78' SC Keep it or sell it? Values?

[Hairless Muscle]

Purchased without a PPI.... Struggling with this. Back in 5/04 @114k car had a full body restoration with a few mechanical upgrades. Repainted with a '03 Lapis blue.

New body items:

Re-paint
All new rubbers for glass
Rear tail lights
Hood shocks/rubber
Rear deck-lid Dual shock kit
Headliner
Sunroof seal

Engine:

Carrera tensioner update kit
Pop-off valve
Euro muffler cat-bypass (Fabtech)
Oil temp gauge to degrees
New plugs / Cap / Rotor

Suspension:

Bilstein Shocks
New sway bar bushings
New rotors
New pads
Rebuilt calipers
Stainless flex hoses

10/14 @117K

Had a very reputable Porsche mechanic perform a PPI for me before I listed it.
Everything checks out except. Poor leak-down numbers on 2 cylinders. Further inspection is pointing towards a top end rebuild. Do I drop the $$$$ and rebuild or sell it as is.

[Matt Monson]

I guess the question becomes why do you want to sell it?

Personally I would keep it and rebuild it. But this is really personal, so back to my question.

[Dueller]

If you're gonna sell it I would say sell as is. You will not recoup top end job cost . May be easier to sell with rebuild but I doubt you will see more than 50% of your cost.

Pretty car but do I read correct you've only driven it 3000 miles in 10 years?

[gshiwota]

+1 Rebuild and keep. This looks like a really nice car.

Frankly, someone will beat you up on your price knowing the car needs a rebuild and I doubt you'll get your money out of it if you decide to rebuild and sell it right away. With the prices going they way they are going on air-cooled 911s, I think time is on your side unless you have to sell it for personal reasons.

It doesn't appear you drive the car much... maybe it just needs an Italian tune and some hard miles to help the #2 compression. This link may help.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/266919-1987-carrera-failed-compression-test.html

[Hairless Muscle]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

I guess the question becomes why do you want to sell it?

Personally I would keep it and rebuild it. But this is really personal, so back to my question.

Picked up another car about a 6 months ago. 03' SL55 w/35k. Also intrigued at recent sales. I like the car but don't drive it. It would build up needed marriage capital also.

[Hairless Muscle]

Originally Posted by Dueller

If you're gonna sell it I would say sell as is. You will not recoup top end job cost . May be easier to sell with rebuild but I doubt you will see more than 50% of your cost.

Pretty car but do I read correct you've only driven it 3000 miles in 10 years?

Yes, it's sad. A couple local shows each year and that's it.

[Hairless Muscle]

#'s for these cars are crazy. I'm leaning toward the rebuild. In the event that I do sell it, the next person would have a true turn key Porsche SC that could be enjoyed and driven. As-is 15-18k? Rebuilt 20k?

All info greatly appreciated.

Toby

[Hairless Muscle]

Originally Posted by pmax

If you don't plan on driving it, sell it.


Dibs if its under 10.

That price would cover the bodywork

[wannaporsche]

Rebuild will likely set you back 10-12k...
My guess says more like max 12K as-is... and more like 25-30K rebuilt...but what the frog do I know.

[Matt Monson]

If you've lost interest, sell it. Advertise it for a month as-is and if it doesn't sell, get it rebuilt over the winter and sell it in the spring.

I think you can get around $15k as-is

[Dueller]

How bad is leak down on no 2? How does it run...smooth....pulls good?

It's been driven so little and likely lugged around. Before I would go rebuild I'd put some good gas in it with tech ron additive or the like and drive the snot out of it for the entire tank. Then take it to another shop for a comparison leakdown. You may be pleasantly suprised with the carbon build up blown out. Put a new aet of quality tires on to replace the 12 year hockey pucks. Then ask $28k for it.

But you may have enough fun driving it as intended you may keep it

[Hairless Muscle]

Originally Posted by Dueller

How bad is leak down on no 2? How does it run...smooth....pulls good?

It's been driven so little and likely lugged around. Before I would go rebuild I'd put some good gas in it with tech ron additive or the like and drive the snot out of it for the entire tank. Then take it to another shop for a comparison leakdown. You may be pleasantly suprised with the carbon build up blown out. Then ask $28k for it.

But you may have enough fun driving it as intended you may keep it

I did exactly that for about half a tank on the drive to the PPI. Car runs and drives just fine. just a puff of smoke at startup and no oil leaks even after a 1.5hr drive back from the PPI.

#'s on Comp & Leak-down

155\6
135\10
150\18
125\42
135\8
135\16

I suspect maybe head studs?

Tires are a bit old even with less than 2,000mi on them

[Dueller]

The puff wouldn't concern me. No smoke on deceleration? Did John Walker do the ppi?

[Hairless Muscle]

Yes on JW. No smoke other than right at startup which I understand is common.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Hairless Muscle

I suspect maybe head studs?

What I would suspect.

[Hairless Muscle]

Thanks guys on your input
Don't post very often as most of my questions are answered by a quick search.

[Menmojo]

I would keep the car and rebuild the engine.
You've done so much work already so you might as well finish the job.
Looks like you have 3 cylinders that need attention.
Anything over 10% leak down smells like a rebuild is around the corner.
42% is a really big number.......


155\6
135\10
150\18
125\42
135\8
135\16

[CountD]

Sell it and let someone else do the rebuild.

[Eric D.]

I would love to have a project like this. Please PM me if you decide to sell.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

What I would suspect.

Yeah. Pull the valve covers and look at the studs and the condition of the valves and seats.

Maybe there is a lot of carbon, and that is causing the poor leakdown numbers?

Or head studs.