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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 55
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Busted Headstuds – what would I be buying?
I’m looking at a 1979SC Targa that is in mint cosmetic condition – all original except for a same color repaint (black) about 10 years ago and updated radio. No rust, very clean interior, etc.
The tranny was rebuilt about 3K miles ago. The owner has had this car for 20 years and was told that he needed to replace 2nd gear when he bought the car in 1988. He drove it carefully and finally had rebuild just a couple of years ago. I mention this because he told me that there are a couple of broken headstuds in the motor resulting in low compression on one cylinder. Presumably he has been driving the car like this for a while, although he says that he has only put about 8K miles on the car in the last 10 years (basically a summer car here in New England). What should I be looking for to determine if he has damaged the motor by driving it with low compression and a busted headstud (or two)? I am looking for a driver – I work from home so I don’t have a daily commute, but I would like a car that I can reliably use for errands around town and to enjoy the twisty New England country roads. I have a neighbor with a couple of P-cars and a lift. I would attempt to do most of the work with his help. He’s asking $9900…what do you think?
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1987 Targa 1977 911s Targa w/'83 SC 3.0 (sold) 2008 Volvo XC70 - family safe transport |
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10-21-2008, 04:42 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,482
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The problem with continued driving with a cylinder that has one or more broken head studs is the head slapping against the cylinder and eventually destroying both. It might happen in 5000 miles, it might take 20,000 miles. You don't know. And really the only way to find out is when you remove the head from the cylinder and look.
Assuming no damage and you do all the work yourself, replacing headstuds is parts cheap and labor intensive. You can probably get in and out for just a few hundred dollars. At this point you don't have the luxury the present owner had in just driving the car and wait awhile. He got the easy miles, now someone has to fix it. If the head and cylinder are damaged you will now be looking at a couple of thousand dollars to fix things. For $12K there are lots of nice SC's out there.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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10-21-2008, 05:38 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 55
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Agreed on the $12K - and ideally I'd like a g50 carrera - but the economy isnt helping me out. If I can save a couple of grand and end up with a nice car, I'll be happy (for a while). Would I be able to tell if any damage has already been done? If I buy it, I'd basically drive it into my friends garage and replace the headstuds right away. So if it sounds/looks good my "risk" is about 50 miles between the cars current location and home...
What I'm trying to avoid is buying into an "unknown." I have no problem with the idea of replacing the headstuds, but I dont want to be surprised by damage caused by the broken headstuds...is there a way to tell? Thanks!
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1987 Targa 1977 911s Targa w/'83 SC 3.0 (sold) 2008 Volvo XC70 - family safe transport |
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10-21-2008, 06:02 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,482
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Quote:
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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10-21-2008, 07:10 AM
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