Repair 3.2 or build '73 RS clone - Help

[rob911]

I have a dilemma.

Currnetly own '84 3.2 cabrio. Red with black leather int, 6&7 16" fuchs, sorted suspension.

Current car needs body resto. currently looking at £3500 to £5000 for repairs and paint.

Also will need 915 overhaul at some point, however I am quite happy to drive it like this forever if need be. Usual stuff 1st syncro gone, others weak, no "spring between planes.

But I have found an "early 74, G series" restored bodyshell (VIN to follow) with all the papers for only £1500.

How much kit can I swap straight off the 3.2 onto this shell?

I know everyone needs the VIN no.s to be certain, but give me an idea.
Does the suspension fit right in?
Is the windscreen the same?
Fuel tank fittings?

I would appreciate your suggestions.

edit: this is our 3rd car, well it is my wife's posing car. I would prefer a coupe.
As long as it had a seat and steering wheel I would be happy.

Rob

[rob911]

Anyone?

Am iI barking up the wrong tree?

[Kurt B]

I hate to see a matching 3.2 cabrio go down the tubes--and would rather see a totally trashed 911 be pillaged for parts regardless of the project.

If you take the engine etc and put it into your project car, then you have created two unmatching, somewhat bastardized 911s.

73 RS with the 3.2 will probably be a real kick in the pants though.

Save the 3.2 and retroize it. That's what I'm working toward anyway!

[BK911]

I would get the early car and put in the Carrera engine, tranny, suspension, brakes, seats, wheels and what ever else I could. Not sure your emission laws, but a 3.2 in a light weight emission exempt car just has scary potential!

There are quite a few people on this board doing just that. I'm sure somebody will chime in shortly.

Good luck!
BK

[rob911]

BK

I am really tempted to do just that, I don't want the 80/20 rule to apply.
That is to get 80% through with 20% of the cost.
and then have to spend 80% to finish off the last 20%, all the difficult trim/panels etc..
Is the suspension a straight fit. Do the anti-roll bars mount in the same place?

Kurt

3.2' are not really very rare here, even cabrio's. They were bought in the thousands by the yuppie boomers. If a really did it right it would cost me more than the car is worth, never mind what I actually bought it for.

Additional tasks
New carpets almost essential
Once it is painted the faded hood will look pretty gash. £££
Wheels need re-furb. £
Suspension needs shot-blast and repaint/powdercoat. £
915 needs overhaul, needs clutch. £££
engine has 170,000 miles - never stripped - possbly had a top end at 130k. No evidence though. ??££
Should I renew the rubber seals, bumper rubber to match paint??££
front and rear lamp assemblies leak, bodies are a bit "damaged", wrong screws uses, glued back together.
several other minor fix-ips needed.

There are countless "garage queens" featured in mags over here. I am sure this car would not be missed.
If I modify the cab the cab a little it will be a bastard....to somebody anyway.

[Randy W]

Rob, almost everything can be made to fit. It is not a simple bolt-on, but you can reuse almost all your suspension, and the fuel tank can fit also. Not sure about the windscreen, but I believe it's the same part. Since it's an '84 to '74 swap, you can fit up the engine/transmission with no major modifications and and swap most of the trim pieces as well. It's alot of work, as I'm sure you know already, but many have done this and it is a great package when completed.

[rob911]

Randy

Thanks for the input, this would be my ideal car.
Just need to convince my wife she can live without her toy for a little longer - oh and that it will have grown a roof.

She does like the look of various (much cheaper) cabrio's including the 944. Maybe I can pull this off.

I like the thought of 230BHP and gobs of torque in a 100kg car....

[Milu]

My guess would be that it's not financially viable, especially if you need to spend any money replacing or refurbishing components and you'd always have a bastardised car. The end result could be a real screamer though. Personally I'd either sort the cabrio or sell it and find a different way of building a project car. This route just feels very expensive.

[CamB]

Some of the stuff you list is still going to be a problem if you swap it to the new car... eg engine.

If I were you, I would do the following (my projects have given me excellent self-justification skills):

1. Figure out what the cab needs
2. Figure out what the coupe needs to be at equivalent state
3. Figure out the overlap (ie, both might need engine work)
4. Figure out what the cab is worth now if you sell it
5. Figure out what the cab is worth if you strip it down

You really need to decide what the finishing point is - a part of your 80:20 rule.

If you can find it, you really should sell the cab and buy someone elses (finished) project, but that is no fun.

I guess it all depends on how much is included in the roller, or to put it another way, how much of a screaming deal the roller is.

I can assure you that costs can add up very very quickly, especially if you pay someone to do the work.

Cam