Thoughts on originality and value?

[kyle242gt]

Hi all -
I've had my 80SC for nearly a year. Bought it for a track toy and daily driver, but quickly realized it wasn't meant to drive three miles at a stretch, so it mostly just sits - drive it once a week or so.

I rebuilt the brake calipers, switched to SS lines, and that's been about it. Still ought to do an oil change and adjust the valves, and it needs a set or two of tires.



I'm getting bogged down in my "real" project - Ford 5.0 swap into a 59 Volvo PV 544 - so I figure it's time to look at the 911.



Chief on the list is the AC - which brings me to the point of my post. From lurking here, I get that the AC never will work real well. I'm tempted to remove it, simplifying and lightening the car up.

The car is pretty original, paint is original as far as I can tell (PTS code, also as far as I can tell). Only real flaws (other than AC) are a few dings in the paint, poorly recovered dash and rear deck, both needing re-recovering.

My question is this:
Given what it is - run of the mill SC, good (but not excellent) condition, and
Given what I am - fickle and tending to buy and sell every couple years (hard to think about selling the 911, but I said that about their predecessors)

Would a prospective purchaser be offput by removing marginal AC, or would the value take a hit? I'd like to remove it, but don't want to be "that guy" (I'm already doing that to the poor Volvo).

If I keep it, I'd be tempted to make it work, and that's likely a fool's errand.

[911dean]

I strugle with the same issue. I'm interested in others opions.

I'm leaning towards removal though. It's my car and I really want to remove A/C along with the console. I think the lighter it gets the more I'll like it.

[Josh D]

First, the A/C can be made to work well, but it costs to do so.
Second, if you don't need A/C, and not having it will not impact your desire to drive the car, remove it carefully and save all the components to be reinstalled if you sell the car.

In some climates, A/C is necessary to use the car year round.

[Jim Richards]

IMO, don't remove it. If you want A/C, even mediocre A/C, fix it. Otherwise, don't do anything to it. When you eventually sell your SC, the next owner will at least have the option of making it work, or not, or yanking it out. If you yank it out, potential buyers don't have a choice, other than sourcing the parts to put a working system back in. That's more expensive for them, and might reflect in the price you're able to get for your car. Josh D.'s suggestion of pulling it out and saving it for the next owner isn't bad either.

[McLovin]

I agree with Jim.

If you are concerned about future value, don't remove it.

And, BTW, the value of these cars is starting to increase. Leading the way are original (non-modified cars). Clearly, there is no where but up for the value of air cooled 911s, particularly the pre-90 cars.

Yes, they made a few SCs, but even the newest ones are now 30 years old, and good, original ones are getting harder to find.

[kyle242gt]

Thanks for the feedback, gang.

I don't need it, won't miss it - the days when it's really hot, I drive something with AC - even then usually just put the windows down. Weather here is nice, even when hot, the humidity isn't the killer it is elsewhere.

Definitely would not toss the components - just carefully remove, box, and store. Would likely backdate the heater if I can't get the blower working, and maybe rework the fresh air vents, but nothing destructive.

Not interested in sinking the money into fixing the AC - rather put the money into SSIs, suspension, and track time.

Definitely appreciate the feedback re: value.

[CCM911]

Just remove the compressor and keep all the rest in the car. That way, when you go to sell, you can bolt the compressor back in the car, and let the potential buyers know that the AC "needs a charge".

[LakeCleElum]

Remove - Box it up and keep to pass on with the car. Just like I did with my 2.4 engine.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by CCM911

Just remove the compressor and keep all the rest in the car.

That is leaving the weight savings on the table. The entire system is in the 100 lb. range. Although, if it's a York, those things have to be close to 20 alone.

[kyle242gt]

Right, that's what's got me thinking. 100# diet would be cheap speed.

The upgrade 3.0 thread posted today is what got me thinking about this stuff. Pull as much out as I can, nondestructively, more power, speed, tires and brakes last longer, on it goes.

[CCM911]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

That is leaving the weight savings on the table. The entire system is in the 100 lb. range. Although, if it's a York, those things have to be close to 20 alone.

But Bob, it would be a nightmare to reinstall all that stuff when it was time to sell, correct? I agree that the compressor is just a "quick hit" though.

[megerian]

If you think you're likely to sell the car, I'd leave it all in. If someone wants a fairly original car, they won't want a box of A/C parts.

[911dean]

:

BTW, the value of these cars is starting to increase. Leading the way are original (non-modified cars). Clearly, there is no where but up for the value of air cooled 911s, particularly the pre-90 cars.

I hate when this is brought up. Makes me second guess myself. I wouldn't even think about getting rid of any original parts. You never know you might need them for a new stable mate.
Dean

[aigel]

If you consider selling it soon, I'd keep the a/c system in place. It definitely will affect value if it is in a box.

If you want to keep and use the car for years to come, do what you want.

It actually sounds to me like you should sell the car right away. Why wait?

G

[kyle242gt]

Originally Posted by megerian

If you think you're likely to sell the car, I'd leave it all in. If someone wants a fairly original car, they won't want a box of A/C parts.

Chances are I'll sell it - but whether in a year or two in stock condition or five or more in track prepped is still up in the air.

The 911 replaced a supercharged E36 M3 - too much for the street, and with E46's coming down in price, the E36 was due for a hit. Plus the glovebox popped open all the time. The M3 replaced a tracked out Miata, because I was tired of going slow. The 911 strikes me as a really nice middle ground - plus, one drive and I was hooked.

Originally Posted by aigel

If you want to keep and use the car for years to come, do what you want.
It actually sounds to me like you should sell the car right away. Why wait

That's a good point, and highlights that I don't really know what I want to do. Removing the AC would be free, relatively simple, and "fix" some of my biggest gripes about the car. But if that's too extreme a first step, maybe I'll find something else to do.

[aigel]

Well, after you gave more insight to your situation and thoughts, I'd recommend pulling it. It is a huge pile of weight and in the way too, when you want to get to the plugs / rockers.

You will want to make sure to seal the holes in the underside of the body when you take out the screws holding the line brackets in. You will be surprised to see how "custom" the A/C installation was done from the factory. Definitely an afterthought. I would also recommend to really pull it all - including the lines, control switches in the console, brackets etc., to make it a clean delete.

G

[SReppel]

Remove the AC compressor but keep the rest of the components installed. I recently purchased a 78 Targa and this was a key selling point. I did not want to have to find all the part sto re-install an AC system.

The PO had removed the Compressor and condensor but left the rest. So all I had to do was flush the remaining system and hook back up the condensor, compressor and recharge it. It's an old York comp, but it works. Planning on changing it out later.

Had some minor problems I posted earlier this week with it but working fine now.

So at least I have some Cool air, believe me down here In Louisiana it's better than nothing.

Scott
________
78 911 SC Targa, 01 Honda S2000

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by CCM911

But Bob, it would be a nightmare to reinstall all that stuff when it was time to sell, correct? I agree that the compressor is just a "quick hit" though.

It would be a couple of weekends and it would be a labor intensive PITA even before flushing out and dialing it in. Not counting bagging/sealing parts and schlepping into the attic or sacrificing garage (or wife's dressing room) storage space for a couple of years.

The weight comment was simply academic.

[neighbour]

Leave it in.

In these older cars you need to install about 2 K of stuff to make it work reliably .
Otherwise it's not worth the expense or fiddling with a system that never worked anyway.

Forget about the weight and let the next guy in line decide what to do.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by CCM911

Just remove the compressor and keep all the rest in the car. That way, when you go to sell, you can bolt the compressor back in the car, and let the potential buyers know that the AC "needs a charge".

Seriously?

That's a pretty crappy thing to do to the next guy.