[Thrasher]

One word: patience.

If the seller is leary of a buyer having a professional scrutiny, you can bet good money there is something to hide. Unless you consider yourself an expert on this vintage of 911, you MUST be willing to take it to a qualified expert.

I can think of no other shop in the US with a better reputation on this board than JWW. You should count your blessings his shop is in your vicinity.

I bought a nice, shiny 84 two years ago. I have completed numerous repairs/upgrades in that time to "sort out" the normal items.

Unless the seller is an enthusiast and has kept up with replacing the consumable items, you can bet that you will be replacing the "usual" items in the very near future if you want the car to perform at its stock level.

Not trying to scare you, but I hope you realize you are buying a hobby and not just a car. Whether you or a mechanic performs the work is up to you and your pocketbook.

Here is a list off the top of my head of the "regular" items:

1. Rear springplate bushings
2. Swaybar bushings
3. Shocks
4. Front torsion bar bushings
5. Pedal Cluster Rebuild
6. Brake rotors, pads, lines, fluid (possibly e-brake shoes)
7. Swepco transmission fluid
8. Steve Wong Chip (optional)
9. Turbo tie rods (optional)
10. Ball joints
11. Shifter bushings
12. Brake Caliper rebuilds
13. Lowering to Euro height with 4-wheel alignment and optional corner balance

...and so on. Wayne's book has 101 projects listed and many of us have done more than half of them. But, that's part of the fun of an older 911.

Caveat Emptor and enjoy the ride!

PS: Pelican member Rich76_911s has a free carfax offer in his signature until sometime this week.