Introduction and maintenance log on my '83 911SC

[merlinfe]

Hi Pelicans,

I recently bought a Silver '83 911SC. It's beautiful and all original, be that good or bad. It's in need of a little TLC, but all around a great driver car. When I bought it it had a little over 95k miles. The prior owner, by his own admission, didn't know the engine from his elbow. He had a local renowned Porsche mechanic in his area upkeep the engine and car so I knew it was in good hands. I actually found the car on The Samba through a Google search for 911sc. The owner had numerous requests from "overseas" and across the country to buy the car for more than he was asking but refused to sell it unless it was in person. I drove 6.5 hours to see the car and drove it home the next day. No (working) radio and a smile on my face the entire time.

I bought the Porsche 911SC Essential Companion before I left to pick it up and read through it and many many posts both here and on the other site before I bought the car. I took a gamble on it as the only place close enough and knowledgeable enough to do a full PPI was the same place that had serviced the car to begin with. That's a bad situation all around so I gave it a thorough going over and test drive and made a gamble on everything else. You're only young once and I'm just old enough to still make some bad decisions.


I'll be replacing the exhaust manifolds and muffler sooner rather than later. SSIs? Who knows. The chain tensioners were done before I bought the car and there are no big problem areas that sent up red flags for me when I bought the car. It has an early Perma-tune ignition that has been trouble free so far as well.

Thus far I have replaced:

The fuel accumulator which cured a no hot start condition,
The fuel and air filter with OEM components
The radio for now, I'll be refurbishing the stock Blaupunkt and amp to reinstall later. Or not. Still on the fence. Its going in a box with all the other stock parts.
Both brake switches on the master cylinder.
The instrument lights were replaced with Etarga LEDs as a couple were burnt out.
Full oil change
O2 Sensor due to unknown age of part installed.

Parts on order in the mail:

New spark plugs
Oil line from crossover to thermostat (soaked but not leaking)
Oil quantity cork gasket ( That IS leaking after I cleaned All the gunk off. Should have left the grime on.)
Oil pressure sensor and switch. (Be very careful when you clean old contacts and decide to re-torque stuff on the fly. I broke the stud clean off the pressure sensor)
Fuel check valve for semi lingering cold start problems. Cheap and easy starting point before I buy a fuel pressure reading kit.

All the eventual things that will be replaced:

Everything little by little starting with anything that actually needs replacing. I'm happy with the performance of the car stock but the heat exchangers and muffler have not faired as well as the rest of the car over the last 30 years.

Anyway here are a few pictures of the car. Thanks and see you around the forums:

[sempaipaul]

Love the last pic!

Congrats on the buy!

Paul

[dcjones56]

Very nice. Congrats! The more original, the better in my humble opinion.

[Hard-Deck]

Drop dead gorgeous! Have fun!

[weseeeee]

That's a really nice looking car and it's a great color. Enjoy it and Congrats!

[911SauCy]

You take purdy pitchurs...

Nice ride

[boyt911sc]

That's my favorite 911 color. What a beautiful looking coupe you found. Since you are planning to do a lot of work and maintenance for your car, it would be a good idea to have a CIS fuel pressure gauge kit handy. After a couple of times using your fuel pressure gauge kit, it would have paid for itself.

Tony

[RDM]

You win the gamble. Congratulations and welcome!

[merlinfe]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

You take purdy pitchurs...

Nice ride

Thanks man!


The fuel pressure guage set is "on the list".

[Porchcar guy]

Beautiful car....welcome to the madness :=)

[boss11]

great looking car, love the colour - welcome!

[merlinfe]

Got the Fuel Accumulator in and it solved the not starting when cold issue. I still need to put in a new check valve for the fuel pump. I can hear the lines up to the accumulator pressurize when the key is turned to the on position.

Found a CDR-220 for $60 on eBay and got that installed.

I took a good look at my belt and discovered it was ready to go! Luckily I found it in time.

I also removed the decaying sound deadening from the engine bay. It came off in chunks and left foam poop balls all over the engine. It took me longer to vacuum than it did to pull it all out.

I'm working on installing rear 3 point belts for my kiddo. I have the rear belts from a 964, and new trim pieces from the front belts of a 911sc. I just need access to a right angle drill to get them in. I may need to be inventive here...

[Kidasters]

Welcome.

Pretty car.

I saw your post about a right angle drill, and remembered this from The Garage Journal:

The Garage Journal » Blog Archive » The Orbiter

Good Luck. I had a 964. Yeah, the 3 point belts were nice. Honestly, in the 84, I just let the 10 year old ride in front, and the 4 year old doesn't get to ride yet.....it's not the best answer, but it's probably the right answer.

[merlinfe]

My son is 3.5. Currently he rides in his car seat in the back held tight by the lap belt and the 4 point harness of the seat itself. It's pretty darn secure. Sooner, rather than later, I'd like to get him in a booster and the 3 point belts will be a necessity at that point.

That orbiter thing just my do the trick. I may also consider going with a right angle air powered tool of some kind. We shall see.

Thanks for the link.

[merlinfe]

Finally got around to installing the Fuel pump check valve. Found a pair of GAP underwear some high class rodent decided to make a nest with. No chewed wires to fret over and the Fuel Check valve went in without a hitch.



I also installed a new to me 1in1out Magnaflow muffler. This setup weighs 18.0lbs and replaces the 31 year old muffler that was 21.8lbs. This is FYI only. I don't race the SC and therefore I don't care too much about weight. I will be doing the Porsche Driving Experience for Concours in March, so all that "race talk" may change eventually.

I had a HELL of a time getting 31 years of rust off the old piping. My next step, of course, will be to get a pre-muffler and then start saving for an engine tear down. I'm sure its coming...

[merlinfe]

WOW I haven't posted anything on this car for a year.

Here are some updates:

Installed/upgraded/replaced:
MSD Street Fire CDI and Hi-Vibration Coil
Magnecore 8mm Wires (regapped plugs to .040")
M&K GT3 Muffler with center out valance
Fogless metal front valance with plate holes filled. Fog wiring wrapped and zipped tied.
Jwest Headlight Relays from Pelican
H4 Headlights with painted ring covers (100watt bulbs)
Euro Premuffler with O2 bung welded in
New Bosch O2 Sensor
Front Euro Bumperettes (in place of running lights)
Refinished Fuchs with Satin centers and sanded crests
Backdated heat
Found a Zinnmetallic wingless decklid (SCORE!!!)

Things that will be changed very soon:
New brakes pads front and rear
Oil and filter change. Although I like the Mobile 1 I will be changing to Brad Penn or Kendall
Engine sound pad needs to be replaced. The old one disintegrated. Literally.

Thoughts on the M&K GT3 1 in center 2 out muffler and valance combo. It's loud in a badass kind of way. The first time I started it up my 4 year old cried (not in a good way). I had to reinstall the under speaker shelf sound pad to quite down the cabin. It grumbles at idle and roars approaching WOT. Everything I've had on any car before this seems tame in comparison. So basically, not really for the feint of heart. I noticed a very small amount of off the line torque loss, but I think that could be regained by reinstalling the Catalytic converter for a little added back pressure (it may even quite it down a little). If anyone wants better pictures let me know.





Before Polish Sanding

After