Hi hope you enjoy reading this.
This Targa was dying a slow & painful death its days numbered, until I found and rescued it . Porsche enthusiasts from all walks of life were pulling off any part, big or small maybe for another project or a quick buck. Being a mid-year with high mileage, I suspect the original engine with its flaws was long gone. As I later found evidence of a small fire. Whatever engine was installed for its second life was now also gone. No love for the pretty little mid-year with its bright trim and SC Flares. The car crusher was salivating for its next meal.
The car was living out its second life in a dessert town in California. The dry air there is very kind to old cars, the 77 has minimal rust. It was resting in an impound lot where I found it. It did not have the keys or a title. I paid the man the required fees & he sent me a new title. He revealed to me the PO parked it came by removed the engine and he never saw him again.
The transport truck had broken down in Texas on the way to CT and they sent another truck to fetch the several cars they were moving. The car arrived in Ct in July about a month after I paid for it. I was a little excited to finally get it home. The transport driver was a good guy he accommodated my schedule so I was glad to offer him a little tip. Then as we pushed the car into my driveway he said, "OH BY THE WAY THERE IS A BLACK WIDOW SPIDER LIVING IN THE CAR -BUT DON'T WORRY THEY ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT"
Then he revealed that his Dad was bitten once and was painfully sick for only a week.
I would need to develope a plan, I would bundle up in some winter clothes, and with a flash light attached to a shop vac I would hunt the monster. I waited until night fall to execute my plan. Of course my son an enthusiastic 11 year old could not stay away. So here we are around 10:00 PM in the middle of July in the North East, (it was probably 80*) at night in winter clothes trying to a shine a flashlight on a spider who doesn't like the light, and suck her up with a shop-vac in an instant. Well the first night she ran away under the seat and I called it quits cause I figured if their spooked chances are its not coming back out. Besides I was sweating buckets. I did however get a sense of timing. The second night I had similar conditions very warm wearing winter clothes, flash light and vacuum. My wise guy neighbor planted a toy spider on the seat which got me for a second, I admit I was spooked, but I was still determined to execute the plan. I was sure that the Black Widow Spider would be out on the web waiting to catch some food. I shined my light in the car where I had seen the monster the previous night. There was webbing in the front & rear on the passenger side seat. I shinned the light on the rear web real fast then pulled back, nothing. I shined the light in the front of the seat bingo! The next step was to back up my son up, we were both very excited, laughing, and nervous.
"Ok" I said in my best Dad wisdom voice in the teachable moment to my son, first you make a plan then follow through on the plan and achieve results! I proceeded to then shine the light and suck up the critter in one quick move. Well I missed, no just kidding, I got her, that b#$%h then I was worried did I really get her ? so I had to take the vacuum apart to be sure. She was in the bottom of the vacuum all beat up, dead? maybe. When she went into the vacuum it sounded like a pebble going through the vacuum, a nasty feeling. So I opened the can found it and ground it to sand with a cut piece of 2x4 until there was nothing left, victory was now mine.
Over the next few days I jacked up the car onto some blocks and power washed the little car. I then started carefully gutting the ratty interior and yes, removing the spider webs. My spider senses told me to look for spider eggs, and I realized if I could get everything out, and if I did not see any new webs I could be confident the BWS was a done deal. The Targa top was difficult to remove the handles were broken off, I used something unconventional to twist the shaft and "pop" it came right out. The car had a fiberglass speaker enclosure in the rear. I'm surprised this was left behind it seems like it could have made some change. I tried wiggling the enclosure and tugging on it, finally I just pushed the grill and it fell into my hands now I could access a couple screws. Still using my spider senses I reach into the enclosure to feel around and I start pulling out previously removed interior parts, a little tool kit, hey maybe someone did care! One last reach in and out comes the skimpiest-slinkiest-sexiest little black dress, wow! the "Black Widow" woman. The dress was made from the type of material that would never wrinkle so she was always ready if you know what I mean. You know the Black Widow story she finds a mate has some fun then kills him. Hey, maybe that's not such a bad deal for the guy, she could have married him and killed him slowly! relax ladies, that was just to easy.
The 915 trans was still installed in there along with the ratty old interior & Targa top, with the 16" Fuchs all around & SC type flares the car had a nice look to it.. One of the door pockets was removed along with the fresh air vents & hoses, in the trunk no tool kit or manual. Many engine related parts are gone. I proceeded to remove the 915/61 tranny and delivered it 5 minutes from my house, to my now friend Gary Fairbanks "the Transmission guru" since I had no records on the car I figured let a professional check it out. Well Gary showed me the abuse the car took chipped teeth on a few gears and a bent main shaft. Gary said the tranny was severely abused. The move to bring it to Gary had paid off as far as I was concerned. If I had tried to "go with it" wow what a mistake that would have been. The PO had further abused the car by leaving a leaking battery in its mount, nothing a little grinding and welding wont fix though. I guess people just lose interest or stop caring, on the other hand that's how projects come about for all of us.
This car is a perfect candidate for me & my LS1 project. I'm taking advantage of it already being looted of half its parts, I would not have to deal with yanking the motor, storage & selling and the price was adjusted to reflect this fact.
The P-car being a Targa, the little car nobody wanted, would have its revenge! A 2500 lbs car, with almost 400 hp! a killer sleeper, watch out! She bites with "spider" venum! The funny thing is now in its third life, it will probably be treated best. I will use the car for commuting to NYC and back home, a distance of 100mi round trip. I will also enjoy it with family locally at car events in and around my town. The Targa P-car is really perfect for my purpose, low cost, small, nimble, & fun. I wanted reliability, low cost, DIY maintenance. A perfect combination, finally an affordable world class ride. I would like to thank this form, Pelican Parts, and everyone who has helped me with this on going project.
Chow Bela
Oil Tank & lines- $300.00
CDI- $200.00
Fpr&Filter- $100.00
Starter- $ 50.00
Fuel pump $100.00
a/c core/blower $250.00
