1978 930

[gilach]

Hello everyone,

i'm looking at a 2 owner 930 w/51,000 miles on the car that's for sale. It's pretty much stock and comes with a service history. The first owner had put 42,000 miles on the car, and the current owner has put an additional 9K. I asked if the clutch had been replaced. He told me that it appears to be the orignal clutch and works fine w/out any problems. Would i be right in thinking that it would have to be changed pretty soon, perhaps w/in the next 10K miles??? Do clutch replacements cost about $1800.

thanks in advance, paul.

[MovOvr1]

If it comes with a true service history, it should be in there. I have 60K on my clutch and it is just fine with lots left. How does it feel? Drive the car and let us know. Sounds like a nice car......kinda like mine....about 50K when I bought it. Watch for dry rotted stuff though. I ended up replacing all the brake hoses and some oil lines due to rot from not being used. There were miscellaneous gaskets...ect. as well. But she runs great and looks good. They are great cars....you won't be disappointed.

Brian

[gilach]

Thanks Brian, I'm planning to go check it out this weekend. I spoke with a mechanic earlier today and he said that he's had cars that came in at 30K for clutch replacement and others at are close to 100K. Has a lot to do w/the driver and overall maintenance of the car. Owner says he has entire service history. His asking price is $24K. Interior and exterior are in excellent shape and virtually no mods...thermal reactors were taken off the exhaust. I will definately check the brake hoses.

best, paul.

[Tom F2]

Check for broken headstuds and that the thermal reactors have been removed.

[gilach]

Is there anyway to tell for broken headstuds just from driving? Or just take off the valve covers and check them manually? I've not done this before, but heed your advice as i have seen numerous 930 that have been rebuilt due to broken head studs, especially around the 50K mark. Otherwise, i guess i ought to get a PPI done prior to checking the car out.
thanks again.

[MovOvr1]

That is a good reminder about the head studs. I have been lucky so far. I had the guy I was buying it from drive the car with me in it (we went to lunch) for the first drive just to see how he drove it. He did have good habits and knew how to properly drive the car. I think that is why the car is in good shape. If the previous owner has pride it will definitely show in the small things with the car.

b

[aigel]

Paul:

A normally aspirated clutch on the 911 can last over 100k miles. So, unless one is hard on the clutch (dropping it or racing), why should it last less on a turbo? If there are seamless service records and there is no clutch replacement anywhere, I would consider it a GOOD thing. $1800 may get you the bare bone clutch job in CA. If you are in a lower $ area, it may be plenty.

George

[gilach]

thanks for the input guys. i checked out the car yesterday 78 930...needless to say it's been on my mind all day!
The car was as described by the owner, and his specs were up to mine, ie if you claim that everything works, then everything should work, which it did-including such details at wiper delay, clock, all gauges etc etc.
I must say, on a straightaway i was kinda waiting for the turbo to "kick-in" -this is my first experience in a turbo. It was a lot smoother in the way it kicked in-this was a combination of turbo lag as described by all, but even beyond this, the boost was steady and strong-though not like a muscle car, not as violent. I now realise why people are quick to upgrade-turbo, exhaust, cams etc ....but i really enjoyed the completely stock ride....this car is not about the striaght roads...and having said that, there's plenty of power in these older models. I was really impressed with the sound level...this car has the stock exhaust, -virutually impossible to find these days, by that i mean everyone takes them off...but it was so quiet until you opened the sucker up. We drove for about 20-30 mins....i did all the tests while driving, shifting into 1st while rolling, checking out the reverse gear and clutch action...everything worked smooth as hell...i loved the tall gears on the 915...everytime i thought i was in third i was in second, and when i thought i was in fourth, i was in third....plenty of room. My only critique was the spaghetti gears, i would have preffered close ratio, but it's minor and would only take getting used to the shift pattern. On return of our drive, this car did not leak a single drop of oil. i was there an hour after and checked it even then. Overall motor ran real nice, smooth-no hesitation. Well did i buy the car? Not yet, the owner wanted $23K and i'm still checking my options.
I do have a question about header and muffler changes over stock. Does anyone know what the sound difference is between a stock 78 930 set up versus the same car with upgraded headers and mufflers? On a scale of 1 (quietest), to 10 (loudest), i would rate the 78 930 with stock set up with a 4. Where would you rate the B&B set-up and any other exhaust packages.
Another question, can you powershift with this type of car, i'm just curious, cuz it didn't seem like the tranny would like it...that's just my first impression....

Don't worry, i'm definately gonna get one of these, it's just a matter of months, or even weeks....more likely days.

[Jack Olsen]

Definitely have it looked at by an independent shop. It's an almost 30-year-old car, and rebuilds are not cheap.

It doesn't have a 915 gearbox. It has a Turbo-specific 4-speed with fairly tall gears. It's much stronger than a 915. But, when you say spaghetti shifting do you mean that it's vague when you're selecting a gear? If that's what you mean, then when you say a close-ratio gearbox I think you mean to say a short-shift kit to reduce the distance your hand has to travel between gears. A close-ratio transmission refers to custom gearsets that shorten the overall range of speed for the car in exchange for being able to keep the engine 'on cam,' with minimized rpm differences from one gear to the next.

[gilach]

yes, i will get a ppi...and yes i'm getting confused w/the tranny type. What type of tranny comes w/the turbo, ie what are they called. And by spaghetti i do mean vague feeling searching for a gear....your are right again in my idea of close-ratio-short shift would be the equivalent. Thanks for the explanation on close ratio.

[David]

The 88 and older 930's have a 4 speed "930" transmission. Some folks change the R&P to get more useable gears but then you have about 500 more RPM on the highway.

I think the turbo knocks the noise down quite a lot (I've heard 25%), so unless you put a straight pipe with no muffling at all (like a Zork tube) it's going to be relatively quiet with any header/muffler combo.

Pre G50 transmission Porsches are not known for smooth shifting. You have to be a bit slow and diliberate when shifting, unless you have a newly rebuild tranny and better shifter like a Wevo.

That price sounds good for a 78 in that condition.

[gilach]

Thanks David...your insight into the exhaust was mirrored by RarlyL8-i posted exhaust only topic on 911 forum. Thanks for the tranny advice...i' agree with you about slow and deliberate shifting w/the older trans.

[bkreigsr]

took me 4 years to find mine.
gearing is the best Porsche could do - the spacing of the 4 gears is mechanically/arithmetically equal. I find myself in 3rd and even 2nd most of the time under 50.
same condition as yours, original front lip to rear spoiler except replacement Alpine unit & equalizer, and the waste pipe has been plumbed seperate.
and yes, the best part of the older turbos is the way they push you back into the seats at about 3,200, and keep you there to about 5,900
$23,000 sounds about right if that's the color you're looking for, and it has 51,000 miles
Bill K

[Miguel Antonett]

I agree with Jack. The thing to do before you pay for the car, after you decided to do so, is to have it inspected by an experienced 930 shop. 930's are wonderful cars, I would not trade my 78-930 for anything else. Through the years I've had six other 911's but the 930 is part of the family - there is no substitute when you combine power, handling and the wide body stance. When you get the car, be sure to get to know it in straight line before start playing with the boost and lag in and out of turns - it is fun, adicting but tricky! Let us know how it goes. $23K is an excellent price for what you have described.

[gilach]

thanks guys. all advice well taken, especially pre inspection and driving in the straights first and then taking on the corners.

cheers.

[johncarlos2003]

don't forget to post pics if/when you get her--- hope all goes well in the ppi and you're driving her soon--