76 Sportomatic - Wreck, can I get it running?!

[Pichu]

So my good buddy hooked me up BIG time. I've been looking for a modest priced 911 that I could take apart for parts/buildup of my super clean shell. I lucked out! It was rolled, flipped and filled with mud. It has been cleaned up here (thanks buddy!) But it's full of mud etc.

I started to take it apart, should I try to start the engine or should I pull it?? I've never removed a 911 engine before.

[Pichu]

The good motivating side!

[Matt Monson]

Hot damn. Love the color.

Definitely drop the engine and gearbox together before doing anything else. A decent home wrench as a first timer can get it out in a few hours. Plenty of how to threads here or grab Wayne's 101 project book.

[Pichu]

Thanks Matt, my son calls it 'seafoam green' (it loses it's charm after the 100th time he says it)

It's missing some bits like cdi box, air box and it was outside without decklid so I'm a littttle worried.

[ossiblue]

Looks like a terrific donor and I agree that the color is outstanding.

Given that was "filled with mud," it sounds like it was submerged. If so, complete disassembly is needed and certainly do not try to start or even turn over the engine--just pull it as mentioned. If it was submerged, every opening and body cavity could be contaminated so the sooner you disassemble, the better.

If the car wasn't submerged, how did it get filled with mud?

[T77911S]

unless mud or water got into the engine I would not worry about starting it.
the only other issue I can think of is if carbon came lose in the combustion chamber, it could get lodged under a valve. usually under the exhaust.
so unless you are going to pull heads I would not worry.
you put a wrench on it and spin it over one time by hand to make sure if any oil got up there it will not hydro lock. pull the plugs if you need to.

it will probably smoke when you start it due to oil in the cylinders.


you might consider check for twisted frame.

[Matt Monson]

I see an axle in the engine bay!

[Pichu]

Proof these cars are tail happy! It wasn't tarped well and left outside and there is mud in the sunroof so it was probably on its lid. (Roof is dented up pretty badly). There is water/mold in the instruments so it's prettty bad. Not kidding myself this is a big project but if I can save some parts that would be great, running would be a dream!!

[LakeCleElum]

I wouldn't pull the engine unless I found a reason:
Why not pull the plugs and see if turns over by hand. A little oil in the cylinders....If it turns over OK, replace missing bits and then see if you get spark. Replace fuel and oil with fresh and see if it starts.......From the body damage, it's not likely mud/water was sucked into the engine while still running....Best of luck.

[Pichu]

Yes! I think I will do the easy stuff first and if that fails I'm itching to pull the engine. Might get lucky and start but I'll take all precautions. Anyone have an airbox top?

[Matt Monson]

It's a sporto. You're going to have more trouble getting it driving than running.

That CIS fuel head is going to need to be rebuilt too. I don't see this car running in the immediate future.

[75 911s]

Should be a fun project. Lots of potential.

If it were mine:

1. Find a 915 manual and convert to 5 speed. Is that possible?
2. Feel free to flare given one quarter is crunched. Glass rear bumper
3. Cut the roof off and replace with a donor non sunroof car or half cage with Helion CF roof
4. Fix or replace door
5. Run the two good wheels on the front, buy wider Fuchs for the back
6. The engines are quite resilient, go slow on replacing parts or pulling it.
7. Tons of bargains on the classifieds.
8. Document for our enjoyment!
Good luck!

[T77911S]

just curious, how much did you pay for it

can you say track car.

if anyone can tell the FD needs a rebuild by looking at it then they are much better than me.

if the A pillars are straight and the roof is not bent, so the door and windows line, then you may be OK.

looks like mud in the air box.
remove the rubber boot on top and check for mud in there and in the throttle body.
if none, then do as I said.
remove plugs, spin it over
start it.
at this point you have nothing to lose.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by T77911S

if anyone can tell the FD needs a rebuild by looking at it then they are much better than me.

I don't know this, but I've had enough cis cars towed to me over the years that "ran when parked" that needed the fuel head gone through to say that odds are he will need to do it.

Though I still assert the sporto will be a great challenge to this car driving. I love the sporto, but if I bought a car like this I would be seriously considering putting a 915 into it.

The car needs bodywork. I don't understand members' resistance to pulling the engine and giving it some care on the bench before ever trying to start it. It's clearly a long term project. Why rush to try to make the car a runner, IMO. The nice thing is we each can approach a project in a way that works for us. Pichu is free to disregard any advice I offer.

[Pichu]

All good words!!

I reallly wanna get it running as our summer is super short (2 more months max), but I will probably run out and default to taking it all apart. The other thing is, I've owned a bunch of 911's and always wanted to pull the engine to clean them up and make them nice and this cheapo gets the itch scratched. Even if I get it running, the engine/trans is coming out (maybe to swap in my clean shell).

The pillars are straight and the driver door opens great, passenger door is stuck in the lip/fender but it shuts nice.

I would LOVE to find a 915!! But money, location probably means I have to save and wait. If anyone wants to help me out, I have parts and some money and I'm patient. (Or a sweeeet Sporto trans in trade?? Nah, didn't think so haha)

[Matt Monson]

If you find someone restoring a sporto some if that stuff is worth some change. You just have to watch for wtb. Usually a FS of your own will sink.

[G60SuperCharger]

Love the color...cool project!

There's no popoff valve in the airbox...pretty much all CIS 911s have them by now, I can't remember the last time I saw one without it. This and the clean looking engine bay (and the fact that it is still a Sportomatic!) may indicate a low mileage car.

Good luck.

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

It's a sporto. You're going to have more trouble getting it driving than running.

That CIS fuel head is going to need to be rebuilt too. I don't see this car running in the immediate future.

This.

Pull the engine, get it on a stand, pull the valve covers and have a look.
Multiple thousands of dollars of damage can be done for a few seconds of satisfaction on an uncertain engine. It's just not worth it. And yeah, ditch the sporto....

[Pichu]

Engine has to come out. There was some water when I drained the oil tank and main sump. Kinda sad, kinda happy. It's what I wanted to do. Started removing things like rear bumper.

Got stuck on how to remove the hard oil line to the car, the 2 big nuts will NOT move. Have to do more research. Edit; did research. Most of it is, 'take off hard line' OKAY! Clear as mud haha.

[Pichu]