Considering selling my `87 Carrera Coupe

[Tremelune]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

It's 2018, friends. Keep a spreadsheet on your Google Drive.

I do this too...

[jwill911]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

It's 2018, friends. Keep a spreadsheet on your Google Drive.

I don't track the oil change though. It's every year in November before the foul weather starts to set in.

I do put all my maintenance items in a spreadsheet, but started doing the label thing years ago just so I can see at a glance when it was done last. Amazes me how much time and very few miles has passed. Last oil change at 99,192 was ~2 years ago. Changed it yesterday, new label :-)

[jwill911]

Originally Posted by da Vinci Dan

Sounds like you’re doing it right. You’re also selling it at the right time.

You may consider taking off the valve covers and checking the headstuds. I know this was an absolute must for me when buying, regardless of compression.

If it is done, you will get top dollar fast. If, not then the buyer is thinking they may purchase your car for $50k + then possibly face a $15k top end if they are lucky.

The logic doesn’t work on the purchasers side if they are knowledgeable-which they would be for your car.

If I was in your shoes, I’d feel kind of stuck: open the covers and find one or two broken studs... Then what? I get it. But, it has 99k...

This is the buyers mind. My guess is that the knowledgeable buyer will pay someone to have it done as part of the ppi anyway. As I did.

Again, it ain’t 2004 anymore.

So how common are broken head studs on a 3.2 Carrera? From what I know that was more common on some of the earlier motors. And what would the symptoms be?
But it's a good point. I checked with a local reputable German Auto service in town I've had work done at in the past; one hour labor for PPI, two hours with leak down test.
Some buyers may want a PPI done by the shop of their choice.
So many considerations. And you can guess I'm having second thoughts, I've bonded with the car more this past month than I have in sometime.
Thanks,
jw

[crb07]

On the 3.2 I have heard of more issues with valve guides than head studs. I do know someone who broke a head stud on an engine with 170k. Top end was done around 100k but oem head studs were put back in.

[da Vinci Dan]

How common? Who knows.

What I can say is that when I was buying 911s in late 90’s and early 00’s, everyone was talking about valve guides and smoke.

My last aircooled purchase was this year. This time, when I went to get ppi’s from the most reputable aircooled experts in two major cities (LA and Atlanta), all shops said it was a waste of time and money not to pull the covers and check the studs. I learned, evidently as the 3.2 has been aging, more hot / cold cycles, the more likely it is for it to bust some studs.

My understanding is that this is now common knowledge and therefore common practice in a thorough ppi.

Symptoms: Acccording to the original owner of my car, it was simply an oil leak. Compression was fine. There were a total of 6 broken studs and the car drove fine.

$23k later (tires, brakes, exhaust, drive shafts, while your in there stuff), it drives as new.

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by da Vinci Dan

How common? Who knows.

What I can say is that when I was buying 911s in late 90’s and early 00’s, everyone was talking about valve guides and smoke.

My last aircooled purchase was this year. This time, when I went to get ppi’s from the most reputable aircooled experts in two major cities (LA and Atlanta), all shops said it was a waste of time and money not to pull the covers and check the studs. I learned, evidently as the 3.2 has been aging, more hot / cold cycles, the more likely it is for it to bust some studs.

My understanding is that this is now common knowledge and therefore common practice in a thorough ppi.

Symptoms: Acccording to the original owner of my car, it was simply an oil leak. Compression was fine. There were a total of 6 broken studs and the car drove fine.

$23k later (tires, brakes, exhaust, drive shafts, while your in there stuff), it drives as new.

Wow.

That seems like an outlier on a couple levels. 6 broken heads studs in a 3.2 for starters AND good compression numbers? Regardless, it sucks. Glad it is driving like new.

[SalParadise]

And another interesting thing about head studs and such.

At the time I purchased my '75 S with a 2.7, I was still terrified by the decades of all the bad press they got while so many SC and Carrera people hid behind their 'bulletproof' engines with Divilar studs and the like.

There were actually people (mostly in California) that had their s**t together in the late 1980s and the 1990s that rebuilt 2.7s reliably and knew the proper recipe - case savers and original steel Porsche studs. My 2.7 was rebuilt in the early 1990s with original steel Porsche studs and case savers. And guess what? All the studs torqued to 26 pounds and were holding perfect (most were still at 26 - 3 were just at 22).

It's amazing what these cars can take and still run. I'm just happy with my 2.7 that was done right by someone who knew what they were doing.

[jwill911]

I've been busy fiddling with the car and am just about ready to list it or put it on BaT. I have fixed everything I'm going to fix and spend the last couple of days detailing it. The car hasn't been this in many years. And if I say so myself it looks damn good. Today was a beautiful day here in Northern California Bay Area so I went out and took a few pictures. Some may recognize Alameda Naval Air Station or as it's call now since the base closed Alameda Point.
I created a folder on Drop Box and dumped the pics there. If you feel like it take a look, if you also have constructive criticism or comments go ahead and fire away. It's still a work in progress I may change my mind to redo everything at Mt Diablo or Mt Tamalpais, so many places in the Bay Area. I just didn't want to drive far.
Thanks,
John
Dropbox deleted until redone
Here's the link:

Here's a few samples

[old man neri]

My 0.02. If you're going to put it on BaT. Spend a few $$ and hire a professional photographer. This is not meant as a slight against your skills but just a reality. I do the same thing whenever I sell a house.

You want the perfect picture so that someone falls in love with it at first sight. This creates an emotional reaction which causes them to do stupid things like getting into a bidding war on BaT and spend too much.

BTW I haven't seen a engine bottom that clean in a long time and is that a single post lift?

[jwill911]

Originally Posted by old man neri

My 0.02. If you're going to put it on BaT. Spend a few $$ and hire a professional photographer. This is not meant as a slight against your skills but just a reality. I do the same thing whenever I sell a house.

You want the perfect picture so that someone falls in love with it at first sight. This creates an emotional reaction which causes them to do stupid things like getting into a bidding war on BaT and spend too much.

BTW I haven't seen a engine bottom that clean in a long time and is that a single post lift?

That's probably a good idea.
My car doesn't leak but it is 30 years old, the reason it is so clean I had it steam cleaned Monday morning. It is a single post lift, out doors.




John

[Tremelune]

Makes it hard to identify oil seepage with an engine that clean...I fear people might think you're trying to hide something. Looks great, though.

I spent an hour cleaning gunk out of a used airbox I bought and it still has some...How much are steam-clean machines??

[jwill911]

Originally Posted by Tremelune

Makes it hard to identify oil seepage with an engine that clean...I fear people might think you're trying to hide something. Looks great, though.

I spent an hour cleaning gunk out of a used airbox I bought and it still has some...How much are steam-clean machines??

I don't know. I went to a company in San Jose that provides the service.

[ab1752]

That thing will sell in seconds, you sure about this?

[Ferraripete]

It is a very nice looking 3.2. When I sold my 930 after 15 years of loving ownership...I literally had to fight back the tears.

You may lead what that is like sometimes these cars make their way in to one's heart and soul. 911's are special.

[ed317]

On Bring A Trailer $44,000
I was hoping to get 46
100,000 miles, red in great condition

[gsaps]

And maybe spend a couple of hundred to get a PPI done, that would be a huge plus given it’s basically impossible for buyers to get one before auction end

[MrBonus]

Your oil return tubes are so clean.

[NYNick]

Originally Posted by ab1752

That thing will sell in seconds, you sure about this?

Totally agree. Won't last long and you'll miss it when it's gone.

[G450X]

Originally Posted by ed317

On Bring A Trailer $44,000
I was hoping to get 46
100,000 miles, red in great condition

That was for a red example, add at least $5k for this incredible color combo.

I sure hope you want to sell it - finding one years from now in colors other than red, white, black or silver will be difficult...

[jwill911]

Originally Posted by gsaps

And maybe spend a couple of hundred to get a PPI done, that would be a huge plus given it’s basically impossible for buyers to get one before auction end

Thanks.
That is on my list of todos. I’m done with the fixing and cleaning. May redo the photos. Or get some help to do it better.
Thanks,
John