Fix it up, part it out, or sell it as is?

sporqster · 11-18-2006, 04:58 PM

My wife loves her '79 SC, here it is at Roebling last weekend where it performed flawlessly all weekend, despite the appearance of being asleep at the wheel and about to be slapped by her instructor.

I wish it had been a better picture, because it was possibly the last picture of the old girl alive (the car that is.) Thursday night there was a freak fuel problem, which caused a backfire through the intake, which caught the fuel box on fire, and within minutes, most everything above the fiberglass shroud was charred pretty bad. It was quite a phenominal fire- particularly whien the fuel lines lit and exploded blowing the deck lid open, but below the fiberglass shroud, everything looks pretty good.

and this stuff could probably be cleaned up, in some cases painted, and reused:

Other than that, pretty much everything is indistinguishable black goo. Air box, fuel distributer, all hoses, wiring harnesses, all toast.

I don't have much time to work on this, as I'm taking night classes on top of a full time job, same for the wife, and I already have a garage full of car project I've been trying to complete for the last 5 years. I don't want this one taking up permanent residence next to it.

I'm seeking some advice from folks that have been there as to what to do with this car. This is not a show car- but a driven, very used, but also very loved old Porsche. I hate to see her go away in boxes. I would love to get some advice from someone who's been here as to what to do with her. Replacing with factory parts I estimate in the 6-7k range. Add a paint job to that, and I'm pretty close to totaling the car. A junkyard motor maybe? Carbs? I need to hear some ideas and/or advice. If the answer is part it or sell it, we can accept that too, painful as it is.

JP911 · JP911's Garage

May not be as pricey as you think, depends on how far the fire got. Any damage to the body (other than the engine compartment and decklid)? Could be as little as a repaint of engine compartment and decklid, have the engine thoroughly inspected and cleaned, and pick up a used CIS system. If your handy with a wrench and can do minor paint and body work you may be able to make things as good as new for under $2K. I think parting the car would be more time consuming, and annoying, than fixing it.

Dantilla · 11-18-2006, 05:12 PM

I bought my '73 from an insurance auction after it had an engine fire.
Perfect candidate for an engine swap! It now has a 3.2 sitting where the lowly 2.4 used to reside.

My advantage was I had time, space, and a moderate budget so that I could go goof off in the garage when I felt like working on the car. It was a long project, but well worth it.

Shocker · 11-19-2006, 12:28 AM

Are you sure the longblock is shot? I am betting that it is just fine. Get 'er cleaned up and get a good look.

I agree with JP911 that you should get it running right for under 2k.

Mike

sporqster · 11-19-2006, 07:54 AM

I think everything below the fiberglass shroud is just fine. And the body damage is limited to the decklid and paint right around the decklid... the rear window gasket is a little gnarly, but we can live with that for now.

Finding a used fuel system, for 2k is interesting- anyone got some leads? I'll be surfing the classifieds.

yelcab1 · 11-19-2006, 09:48 AM

If you have no time, and already laden with other projects, this is the one to pass on. Sell it, as is, and move on.

s5uewf · s5uewf's Garage

fix it and put on carbs instead of the CIS since it seems old enough to not be smog test governed. could be a great chance to upgrade the engine while doing repairs within a budget.

Jim Sims · 11-19-2006, 10:08 AM

"there was a freak fuel problem"

Were the CIS fuel lines and other fuel system seals such as the cold start valve rubber o-ring original?

1982911SCTarga · 11-19-2006, 11:06 AM

Sorry about your car. Take your time in considering all of your options.

I would like to know more about the cause and the "freak fuel problem," too.

Brian

Gogar · 11-19-2006, 11:09 AM

Will the money you spend fixing this car be more than you will spend on getting another the way you like it? Doubt it.

Anyway, I think with a little patience you could find parts.

Here's one where I live:

http://denver.craigslist.org/pts/236926837.html

this guy is selling the longblock (from the same engine)? for $1100, so I bet you could get the CIS on the cheap. Of course, "I don't know if it works" means it doesn't.

brcorp · brcorp's Garage

Sorry about the fire but all is not lost. Sell the salvageable parts buy a new deck lid and convert to a 3.6 or save a few bucks and go with a 3.2

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

You have my sympathies, that's a lousy way to end the year.

You should be able to clean it up and get it rollign for not a huge amount of dollars, but it won't be terribly cheap.

If you decide to get rid of it en toto, PM me, I'm looking for a project.

adomakin · adomakin's Garage

how about some carbs? would make for a nice throaty engine!

Dantilla · 11-22-2006, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shocker
Are you sure the longblock is shot? I am betting that it is just fine. Get 'er cleaned up and get a good look.

When my car was sitting in line waiting to be auctioned off, another guy touched the battery cable to the terminal, and the engine, that looked similar to yours, started turning over!

Crispy on top, bottom end was just fine.

Zeke · 11-22-2006, 05:16 PM

Well, your wife looks like she's doing some serious trail braking! I wonder where the instructor is pointing? Esses, maybe?

anyway, aren't CIS systems sorta cheap? I know the market is real soft right now, so if you've got the money, low ball everyone, ebay and the works. Nothing is selling well at this point and this close to Christmas.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

3.6 time......

JohnKo · 11-23-2006, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by yelcab1
If you have no time, and already laden with other projects, this is the one to pass on. Sell it, as is, and move on.

Ditto. Maybe a hard pill to swallow, but these things always consume more time/money than you think they will. Unless you're clearly interested in nipping away at it as your limited time permits, better to clear the decks. Sorry for your loss.
John

EarlyPorsche · 11-23-2006, 06:33 AM

I would say just fix it. I mean so what if it costs a couple hundred more than buying another. As we all know, every Porsche that comes out way needs work that you never see when buying it. Just get a pair of carbs by way of paitience and the price will be right. Then all thats left is a bit of wiring which is like connect the dots. My car was in a fire as some point in its life, I am glad they fixed it.

sporqster · 11-24-2006, 07:29 AM

When all else fails, rely on the charity of friends. A friend of ours up in Kentucky has offered to fix her for the price of parts in his spare time. (Paul, if you're reading this, you rule - expect a care package soon!)

We're going to fix her, but how?

I had a sick pit in my stomach thinking that I was going to have to part her out or sell her as a project.

Oh, the picture was near the end of turn 3 of Roebling, and I think she's braking a little early for turn 4. The instructor is reminding her to stay outside and not apex to early on 4, as it is tempting to track out turn 3 too much putting you in the wrong place for 4. Or maybe she's just asleep at the wheel- looks kinda like it. I don't know what she's doing there, I wasn't in the car.