A Few Questions from a 911 Newbie!
 

Just bought my first Porsche a few weeks ago. Something I've been wanting to do for about 10 years now. Looks like crap, but runs like a dream. 1975 911S Targa. Not the most desirable model, but I love it nonetheless. Anyway, as a newbie, I've got a few questions about my new "family member" that I'd like some help with.

1. How do I find out if it's a California model? I've read about the 911/43 numbers etc. , but can't seem to find that sort of designation anywhere on any of the plaques in the trunk, or the engine compartment, or even on the emissions plaque on the engine. It says it's a 911 - H. Also says 911 CID 163,9 Engine Family II. How can I tell if its a California 911, or a 49 stater?

2. What is the cheapest and easiest way to give my car a little HP boost?

3. Which octane gasoline should I use for optimum engine functioning, and should I use any fuel additives?

4. Car does not have AC...What is the rough cost of having it installed professionally, and the cost/ease of doing it myself?

Thanks in advance! :)

A background check on the VIN will help.

A Steve Wong Chip

Octane I´m not sure of but Im sure someone here can answer that

The AC will add alot of weight and clutter the engine bay. I´d leave it

Don't think a S. Wong chip will work on a'75.
Easiest way for a small bump in HP is SSIs and a M&K muffler which should give ~10-20 hp.

Thanks! Is that pretty cheap?

Cheap is a relative term, particularly with 911's.
Cheap horsepower is an oxymoron with 911's.



Welcome aboard and there is an absolute wealth of information on this board.

oops...I guess since this is the "Pelican Parts" site, I can just check it out myself. looks like $600 for the muffler and over $1000 for the SSI's. I'll probably just go with the muffler to start with. As for the "California" question, I already looked up the Vin but it just shows the basic info, but not whether it's a California model. Any suggestions? also, what about the fuel/fuel additive question? :)

Welcome to the Pelican board. You will find a lot of friends here !

what is your engine # ? you can find this on the passenger side of the alternator support. It is stamped vertically on a boss facing the right side. It will start with a star, then 6 (for six cyl) , then one of the following
1= 911
3= 911S
4= 911S/ Carrera USA
5= 911S/ Carrera USA / California delivery
6= Carrera row (mfi injection)
7= first year of the turbo !

then the rest of the #'s , starting with the year 5 in your case

As a lot of these cars were modified over the years, we could help you more if you posted pics of the motor top and bottom.

mods? strongly recommend that if the car does not already have it, install an auxillary oil cooler set up. These motors did not like high temps. Do that well before installing an a/c kit.

If you must have a/c , count on spending close to 5k for the parts shipped, and install by your local porsche guru. You can do it with a secondhand set of parts BUT used is used ! caveat emptor

performance/ reliability mods- IF Hi requires strict emissions standards, then you will have to keep what the car came with. Smog pump? egr? That will seriously limit upgrades.
Chip? there is no "chipping" any 911 before 1984
If your motor came without the smog stuff, then SSi's and an MK muffler set up will run close to 2k for what you need. Though more noisy , due to the free flow muffler, it will rev quicker and can yield you some ponies

I'll try to hit up the fuel questions...however, let me caveat what I'm about to say that I'm no Porsche guru...so take it at opinion value.

I have an '87 bought on the East coast. I've alway used high octane (93). Worked fine for me. Then I moved out West where high octane is (91). My personally opinion is that I noticed a difference. But at the same time I had a part go bad. I thought it was fuel so I used some octane boost stuff. I thought it helped some but didn't solve the issue. Figuring out the bad part and replacing it solved the problem. I still use 91, but no octane boost additive.

When I had an engine rebuild, I was tempted to put in bigger cylinders. But was told that if I didn't twin plug them, I may have to run 100 octane fuel to get it to burn thoroughly. So at stock, anything at the pump will be fine. Have also been told people use grades at (87) with no problem. I even think my maunal might say use (89 to 93), but I would have to check.

As a daily driver, I don't think it really matters what you put in it...but that's my opinion...and I currently use 91.

Thanks! When I first bought the car, they guy told me he only used the lowest octane. To be honest, I've tried the low and the high, and noticed no real difference. Just thought I'd ask.

you need the SSIs for more hp - the muffler will not do much by itself but maybe you don't need heat and can use headers instead

next step up is either new cams/pistons/carbs or a new motor

BUT:
you should replace the rubber brake hose, tires and all fluids first

next replace all rubber susp. bushings on the car

search on long term maintenance for reasons to save up your $$

Thanks! I definitely don't need heat. So are you saying I could use JUST headers, with no change to the muffler and no SSI's and still get some additional hp? (please excuse my newbie ignorance. :D)

headers will give a bump on your car - if it still has the highly restrictive exhaust - like Dave/TRE said we need to know what you really have now to give you the best advice

(also people love pics)

FWIW, the SSIs are very well made headers with a heater box wrapped around them - bare headers will reduce the wt. of the car which is good for performance - esp. good to do in the rear which is too heavy on these cars as is

Steve Weiner sources some nice headers - I forget who makes them tho. Others have tooled up for some very high end ones too

the stock early type muffler will be fine; but you really need to think of the entire thing as a single - integrated - system

a motor is basically an air pump - move more air thru it and make more power
now, how do you want to do that?
- separate pump to compress the air? (turbo or supercharger)
- spin it faster?
- bigger pistons, cyl.s

etc.

but don't think too far down the road yet; post what you have & your budget

I would definitely make CERTAIN the brakes are up to snuff before spending a penny on the motor.

Before worrying about adding HP, I would look at adding longevity to your engine. Someone already suggested an external oil cooler which is very good advice. If you have the 5 bladed fan, I would seriously look at replacing it with the 11 bladed fan. Also, if you have thermal reactors, I would make the SSI heat exchangers a priority. Heat is definitely the enemy of the 2.7L engines.

If you pull a headstud, you are looking at serious $$ to have a 2.7 rebuilt.

Thanks! Man...This is all very helpful...I've been doing tons of research over the past couple of weeks, but it's much easier to set my priorities when getting first-hand info from people. Awesome insights from everyone! :)

Does it have the Owner's Manual? It should tell you your octane.

Most of these cars (unless it's an S) can use 'regular' gas just fine.

The 2 things to look at first, as said are:

Take off the thermal reactors (if it has them) if you can and meet emissions - do a search to see what they look like - 2 long (longitudinally) ROUND cans under each side of the engine. If it has them, it's a CA car.

Replace the 5 blade fan if it's there with an 11 blade fan (many of these have already been done).

Make sure these are done before you try to add performance.

If you have the original engine in that car, save every penny you have for a replacement one--a later SC motor or 3.6, whatever you can afford. On top of the fact that those mid-year engines (74-77) are resoundingly hated in the Porsche community for their catastrophic design errors, a later model engine will give you more horsepower right out of the box than pretty much any upgrade, fix or trick you could do to the 2.7 you have right now. Anything you put on your 2.7 to add HP isn't going to amount to much when the headstuds pull. The upside is you have a 75, which is a lot lighter than later cars, so a bigger, better engine will feel that much faster. I see you're in Hawai'i though, and I can't imagine what a used 911 motor goes for there, so the reality is you're just gonna have to keep the engine you have cool. That means forget getting air conditioning (you have a Targa anyway), cause a/c is just gonna make your engine runner hotter. Look into a really top spec oil cooler, and the 11 blade fan--the same thing everyone else has been saying.

Interesting...Yeah, the AC is definitely not happening based on what everyone here is saying...but honestly, I don't really need it here in Hawaii...The engine is original, with 89,000 miles on it. If I get the external oil cooler and 11 blade fan...How many miles can I expect to get out of the car, before a serious rebuild or engine replacement will probably be required?

I believe your statement is a bit on the strong side. There are many people on this forum that have had very good service from 2.7s. As I stated, if you pull a stud, it is expensive to fix. There are many postings on this board of 3.0 SCs breaking studs and other issues.
To tell someone their engine is essentially crap is BS when you have absolutely no knowledge of the engines condition.

I think the key with the 2.7 engine is a front mount oil cooler, after you remove the thermal reactors if your car has them (hopefully not). Do a search. Someone was selling a used Turbotrol (spelling?) on the classifieds last week or so. This obviously wasn't done on my '75 and that's why it has a 2.2 w/ carbs! Elephant Racing supplies all the hard lines and thermostats you'll need for this mod.

So, given that the car seems to run well the first priorities:

1. A good set of metric tools.

2. Brakes. Check the lines, replace if old, stiff and cracked. You can do this job. I know because I just rebuilt my calipers with no prior experience working on brakes, thanks to this forum. You've got to be able to stop (and you've got some very nice twisty roads, where you'll need them!).

3. 11 blade fan and front mount oil cooler (yes, find used parts here, get 'em shipped to HI, and do the work yourself).

After that, it depends upon the condition of the car and any other stuff that needs to be addressed.

Good luck and let's see some PICTURES!!!!!:D

---

Tom '75 targa

I stand by my statement. I am not telling him his engine is crap, I am telling him if he does the research here he's gonna find that the 74-77 2.7's are the least represented, least respected, and least desired 911's made. Am I wrong? I own a 74 myself, so I am not talking down to the guy, I am on his side. My 74 is only still living because it has an SC engine in it, put in quite early in its life, and I couldn't be happier with it. Spartocrazy just heard from me what hours of searching on this forum would have told him anyway. It's not a secret. I love my 74 targa, just as he loves his 75, but he deserves to know what the consensus is on the mid-years so it's not a surprise to him when (if) the worst happens.