Do you think parts will get harder to get in the future?

[fastfredracing]

It seems as if prices for parts for our old air cooled jalopies have been making a steady climb for the last 5 years, and I have been noticing items that I used to be able to get next day, are now getting harder to find and sometimes NLA. I believe that I even heard that BOSCH is now no longer supporting cis, and the parts that are out there on the shelves are all that is left.
I am sure there will always be a strong aftermarket for these cars, but parts like cold start injectors/ fuel heads, ignition distributors, motronic boxes etc.. may become a pretty good challenge to come up with in the future.

[ertech]

In the future gas will be our real problem

[mpetry]

+1 on that. Gas is the real problem. Remember you can jet CARBS to run well on alchohol fuels. Brazil has been doing that for years!

[RSTarga]

always buy 2 of everything. Parts WILL GET HARDER TO FIND.

[KNS]

Parts prices for Fords and Toyotas have also been going up, they rarely come down (although I have, on ocassion, seen Porsche parts prices adjust downward a bit - only to eventually go back up). It just particularly painful for us because Porsches parts are so high priced to begin with. For stuff thats really in demand, the aftermarket will step in, look at NLA parts for the 356s.

[jwasbury]

If CIS parts become too expensive, that will be my excuse to EFI the turbo

[James Brown]

by then, there will be one of them there auto-duplicate machines that you just stick the part in and out comes a copy.

[McLovin]

There were enough of these made to ensure parts won't be a problem for a long, long time. At least for the SC/Carrera era and newer cars.

All the CIS stuff is standard Bosch stuff used on literally millions of cars. What can't be had new can be rebuilt. The market will take care of that, there is enough volume to justify it.

You mention Motronic boxes, that's a good example. Already plenty of aftermarket rebuilders of these. CIS fuel heads, too.

And, also, there are plenty of used parts available.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

If CIS parts become too expensive, that will be my excuse to EFI the turbo

Not to change the subject, but...is there a ready-made, bolt-on EFI setup for our cars? I can go to any speed shop and buy EFI/TBI for American muscle right off the shelf...

[Wilhelm]

I often wonder what it will be like to "restore " something like a 997 40 years from now. Imagine trying to find all the electronic bits, etc. ($$$$) Talk about NLA ! But maybe 997's will have a big enough following and enough parts available so that those cars will just keep living on just like the early 911's do now. I can't imagine that being the case though. I'm just an old guy..but I find it hard to warm up to a 997. Nice car but... you know what I mean ???

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Wilhelm

I often wonder what it will be like to "restore " something like a 997 40 years from now. Imagine trying to find all the electronic bits, etc. ($$$$) Talk about NLA ! But maybe 997's will have a big enough following and enough parts available so that those cars will just keep living on just like the early 911's do now. I can't imagine that being the case though. I'm just an old guy..but I find it hard to warm up to a 997. Nice car but... you know what I mean ???

40 yrs. from now they will be looking at gasoline-fueled cars like we look at steam-powered cars today. Burn it while you got it.

[scottb]

I fly a 57 year old helicopter, with an engine in it that is no longer manufactured. What has happened over the years is that "networks" develop, and if one guy doesn't have a part he'll know someone who does. That's what happened when I needed a starter solenoid a couple of years ago. I suspect, over time, that's what will happen when 911 parts start to get scarce. Over the next several years, maybe even for a decade or two, however, I think it's a safe bet that most parts will be readily available from one vendor or another.

My $.02

[Wilhelm]

Originally Posted by scottb

I fly a 57 year old helicopter, with an engine in it that is no longer manufactured. What has happened over the years is that "networks" develop, and if one guy doesn't have a part he'll know someone who does. That's what happened when I needed a starter solenoid a couple of years ago. I suspect, over time, that's what will happen when 911 parts start to get scarce. Over the next several years, maybe even for a decade or two, however, I think it's a safe bet that most parts will be readily available from one vendor or another.

My $.02

I agree on the "network" for parts for the older 911's. I am thankful for that for sure ! Not sure where the cutoff is on "older" ? Maybe air cooled?

But I am wondering if a 'network" will develop for parts for the newer cars like 997's. I know, the 356 guys may have thought the same thing when the 911 came out. But seems to me there is a different type of owner these days for the "newer" cars. (I dont really want to open up that subject of the 'new" Porsche owners ) The "newer 911's "(say 997) seem to be orders of magnitude more complex than the "older" cars. An early 911 can't be much more complex than a 356 when it comes time to restore.

PS. Is that a Bell 47 you fly?

[j911brick]

Almost all FI parts for a 914 are NLA and probably won't be reproduced because too few people are willing to pay the price. The same thing happens with all cars, but unlike Rustangs and Firechickens, Porsche production numbers are too low to justify re manufacture of most parts. But as we have seen in some cases, Porsche will remanufacture a limited run if demand is there such as RS fenders and RSR brakes. The thing to do is pay attention and buy it when it comes available because it may be your only chance.

[haycait911]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

40 yrs. from now they will be looking at gasoline-fueled cars like we look at steam-powered cars today. Burn it while you got it.

I remember everyone saying exactly this in the 70's, about 40 years ago.



.

[Wil Ferch]

Wilhelm....IMHO.....the 996/997 series of cars are built too much like all the other cars.....meant to be "built" on the factory line but not meant to be repaired. The start of a new era at Porsche as to collectability and rebuild-desirability status.

I see evidence of that everywhere in the build architecture. Windhshield washer pumps used to be plastic with bronze and stainless internals, and the base was screwed-on to allow dis-assembly and repair. Today's cars use a glued or friction-welded together plastric housing that makes it a throw-away. We see many more areas built like this where a "hot" plastic rivet is used to hold 2 parts together.... not meant to be fixed...."throw-away".

Guys who are involved in Ferrari F1 cars are finding it difficult to sustain those models that require a laptop interface to start the cars, and they are all old 286 architecture. Tearing their hair out as time has marched-on and they are having a tough time. So will we as it applies to the "Japanese-911"s post 996/997......

[s_morrison57]

Parts will always become hard to find as time goes by, thats why I never throw anything away unless it is totally shot

[ratpiper71T]

I think that if there's a market(a significant number to be sold) someone will make the parts. FWIW I believe, Porsche has already produced more 997's than any other 911 variant in history.

[redturbo911]

Parts will deffinately become harder for the older cars.

[scottb]

Originally Posted by Wilhelm

PS. Is that a Bell 47 you fly?

It certainly is! 1954 Bell 47G.