Overdue introduction

[MathieuD]

Overdue presentation,


Should I admit that I discovered Pelican Parts only two years ago, after the purchase of my first 911…
I am a reader and not a contributor due to my lack of mechanical knowledge. Yep molecular biology does not help you fixing your 911!!!

We arrived in US as expat from Switzerland in June 2011. At this time Porsche was already a brand of choice in my mind but not yet the way to go in my heart.
My father, in France, had his first 911, a used 964 1989 when I was reaching the mid 20’s. The smell of the hot oil and the leather were printed in my olfactive brain.
Then he got a 964 1994 30th anniversary with the turbo look, and no tail. Egg plant color (I know, it is not a loved color in US, but how amazing this car was). Like a bug bite, Porsche already got me.
Then, the second part of the story started in the US in June 2011 when my neighbor (two houses away) was checking his car. I was magnetically attracted by the noise and discovered a 1965 911.
After a short discussion, he told me that he bought his first and only 911 in 1968 from a German architect when he was 20. Since then he used the car in summer and has done almost nothing to it.
It was like a recall from the past… November 2011, I started to search for a car locally (Minnesota….. maybe not the best place to find a great 911). Unfortunately or fortunately, I found a guy who bought a 1983 911 SC in Arkansas, and drove it back to MN.
After a top engine rebuilt and some modifications, the car did not need something major so he decided to sell it (and still secretly regrets it).
I bought the car naively and trustfully without PPI, and I was right.
I have a wonderful 1983 911 SC stock with SSI heat exchanger. And I love it. The noise, the smell, and the fact that, I am putting a bit of myself each time I am shifting my 915 participate to the pleasure. Everything brings me back to my first Porsche sensations nearly 20 years ago.

I backdated the heat system, removed the A/C since the car came with no compressor, no evaporator.
Last winter I renewed the windshield washing system. Since then, I just drive it.

The last part of the story will start next spring when we will go back to Switzerland with the 911…

Since then, I might bug you with technical questions… Which explains why I owned you all this introduction.

PS: some pictures, the really good ones are from the PO who is a photograph. That's helping![

img]http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads24/IMG_04581415934485.jpg[/img]

[Uncle Enzo]

Looking great. Welcome!

[Doug Smith]

Beautiful car. Thanks for sharing. As you already know, the technical knowledge available on this forum can be invaluable at times.

Doug

[Uwon]

Matthieu, welcome and thank for sharing your story. Most of us do suffer the same chronic ailment so it's a relief to have an outlet. Beautiful car. Will you have to do any mods to get the car back into Switzerland?
Cheers,
Johan

[Laneco]

Welcome and BEAUTIFUL car!!!

angela

[RDM]

Very nice car. We will welcome you back over on this side of the ocean.

To where in Switzerland will you return?

[CCM911]

Welcome to the forum and the States. Beautiful car. It is funny that you left Switzerland(cold) to come to Minneapolis(cold).

[MathieuD]

Thank you all for the warm welcome.
I have to say that I have the same disease as you. These P cars got into your skin so easily!
Regarding Switzerland, we will be back around the Lausanne-Vevey area for those who knows.

The questions of modifications came at the time of the buy. And I had recent confirmations, that depending on how your import your car, you will have to modify them, OR not.
In our case, the car will be imported with the same status as our belongings so would not be submitted to any gas or emissions restrictions.
Which is a good thing since the US model are quite different from the Euro model (compression ratio, exhaust, catalytic converter...and more).

Yesterday I received my CoA. Now I am sure that everything is matching (which can be a problem in CH if it is not the case).

By the way, two questions:
As options, I have sport shocks absorbers and also wheel locks.
Do you know the specification of sport shocks, and also what are wheel lockers (anti theft bolts)?

[DRACO A5OG]

Welcome welcome Euro Spec

As far as specs for the struts, sorry none here but my understanding is for aggressive street use you want heavy duties up front and sports in the rears assuming they are bilsteins. Have her corner balanced and aligned at a proper Porsche alignment shop. You will love how she takes the twisties

Wheel locks, if you have the key, you are lucky, yes they are anti theft devices but a real PITA when working on the car. Most have removed them.

[Jezza]

Man, Those pics make me really hate my bumperettes.

[nene]

Yea, but if you are "Rear-ended", then you will be very angry!

Nice car BTW and welcome!!

[MathieuD]

I was extensively cleaning my Fuchs rims, and was wondering if in 1983 Fuchs were still stamped?
If yes, how the date stamps look like?

[tdw28210]

Date stamp is...I think....inside the center ring on the back. Pretty small if I recall.

[MathieuD]

So rim is from Feb 1984 and the car was made in July 1983.
Might have been later buy from the first owner.
Will check if the other rims are from the same date.
Always some mystery in these cars!!

[Brtuffli]

Moving back to Vevey. Do you work for Nestle? I do and have been "over" a few times. Beautiful place. Nice place to drive your 911. I too like the back bumper without bumperettes. Best of luck to you!

[MathieuD]

Good Guess! My wife works for Nestle.
I am part of the furnitures!
Seriously, I am really looking forward to go back. Nice road, nice events reachable in term of distance in France, Germany, and UK.
Here in MN it is a bit difficult to plan to go to Monterey of an event!!!
You just need extra vacation which is not my case!

[mreid]

I just love a well sorted white 911. Beautiful car! Good luck with it.

I used to work for Diageo when they owned Pillsbury. Too many trips to Minneapolis in the winter, so I moved to Texas.

[MathieuD]

I now these questions do always come back, but, I was not able to find any answer.

I have now 16’’ Fuchs on my 1983 SC.

I bought few month ago a set of vintage 15’’ BBS, and I am struggeling to find a good set of street/tackable tires.

I have right now 205/55 R16 FRONT and 225/50 R16 REAR.

The question is : if I am getting exactly the same tire dimensions in 15 ‘‘ does the alignment change ?

Do you have to compensate an inch less on the rims by higher side wall like 205/60R15 to keep the same setup ?



Thank you for your insights.

M

[will hung]

Welcome and congrats on buying a sorted SC.

If you change the overall diameter of the tire, the only thing it will change is ride height and speedometer readings. The alignment will not be changed.

Also, to try to match the overall diameter, you can go with a higher aspect ratio, as you said 205/60-15, or go with a combo of wider tire with higher aspect ratio. The problem is finding any options in 15's. Could you get the barrels changed out for 16's?