To back-date, or not to back-date....?

[RocketWrench]

Here is my lovely 1976 Porsche 911S which I bought last month from London in LHD.

I'm agonising on whether or not to backdate it to pre 73 shape, which is not a task to be taken lightly....

The colour is staying though!!!






Iv read a lot about the backdating issues but not actually done it myself so would welcome any advice...

I got the car from Graeme Scholes who is an absolute gentleman and the owner of LHD.com and it was serviced prior to delivery. Great guy: Left Hand Drive Cars London | Left Hand Drive Vehicles London

[RocketWrench]

The first thing that had to go was the steering wheel. I realise that it is original, but I didn't like it and it is too far away.

Before



After

[RocketWrench]

The old stereo was bloody awful, so ripped it out and found a guy called Mike Seer in London that refurbishes vintage car radios and gives them FM and MP3 / iPod capability. I bought this one.






But sent it back as once I got it out the box it just didn't seem right. Mike is finding one similar to this for me and he really takes care of his clients.

Original Vintage Classic Car Radios For Sale London. BLAUPUNKT GRUNDIG BECKER PHILIPS RADIOMOBILE OEM

[RocketWrench]

Then the seats didn't grip me in the corners, so found these and were the subject of a different thread.

Can anyone help the new guy ID these seats?

But here is before:



And after:

[RocketWrench]

You will also notice that I added a quick release hub for the steering wheel. It gave me a more comfortable driving position and a great theft deterrent device...!

Next post: Engine cleaning, gear knob and headrests....

[Henry hill]

Very nice looking car! I don't see anything wrong with the changes, looks good, as long as you hold onto the old parts. Lol. I wouldn't ever want to sell that!

[RocketWrench]

The gear knob was a wooden thing (not a fan of wood in sports cars) so it had to go.

Before:



It was glued on so took some persuading...




I looked at hundreds and found American Shifter, which made me one to order, including the universal mounting kit. Custom Shift Knobs, Cool Shift Knobs, Shifters & Custom Interior Accessories « American Shifter

[RocketWrench]

The engine was in a grubby state, so I goggled for some advice and found this blog:

DarrylD's Porsche 911 Restoration Project Journal

Darryl wrote a lot about using scalding hot water to clean so I bought a steam cleaner and now using it to clean everything....

Before:




After

[RocketWrench]

Originally Posted by Henry hill

Very nice looking car! I don't see anything wrong with the changes, looks good, as long as you hold onto the old parts. Lol. I wouldn't ever want to sell that!

Thanks Henry.... Im debating whether to hold on to the old parts as they could off-set the cost of the upgrade....

[Elombard]

Wow I cant believe it still has the 5 blade fan. I thought those were US only and all gone by now. Do some research on that I would change it out ASAP to an 11 blade for more cooling. Does it have the original thermo reactor exh manifolds? Those should go too. Probably not as big an issue in your climate but still.

Also I think the wood shift nob was a replica of the balsa wood knobs Porsche put in the 917 race cars - pretty cool. I like your new knob though - looks functional and attractive.

[Rich Gas]

You have to be messing with us... Making fun of Americans and their quirky desire to change something that's gorgeous to begin with...kind of like getting bigger boobs or a face lift. I do like E30 seats, but... Step away from the car slowly...and walk away.

[Westfield]

I think the car is US market judging from the sugar scoops and indicators.
I'm surprised the lights didn't have to get changed for the MOT but I certainly don't know anything about that. Other than watching UK tv shows.

[tirwin]

Nice car!

Backdating is a slippery slope. You need to think about your goals for the car and really put the pencil to paper on cost vs what enjoyment you'll get out of it. If by backdating you mean mainly cosmetic changes to the longhood look and such, I'd think hard about it. Singer and Magnus have made the longhoods popular again, but just a few years ago that look was 'dated'. I recently saw an early car with a 993 body kit on it that was done about 15 years ago. Now that owner is probably kicking himself. Don't get me wrong... I love the longhood look. But I think it requires the right starting point. If you have a car that is fairly well sorted, I would think twice about backdating and put that money towards things that will bring more smiles per mile. Just my £0.02.

A simple thing that will dress up the engine bay is to replace that ducting with SCAT ducting like they use on airplanes. Here is a source in the US, but maybe you can find a similar source in the UK.

SCAT AIRCRAFT DUCTING from Aircraft Spruce

[dad911]

Keep the original parts... or you will be kicking yourself later.

I'd leave the bodystyle, probably just change the headlights, as it's easily reversible.

[MathieuD]

If I were you, I would rather work on weight.
The car is nice, really good shape. Keep it like that.
You can remove the entire A/C system even the hoses like I did.
And back date the heating system.
I don't know if the system in a 1976 works like in a 83, but in mine, I don't need heat blower. The heat flap boxes work perfectly to bring heat.

[oh snap]

After you've finished cleaning and sorting, I suggest living with the car as is for a year or two. I had lots of dreams when I first bought my car. Clones, homages, hot rods etc. More and more I want to leave it be and enjoy the car as it was built (more or less). Its a shame to take a car that is by all means very nice and cut it up to make it something it isn't. A lot of people did that to long hoods in the 80s.

It's your car though so do whatever you enjoy with it. If you do start cutting it up, maybe think about a short hood Carrera RS or IROC? It would be a little bit less work and more period correct. Nice colour, glad it's staying!

[BK911]

Beautiful car. I like your mods but love the way it was. No way I would back date. Maybe just fiberglass bumpers if you dont like the impact type.

[RSBob]

The are no doubt some who will disagree, but after the long hoods, 3.2 Carreras, the cars like yours are perceived by many as the closest thing to owning the rawness of an early car. I predict even though there are challenges with engine longevity due to thermal reactors, most have been corrected or rebuilt without, the mid years will be sought after and the prices for unmolested cars will escalate. (run-on sentence).

I am toying with the idea of back dating me SC, but there are tons of those and are pretty much considered the fair-hair step children, and not that worthy of collecting. That's why I bought one, for backdating without risk of economic loss. Well even SCs are going up in value.

Another consideration of backdating is the expense. If you will keep the car forever, who cares if it is not done 100% but if you do intend to sell it some day, and expect to get top dollar, for a back date, you will have to go full in. That can be an extremely proposition. Steel fenders, hood, bumpers, and paint can be expensive. Then there is backdating the interior; dash, switches, door cards, door pulls, door pockets, carpet, etc. Then there is the right engine,etc. If top dollar is not important and ROI is not important, then ignore.

Good luck with your decision

[Flojo]

before you anything, adress to the engine!
- 11 blade rotor
- hydraulic chain tensioners
- turbo valve covers
- refurbish the ignition
- refurbish fuel lines and maybe intake

then take care of the driveway... tie rods, bushings, alignment

THEN! and only THEN, start "optical tuning"

p.s. the black seats are nasty. sorry, but its just true!
get some early sheel or recaro. not that 90th crap.

p.p.s. a backdating of your chrome model is imho a beatyful idea I'd think about intensivley too.

p.p.p.s. the rear speakers are HORRIBLE. junk that stuff!

[al lkosmal]

I really like the mid-year 911s. yours looks to be very nice. I would not backdate that car.

regards,
Al