Restoration Project vs. Restored Porsche

[APZak]

I have an old Porsche that was sitting in storage since the early to mid 90s. It hasn't been driven on the street since and I've only driven it around the block during the last summer once or twice. Now it sits in my garage, with the occassional fireup to keep the engine going, but now It doesn't fireup and I'm preaty sure it's the battery so it's been sitting for a couple months. Anyways, to get to the point I would love a project and this would be an excellent one, but I'm missing two important factors that are required. One is time, the other is money. What I was thinking is, would I be better off selling this one and buying a restored Porsche of the same year? I love old 911's, but like I said, time and money. I just want something to sit in my garage, and take out on sundays. Classic car insurance won't be expensive, and I figure I won't have many mechanical problems if I don't drive it as much. When I say I don't have money, I mean the 20k I'll have to put into this Porsche to restore it (Just an rough estimate, I don't want to cut corners). I figure if I sell her for 5k-7k and use the money I got in the bank I could get a restored one with documents and service work for 8k-10k. I'd definetly want a targa because I love the old targas, and an S would be nice, but my budget probably wont allow. So tell me if you have any suggestions. I might also look into the SC because I seen a silver coupe (my fav combination) for 8500, but like I said I love early Porsches and now that I have books and the knowledge I didn't have before I bought this one, I know what to look for.

[72 four door]

What year do you own type ect ect?

[APZak]

Oh, sorry It's a 1969 Touring trim with the weber carburators.

[Porschephanatic]

If you find one with a documented restoration and service records for $8-$10k, I'd jump on it and save time you don't have anyway! If you love cars and want to "make time" for a project, such as I and many others, Go For It! It is very gratifying to look @ before and after photos. My wife is my interior reupholsterer, so it's a family project.

[APZak]

Yes I realy can't make up my mind. I think I'm ganna restore it. I know for a fact it runs and has power because I drove it around the block so the engines good. Right now it's missing either spark, fuel, or air because it won't start. I'm almost positive it's spark because I left the battery connected to the car and somethings shorting causing it to kill the battery so I always have to disconnect the battery after running it. I guess I'll spend a day cleaning the floorboards, carpet, and dash etc, get a paint job (I have to think of a color, probably ganna stick with it's color now which is irish green but who knows I saw a real nice blue targa, and tangarene is real nice too) clean out the engine bay and it should be done. The only thing I need to do to the engine is tune it up. It back fires occasionally so there's got to be a hose leaking somewhere. Should $500 be good for a fine tune-up to the carbs and replacing the vacuum hoses, if they are causing the backfireing, and maybe a nice steam clean job to the engine bay with change to replace tranny fluids, fuel filter spark plugs? Oil filter, fuel, and oil has all been replaced already. I might get it on the highway after it's tuned, run a couple miles and change the oil once more because it was real black the first time.

[rudy sanchez]

if you can get $5-7k for a non running 911t jump on that! but somehow I doubt it. around here (sf bay area) $5-7k will get you into a running 911t

[boyt911sc]

Adam,
If you decide to restore your car by yourself, it will involve a lot of your time and long delay. If you decide to have it done professionally, it will cost lots of dinero. So which ever way you choose only you could evaluate the pros & cons.

What count most important is which one gives you more satisfaction. Some people enjoy the challenge of rebuilding and restoring even if they can afford to buy restored cars. I have restored and rebuilt the engine/trans/body over a long period of time. Adding up all my expenses todate, I could buy a car of same condition with the money spent on the car. However, the experience and enjoyment I had during this period is invaluable.

Good luck......

[89911]

If you have any doubts about restoring a car and you are concerned with the time and money it takes, don't do it. Take this advice from someone that is knee deep into a project. Tinkering on a car is onething, but restoring it is another. The only time I have to work on a project anymore is from about 9:00-12:00 or 1:00am. That gets old real fast. My brother project car was to be finished last spring and is still along ways away because he is busy. We are enjoying it, but the pace is becoming an anoyance, especially now that better weather is coming.

[APZak]

"if you can get $5-7k for a non running 911t jump on that"

Isn't that a bit too much for a non running porsche? The car I have now runs, it might not run smoothly or like new because it needs a fine tune up, but it does run and theres only black smoke on start up if it hasn't been started for weeks. When it's running theres no smoke. Anyways, could I get a good condition 911 for 10k-12k? The way I see it now, I COULD restore this car for 2k, but I know once I tune up the engine and drive it hard, I'll notice more problems will probably pop up. I'll probably notice something else like the suspension or brakes will need to be replaced. It's got 90k on the clock, but it's old and If this turns into a money pit which is likely with these old cars, I think I'd be better off buying a restored one for 10k-12k with documentation. I usually see cars like that go for that price and the documents show 20k of work which I why I worry I'll spend that much. And E or S would be nice because after searching the forum it seems like the T is the slowest 911 built. 69's are one of the lightest, but I like power. typical engine overhauls are like 4k right? Oh, and since this is a Porsche it is a high performance car. What kind of fuel should I have put into it? I have regular in it now, I don't know if I should have put premium in.

[ccandgc]

I love projects....my wife dosent. She says-"why dont you buy something thats already done(or really close) instead of a project? All the money you'd dump into a project, you could buy a really really nice DONE car".....which I see the logic

[72 four door]

You cant get the same satisfaction Doing it yourself puts your mark on the finished product nothing else comes close to how that feels. DIY