My First Sunday Drive - a long time coming

[Porchcar guy]

A bit long in tooth but wanted to share my good time after so long in the shop !

My last 911 was a 72 E coupe with RSR bodywork and I ahve waited a long time for another 911. I have been a Pelican for quite a while, always looking for the RIGHT one, you know, the right time, right place and right price for me !!
Saw a Pelican ad last December and immediately called the guy, a former Pelican. Flew to LA in January, looked at the car, a 79 911SC, matching numbers, tired paint, needed tune-up, suspension and brakes upgraded, interior about 80% redone, needed dash and headliner, ran very well initially and I drove her home to Albuquerque with just a bit of drama.
Leaving LA after loading her up with enough parts to do tune-ups, all rubber and seals to do a full windows out paint. She wouldn’t start so I called the guy and after discussing what it sounded like…no gas..he said…find a red relay in the parts I gave you. I did and off we went. Got somewhere close to Barstow and I had a right rear flat tire, brand new Pirellis. Towed into Barstow and the tire was junk, catastrophic side wall failure. Decided I did not want to drive the next 6-700 miles wondering about the other rear tire so had him put a pair of Toyos on the rear. It was Saturday night around 11:00 pm so no real choices. Rest if the trip was uneventful except for the cop who gave me a ticket for speeding and hassled the crap out of me for having no temp tag. I explained that no California DMV’s were open on Saturday and showed him the bill of sale, transferred title, insurance proof and NM title transfer form.
Got home Sunday night with a litany of things needed to do to the car. The list started at 17 items and grew over time as we all know the “ while you are in there “ deal :=).
Off to the Independent Porsche shop first part of February with my list in hand. The rest of the story concerning this shop is a comedy of errors. I kept making the list longer, the designated mechanic broke is collar bone and out for 2 months, came back, caught pneumonia and gone again, came back and his work ethic was seriously in question so gone for good. Gotta give credit to the owner who was working weekends to figure out what had been done and not been done to my car or what had been half done. He and I now have an intimate working relationship…:=)
I have had the Porsche on and off for weekend passes to see what was going on with the starting issue but always had to give her back after the weekend of pop starting her downhill. After rebuilt WUR, Fuel distributor, alternator, injectors, etc, got a call last Friday to come and drive her.
She started every time, first time over the weekend and I cannot tell you what a relief that was after so many false starts. “ Molly “ is finally home !!
Took her for what I consider her first real drive in almost 9 months and we drove many back mountain roads for about 60 miles. I had a huge smile on my face the whole time, no radio, just the sound of an on song 911 doing what she wanted to do, run those curves. Hit I-40 for a few miles and got her up to about 110 and she was rock solid no matter where I placed her. Brought her home, looked underneath, no leaks, checked the oil, drop in idle so no vacuum issues, oil in the center of stick… I am a happy guy !! Sorry that I have no pics as I was too busy having fun and learning my girl. Now the rest of the story will continue after I drive her for a few months.