Looking to buy a 911 SC

[nick3814]

Hi there, I am in the process of leaving life with a 944 behind me and looking for an affordable 911 and the SC seems to fit the bill. I am going to look at a white 911SC 3.0L 1980 model. I have been looking up this model for a while and reading on it and the bhp figures are a bit confusing. Some articles say it is 188bhp and some say 204bhp, which is right.
Also what should I look for as signs of problems, are they prone to leaking, what fuel would you use and can anybody describe to me what these are like to drive compared with a 944.
Looking forward to getting one, infact I am rather excited!!!!

Your advise would be much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[engleflick]

Hi Nick,

With regard to power both figures are right. Let me explain 78-79 Cars had 180 bhp, 80 Cars had 188bhp & 81-83/84 Cars had 204bhp. (this only applies to European model cars, not those for Aisa or USA)

Im not sure if they are all prone to leaking oil, mine does a little but I think that it is more down to the general condition of the car than anything else.

I have a 1980 SC and I run it on shell optimax (only because it seems to run a little better) but all SC's can use unleaded fuel without modification (I wait to be corrected)[]

Good luck with your search and I am sure you will get plenty of other posts offering advice (we are a friendly bunch here on the SC register!)

 

[Guest]

Hiya Nick

Welcome to the proper part of the forum []

Any decision to look at an SC for sale is a good one. But bear in mind these cars are only affordable 911's if you buy the right one to start with. Buying the wrong one costs bucks in the long run so get your head used to the idea that you should buy the best you can afford. Include the cost of a decent PPI in your budget - you cannot afford to buy your first 911 without a PPI.

I take it from your post regards leaks that you are looking at a Targa. Targas with good seals shouldn't leak - they don't 'all do that'. Get your seller to run the hose over the car and sit in it with the windows closed to see whether it does or not. Seals aren't too bad from Porsche - leading edge seal on front of roof is a tenner for example, the windscreen pillar and top seal is over £100, window seals about £80 a piece IIRC, so if you have a leaky roof then get cash off to pay for sorting that.

What else are you looking for? Rust is what you are looking for first and if you find a load (and even if the car is CHEAP) move on to the next one, there are PLENTY of cars out there. Look by fuel filler flap, around headlamps, behind battery, in front panel (under where the bonnet latch is). Look in door shuts by door latch, at bottom of b-post. Jack car up and support on axle stands & take front and rear wheels off to look up under the wings into the extreme corners. If the car needs pressure washing to get accumulated crud off then have it done - that crud could be hiding the number one thing that will cost you cash.

Mechanically they are generally ace, look for problems with crunchy gearboxes from 1st into 2nd and 2nd into 3rd - should be no noises and if there are then it's gonna need rebuilding at some stage. Minimum £1500 including removal. While that is out you will be doing clutch so add £300 for that. A heavy clutch pedal (they are not all that heavy when right) means clutch on the way out. Budget £900-1000 to do that but as I say if it's coming out then you will be rebuilding the box if it's not already been done so factor that in.

Otherwise you are looking for oil leaks and usual engine stuff. Try to drive the car until it's nice and warm - so 15/20 miles minimum. Turn it off when you get back to the seller's location and leave it sit for 20 minutes or so and see how easily it starts - hot start a common problem on these cars and a pig to track down sometimes.

Also deduct money for cars with no Fuchs, cars with cloth trim, cars with little specialist history in last few years etc. Older SC's can also be very prpice-sensitive when it comes to colour and trim, so if it's not everyone's cup of tea then knock some wedge off for that too.

The nicest SC Targa I have seen in the last 12 months was Tim's. That was RHD and had everything done - £2500 respray, SSI's, spotless Fuchs, Carrera tensioners, rebuilt top, poss even Bilsteins and sold for under £10K which was criminal. If the cars not RHD and MINT (and I mean absolutely mint) then work back from that. Distinctly average SC Targa currently 7 grand and no more but they do sell for less, especially if 180 bhp - don't let the sunshine cloud your judgement!

Tell us more about what you are looking at for additional feedback, some pics would be nice. Are you buying from a club member, we might know the car. What is the budget, let us know.

Cheers, JG.

PS: Oh, the easiest way to tell a 204bhp car is if it has wing repeaters. 204bhp came in August 1980 for the 1981 model year so could be either.

 

[tripe]

Just to add to JG's comments above re: the difference between 180 & 204bhp cars. Over the years many owners have fitted later wings to their cars, this means that the presence of side repeaters is not necessarily an indication of age. To be sure, lift the engine lid and look at the fuel lines leading to each injector (three fuel lines from the top to each side of the engine, leading into the alloy spider leg type inlet manifolds). 204bhp cars have thin metal fuel lines, earlier cars had plastic fuel lines.

 

[porkersc]

Would mine be of interest. Details in the for sale section. Don,t let the LHD put you off, in fact the next one i buy will also br LHD. Mine has got all the desirable bits and the Carrera tensioners etc.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: porkersc

Would mine be of interest. Details in the for sale section. Don,t let the LHD put you off, in fact the next one i buy will also br LHD. Mine has got all the desirable bits and the Carrera tensioners etc.

Agree LHD the only way to go on 911's IMO but entirely up to you

Tripe's right, look for metal lines as well as things like repeaters etc, think I have a chassis number somewhere for 204 brake start , will try and find it later

 

[nick3814]

Wow, thanks for all your quick replies, It looks as though the one I am going to see is a 188bhp as there are no side repeaters, its been fully reupholstered to original spec, has fuchs alloys, full history with dealer and specialsits, oil flow and return pipes have been renewed although the owner says it needs new heat exchangers, I have heard of these am I right in thinking they transfer heat from the engine into vehicles heating system?
Owner is asking £6995, the photos I have seen show it looking mint (although I am aware the camera does lie!!) and the interior is as new, the colour is white which wouldn't have been my first choice but does look good for this vintage of 911.
Does this price sound about right, it is a coupe not a targa.
Cheers

 

[Guest]

Coupes worth more than Targas so that's not bad if the gearbox and general bodywork is up to scratch, but too dear for a car with knackered heat exchangers that needs any work in other departments too IMO. The Fuchs are a nice touch though. Be careful to check that the upholstery has been done properly, nothing worse than crappy trim. You don't say what the miles are - that will also have quite a bearing on price.

The heat exchangers are basically the exhaust manifolds, they act as the car's heater by running the air for the passenger compartment over the hot manifold surface, the warm air is then piped into the car. If it needs new ones they will cost you a few quid and are a complete pig to fit. Nuts and bolts break off left right and centre if you don't do it right: i.e. with an oxy-acetelene torch or 'the blue wrench' as our cousins from across the pond call it. Expect that bill to be the wrong side of £6/700 if you buy new h/ex's, used might be about that or a bit cheaper depending how easily they come off.

I will be changing mine later in the year as just bought early SSI's (pre-74) and a stainless back box so will have some good used for sale. Otherwise ring round the breakers, someone will definitely have a tidy pair for you.

Make sure you have good tyres and fairly recent shocks on there too by the way, shocks should have been changed at least once since the car was new - check the bills. Those two components make a big difference to the way the cars go.

White is nice on SC's, one of the best colours IMO!

 

[nick3814]

The engine has had a rebuild and the gearbox was refurbed about 15000mls ago. Can you still use a 911 ok when the heat exchagers need replacing as the summer months role on I wont be using the heater and I will be taking her off the road in the winter so I thought I could replace them then, incidently I would be interested in the ones you will have for sale later in the year so keep me in mind for those, I have attached a couple of photos, not great ones but see what you think.

 

[nick3814]

Another photo

 

[nick3814]

And another....

 

[Bazgillie]

Nick
Car looks nice. But as john says check for rust. The heat exchangers are a sleeve that fits over the exhaust pipe to heat the inside of the car. As long as the exhaust pipe itself is not rotten and leaking it would not be a problem to leave till later. There is a complete stainless exhaust on E-bay at the moment 2 X heat exchangers plus a back box to suit but it will mean altering your oil lines to clear. I found good second hand heat exchangers for the right price, they are about. Mine had a stainless back box on it when I got it and I have added a stainless pre-silencer since. When I fitted the hewat exchangers I fittedit with stainless cap heads much easier. Good luck with the car.
Barry

 

[Guest]

Nick, have to be honest, the Miami Vice seats aren't my cup of tea and neither are the drilled pedals, but that is a good price if the body is OK. Get it PPI'd and if you get the green light from that then buy it. If not then knock it down a few quid and then buy it, looks rather nice and has had some good work done by the sounds of it. Have you driven the car? How does the gearbox feel - snatchy changes or is it all nice and progressive? Did they change the clutch when they rebuilt the box? Anything else strike you on the test drive apart from how bloody wonderful SC's are? [8D]

Regards PPI's, have you asked the 911 guys in your region who they use to look after their cars (early 911's, not the Mickey Mouse ABS PAS big-girls-blouse later stuff)? You could get them to PPI it if you think it will be going back to them for maintenance work.

Looking really promising so far though, keep us informed!

ORIGINAL: Bazgillie

There is a complete stainless exhaust on E-bay at the moment 2 X heat exchangers plus a back box to suit.

Are you sure about that Baz [8D]

 

[Guest]

PS: Do you know what size the Fuchs are? Obviously 16's and looks like 7's in the front but then looks too tucked under to be 8's on the back - send us some more pics! If they are 7's and 8's then you have got some sexy wheels there, 8's are hard to find and worth an easy £350, though if they're 6's and 7's they still look good obviously.

 

[Guest]

Are you still looking? I have a restored 1980 SC if you are