Cool Video: How to "flip" a 911

[jkarolyi]

One of the things I love about YouTube is that I can finally watch all those fiddly fuddy British automotive shows like TopGear and Wheeler Dealers. This episode of Wheeler Dealers is about buying, fixing, and selling a US Spec '74 911S Targa. This is a funny watch...listen to the rant about the "California bumpers"

Here is a link to the first of five sections of the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL-qmYI6xrw

The other episodes of Wheeler Dealers are pretty funny too...they do a 928 and a 924 of all things. Why can't we have fun shows like this in the USA?

[ischmitz]

that's a fun show.....

[azasadny]

That's a great video, very entertaining!

[jkarolyi]

Notice their constant criticism of the "American" chrome trim on the wheel wells. Those were actually factory options up until 1977! Those are worth near $500...bet they just tossed them.

[1982911SCTarga]

"Wheeler Dealers" is a highly entertaining show, and you'll get some commonsense tips along the way. Edd China (the mechanic and designer of the world's fastest street-legal sofa) always presents a thoughtful and concise perspective to Mike Brewer's bluster. The two work well together without the usual reality show BS or drama. It's like they're actually having fun (what a concept!).

It's entertaining how they went off on our American impact bumpers -- "they ruin the lines of the car!" Huh? Well, let's give the lads a break on this one.

The 928 episode is an excellent one -- they put a bunch of work into that car. The 924 epsiode is good as well, especially on how focusing on just a few simple things can bring value and class back to a vehicle. There's a good Jeep CJ episode, too.

Someone should really do an American version of this show, but it would be difficult to find someone who's as clear, competent and effective as Edd China. Hmm... Paging John Walker!

Brian

[donstevens]

Pretty Cool.

They should have used the money they tossed on the chrome bits to upgrade the 5 blade fan. Of course who needs a cooling fan upgrade in the UK.

Nice SSIs. I could use a "bit of kit" like those for my 2.7.

Don

[ramonesfreak]

ive watched this a bunch of times. entertaining. funny, part 3, a guy with a black 911 who appears to know alot about his car says that when buying, you should "check the filler cap" to make sure there is no white in the oil which would mean your head gasket is blown...... (at 2:25)

hmmm. he must be confusing his 911 with a VW golf

[1982911SCTarga]

Don, I thought it was funny, too, how they made no mention of those SSIs. But that interior was "cracking!"

Here's a link to the world-record-setting sofa run: http://www.rtoonline.com/Content/Article/may07/SofaSpeedRecord051607.asp

Edd China is the tall guy standing at the speed check. Mike Brewer is the guy presenting the certificate to the sofa driver.

Brian

[ianc]

Very entertaining show. I also noticed the 'blown head gasket' warning given by the black car's ower.

One thing which continually bugged me was the ill-fitting front hood gap on the driver's side which they didn't deem repairing?

ianc

[MAS956]

No valve adjustment while the engine was out? And they left that 5 blade fan alone. The horror!!!!

That was a lot of fun to watch.

[island911]

Thanks.

Gotta like the "expert advice" from the guy with the black targa ... "look for white in the oil-- sign of a bad headgasket."

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by jkarolyi

Notice their constant criticism of the "American" chrome trim on the wheel wells. Those were actually factory options up until 1977! Those are worth near $500...bet they just tossed them.

$500?!! I've got chrome wheel trim off my '76 sitting in a box at home and I'll let it all go for a lot less than $500. I've got to get an ad going!

"...you know how those Americans are..."

Right! But if stating the 2.7 was "bullet proof" and constantly referring to the car as a "Porsh" wasn't bad enough, he installed black flag mirrors without painting them to match the body work. They replacedthe clutch and pressure plate but didn't regrind the flywheel, there were a mish mash of correct aluminum and steel, non-stock lug nuts on it. They didn't bother to respray the centers of the Fuchs, just the caps.

By the way? How much does 8450 pounds translate to in dollars?

[livi]

Love it.

"You know how Americans are.." Bling, bling.

"The gear change is like a Winchester rifle" Yeah. Right. A 915..

And all of it in that British accent. Canīt beat that.

[coolngroovy]

Thanks for posting the link m8!
As an owner of the same, i found it thoroughly entertaining.
I have to agree with the rear overriders though!

[1982911SCTarga]

Part of the show's charm to me is that they either unwittingly or intentionally allow some things to follow a natural course or slide a bit. Take the interview with the owner of the exemplary 911. He launches into a "Monty Python-esque" monologue about how he found it while he was at a barbecue (think of "Kipling Road was a typical eastern street ..."). Anyway, what he said about examining the oil as a buying tip was complete nonsense, but he wasn't called out on it by the lads (unlike what would occur online). This is real, polite conversation.

We Americans recoil in horror at the sight of a five-bladed fan. No biggie to Mike and Edd.

And during the clutch job, you might have noticed that Edd didn't replace the pilot bearing, which many would say is being pennywise and pound foolish. Again, no biggie to the boys who are out to pocket a few quid and have some fun.

Edd's comments in the last 911 episode about the fun of working on a Porsche 911 seemed genuine. He could have opened that 915 up himself and fixed the two-three graunch, but I think they wanted to show how the average bloke can pursue the option of buying a rebuilt unit (and trying to wheedle the rebuilder down on price).

Watch the 928 episode. Like the American impact bumpers in the 911 show, Mike and Edd go off about the awful wheels on their project car. It's amusing later how things go down, eventually leaving Mike "absolutely chuffed" (happy).

Brian

[Paulporsche]

Great fun! Thanks.

[PorschePilot]

As the owner of a 74 Targa I found it all fun to watch.

They were confused on whether the fuchs were originals.

Even for a California (which mine is also) it seem to have the later heater hose set up.

White oil...idiot. If there is water in the oil, you left the cap off when you washed it.

They should have checked the shift coupler adjustment first...it make a world of difference on my car...but not quite a Winchester.

[1982911SCTarga]

Did anyone else notice that one of the Fuchs center caps on their 911 was not like the others? The standout was a much later style type with two visible removal holes. Ah, we fussy Porsche owners are an amusing lot.

Brian

[jkarolyi]

One thing they did right was to replace the orange Fram oil filter with a Mahle!

[ischmitz]

Entertaining, YES, good advice, NO:

They spent 1500 British pounds (= US$ 3000) for a "potentially" bad 3rd gear synchro: Ouch!!!.....that is one overpriced way to address a potential 915 issue. Why didn't the master mechanic open up the tranny and have a quick look? He could have flipped the synchro band if he wanted to get away cheap. That way he only had to spring for a couple of paper gaskets and a gallon of Swepco.....

Then I have completely missed the part where they checked the suspension (bushings, shocks, alignment) and the brakes for any issues and/or wear. Meanwhile they rather focus on how they "repaired" the Targa top and singlehandedly did a full restauration with some basic hand tools and rattle cans. Hm........

And last but not least the mirror was not exactly period-correct. Shouldn't there be a chromed flag-style mirror. But oops, I forgot, the dechromed the car. Bummer that they didn't rattle-can the Targa bar to make it look like a mid-eighties model.