New Guy to forum. Help

[hoverEd]

Hi,
All sugestions welcome.
New guy here. Thanks for the opportunity.
Going to look at a 1979 911 3.0 that has been off the road and garaged for 15 years Its complete and runs.
58000 miles. Supposedly 2 small rot spots at headlamp bezel and windscreen gasket area. I will look closely for other rot issues fromunder. please advise of any and all things you can think of to check out closer. The situation will probably not tolerate a compression test / leakage etc.. so I will literaly have to play it by ear. I could use tire size recommendations from someone that really knows. Pictures of somone's car with the tires on would be a real treat. (Hoping to lower it at some time in the future). Trying to assemble a budget of sorts.
Hope to put up pictures if I bring it home.

Thanks
Ed

[msk1986911]

I no longer swim in the Porsche swim, although I had an '86 911 for 5 trouble free years, all of which were great. In any event, get a pre-purchase inspection done by a reputable shop not affiliated with the current owner. Unless the deal is fantastic, I'd decline if they won't agree to a PPI funded by you.

Mike

[faverymi]

Welcome.

I don't know where you are but where I'm there is a lot or rot. If you have rust in those spots you could have significantly more rust.

-front pan(take spare tire and look)
-battery tray
-rear suspension tunnel.
-rockers-=
-floor(look under carpet)

Engine could be actually quite alright. Without at least a minimum compression test hard to tell. Leak down ideal.

Broken head studs?. pfffff pffff sound. Possible. Just means time and money.

Drive it and get a feel of transmission. Grinding?, noises, feeling?

Get a PPI if you are really, really interested.

[bgyglfr]

Ed,
If you are not getting this car for a great deal, you need to have it looked at. In theory, you could get the car for free and still have more money in it than it is worth before you get it roadworthy. Just make sure you know what you are getting into. Maybe you could post some pics and where you are located. Maybe a fellow Pelican in the neighborhood could help you out. I am not trying to scare you off. Porsche ownership is a truly wonderful thing. Just make sure you get a good one. Good luck.

[hoverEd]

Thanks Guy's for your input.
It took nine years for me to rebuild my 1970 914 due to no availability of parts back then. I hand fabricated right longitudinal whose outer panel is doubled thickness. Definitely don't want to do it ever ever again.
Ed

[brads911sc]

so where you located? how much is the car? 15 years... not worth more than 5k in its current condition would be my guess.. ignore the mileage.

[5String43]

Yep. Have the car looked at. Last year I, dummy that I am, bought, for what I thought at the time was a pretty good price, an SC that had been sitting for 10 years. Looked pretty good. A SoCal car, so it's pretty-much rust-free. But three months into things, I put a ton into the engine. You just never now. Proceed carefully.