1968 SWB -my first 911 -help plz -and how it all began

[davidcz...]

Sight unseen this all began over the phone: rust? Not much. Haggled on the price. There were 50 people in line so I bit the bullet. Flying down tomorrow. "Will it make it from LA to Seattle?" I asked. He replied "I think so, but you should probably ship it." I was on a plane that Friday night.







As you know, my wonderful gf thinks i love the car more than her, but is patient and she remains with me.


The thing is a dream to drive!

[davidcz...]

We head from LA to Seattle. I get to drive all around the Muhulland twisties!



and then I break down 100mi outside of LA! Bummer. Dream trip is over.


i get back to Uhaul just before they close for saturday night, but at least we are not stuck. The porsche decided it is a trailer queen after all.

[davidcz...]

Eventually this is gonna be a long rebuild thread:
but right now I am trying to get the car up and going again. I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction. My friend, who designs engines, but is not familiar with 911, says it could be a stuck valve, or a valve way out of adjustment. I am gonna get some pro help, but would first like to open it up first and look to see if it is something simple.

What happened:
I was driving on the highway at 70mph and the engine suddenly lost power, as if it weren't getting throttle anymore -even though I was pressing on the throttle! When I added throttle it seemed to get much lower sounding, like when you are going up a hill and the engine is loaded, but no power whatsoever. I barely limped off of the highway at 30mph in 4th.

How it runs:
The car starts and idles with no problem, but won't really drive. It barely gets onto the uhaul trailer. There is something loose sounding, like one valve that ticks slower and out of time with the rest of them, like its just moving around in there on its own much slower rhythm. I am not sure that is related, but it seems to be since the car has no power- almost as if it has no compression.

So, any guesses?

[Porchcar guy]

You did not say what or how she stopped running. Nice looking car !!

I did something similiar. Bought a 79SC in LA and drove her home to Albuquerque. Fuel pump relay went out within 10 miles. He had given me a spare. Almost to Victorville on a Saturday night and a brand new Pirelli blew out. Bought 2 rear tires as I didn't trust the other one after that. Gas filler would not take gas except a penny at a time so a gas stop was prolonged ...was a rusted filler tube. Got a ticket in Arizona but the old girl did make it home. Now 1.5 years later, she has had most everything replaced that can be but she makes me smile every time I turn that key...ENJOY the madness !

[evilfij]

AAA plat.

150 miles free tow.

[Tony V]

Distributor clamp tight?
Tony

[GaryR]

I guess you didn't have a PPI done! Could be anything from a clogged fuel line, bad fuel pump, packed fuel filter, points(?) if it still has points, and on and on. What motor and fuel system is in it, a 68?

[Matt Monson]

I'm going to go with the car has been sitting for a while and has sucked a bunch of gunk into the carbs. It's that very reason that I got a $2000 discount on my 1968 911T. Old owner wasn't going to put any more money into the old girl and after 5 years of not driving it, refreshed Webers and a full fuel system clean out was not in his budget.

Has it been sitting for a while?

Also, I mean no offense, but that picture of you and your girl looks like it could have been taken in 1968. Timeless.

[davidcz...]

It is the original 2.0. Carbs were replaced with clean ones 4 weeks ago.


Will check points. Fuel system is something with a pressure gauge in it. I'll find out more and get back to you.

[GaryR]

See if the pressure drops after it runs a bit, could be a clogged filter or line though I see no gauge or filter...

[Jdub]

+1 on the gas filter or line detris, tho. I am thinking you did have some basic cleanup/prep. work done? In all events, plenty of Pelican talent in Seattle to help you.

[rennch]

Wow...sounds just like my trip. I'd purchased a 72 911 from Upstate New York, and drove it back to Colorado. Got as far as Nebraska when the engine went. A squirrel had made a nest in one of the cylinders, and caked mud all the way around it. Kabloom.

It was a good excuse to get a 3.0 engine.

Good luck, enjoy the journey!

[Keithcza]

Check that there is no small in-line fuel filter hidden somewhere. Those things get clogged easily but some owners love putting them in. I had one hidden on a Healey I had, it drove me crazy until I found it.

[Rodsrsr]

Very nice car!

[timmy2]

Seattle=John Walker....

[chris68]

Nice story David. I like your car. Mine's also a swb car and I've stripped and rebuilt everything over the years so drop me a line if you need advice.

Be methodical about finding the fault. Check one thing a time; compression, fuel delivery and ignition. Swop out things like plugs, points, distributor cap, ignition leads as a matter of course. They're probably tired and will let you down a some point soon.

Hope it's not serious. Good luck, keep us posted.

Regards,
Chris