New, with to many questions

[masellasjm]

I became the proud owner of a 1980 911sc last may. 3rd owner, 218k rebuild at 198 because of oil leaks. Runs amazing. personal problems with it tho. I'm only 23, so everyone assumes its my dads car which is really annoying. And because its an '80 sc, its really under powered. So i ave a lot of tech questions

Can I have '911 GE Cams' from Smart Racing Products - Superior Performance Auto Parts for Engine just added to increase my compression? or will i need to make other modifications

Is there a Porsche Swap meet in New England?

I want to install ssi's with back dated exhaust, do i need to pull the engine? anyone have a dyno with ssi's and exhaust?

Do a lot of fiberglass body parts look like they have waves in them when painted? Im looking to get a wide body kit, but I want to keep the smooth look for steel.

I did the front breaks, new discs and pads. should i do the back? can I upgrade to bigger breaks?

Someone with exp. with the turbo tie rods, are they really THAT good? with the front tower brace is it even better? I don't do track so I don't want to spend the money is its just kinda cool.

Installed the stock short shift but it still feels sloppy because of the play in it while not in gear. what should I do? I would rather not spend a million dollars on some crazy race shifter.

Thanks, and if anyone can answer even one question ill be very happy

Justin USMC

[Hard-Deck]

Welcome.

I don't have any answers, but I have a Q for you: Is that YOUR PH licence plate?

[RWebb]

congrats on the car - at the main list of threads is a search box & you'll find that all your questions are answered or at least debated ad infinitum. type the terms in and let 'er rip

e.g. put in turbo tie rods -- you'll see that many doubt the improvement over regular ones in GOOD shape - but that no one has ever done a statistically valid study or made measurements to find out for sure

state pollution regs may limit what you can do to the motor. I might lighten the car some first - throwing pieces into a pile in the garage is cheaper, right...
- post what you know re the regs

re the brakes - #1 for safety - replace the old rubber hoses with new rubber!
- define exactly what you plan to use the car for -- but it is unlikely that you need to get bigger brakes; must be thousands of threads on brakes here
remember, adding wt. to the car for no reason is a DOWNGRADE, not an upgrade, and if they are getting too hot while at the track, ducting in air & improving driver skills are the cheaper ways to go

you can add a post onto an existing thread to 'bump' it up to the top of the thread list page with any question that is not answered -- this also helps others by keeping related topics in one place

multiple questions will get better responses if numbered too

USMC? - tell us more...

[Targa Me]

welcome. beautiful car, thanks for the eye candy.

[RWebb]

I don't have the URL saved on this computer but search on long term maintenance for a thread that will tell you what the car would like to to fix on it -- it'll keep you off the streets & out of trouble for a good long while

also, try to compile a maintenance history on the car and see what was done on what dates/# years ago -- if no info, then assume it was NEVER done and it's surely time to do it...

Good Luck!

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by masellasjm

I became the proud owner of a 1980 911sc last may. 3rd owner, 218k rebuild at 198 because of oil leaks. Runs amazing. personal problems with it tho. I'm only 23, so everyone assumes its my dads car which is really annoying. And because its an '80 sc, its really under powered. So i ave a lot of tech questions

Can I have '911 GE Cams' from Smart Racing Products - Superior Performance Auto Parts for Engine just added to increase my compression? or will i need to make other modifications

Is there a Porsche Swap meet in New England?

I want to install ssi's with back dated exhaust, do i need to pull the engine? anyone have a dyno with ssi's and exhaust?

Do a lot of fiberglass body parts look like they have waves in them when painted? Im looking to get a wide body kit, but I want to keep the smooth look for steel.

I did the front breaks, new discs and pads. should i do the back? can I upgrade to bigger breaks?

Someone with exp. with the turbo tie rods, are they really THAT good? with the front tower brace is it even better? I don't do track so I don't want to spend the money is its just kinda cool.

Installed the stock short shift but it still feels sloppy because of the play in it while not in gear. what should I do? I would rather not spend a million dollars on some crazy race shifter.

Thanks, and if anyone can answer even one question ill be very happy

Justin USMC

Justin,

You have a beautiful car and I love the color too. It's your car and you could do whatever you like. You sounded exactly like what my youngest son did when I first introduced him to 911 many years ago. The stock 911 is more than you could handle now and once you start attending some DE's you'll understand where I'm coming from.

If you were my son, I would recommend the following:
1). Have the car tune-up properly.
2). Get good set of tires and check brake system.
3). Refurbish the suspension (shocks, sway bars, TB's, etc.) and steering (turbo tie rod kit).
4). Have your transmission fluid replaced with Swepco 101.
5). Inspect your transmission linkage and shift coupler.
6). If you still have some money left, do the exhaust (SSI).
7). Big brakes, body modification to follow.
8). Engine modification would need big cash layout.

Good luck and enjoy the car.

Tony

[IROC]

As others have touched on, I would go through the car and make sure everything is up to date (bushings, brakes, steering, gearbox, etc) before looking at modifications.

Porsche cheated us shadetree mechanics out of serious bolt-on horsepower, so you're going to find that it costs a lot of money to extract much more power out of the engine. For me, the "dollars per hp" for almost any mod is pretty steep.

[Forza]

This may not be the advice you're looking for, but if that were my car--and I thought it was down on power--I'd simply spend what I had to do to sort it out and maintain it nicely, which may not be cheap, mind you. Then I would spend everything else on driver's education, autocross, and track days. When I was considered by other Mainers to be the Stefan Bellof of the Down East Region PCA, then I'd start thinking about making the car faster--or just trading up to a faster 911. In any event, these experiences, and the people and cars I'd meet along the way, would give me the genuine expertise to skilfully decide how to modify the car ... at at time when I actually possessed the ability to fully exploit it.

[HarryD]

Justin:

Welcome to the best 911 BBS.

Originally Posted by masellasjm

I became the proud owner of a 1980 911sc last may. 3rd owner, 218k rebuild at 198 because of oil leaks. Runs amazing. personal problems with it tho. I'm only 23, so everyone assumes its my dads car which is really annoying. And because its an '80 sc, its really under powered. So i ave a lot of tech questions

You have one of their best engines. Power is relative and unless you are Michael Schumacher (or someone like him) chances are the car is way more cabable than you. Bear in mind that even int he '80s Porsche was essentially building a car you could drive to the track, race, do well, and drive home. Most o the "Cheap HP" you can get with other cars by aftermarket pieces have already been done by the factory.

Can I have '911 GE Cams' from Smart Racing Products - Superior Performance Auto Parts for Engine just added to increase my compression? or will i need to make other modifications

You can do all sorts of engine mods but to add meaningful HP to a 911 flat 6 you need big $$. Bruce Anderson (911 Performance Handbook) has a book that summarizes some of the more successful things you could do but see my note above. There are several very competent Porsche Specific Speed shops in your area who can help you as well. For most of us, we find that there are less expesive ways to make the car quick.

Is there a Porsche Swap meet in New England?

I do not know. Check with your local Porsche Club of Amarica (PCA) Chapter for events in your area. They can also be a good resource for all kinds of tech support.

I want to install ssi's with back dated exhaust, do i need to pull the engine? anyone have a dyno with ssi's and exhaust?

You can do that and gain some power but again, it is a $$ issue. You may want to drive it for a while to figure out where you really want to go.

Do a lot of fiberglass body parts look like they have waves in them when painted? Im looking to get a wide body kit, but I want to keep the smooth look for steel.

I do not know but generally for a street car, fiberglass parts do not have the longevity you would want.

I did the front breaks, new discs and pads. should i do the back? can I upgrade to bigger breaks?

If the rears are worn, by all means,. Be sure to use the same pads front and back. Unless you are tracking the car, your stock brakes should be fine. If you are tracking the car, the need to upgrade will depend on your skill level.

Someone with exp. with the turbo tie rods, are they really THAT good?

I agree with what Randy said

with the front tower brace is it even better? I don't do track so I don't want to spend the money is its just kinda cool.

You would see the benefit on the track. On the street, I doubt there will be much improvement.

You should consider doing a few driving events loike Autocross and DE to get a better idea of your driving skills and what the car can really do. Your car, as-is, in good running condition will be fine to get you started. You will be amazed how good it is.

Installed the stock short shift but it still feels sloppy because of the play in it while not in gear. what should I do? I would rather not spend a million dollars on some crazy race shifter.

The 915 transmission takes some getting used to. Be sure the shifter bushes are in good condition and the shifter is properly adjusted. These can make a big difference. Also, if your transmission fluid has not been changed for the last few years, give it a treat and repalce the Fluid with SWEPCO 201.

Thanks, and if anyone can answer even one question ill be very happy

Glad to help. We were all noobs at one time.

Please ask away. There are lots of good web sites besides this one to learn about your car. This one has some good information: Welcome to Rennsport Systems, Porsche Performance Products for the 21st Century. The owner posts here on a regular basis.

[MichiganMat]

Justin-

With a little time and gigantic bag of money you can make that Targa into what most folks consider "a fast car". How much money to do you have?

The definition of "fast" in the Porsche world is a little different unfortunately. As you may have noticed, for these cars "fast" is defined as driver skill + turns, not heavy foot + big cubes + open road. Drag racing these cars will tear them apart and cost you big $$$ in a big hurry. That said, put them on a track or autocross course and they absolutely come alive which is what they were designed for. Its not uncommon for Porsches (especially that SC engine) to be alive and screaming through a track-day with 200K+ miles on the clock with no rebuild.

I tell you this because I've been down this exact same road with my car. I encourage you to stick with it and preserve what you have there as best you can. Aside from being excellent cars, the Porsche community at large is full of genuine enthusiastic members who love to drive the isht out of their cars and will help you with just about anything you need.

Welcome to the club

- mat

[RWebb]

here's that thread I mentioned

Long term & Commonly Neglected Maintenance

The only short shifter worth having is the factory unit (again search on it) - any short shifter can magnify trans. issues...

[dshepp806]

Nice ride,...welcome,......enjoy!

Best,

Doyle

[masellasjm]

Holy wow, i didn't expect so many fast replies.
A friend of the family told me the same thing a couple of you guys have. No matter how hard I try I wont be able to really use what the car has until I have had it a long time, hopefully He can help me learn. He races a custom 930 and has my Porsche stored next to his AC Cobra (so jealous)
I don't want to make the car a race car, I don't even feel right changing many stock things. Cars 30 years old now... why change whats already great? However, I love going fast and my '08 lancer, not exactly quick.

I'm currently looking for a tune up shop around town but they are not really everywhere. Anyone in New England know of one? I really want someone who knows about Porsche to take a detailed look into it and tune it for me.

So, kinda an unanswered question, 993 cams? 911 GE Cams? what do you guys thing?

Whats a DE? sorry I'm still learning. but if it will help me learn more about the car, I'm in.

The USMC and PH thing.
I'm a Cpl in the Marines, I was wounded in 2006 in Fallujah Iraq. In the reserves out of NH now.

[RWebb]

it's a fast forum

DE = Driver's Education -- not a race, but I still would not broadcast your education to the ins. co.

cams will depend on what NH smog regs will allow -- while you are bringing the car up to date on all the maint., you will have lots of time to think about how many $$ you want to spend on the motor. My predilection is to kill off the CIS but I don't have to deal with cold starts too much in W. Oregon. You are gonna want CIS or EFI if you drive when cold.

enjoy NH

thx for your service

[J2Hanson]

Justin,

If you are close to NH due to reserve duty you'll find quite a few competent Porsche shops throughout the state. I don't know how active the Downeast region of PCA is but the North Country region has an active autocross program and robust DE program. They have quite a few good instructors that will get you up to speed (pun intended) quickly. Check them out at NCR-PCA. I would second the opinions to just get the car running well and to freshen up the suspension.

Good luck and again, thanks for your service! (former Navy)
John

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by masellasjm

Holy wow, i didn't expect so many fast replies.
A friend of the family told me the same thing a couple of you guys have. No matter how hard I try I wont be able to really use what the car has until I have had it a long time, hopefully He can help me learn. He races a custom 930 and has my Porsche stored next to his AC Cobra (so jealous)
I don't want to make the car a race car, I don't even feel right changing many stock things. Cars 30 years old now... why change whats already great? However, I love going fast and my '08 lancer, not exactly quick.

I'm currently looking for a tune up shop around town but they are not really everywhere. Anyone in New England know of one? I really want someone who knows about Porsche to take a detailed look into it and tune it for me.

So, kinda an unanswered question, 993 cams? 911 GE Cams? what do you guys thing?

Whats a DE? sorry I'm still learning. but if it will help me learn more about the car, I'm in.

The USMC and PH thing.
I'm a Cpl in the Marines, I was wounded in 2006 in Fallujah Iraq. In the reserves out of NH now.

Thanks for your service. Hopefully your wounds will not greatly interfere with your pursuit of a full life. My boss is in the Sandbox right now and my buddy is hoping that the his son's 4th tour will be the last.

Randy answered the DE question. Like I said before, contact your local PCA Chapter and have them point you in the right direction. You are in region 1 and alist ofthe chapters is here: Porsche Club of America - 13 Zones, 139 Regions. If they are like my chapter in Portland, they will list some suggested shops that cater to your need.

It would be helpful to us if you add your location to your profile and your year and model of your car. See my signature below for a way that it can be done.

Listen to your friend of the family. He is correct. For now the best thing to do is get you car squared away and go to driving school. I personnally suggest a few Autocrosses before you hit the big track (thet are both fun in their own way).

At Autocross you can drive your car at 11/10th's, wipe out and tell great stories later. At the track, you may be coming home alone.

go out, have fun.

[Grady Clay]

Justin,
Welcome to the Forum
You will find a lot of help here.

Follow the recommendations using the ‘Search’ function. Don’t get overwhelmed with the results but much of what you want is there. Use that information to ask detailed questions.

The reason people think this is your father’s car is it is a Targa. Guys your age drive non-sunroof coupes unless in West LA.

Not to worry, your Targa will be great touring NE.


OK,
On to your questions.

The thread that Randy (Pelican RWebb) referenced is a great starting point. So is the book 101 Projects by our host.

For now, only do maintenance. Do the long-term stuff to make sure all the systems are performing as new. I’m NOT talking engine performance. Just make sure everything is serviced and correct.

What are the tires? Find the date code. Old tires are dangerous. If older than five years, buy four new tires, regardless of wear. Tires make more difference to the performance of your 911 than anything else you can do. Again, use the ‘Search’ function.

As noted above, brake components, shocks, ball joints, tie-rod joints and like are safety items. These need to be perfect. If unknown age and condition, replace them with new.

Get the car properly situated as a normal driver as it was when new. Then go play if you want. You will find that your 911 is remarkably fast and good handling when brought back to ‘like-new’ stock. It is then easy to make improvements from that ‘high’ starting point.

Best,
Grady

[aigel]

Originally Posted by masellasjm

So, kinda an unanswered question, 993 cams? 911 GE Cams? what do you guys thing?

Cams are a good upgrade if done in conjunction with exhaust. You can only do a mild cam upgrade to these cars for reasons I we can explain in more detail if you wish (or search on the subject). DRC has a good selection of profiles. Your car has the higher compression engine IIRC and you can run a 964 or DC19 profile on it: Dougherty Racing Cams

That said, replacing cams is an advanced mod best done with the engine out of the car. If you pay someone to do this, I would guess labor will be on the order of 10 hours. To DIY you need special tools. It also is rather complicated if you haven't done any engine work.

Exhaust can be done with the engine in the car. The SSI is nice but spendy. As others pointed out, hp/$ is rather high!

Overall I suggest you get used to the fact of owning an iconic classic car and treat it as such. This was one of the fastest production cars in 81. Of course it can't keep up with today's cars. You will sink a fortune into it, if you want to get it to 4s 0-60 performance.

My advice is to go slow on any mods. I put about 7k into my SC, making it a fast street / track car - all labor done myself. It was still slower than my mildly modified 993 when I was done.

George

[Mia911]

Welcome....beautiful ride....I'll enjoy it first before I start dumping a whole lot of cash on it....you'll have a whole Lot if time to dump $$$ into it...believe us...they r not cheap...

[HarryD]

As food for thought, this is my '73 911 with a stock 140 hp motor, mostly stock suspension (sway bars were added), suspension tuning by a local wizard, and so-so tires at Autocross.



Don't let some folks convince you that a Targa is not ok for the track.