Soon to be owner of a 77 930..questions

[James_TX]

Sat., my 1977 930 should be delivered! Very excited to own my dream car!

I had the car checked head to toe by a local dealer and they said it was in wonderful condition <-- thats good!

As I read boards and webpages about my car I am becoming intrested in see what I can do to it. I am not a master mechanic by any means. I've rebuild alot of motorcycles and feel that the car will just be a step up and a little harder.

Can anyone suggest upgrade projects that are not overly expensive or difficult to up HP and Handeling?

Thank you!
James

[Jgordon]

C'mon Wayne, you know you want to say it...

[widebody911]

Originally posted by James_TX
Can anyone suggest upgrade projects that are not overly expensive or difficult to up HP and Handeling?

Define "overly expensive"

Handling-wise, you can perform any of the upgrades of a 'normal' 911 of the period, ie sway bars, torsion bars, brakes, etc.

Performance-wise, you can add an intercooler (requires a new tail), bigger turbo, etc - I'm not really qualified to make turbo upgrade recommendations.

Speed costs money - how fast do you want to go? It's all about turning dollars into noise.

[kanihitit]

A good place to start overall is with Wayne's book..Get it. You want be sorry...Its probably one of, if not the best "Bang for your Buck" you will find on your Porsche Improvement quest.

[James_TX]

Expensive... I guess would be over a few grand. Something that would require a small load to obtain.

I've found information on intercoolers, but nothing that has been overly informative. Can you point me in a good direction?

I'll look into getting that book also!

[930Chas]

Depends on what you mean by overly expensive.

I think on your year car getting a new exhaust system will be most beneficial, B&B or GHL for around $800, or a used Euro system for around $300-500. You can also do headers for around $2000. Then like Thom said you can get an intercooler, roughly $1900, k27 turbo, $895 and that should give you a good start. I would not recommend the cheap hp upgrade, the 1 bar boost spring, especially not without an intercooler!!!!

[Tinker]

Everyone with a turbo always wants to go faster. I don't know the extent of your Porsche (911) experience, but you will want to take a few driver ed. days to get the feel for the car. The handling, especially stock, is a bit different than a normal 911.

For speed, check your exhaust and see if you have those dreaded thermo reactors. If so, look for a euro exhaust or factory 87+ one, good for 20 hp. Cams are popular as is more boost which will require an intercooler and a new tail. Much beyond this starts to cost some serious $$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Tinker
77 930, the beater

[drwest]

drool.....that's my dream car.

Damn! I'm jealous

[kepperly]

JAMES-TX,
I HAD A 77 930 AND THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS CUT THE DRIVE BELT TO THE AIR INJECTOR PUMP OR WHEN YOU PARK IT AT NIGHT YOU WILL WONDER WHAT THAT CHERRY READ REFLECTION IS UNDER THE CAR. TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE CYL. STUDS MINE
WERE DELVAR AND WOULD POP LIKE POP CORN. UPDATE TO PRESSURE FED CAM TENSIONERS OR RISK THE BIG ONE. AND FOR HEAVEN GET MOBIL-1 SYNTHETIC OR EQUAL IN IT. ALSO
WHEN YOU DRIVE THAT BAD BOY DON,T GET IT ON THE BOOST AND THEN PARK IT AND TURN IT OFF IMMEDIATLY OR YOU WILL FRY THE IMPELLER BEAR IN THE TURBO BY COKING UP THE BEARING.
GOOD LUCK KEITH

[JWest]

My ears are ringing...

[dtw]

Originally posted by James_TX
Can anyone suggest upgrade projects that are not overly expensive or difficult to up HP and Handeling?

Thank you!
James

The best thing you can do to improve the performance is take your time with the car and learn to drive it. Attend some track events and DEs until you attain a feel for the car. Then analyze the areas you want to improve (tires, engine, suspension, stereo...whatever) and start taking steps. You'll find that this brings much more satisfaction with the upgrades.

[RarlyL8]

Turbos are VERY expensive cars to hotrod.

I'd drive the car for quite a while before spending that first dime on go fast goodies. An engine or tranny problem of any sort will cost you thousands. Go over the car thoroughly as you get more used to it. Learn from our mistakes and over research everything before you buy any parts. Be sure you are comfortable that your car is solid before you start writing the big checks that you never get back.

Add B. Anderson's 911 performance Handbook to your shelf.
Call up ImagineAuto. They should scare you to death with prices.

[James_TX]

ATM I have no money! Spent is all ont he car. So I have no intention of running half cocked to the quickwe mart for parts and upgrades!

Thank you tho for everyones replies!

One last question though. As I look at options I notice that most of the upgrades are for '78 3.3L Engines. If I wanted to go to a Kokeln Intercooler, for example, they say '78-'89. Most of the other pages I have seen say the same thing. Am I looking in the wrong places or is there little option for my engine?

Thank you again!

[RarlyL8]

The stock '77 930 has no intercooler, so you wouldn't find one in the parts catalog. You can add one from the '78/9 but you will need many other parts as well.

Call up John Walker. I'm sure he's done plenty of those.

[Targa Dude]

Hi James, congrats on your new toy!! First off what I would do is, make sure you have all the basic upgrades.. such as front fender oil cooler, Pressure fed chain tensioners, remove those thermal reactors if you still have them, disconnect all smog pump and related devices, I'd be leary of using mobile one oil unless you know for sure the motor has been rebuilt by a reputable shop if you do you may develop pesky and PIA oil leaks you didn't have before. Hopefully you have records on this Baby. You probably have the eleven blade fan in there but still make it is.
As for any additional input on the motor thats about all I have to add. not familiar with turbo's at least not yet. These few mods I just mentioned if not already done will be around 1,500-2,000 $

Enjoy, Jorge (Targa Dude)

PS. Let me know if you ever decide to sell that motor..