911SC with broken head studs?

[exploserous]

Hey all!

I'm looking for a 3.0 and am not afraid of a project. I've found a car the owner states has a couple broken head studs. Assuming the rest of the car is in decent shape, what's a fair offer for this car?

Part of me likes the idea of being forced to rebuild right away, so I have an engine I know I can rely on.

I'm guessing plenty of answers will be “walk away” which I'm comfortable with if the seller and I can't agree on a fair price.

[Matt Monson]

Not nearly enough detail on the car to even begin to answer.

[exploserous]

Matt what information would help get to a range? Obviously I would get a lot of answers by having a PPI done, but I don't want to waste time if the seller and I can't get even remotely on the same page. I also don't want to stick to a low ball price if I'm being unrealistic.

So there's a lot I don't know about the car yet, but the seller has been forthright with the info about the engine.

What I do know: The car has around 150k miles, it's white, it has to broken head studs. Interior is not bad, but front seats have some seams pulling apart. I'm not sure if the engine matches.

[christiandk]

Pics?

[NYNick]

Go see it, take pics, year etc and get back to us. Could be $10K, could be 20. Depends. We need all the info you can get, and so do you.

[Matt Monson]

What Nick said. And service history. I don't even see if it's a coupe or targa.

[exploserous]

Thanks guys. Man I left a lot of good stuff out. Sorry everyone!

Here are the seller's photos:

[exploserous]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

What Nick said. And service history. I don't even see if it's a coupe or targa.

Car comes with records to 2002, but I haven't seen them yet. I'll update when I know more.

[exploserous]

Originally Posted by NYNick

Go see it, take pics, year etc and get back to us. Could be $10K, could be 20. Depends. We need all the info you can get, and so do you.

Hahaha. Even a range of ~10-20k is helping me out.

[Matt Monson]

Looks like a decent car even with the hideous bumper and deck lid. Is it a Euro? Get the engine type and serial number. I would say $15-20k with $10k work needed.

Where is CA are you? Would you rebuild it or pay soneone?

[NYNick]

I get the feeling that car has been driven hard....just my gut. Not 20. At 15 you won't get hurt. After that it's a crap shoot and your capability. As I said, go see it.

[exploserous]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Looks like a decent car even with the hideous bumper and deck lid. Is it a Euro? Get the engine type and serial number. I would say $15-20k with $10k work needed.

Where is CA are you? Would you rebuild it or pay soneone?

Yeah. I'm planning on replacing the bumper and decklid anyway, so not super bothered there.

I'd originally wanted to rebuild it myself but since I'd like to drive the car in the next year, I'd probably drop it and have someone else rebuild it. Meanwhile I could be working on refreshing suspension/brakes, panels, electrics, etc. I'm in the Bay Area where you seem to be able to throw a stone in any direction and hit a competent air-cooled engine builder.

[exploserous]

Originally Posted by NYNick

I get the feeling that car has been driven hard....just my gut. Not 20. At 15 you won't get hurt. After that it's a crap shoot and your capability. As I said, go see it.

I'm not sure the seller is willing to get down to even $20k, so you may have saved me the time on the hour drive to see him.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by exploserous

Yeah. I'm planning on replacing the bumper and decklid anyway, so not super bothered there.

I'd originally wanted to rebuild it myself but since I'd like to drive the car in the next year, I'd probably drop it and have someone else rebuild it. Meanwhile I could be working on refreshing suspension/brakes, panels, electrics, etc. I'm in the Bay Area where you seem to be able to throw a stone in any direction and hit a competent air-cooled engine builder.

The thing to look for regarding the bumper and decklid is whether or not it was done because the car was hit in the rear.

I would talk to Bob Grigsby at RMG in Campbell.

But if seller won't even come close to $20k before you've seen it, keep shopping. There seem to be plenty of SCs around in the $25-30k range if you are patient.

[NYNick]

Car is above 20 with broken head studs? Geez Louise. That's a $7500 job before you get into what else needs to be done and the might as wells. The might as wells will kill ya.

[ficke]

This is another example of buying a car done is cheaper.
Yes, this car will most likely sell for $20K maybe more.
Yes, it will cost over 7k for the engine work alone not even counting the cosmetics to make it not look like a 'drove hard and put away wet' driver.
This car as a OK driver you will be in for at least 35k and most likely more.
You will have a equal car for less money if you spend up front. And you will start enjoying the 911 game right away.
You will still have stuff to tinker with any car you buy so do not worry about being left out of the repair work fun.

[Jay993]

+1 for $10k+ for head studs

[exploserous]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

I would talk to Bob Grigsby at RMG in Campbell.

But if seller won't even come close to $20k before you've seen it, keep shopping. There seem to be plenty of SCs around in the $25-30k range if you are patient.

I'll check out RMG. I work in Los Gatos, so it's nice to have one more shop nearby. I usually take my cars to Tony Heyer at Heyer Performance in Mountain View and he's not pointed me in the wrong direction yet, but it's always nice to have more folks to get in touch with.

Seller won't budge from $25k, so I'll keep looking. There seem to be a lot of cars for sale with sentimental value prices and a lot of ‘buyers’ interested in high prices until it gets time to pay up (but keeping sellers feeling like their prices are reasonable “I have at least two offers for $27k”).

I let him know that if he can be more realistic, I'm a motivated buyer, but can't spend over $20k on it.

Originally Posted by NYNick

Car is above 20 with broken head studs? Geez Louise. That's a $7500 job before you get into what else needs to be done and the might as wells. The might as wells will kill ya.

Yeah. And if I'm rebuilding, I might as well do a lot of might as wells, right?

Originally Posted by ficke

This is another example of buying a car done is cheaper.
Yes, this car will most likely sell for $20K maybe more.
Yes, it will cost over 7k for the engine work alone not even counting the cosmetics to make it not look like a 'drove hard and put away wet' driver.
This car as a OK driver you will be in for at least 35k and most likely more.
You will have a equal car for less money if you spend up front. And you will start enjoying the 911 game right away.
You will still have stuff to tinker with any car you buy so do not worry about being left out of the repair work fun.

For sure, it's an old car, there will surely be no shortage of things to do.

Thanks a ton everyone, I really appreciate the help!

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

I would talk to Bob Grigsby at RMG in Campbell.

bob is in Sunnyvale. JWE & CT automotive are in campbell

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by juanbenae

bob is in Sunnyvale. JWE & CT automotive are in campbell

I can't keep them straight. South Bay. I'm just gonna say South Bay from now on.