so my accelerator was sticking....etc

[rinverso]

my first major repair bill is a coming. now i know what the slippery slope means. i took my baby to my new repair shop. since my accelerator was sticking. i read the threads. turned out to be the clutch cable was wrapped around the throttle. due to the PO who replaced the bushings, didn't do it right.
i figure while its in the shop, which specializes in air cooled Porsche's. i figured lets let him change the oil and filter. which turned into valve adjustment, spark plugs and tune up. which turned into new bushings and steering shaft, because of the squeak in the steering which i had been ignoring. which turned into new belts etc. which turned into replacing the fuel lines which are separating getting ready to literally explode.
a few other little odds and ends were thrown in also to get my baby up to speed.
total cost, just about $4,000.
i said can't we wait on the fuel lines a few months while i save some cash. danny said, no problem, but just don't drive anymore. unless you want to lose it all......fire.
been in the shop over a week, hope to have at the end of the week. i miss my expensive baby. but i still think i may still be ahead. as long as i don't have any more expenses for the next ten years.
ouch

[steely]

yeah, I think a lot of us know what that feels like - on the bright side, at least you got a lot of good work done.

[JeremyD]

You need to learn to do some work for yourself. Not sure I could/would afford one of these cars if I was constantly paying shop rates for everything. This forum is a great source for info.

[Michael T]

Even after a PPI, it took about $4,000 also to get a number of items sorted out for me in a few visits to my local shop. It has been about four months ago and all has been well since then.

[neilschelly]

I'll second that if you want to own/drive these cars after years of ignoring their needs, you'll be financially better off if you can start doing some of the work yourself. That $4k doesn't sound like a lot of hard stuff, but definitely a lot of small stuff at least.

On the plus side, it sounds like they hit a lot of the things you were bound to run into once your accelerator got unstuck. None of that (except the oil change) is going to be regular maintenance items that you need to keep doing.
-N

[Flojo]

its allways like that.
how long do you expect those parts to last?!
especially all that rubber (bushings, selas, tubes...)

if nobody's taken care of this at least the last 10 years, then it hits the last/actual owner.

up to now I've spent on parts and some shop-bills nearly as much as I paied for the car.
luckily I can do a lot by myself.

[rinverso]

definitely trying to do the work i am capable of to save bucks and add quality of life to my relationship with my baby. i checked the threads on sticking accelerator, and gave it a try to no avail. also read the threads on replacing the main gas trunk line, and didn't hear anything positive about how easy or time consuming it was.
and i know, working more than full time, could lose the use of my P car for a long time, if i tackle the harder jobs myself.
i do love the forums and threads, it has saved me already a few times and big dollars. there is no better support system for us crazy enthusiast.

[NYNick]

Originally Posted by rinverso

my first major repair bill is a coming. now i know what the slippery slope means. i took my baby to my new repair shop. since my accelerator was sticking. i read the threads. turned out to be the clutch cable was wrapped around the throttle. due to the PO who replaced the bushings, didn't do it right.
i figure while its in the shop, which specializes in air cooled Porsche's. i figured lets let him change the oil and filter. which turned into valve adjustment, spark plugs and tune up. which turned into new bushings and steering shaft, because of the squeak in the steering which i had been ignoring. which turned into new belts etc. which turned into replacing the fuel lines which are separating getting ready to literally explode.
a few other little odds and ends were thrown in also to get my baby up to speed.
total cost, just about $4,000.
i said can't we wait on the fuel lines a few months while i save some cash. danny said, no problem, but just don't drive anymore. unless you want to lose it all......fire.
been in the shop over a week, hope to have at the end of the week. i miss my expensive baby. but i still think i may still be ahead. as long as i don't have any more expenses for the next ten years.
ouch

God, this sounds so familiar!

[cdrik915]

You"ll forget the price , quality will stays.

[Festive_Zombie]

Very familiar, like Flojo said, my car was in the same boat last owner had neglegted the car, just drove it and did oil changes (I hope). I wanted to know where all systems on the car were at, and wanted a great daily driver.

I've already spend as much in a year as the original cost of the car, but now I know it's ready to take a long trip. The sad part is I haven't even put any go fast bits, only extravagence was an LSD... My car as only seen a shop to get an alignment. Everything on these cars can be done by yourself. It just takes time and patience!

[kidrock]

I have mixed feelings about this subject.

Certainly, I think that working on my car can be therapeutic, cost-efficient, etc. etc. etc.

But I certainly don't have much money, making DIY more of a necessity than anything. While sometimes therapeutic and getting the self-satisfaction of a job well done (and saving big $$$), it also strains the body as well as the patience of this short-tempered grumpy old guy.

If I had money to burn, I think I would usually choose to put the car in the hands of a trusted wrench...and spend my quality time at the beach.

Just my .02 cents.

[Festive_Zombie]

Funny I agree with you some... Daily drivers are meant to be driven it's not as fun to work on compared to a pure project car. I just want to drive it and that's it!

[awhnry]

Uhhh, your choice of a daily driver may be wrong then. 911, especially 1977 911, can be a higher than normal maintenance driver. It will do better for you if driven frequently but so much of your experience is going to be determined by 1) genetics of the model(and 1974-1977 have bad genes) and 2) prior owners maintenance and driving practices. My recommendation is that you acquire a cheap Jap car for the daily slog and use your Porsches for the quality miles. YMMV

[Festive_Zombie]

I totally disagree with you, a well sorted 2.7 is very reliable. I have not had any issues with the engine, it runs great with lots of power. Poor perception on these came from emission related issue back in the 70's all those have been sorted by now.

[rinverso]

Originally Posted by kidrock

I have mixed feelings about this subject.

Certainly, I think that working on my car can be therapeutic, cost-efficient, etc. etc. etc.

But I certainly don't have much money, making DIY more of a necessity than anything. While sometimes therapeutic and getting the self-satisfaction of a job well done (and saving big $$$), it also strains the body as well as the patience of this short-tempered grumpy old guy.

If I had money to burn, I think I would usually choose to put the car in the hands of a trusted wrench...and spend my quality time at the beach.

Just my .02 cents.

that's exactly where I am at, friends.

[rinverso]

I told danny at stahl motorsports, "i'm not rich, he said neither am I" enough said. love this shop.

[rinverso]

Originally Posted by JeremyD

You need to learn to do some work for yourself. Not sure I could/would afford one of these cars if I was constantly paying shop rates for everything. This forum is a great source for info.

totally agree.

[JeremyD]

Originally Posted by Festive_Zombie

I totally disagree with you, a well sorted 2.7 is very reliable. I have not had any issues with the engine, it runs great with lots of power. Poor perception on these came from emission related issue back in the 70's all those have been sorted by now.

Agree with this too. Even in a wide body and my 2.7 - I surprised more than my fair share of cars at the track - including some 3.2 carreras. To rebuild a 2.7 - yep it gets costly - but keep one cool - and they can last as well as a later model flat 6.