Introduction and Appreciation

[LWJ]

Hello,

It has been a long fun trip for me. While I have been coming to Pelican on the BMW side for a long time, two years ago I got the 911 bug. Due in very large part to this forum, I just picked up a very clean, straight 80 SC. As you will see from the obligitory pic, the wheels are a little over the top, and the front spoiler is missing but other than that, it is very nice. All records from new. Perfect dash, great interior, tight, zero rust, etc. Also, it was cheap! Of all the cars I looked at, this was clearly the nicest.

The car sailed through a PPI, and flew through the smog check. Call me what you will but I intend for this to be my daily driver.

As for the shopping, I learned a lot about people and cars. There is a grand assortment of different groups: wacko's, hoarders, rip-offs, and enthusiasts. A note to future buyers, when you detect that the seller is anything BUT an enthusiast, run.

Mechanics - I am a little underwhelmed here. I called a very highly regard P-wrench regarding an Euro 85 I was in LOVE with. I was concerned about possible detonation issues. When the mechanic told me not to worry as it had a knock sensor, I mentally fired them. Other mechanics have also given similarly poor answers. Thank God for Pelican so I can do my own research!

Cool experience: Since this is my post, I have to let you know about a fun car I just saw. I was picking up some Swepco locally at a race shop when I looked into the storage bay and saw a 908 in the shadows.

Cool experience that never happened: Don't bother to ask me about the 71T barn find I have not been able to close. I won't tell you about it.

Technical questions:

1) Tensioners. This car does not have the oil fed tensioners. I understand what this means and that I must address this issue. In reading a post, someone said that "tensioner failure gives plenty of noisy early warning." Can someone elaborate on this? I need to make a decision here.

2) Clutch cable. My clutch cable is slightly slack under the car. I adjusted the cable as far as it goes and have the proper gap. The shifter can hang at 3 or 4 and I suspect I am not getting a full release. I have read that the front of the cable needs to be tightened or the cable replaced. Cable seems to be in great shape. Can someone tell me how the heck to access the front of the cable? It must be easier than the way I was trying!

Thank you all for your contributions. You have helped me buy a great car!
Thank you Wayne! I have a bunch of stuff to buy in the near future!

Larry

Here is a pic.

[Poor-sche Lover]

I like that color. Very 80's! You can't just tease us with one picture. Anyway, as far as your questions are concerned, the tensioners failing supposedly sounds like exactly what it is -- a chain rattling around in the engine. Lots of clackity-clacking. The clutch cable should be adjustable at the pedal cluster. I haven't been under there in a while, so I'm sure somebody else will elaborate further. Congrats again on a beautiful SC.

[kidrock]

Welcome. Very nice ride!!!

[Oh Haha]

Welcome to the 911 side of Pelican. I hung out at both sides when we had the BMW. Great folks all around.


Nice car and I don't think the wheels are"over the top" as you stated. In fact, you could order them color matched from the factory.

As far as the chain tensioners, get them done ASAP. If you wait until you hear the telltale noise you may suffer damage to other components.

[Paulporsche]

Welcome. Wheels look fine.

[Scott Douglas]

Welcome!
Great looking car.
I recently helped a friend do the tensioner upgrade to his '75 Carrera, motor in the car. Not hard to do if you take your time. His car was instantly quieter by the way.
As for the wheels, mine are color keyed also. In the paperwork that came with my car I found an old picture of it with the center caps painted the same color as the wheels. It was 'over the top' as you say. You might try finding a set of center caps that are black to 'tone it down' a tad. It worked for my car.

[jkh2cpu]

Tensioner Noise: at idle or maybe a little above, you will hear a rattle at the engine. Increase engine speed and it goes away. I first heard my tensioners at a Mc Donalds ;-) I put in solid tensioners until I could properly repair things. The car was a 1973 bought new, and I heard in in 1979 or 80. The new tensioners are the way to go, and change the chain wheel supports while you are in there. Check out Wayne's 101 things to do with your 911. He's got an excellent (no duh) exposition on the replacement.

HTH.

John.

[Scooter]

Wheels look great. I have a friend with a similar setup as yours and his car looks fantastic.

Welcome to the forum!

[enelson911]

Welcome to the board Larry....we are in the same neck of the woods.

I think we have a consensus here...the wheels must stay! Outside the Porsche world...color-keyed wheels are indeed a little much (on most). I am waiting for some to come along to match my car!

Cheers,

Erik

[88-diamondblue]

Welcome to the dark side. Wheels look great. I like the color keyed wheels as they were factory on my car. The Weissach SC came with color matched wheels and that look similar to the Weissach color. Your interior doesn't have a different color piping on the seats does it?

[LWJ]

Interesting responses. I had already mentally painted them black. I have a picture on my work computer with the same or similar color with black fuchs. Looks killer. I guess I will have to stew on this a bit.

On the tensioners. Thanks for the input. It is on the short list!

Thank you all for the positive comments. I certainly like it but you never know about other folks.
Larry

PS - no contrasting piping on the interior. Brown on brown.

[Oh Haha]

In the end, it's YOUR car so you should do whatever you want.


On your clutch cable--you will need to remove the driver's floorboard and most likely the floor console to get GOOD access to the clutch cable end.

Before doing that, however, you should check the bushings associated with the shifter and shift rod. Worn bushngs can create problems with the shifter movement.

By hanging up, what do you mean? Does the shift lever get stuck in a gear position?

Where in the clutch pedal arc does the clutch engage? High, middle, or low?

[BLEW911]

I like the wheels. I'd like to see the same color wheels with polished petals.

Don

[Hugh R]

Nice!!! Welcome. Wheels look fine, you might want to consider sending the centers to Al Reed for his wife to paint.

[LWJ]

Wayne,
By "hanging up" I would say that it drags coming out of third and is a little extra baulky into 4th. Not 100% of the time however. Clutch pick up is just off the floor. Clutch is new 15k miles ago and drives like it.

I put in Swepco 201 Friday, and found significant improvement over the prior gear oil. I would have said 75% improvement on Friday. After driving it all weekend, I would say 25%. Prior to the Swepco, I would absolutely NOT have had confidence to track it. I would now simply from the improvement.

The cable is a little slack. I need to take this out and minimize variables before I look at shifter bushings. It is not intolerable. In fact, the ppi wrench did not even mention it. Thanks for the console advice. I was eye-balling that thinking it would be advantageous to take it off.

Larry

[dshepp806]

That color is one NOT seen often, for sure,. I love it!!!


Doyle