Keep Original Parts or Clean Garage and Cash Out?

[Newlin4141]

I bought a 1980 Porsche 930 Turbo last November with 32k on the odometer. It didn’t run and may or may not have had a family of animals living in it at some point shortly before purchase. The motor was mostly intact but covered with rat excrement (which I painstakingly shop-vac’d clean wearing a hazmat suit). The original turbo, wastegate, and exhaust all look to have been stored in a swamp and I have a few boxes of parts in similar condition. Given this, and after some serious vacuuming and scrubbing, the rest of the car is in good shape. Since it was stored indoors, all the leather is in good condition. The chassis is straight, brought the breaks back to life, and after a new wiring harness, rebuilt Bilsteins and some TLC, we were pretty much back in business. She’s been hit on the front passenger side, but by all professional opinions I’ve heard, was repaired with skill and care. Idea was / is to build a modest hotrod in which I can blast through the mountains, drive to work the next day, and track the following weekend. Dare to dream.

To get her on the road, I pulled the 3.3 turbo motor and transmission and swapped in a 3.2 from an ’86 Carrera donor with 76k miles. There are some parts missing from the motor but the core is all there. I’d say it’s about 95% complete. I added a 2-in-1 out M&K pipe, kevlar clutch, some 9x and 10.5X 17-inch Fikse wheels then began pulling anything out of the car that weighed enough to remotely slow her down. I installed Lexan glass, deleted the rear wiper, AC, radio and am about to replace the front and rear bumpers with fiberglass IROC versions. Then I’ll likely replace the hood and whale tail with their fiberglass counterparts. Paint will be the last thing I do. If I do it at all.

Et cetra, et cetra. This will leave me with a very fun lightweight car... and a garage full of 930 parts, much of which are in good (not great) condition.

So here’s my question: Is it worth keeping all these original parts knowing full well that it’s unlikely I will ever put back on the car? Or do I sell them and use the money to further the project along? I’m very much on the fence with the motor. I’d like to rebuild it (and then some) and put it back in. But from what I understand, a completely rebuilt 3.3 turbo motor comes at a great cost.

There seems to be two schools of thought: 1) Hold on to everything original you have because you “never know.” Someone may want to restore the thing to bone stock showroom condition and they’ll have most of the parts. And 2) Clean out the garage, sell what you can, cash out on the parts and build the car you want to drive.

Both schools make sense. Just can’t decide to which one I should go.

Thoughts?

[ninelevenick]

I say you sell that 3.2 engine with the tranny and use the money to get the 3.3 going again.

[michael lang]

You have quite the dilemma there. Given the same situation, I think I'd sell off the parts to help fund the upgrades I would do to the car.

[Newlin4141]

First two responses are evenly split!

[NY65912]

Personally I would keep all the original parts and restore back to stock. I think that the car will still be a hoot to drive and enjoy and the overall long term value will increase thereby making sense to do the restore.

But that's just my measly.02¢

Enjoy it either way!

[T77911S]

it depends on what you have that i need and how cheap you will sell it.

just kidding. nerver get rid of the original stuff.

sell the 3.2 and put the turbo back in.

beautiful car. nice color and the wheels look great.

[DaddyGlenn]

Originally Posted by snipernick

i say you sell that 3.2 engine with the tranny and use the money to get the 3.3 going again.

+1

[Jim Richards]

Get it back to stock, then tweak the turbo engine a bit when you can. The value of your car is going to plummet without the original turbo drivetrain. Also, getting the turbo back in and going will make your car significantly more fun to drive. This is a no brainer!

edit: Keep the Fikses. The weight reduction stuff you've done makes the car (with the 3.2 lump) a bit more lively; however, having the turbo engine will do more for your car. I would keep the original glass, rear wiper, AC, etc., and either put them back in right after you get the turbo running, or hang on to them and reinstall them later. My 2 cents.

[rlane930]

Are you sure your car is a '80 model as you have the snorkel headlight washers?

[Dublinoh]

Seems to me you are committed to a light weight already. I'd sell the stuff and continue with upgrades for your ride. A bunch of parts and a stripped 930 won't get top dollar anyway. It would look awesome with a duck and light weight bumpers. You have the turbo brakes, would be a fun track car too.

But...usually saving the parts is the right thing to do.

[wayner]

Aren't turbos currently worth at least twice what a carrera is worth? Long term the spread should get even greater, but in today's dollars, building it back to original you might have a zero gain by the time you are done.

[CCM911]

This car does not look too bad. Agree with others that it will be worth way more in the long run put back to stock. I think that the idea of selling the 3.2 to fund putting the car back to stock is very sound. Plus, in the end, you will have a TURBO!!!

But whatever you chose, as long as it makes you happy, it will be the correct choice.

[911 tweaks]

if i were you, do ANY bolt on mod to the car you wish...KEEP ALL OF THE OE PARTS YOU REMOVE... as many have said, these cars are worth a LOT more than a normally asperated 911...

When you are ready to sell the car, you can offer the car either way to the new owner = take it at its current state of "tweak" that you have done & offer the oe parts if interested or sell the OE parts at that future point.

Also, sell the 3.2 & put that $$ into the 3.3 turbo motor...the engine repair costs are not that much more for a turbo vs a non turbo...it just depends on where you take the engine for work...really...!! shop around...its pays to...

When ever I consider any of this "tweaking", I always say "reverse engineer" the thought = think of your exit strategy BEFORE doing anything = how to return the car to OE spec if wanted to by you or new owner if sell...

As far as storing the parts, I would guess you can find room for them somewhere...

***if these panels have the cars vin decals = they are OE panels to the car, I WOULD NEVER CONSIDER SELLING THEM...NEVER...NEVER...= then you can return her to OE... :-)

Good luck & let us know whet you do...

[Newlin4141]

Originally Posted by rlane930

Are you sure your car is a '80 model as you have the snorkel headlight washers?

Yeah, I wondered the same thing. It's a Euro 930 that has a few quirky things that I *think* are stock. The dash, for example, has the vents in the same place as the '79 and I think they were moved in the '80 version. But the VIN and all paperwork checks out to be from 1980.

[Newlin4141]

Man I love this forum. Amazing guidance. Keep it coming.

So keeping the parts seems like the wise thing to do. As is getting the turbo motor back under that whale tail. The latter I'm very excited to do. But is there a way to rebuild this motor that won't cost me $30 to $40k? Assuming the motor needs completely rebuilt to the core (pistons, rods... turbo, etc.) what should I expect from a time and cost perspective? Suppose I should have someone trusted take a look.

Despite detailing its ratty condition, I've had MANY offers to buy the motor sight-unseen that range from $2k to $4k, which suggests I'm sitting on something kinda special.

The last thing I want to do is get it all put together and not drive it because it costs too much to maintain. This is my daily driver, at least in the summer. I'm definitely the type that refuses to let such a magnificent car sit in a garage under a cover.

[911 tweaks]

...daily driver...?? fine to use as...not a problem...
...30-40k to rebuild the motor...?? who knows...take to an expert for diagnosis & estimate...then take it to 2 other shops for their diag & $$ to fix...THEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING...
...drive the car now w/ the 3.2 & enjoy the car while you figure out the turbos condition...
...yeah, there a lot of people that would LOVE your motor for 2 or 4k...!! me too...!! = don't sell it!!
...it may be yr or 2 before funds are available a/o the turbo engine is fixed so in the interum, drive the car w/ the 3.2 & SELL the 3.2 when the turbo engine is done & recoup probably 4-6k for a good running 3.2...!!
you are on the right track...keep going... :-)

[diverdan]

I think I see your situation. Your idea of the car is cool and committed, lightweight hot rod. You have no interest in the original luxo parts and they will only take up room, gather dust, and get damaged. Somebody could use them. If you were going to get a restoration project maybe you would use them someday. If that is unlikely, get them out of your way!

My personal experience tells me that is the thing to do. I have a ton of parts that I should sell but won't because I have several cars apart and don't know what parts I'll need to get them all back together. Parts you will never use or parts that would replace those of a cool hot rod to make it stock again should go away. Example: If you build a really hot 33 Ford hot rod coupe, would you want to store the original fenders, full sized glass, stock steering column, etc. for 30 years?

Proceed in the direction that you believe in!

Good luck.

Dan

[diverdan]

My understanding is that you are thinking about rebuilding the turbo engine so it is not part of the spare parts you are considering selling. Parts that are part of your dream should of course be kept.
Dan

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by Newlin4141

Despite detailing its ratty condition, I've had MANY offers to buy the motor sight-unseen that range from $2k to $4k, which suggests I'm sitting on something kinda special.

IMHO, a complete, good (not blown up) rebuildable 3.3 930 long-block is worth about $6K. At least, they were about 5 years ago.

Use ARP or similar aftermarket rod bolts when you rebuild, the 3.2/3.3 stock bolts are weak, and the achilles heel of the 3.3 - they WILL stretch if you overrev. The crank, rods, mains are probably fine - although replacing the bearings if you disturb anything is a good plan. The pistons and cylinders, with that mileage are likely to be in spec (mine were with nearly 3 times that mileage).

930 rings are super hard and brittle. They often turn into the special 10,000 piece set - and often break coming out anyway.

Heads and valves are probably good with that sort of use.

So basically cleaning, inspecting/checking, freshening/updating and re-assemble. The CIS may need some love after sitting - but $1,000 or so would probably get a complete takeoff from a running car converted to EFI. A rebuilt, adjustable WUR can make getting a good-running 930 with healthy AFRs much easier than some unknown quantity WUR that's not adjustable for the special requirements...

If you're going to have it apart, you should have a plan. SC or 964 cam profiles really wake up a 930 in the mid-range, even with the stock induction/low compression top end - makes it drive like an SC with a big-bore kit, until the forced induction kicks in.

The stock 3.3 has lots of turbo lag, followed by a light-switch powerband that feels like a sledgehammer to the chest somewhere over 3000 RPM - this isn't for everyone, and can bite/terrify the unwary.

You can pick up 100HP or more with cams, intercooler, headers and a better hybrid turbo that wasn't designed for a diesel truck (the 3DLZ is pretty much a boat anchor now). I love my K27/HF - makes 6PSI of boost at 2400 RPM..

These mods will deliver a much more responsive car that's easier and more predictable to drive, much faster thn stock. And it makes that extra power at the stock boost level, with less heat (and thus more safety margin for the motor).

If you do the cams while it's apart (which together with a less restrictive exhaust is worth about 30HP), everything else can be done as a bolt-on upgrade later, as you collect parts/get budget. That would keep you happy for a while; ~400 FWHP in a 2500 lb car will certainly get your attention.

Might even keep you happy for a while The limit is money - but making more power with a 930 is relatively cost-effective up until about 500-550HP or so.

If you don't have a LSD, I vote to add one (ideally a 40/60 running 70 or so ft/lbs) to the wish list if you're increasing the power. You'll thank yourself later - probably every time you ease off and turn in for a fast corner...

3.3's love 5 speeds in a light car - they're just ridiculously short-geared with a turbo. Just sayin'...

I'd suggest starting off by rebuilding the 3.3 with SC cams, and sell the 3.2/tranny to defray the cost.

You can get plenty more ideas on ways to spend money over on the dark side, or the 930 forum, as some call it.

As far as selling the old parts is concerned - I've still got all the stock take-off 930 bits, but I don't see them ever going back on the car...

[javadog]

Don't sell the motor for what you've been offered. Rebuild it. It won't cost $30-40k, UNLESS you do it several times. Assuming it hasn't been underwater, or something similar, it shouldn't need that much at that mileage. To disassemble one and reseal it should cost $6k. After that, it should just be little stuff, unless you start modifying things right and left. The cases, crank, rods, pistons and other main pieces should be fine at that mileage.

I'd keep most of the original parts. Turbos are rising in value. Have fun, but don't beat it up too bad.

If you sell a few things, be aware of what they are worth. Those washer nozzles on the front bumper are potentially worth hundreds of Euros to the right buyer. You won't sell them in the US but you could easily sell them in Europe.

JR