely raise the hair on the neck of the enthiusiast, but at least I want to save it from the scrap heap and jsut drive and enjoy the basics.

Any advice on the best strategy to achieve my objectives would be appreciated. I cleaned out the engine bay Sunday, and will try to post some more detailed photos of the engine compartment this weekend.

Thanks in advance - Jerry

oregonmon · oregonmon's Garage

Holy Crap!

rllevin · 11-20-2007, 02:25 AM

I've no real expertise on this type of conversion but I suspect whatever you try to do is going to cost real money between the engine conversion and trying to get it to look even half decent. Factor in the inevitable cost creep of whatever plan you develop and you're likely better off looking for another 911. FWIW I bought my totalled hit from behind '86 carrera back from insurance company for $2550. $3000's likely fair from a dismantler.
Good luck.

SXSMAN · 11-20-2007, 03:25 AM

Do you have hair or are you bald ?

If hair , part it .

You have a serious project needing much time and $$$ and the love affair will quickly end in divorce X 3 .

Sleep on this one and think about what you can do and what you can't do ( or what you want to do ) .

Best of luck to you , you have your hands full .

SxS

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

Gads!

I too suspect cost of repair would be prohibitive. Perhaps you can part out what's left to defray costs?

Shaun @ Tru6 · 11-20-2007, 04:26 AM

If you can get $3K, I'd take it.

Porsche_monkey · 11-20-2007, 04:35 AM

That's a land locked sailboat, ie a money pit. Part it out, or be prepared for years of work.

ossiblue · 11-20-2007, 04:38 AM

+1 with all the others--I don't see you driving this "on the cheap" unless your time and labor is worth nothing to you.

Paulporsche · 11-20-2007, 05:39 AM

Yikes! Sorry to see that.

bob deluke · bob deluke's Garage

Jerry,

I agree with others on the board. Sell and move on. You don't know what damage was done in the fire, what is warped, weakened, twisted out of shape. I bought my 77 Targa cheap because of a dash fire, nothing major, but the p.o. didn't have the knowledge to effect repairs. Mine was nothing like yours. Its not worth the aggravation to either you or your spouse. Take the money and move on..

Christien · Christien's Garage

Just a thought - I notice your under your name it says "owned the dream for 30 days". My first thought was, wow, that really sucks to have this kind of fire after only a month, but then it got me thinking. I have no idea what the laws regarding used vehicle sales are in FL, but here in Ont. a car must have a valid safety test before ownership changes hands. They're good for 45 days. While they're not a warranty, it would seem to me that an engine fire as serious as yours would quite possibly be caused by something a mechanic should've noticed when performing a safety check - something like a loose fuel line or even a line already leaking. I can't say for sure, but if that were the case there might be some recourse against the mechanic who performed the safety. Unless of course you did some work in there yourself, in which case you'd have no recourse at all.

Just a thought. Sorry to see such a beautiful car destroyed.

Porsche_monkey · 11-20-2007, 05:58 AM

I assume it was insured, so if there is an issue with the inspection it would be between the insurance company and the mechanic. Unless his insurer denies the claim, he should just take his payout and walk.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 11-20-2007, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBH

I assume it was insured, so if there is an issue with the inspection it would be between the insurance company and the mechanic. Unless his insurer denies the claim, he should just take his payout and walk.

He says he didn't have comprehensive, meaning no fire, collision, theft insurance.

This is a move on moment. Parting it out will only lengthen the pain of this terrible loss.

GBG1000 · 11-20-2007, 03:30 PM

PBH- Shaun has it right - I was only insured for collision. 1st car in 30 years that I did not have comprehensive insurance!!! (That will be the last time I don't have it)

boba · 11-20-2007, 04:00 PM

I fear most have said it already. You could get more that $3000 if you parted it out, but that would take time and you would be left with a large pile to get rid of.

$3000 and gone may hurt your pocketbook but it is gone and you can move on. You could get a bit more if you are willing to sit on it a while. After you clean it up and the damage is visable it may bring more. Right now a buyer is gambling.

If you are thinking of rebuilding know what you are getting into and what you will have when you are done.

I would say the motor would need a total rebuild plus replace of all the burned bits. A repalcement motor would be the most economical path but still not cheap. All wiring would need to be redone if you want to feel safe driving it. The glass, trim, repaint, and other bit will add up faster than you can imagine.

It seems the decisions are clear but not easy.

Porsche_monkey · 11-21-2007, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GBG1000

PBH- Shaun has it right - I was only insured for collision. 1st car in 30 years that I did not have comprehensive insurance!!! (That will be the last time I don't have it)

Man that really sucks. It would be bad enough if you were insured.

porsche930dude · porsche930dude's Garage

thats why one of my first upgrades was a fire extinguisher. I think id probrobly take the 3 grand rather than part it

Porsche_monkey · 11-22-2007, 03:41 AM

I believe that a fire extinguisher is useless in most engine fires. By the time you notice the problem, then get your extinguisher, then get the lid open, the engine is toasted.

It doesn't hurt to carry one, but I don't think he'd be in a much different position even if he had one.