So We're driving it home

[Tommy Z]

Some of you may have seen my post " Should I drive it home?" Well, here's the follow up! The Fiance' and I flew into Toledo this morning to pick up my new to me 79' SC! 120K on the clock, a full tank of gas and fresh rubber on the wheels. We drove 452 miles all the way to Knoxville. Pretty much all highway so we averaged about 85-90 mph the whole way and she held up like a champ! Very solid, no play in the steering and really great braking. The 915 is going to take some getting used to but I'm feeling really good about the whole trip and I know we're both glad we made the decision.

The kindly, older Gent who sold me the car is the second owner and he's had it for 26 years and taken meticulous care of it. He was a little misty when we drove away but he told us how glad he was that he choose us to sell it to.

Tomorrow we rise early and head for Athens at least and maybe Valdosta Georgia if we have the energy. Lots of beautiful roads through the Smokey Mountains await us tomorrow! Thanks to everyone who recommended we drive her home, it was the right decision!

[Tommy Z]

[pavegeno]

Beautiful! Enjoy it and take care of it so you can pass it along someday in the same or better condition.

[schwoo]

Excellent!!!! Enjoy


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[pmax]

Originally Posted by Tommy Z

The kindly, older Gent who sold me the car is the second owner and he's had it for 26 years and taken meticulous care of it. He was a little misty when we drove away but he told us how glad he was that he choose us to sell it to.

Great ending and beginning at the same time, the best of both worlds.

Reminds me of this excellent article Leno wrote.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/archived/leno-stop-worrying-about-the-fate-of-your-classic-car/
Leno: Stop worrying about the fate of your classic car

...

Ultimately, what should happen to your cars is that they would go to true believers, to the people who want them and understand them and will use them. That’s what I hope would happen to mine, but I really don’t know.

Congrats and welcome.

[Jp-oh]

Originally Posted by Tommy Z

. The 915 is going to take some getting used to but I'm feeling really good about the whole trip and I know we're both glad we made the decision.

When I picked up my car I don't think anyone had paid any attention to the shifter set up since literally ever. I was a bit bemused and kinda dismayed but once home the briefest bit of effort to update the bushes and adjust it made a huge improvement. But yeah, it's kind of stirring a pot of marbles compared to a modern tranny. It can be made decent though.

[R_Builder]

So choice.... Enjoy!!!

[MBAtarga]

What is your route to Athens? We are not far from 316.

[KNS]

Great decision to drive it home, your attachment to the car will be even stronger because of the journey home. Air cooled Porsches are special.

As mentioned earlier, don't rush checking the oil and drop the dipstick in the tank - halfway up on the stick (between the marks) is where you want the level. If the level is low don't add more than a few ounces at a time. And, don't trust the oil tank gauge.

We love pictures so please try to post a few of your trip.

[Tommy Z]

We’re gearing up now to grab some grub and hit the rd. 441 to 19 to 129 into Athens. Nice looking route through the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

Sorry about the duplicate thread above. I’ll delete it. Couldn’t get pics to upload from the phone. Here’s a couple. First fill up, happy wife to be ( She loves the car!) and my new girl safe and sound for the night and ready for the next leg!

[Tommy Z]

No visible change in oil level over the first 450 miles so I'm taking that as a good sign! One thing I'm sure to want to address is the bouncey Tach. The tach will bounce 3 or 4 thousand RPM's every time I up shift or down shift and keeps bouncing back and forth for 5 seconds or so. Once it's settled it is rock solid but I'll definitely want to figure that out. This is just in the gauge and not the engine. I would imagine it's a pretty common issue but if anyone can suggest a solution once we get home that would be great.

[mike sampsel]

Originally Posted by Tommy Z

No visible change in oil level over the first 450 miles so I'm taking that as a good sign! One thing I'm sure to want to address is the bouncey Tach. The tach will bounce 3 or 4 thousand RPM's every time I up shift or down shift and keeps bouncing back and forth for 5 seconds or so. Once it's settled it is rock solid but I'll definitely want to figure that out. This is just in the gauge and not the engine. I would imagine it's a pretty common issue but if anyone can suggest a solution once we get home that would be great.

Make sure the plug (six pin under the box) on the CDI box in the engine compartment is well seated.
I doubt it's your tach issue, but its an easy thing to do.

[Pedro '84 Coupe]

Car looks great! Glad everything is going well on your epic journey. Have fun!

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

I've seen post here before about the bouncing tach issue. You would need to search for the exact posts but I believe there is a replaceable part inside the tach that smooths the operation stops the bounce. If memory serves it is something a handy user could repair or send it to one of the trusted gauge repair shops for a fix.

[tirwin]

Looks awesome! Have fun driving through the North Georgia mountains.

Great story too. Glad your fiance is enjoying it too. Sounds like she’s a keeper.

Where is your final destination?

[Locker537]

Thanks for bringing us along on the journey!

I'd be curious if the the bouncy tach gets better the more comfortable you get with the 915. Combine that with a light flywheel and a rev happy engine, and I was zinging it around a bit when I first got my 79.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Tommy Z

No visible change in oil level over the first 450 miles so I'm taking that as a good sign! One thing I'm sure to want to address is the bouncey Tach. The tach will bounce 3 or 4 thousand RPM's every time I up shift or down shift and keeps bouncing back and forth for 5 seconds or so. Once it's settled it is rock solid but I'll definitely want to figure that out. This is just in the gauge and not the engine. I would imagine it's a pretty common issue but if anyone can suggest a solution once we get home that would be great.

Sometimes the tach bounce is sometimes a voltage issue from the alternator. Too much voltage. Keep an eye on the battery temperature and see if it is getting hot. Check battery water levels and add if necessary. If you suspect overcharging and have no volt meter, run with headlights, fog lights, and any fan you can run.
My 85 once had the alternator running wild and overcharging. I ended up having a volt meter installed into my tach. It looks like one Porsche should have done.

[Keithg]

GLAD YOU DROVE IT!!!
Just remove tach and send to HOLLYWOOD for repair!

[bdisco]

Safe travels!
Check out your local PCA.
Have not driven a 915 in a long time, but even the G50 requires you to reprogram your brain and not rush things until warm. The G50 lacks the snick, snick of my daily ‘15 STI short shifter but better than an auto any day. Went for a cruise with local p-car group and although I was working hard to keep up with the newer faster models I was still having fun and smiling all the way.
Enjoy the ride!

[Bob Ashlock]

My first thought is that the actual meter movement in the tach is the problem. They are mechanically damped and when well worn can get "swingy" like you describe. Contact John Bell and have that tach gone through. He can put new faces on them, re-scale and calibrate them and in some cases put stepper motor drives in them so they respond immediately without overshoot (like a modern car).