911 Newbie.... Intro w/ A Few Questions.
 

Hi I'm 45 years young, I say that because I have never really grown up.

I Have A Few Cars, Mostly American, Except My Daily Drivers (Japanese).

I Am Looking Into Exploring My German Heritage, By Looking For A 911.

Porsches Are In My Bloodlines,
My Father Had A '64 356, He Bought New While Living In Germany.
He Took Delivery Of His 356 At The Factory, And Has Many Picture From The Factory.

As A Child I Vacationed In Germany For The Summers Of '78 & '81,
I Was Also Stationed In Mannheim From '88-91.

I Was Always In Love With The 911 & 930 Porsches, &
Now A '77 911 Cabrio Conversion (3.0 Carrera Motor) Has Come Available.

I Am Very Seriously Considering Buying This 911. I Joined This Forum To Learn As Much As Possible Before I Pull The Trigger On This Particular 911.

I'm an All Around Car Nut, Who Might Become A 911 Nut In The Very Near Future.....

Any 911 Buyers Advice For Me Since They Are New To Me?

This Particular 911 Has A 3.0 Carrera Motor w/ Dual Plugs, & Webber Carbs. &
Also Has A 5 Spd.

Is This Motor Going To Be Nightmare To Keep Tuned & To Maintain?

Should I Be Worried Since Car Is A Targa Converted To A Cabrio?

Any Places that '77 911's Are Known To Rust?

Thanks In Advance For Any Help You Guys Might Have For Me :)

Welcome aboard. The motor you describe sounds like it has been heavily modified. Could be great, but based on the description my guess is that it was built for the track, not the street, so.....probably way more "fiddly" than a stock motor.

I own a Targa and yes they can rust, especially in the areas where water would likely pool on the exterior - like the lower corners of the windshield for example.

Targa to Cabrio? Pass...I would keep looking.

Here is one 200 or so miles from you.

1984 Porsche 911 carrera

Check the serial number with your insurance company, I recall reading the ROW (Rest of World - Gray Market - Euro) cars may be difficult to insure (if that's what you are looking at).

I'm not familiar with any Targa to convertible issues, depends on the quality of the job I guess.

The title on my Targa says convertible.

EDIT: looks like insurance may not be a problem.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/729310-any-downsides-euro-version-911sc.html

Do a search on PPI's (Pre Purchase Inspection) which is highly recommended.

Beware
 

I looked at a very similar car and passed out here in Cali. Insurance, Farmers, didn't want to insure it. Another guy in the club bought it and low and behold the frame was not properly reinforced after the chop. Big problems. I am glad I waited for my Targa. With the top off it feels like a convertible.
Note: Farmers is very hard to deal with. Could just be them.

Absolutely NOT the car for your first Porsche experience! Hacked and modified, find a nice stock example that is in good shape..

Here is a link to a Targa-Cabrio conversion, maybe it helps:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/788460-new-here-78-sc-cab-staying-family.html

You can also do "search" operation on the Pelican Technical forum with "targa conversion"

US Spec.
 

Thanks For The Advice So Far...

The '77 911 Is Definitely Not A ROW Car.
Motor Is Supposedly From A 3.0 Carrera.
Is There Any Way For Me To Be Sure It From A Carrera?
Been Told The Conversion Was Done By Werks 1 Inc. (Sea Cliff, NY),
Hopefully It Was Done Right. Current Owner Has Owned It For A Little
Over 13 yrs. Previous Owner Had Conversion Done In The 90's.

Here She Is...
 

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1392164710.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1392164761.jpg

Is it cheaper than this one?

1986 Porsche 911 targa

Is This Motor Going To Be Nightmare To Keep Tuned & To Maintain? > yes

Should I Be Worried Since Car Is A Targa Converted To A Cabrio? > absolutely

I'll make it short : DO NOT BUY THIS CAR. IT HAS NO VALUE, IT WILL BE A PAIN TO MAINTAIN AND YOU DON'T NEED A BOX, YOU WANT A PROPER 911.

FYI: Here is a link that discusses engine IDs:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/121529-911-engine-codes.html

To Tdw28210
 

Nice Targa There For Sale.....

This One Is Less Than Half That Price, But Will Need The Hood Painted.
Owner Is In A Bind & Needs To Sell For A Work Truck ASAP.

Good looking car... I guess it's the best looking cheap one you could find? I put $4 grand in just parts on my great looking 84. These were all the recommended, brakes,pads, brake lines, fuel lines, rebuild calipers, rotor, cap, wires, filters, injectors, belts, sound pad, hood shocks, headlight relay, instrument cluster fuse, front condensor fuse, smuggler box fuse, shifter bushings, wevo coupler, tires, led conversion, new Swepco, Brad Penn, oil filter, new O2, CHT, new cat etc.. Etc.

I didn't have to do any of that, but Porsche guys will do it.

Ok, so you have a heavily modded 911 that has been owned by a guy who is now in a financial bind. That likely means that this thing has not been meticulously cared for or maintained (I could be wrong though). You need to buy this thing cheap and be prepared for plenty of surprises (and by "surprises" I mean unforeseen expense).

If you are trying to help a friend out, then that is something else. Anyway, good luck.

Man , I wouldn't touch that car for any money. I would bet it all you'll be really really disappointed.

Buy it. It's kinda sexy... Just don't tell people it's cobbled together. Can't tell with the photos. Sounds like the price is right. The motor is worth $8-$12 grand.

If you really like the car, the price is right, you think the seller is honest with his reasons to sell, drives really well, and it looks like it has been well taken care of by another Porsche lover, buy it. Life is full of risks.

At The Asking Price, I Don't Think I Can Get Hurt..... At Least I Don't Think So.
Ruf 17"Rims & New Yoko S Drive Tires Alone Are Worth, I'm Guessing 3k.
Motor & Trans 8K?
So..... Worse Case I Could Always Part Her Out.
Though I Doubt I Would Ever Have The Heart To.

You Guys Bring Up Some Good Points, But It's Hard To Walk Away From What I Hope Is A GREAT Deal, Due To Owners Bind.

Do yourself a favor : walk away, period.

Don't walk, run. This car will break your heart.......

What is making you guys run away more, the chop top or the motor transplant?

The Owner Had Made A Deal To Trade It To Another Friend For A Pickup.
I Had Been Emailing Him Back & Forth For A Week, Then Outta The Blue I Read He's Trading For The Truck. I Begged Him To Give Me 1st Shot At The 911 Before He Trades It To A Guy Who I Know Is Just Gonna Flip It After Painting The Hood. So Tomorrow I Get My 1 And Only Shot At The Car.

I Gotta At Least Take A Good LONG Look.....

My Guess Is The Targa To Cabrio Is Everyone's Fear, Because It Kills The Cars Value.

I Don't See How An Upgrade From A 2.7 To A 3.0 Carrera Motor Would Hurt It.

But I Am A Newbie So I Could Be Wrong....

You'll end up parting it out with a sledgehammer.

nickyclyde......
Why Are You So Down On This Car?
What Really Turns You Off About It?
Engine Or The Cabrio Conversion?

If you can buy the car for <10k (you indicated its available to you at less than half of the '86 in the Craigslist Ad from another poster), I'd go for it. If it runs and drives ok, I don't think you have much to lose at that price. 3 liter twin plug motor with webers sounds like a hot rod engine...belongs in a coupe (IMO).

Yes its a mongrel, but the parts are worth what you say you can buy it for.

I will Post Back Tomorrow What I Find After a VERY Close Inspection.
I Want To Get The Engine #'s Tomorrow To See If It Really Is A Carrera 3.0.
Also Want To See If Top Frame Is Aftermarket Or An '83+ Porsche Frame.

Thanks Again To All For There Advice Positive & Negative.

Dude ,this is a nightmare . Your gonna consider a car with the targa bar chopped off-insane. Targa bar makes the car hold together! Race motor ,you wanna be tuning your car all the time ,some people do because they know how. And lastly and most importantly. ,no PPI. And some guy giving you one day to decide. Read these forums for a while ,buy a nice car after a PPI. Porsches are not the cars to buy for cheap fun. Almost no value ,resale value . Good luck whatever you do. I would love to be wrong .

Of course I will concede that parting it out will get you some money back ,is that what you want?

Here is my take on this deal: First I do prefer Targas or convertibles over coupes. The feeling of driving through sun drenched landscape with the roof off is superior. I am not interested in racing performance, just want top ahve a great sporty roadster experience. That is what the stock Porsches were designed for. Also, to me resale value is not as important as having a great time with the car for a reasonably long time. And as far as the stability of the Targa bar for the chassis versus a convertible: I don't think there is much of a difference. The main part of the body that guarantees body stiffness for both cars is the bottom of the body. The Targa bar contributes little to that. Of course, if a PPI is practical, that would be reassuring.

Between the motor and the wheels this car has value.

I'd be concerned about rushing to buy without a PPI.

What condition is that top (and mechanism) in?

Porwolf , the targa bar is used to give the cars structure it's strength. A real cab has many strengthening parts added to a coupe structure to try and offset the strength lost when taking off the roof off to build a cab. So if you cut off a targa bar and don't rebuild your now extremly flexible tub ,you create problems . This is my concern .

I don't see any of that in the thread posted................please provide a post/thread which shows these differences.

The rear seat belt shoulder harness brackets and engine mounts (+ brace) seem to be it, what an I missing?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/788460-new-here-78-sc-cab-staying-family.html#post7821572
A twin plug race motor seem like it would be da-bomb everyone in the forum seems to get excited when someone does it.. How is this car going to be different?

I'm trying to figure that out myself, however given the resistance be prepared for a lot of walk-aways when re-selling or selling to another newbie on flea-bay one day.

Lots of opinions here and no real facts or data on the car in question.

Sort of hard to make any definite statements without knowing the first thing about the car...

JR

Looks like a good looking car. If the wheels are from Ruf they are worth some good money. At 10k and the engine runs strong what the heck pick it up use it for the summer and then sell it off. You should get your money back or close. I think you should get close to your money back in parts. Gets you into a 911 for the summer at a great price.

Really, if it's $10K and the motor pulls strong with no weird noises, the transmission shifts well (does it have an LSD?), and it drives well you really can't go wrong. Have a roll bar welded in, the aftermarket Targa reinforcements also, to put some rigidity back and go... Parts are worth $10K.

That's one of the best ideas in this thread.

Why don't more cab owners install ROLLBARS? ...not eye-pleasing? ...not OEM? - Page 2 - Rennlist Discussion Forums
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...ollbar-964.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...911rollbar.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...11rollbar3.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...993Rollbar.jpg

Sort of limits rear seat use, but I know a guy which has done this and his kids fit.

I would add one more connection and I think it would help the rigidity a bit. Add a short bar to connect the upright to the area behind the door frame with a plate added to the body area 1st.. Just my $.02

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1392222836.jpg

How about an update CC? You pull the trigger?

Pondering What To Do.....
 

Drove About 3 Hours Today To See The '77.

Went For A Test Ride With The Owner & Car Pulls VERY Strong.....
I Wasn't Expecting To Be Thrown Back Into Seat.
I Drove A '79 930 Years Ago, And It Didn't Pull Like This One.

Owner Seemed To Have a Tough Time Downshifting Into 1st,
Grinding In If Over 15 Mph.

When I Drove It Back To His Place I Had No Problem Downshifting Into
1st Under 15 Mph.

I Did Notice That You Can't Force A Shift, You Have To Feel It Into Gear.

A Buddy Who Had A '83 SC Said His Was The Same Way, That You Can't
Force Them Like A Muscle Cars 4spd.

Bad Point Of Car..... PAINT.

Hood Paint Is Literally Peeling Off.

Clear Coat Has A Orange Peel Texture In Odd Places, With No Rhyme.

Owner Thinks His Old Car Cover Might Be The Culprit, Thin Cover On Hot
Summer Days.

Car Had A Bare Metal Repaint In The Late '90's Which Looks Great In The Jams,
And Everywhere That Doesn't Have The Clear Coat Issue.

I Was Hoping To Just Paint The Hood, But I Don't Know If I Can Stomach The
Clear Coat As Is.

Interior Could Use A Good Cleanup, No Tears , Just Drivers Seat Average Wear.
Visors Are Both Warped & Cracked (Too Much Summer Sun).

No Rust Anywhere, Underside Nice & Clean.

Owner Has Folder w/ All His Maintenance Paperwork From His Porsche Mechanic, & The Previous Owners Maintenance Receipts & Drivetrain Build.

I Have A lot Of Thinking & Reading To Do Over The Next Few Days.

What To Do.... What To Do....