Wood?!? Is this normal...

[SpenceRx]

Update -- I just heard back from the seller... he last had the oil changed 2000 miles ago when he bought the car SEVEN YEARS AGO.


______________________________________
Hi Everyone,

I'm a total newbie and learning a lot as I read through the threads on this forum. I"m a BMW fanatic who has always wanted a Porsche and I've started my search.

I looked at a 1977 targa today (I know 77 - ug). It's a bit of a Frankenstein car -- had panels from an '88 and has been repainted. Owner knows very little about the car or cars it general - he bought it seven years ago as a mid-life crisis car and has driven only 2000 miles in that time. It has service records since day one. I looked them over and it seems whoever owned it in the mid nineties spent a fortune on it. Rebuilt engine at that time and only 20k miles have elapsed since then (a lot of time). It's leaking oil.

As I was looking the car over I pulled back the floor carpet and noticed this wood below the pedals. IS THIS NORMAL??? I was planning to have the car inspected but am currently wondering what is up with this wood as it seem odd to me. Your comments are welcome.



The car pulled really strong. Although that is the first time I have even driven a Porsche.

Looks like:

[sf2oc911sc]

The wood is normal but the bungee is not.

[jsaucedo]

Wood is absolutely normal, as far as I know. My 81 has it, too.
Looks like a cool car!

[Reiver]

Yes, normal. There are false wood floorboards on either side. The unibody tub drops off abruptly and the floorboards give a slanted surface and cover some components.
They usually show wear (30+/- years old). There are alloy and carbon fiber replacements aftermarket...or stock wood (light).

[redstack]

Well I'll wait for the more experienced. But yea that is supposed to be wood there. And I like the color.
I'm sure there will be more comments.

[SpenceRx]

Thanks for the fast replies. Glad to know the wood is normal.

The bungee was odd but I wasn't too worried about it.

Thoughts on an engine rebuild from 20 years ago>?
Thoughts on the leaking oil?

I really like the color as well - unfortunately, it's not original as the car started out life brown.

Thanks again!

[Reiver]

Find a good indy shop and get a PPI done....lots of info on proper PPI's. With a leak down and inspection they can give you a pretty good idea about the status of the engine...a good indy Porsche shop knows what to look for on the different models.
Hard to tell where that leak originates but when you do a PPI they'll find it for you....a leak on the Metzger engines is very normal btw and 'could be' a simple fix (oil return/sending unit seal)...or not (case/head/jugs).

[porwolf]

My all original 1979 SC certainly has plywood floor boards on both sides.

[zippy_gg]

Balsa wood is very light weight and Porsche considered it a good fit for a sports car where weight reduction is critical.

[fred cook]

that the car is not a 1978 SC? Looking at the engine, the air injection pump is there and everything else looks like stock early SC hardware. It could have been a very early SC (they were sold from 1978 - 1983) in which case it would have the more desirable 3.0 liter engine. If that is the case, then the body panels would be stock Porsche.

[Lapkritis]

The wood floorboards are a bad joke by someone in Stuttgart. It goes like:

Two Germans walk into a bar.

Hanz: "vat should ve use for ze floorboard?"

Franz: "vat should we do with all ze trees from making way for ze autobahn?"

[kodioneill]

Originally Posted by fred cook

that the car is not a 1978 SC? Looking at the engine, the air injection pump is there and everything else looks like stock early SC hardware. It could have been a very early SC (they were sold from 1978 - 1983) in which case it would have the more desirable 3.0 liter engine. If that is the case, then the body panels would be stock Porsche.

The original post said it's a 1977.

That color is Prussian Blue not available in 77.

[RDM]

Originally Posted by fred cook

that the car is not a 1978 SC? Looking at the engine, the air injection pump is there and everything else looks like stock early SC hardware. It could have been a very early SC (they were sold from 1978 - 1983) in which case it would have the more desirable 3.0 liter engine. If that is the case, then the body panels would be stock Porsche.

The part number of the case is 901.101.101.7R, which is a magnesium 2.7 case. An SC would have a 930.101.916.0 aluminum case part number.

[BeeMaster]

You want to see bad boards this just came out of my 76 targa. have only had it a couple months

[al lkosmal]

[QUOTE=SpenceRx;7644652]Hi Everyone,



I looked at a 1977 targa today (I know 77 - ug).


Greetings.................I'm on Porsche #5. My 1st was a 77 Targa. I drove it almost daily and kept if for 15 years. I've since had a 71E, a 73T/hotrod, 66-912 and a 70-914. All of them were/are awesome, but the 77S may have been my favorite overall driver. The mid-years cars got a bad rap for pulling head studs, etc, due to the thermal reactor emissions stuff, but most have had that corrected, engines rebuilt, etc. by now. (although it appears that your car may still have all that stuff)

These are great cars, retaining some of the early, lightweight, narrow body vibe, adding better rust proofing and becoming slightly more civilized (alternately good or bad, depending on what day it is).

I think that these cars, along with 914s will become the next big thing...now that long-hood prices have gone through the roof

regards,
Al

[ClickClickBoom]

Originally Posted by Lapkritis

The wood floorboards are a bad joke by someone in Stuttgart. It goes like:

Two Germans walk into a bar.

Hanz: "vat should ve use for ze floorboard?"

Franz: "vat should we do with all ze trees from making way for ze autobahn?"

Wood as a material is actually very fine choice, strong, lightweight and flexible. I guess the wood boats, airplanes and bridges of the world were colossal mistakes. This floorboard was asked to live in water without proper protection, the car it came out of had/has water leaks, which are far more problematic. I would be concerned with rust in the floorpan, pedal box area.

[Lapkritis]

No, it's crap just in how Porsche used it. Same with the magnesium case, aluminum cylinders and steel fasteners. This is just another bad idea.

[Ronnie's.930]

^^^ Agreed - the wooden floorboards are an exercise in sheer stupidity (much like 911, non fused wiring which is plentyful).

[javadog]

Originally Posted by SpenceRx

Thoughts on an engine rebuild from 20 years ago>?
Thoughts on the leaking oil?

I really like the color as well - unfortunately, it's not original as the car started out life brown.

It depends on who did the work and what was done. Heat, from the thermal reactors used that year and from high oil temperatures from inadequate oil cooling in some parts of the country is what killed these motors. Take the records to the shop that does the PPI and have them look through them.

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

Balsa wood is very light weight and Porsche considered it a good fit for a sports car where weight reduction is critical.

Balsa is light, and Porsche did use in on some of their cars, but not for these floorboards...

Originally Posted by RDM

The part number of the case is 901.101.101.7R, which is a magnesium 2.7 case.

That's the casting number, but your point is well made. Not a 3 liter motor...

Originally Posted by Ronnie's.930

^^^ Agreed - the wooden floorboards are an exercise in sheer stupidity (much like 911, non fused wiring which is plentyful).

The stupidity usually comes from the idiot owners that let too much water collect in their footwells, for too long a time. There's not supposed to be any water down there. I've never had a floorboard deteriorate, but then I take care of my cars. 35, 40 years later, they are still just fine.

JR

[steely]

Hi Spence and welcome.
She looks great looking - and I love that color, even if she used to be brown.
I can't comment on the engine, but the floor boards might do well with some attention or replacement. Mine did not appear to see much if any water damage (although from an '87), and they did respond to some TLC, cleaning, re-glue where necessary, seal with wood protector like Thompsons. I fixed the corner damage with some epoxy and it's been holding for 5 years. before and after shots: