Thinkin of buyin a 911, Good idea? Options

[Doug Leggins]

Strongly considering putting a 3.0 in my 73 914. I've been looking at prices of engines, front ends and Fuchs. These parts alone will likely cost at least $4500 - $5500. If I can pick up a running 75,000 mile 1980 911 SC for $7000, does it make sense to do it?

What else besides the engine, front end and the Fuchs can I use on my 914?

How likely am I to recoup $2500 by selling the remaining 911 stuff?

[ss6]

Go for it, especially if you can get a good deal on your donor car. I followed this approach (though my donor was a t-boned wreck), and was able to use:

engine
main harness
gauges
5 lug front suspension, complete
collapsible spare
auxiliary heater motors
main heater blower
front brake calipers
rear brake calipers and e-brake components
rear rotors (if they're OK)
wheels and tires (may need to flare the teener)


Stuff from the 911 I was able to part out and sell:
seats
dashpad
sun visors
carpet kit
oil tank
steering components
shift linkage
exhaust system
transmission
left over gauges
rear control arms
window glass
chassis tub or cut-ups

Selling my "leftovers" (including the running 2.0 I removed from the teener), paid for my donor car. Sell as much as you can over the net first, then take what's left to the Porsche swap meet of your choice (usually a buyers market there).

Two huge advantages to the donor car approach: you'll likely get history on your motor, and you can do a righteous PPI of the entire car, ie see the motor run, smell it, drive it, leak-down test it, eyeball the PO, etc, which you likely would NOT be able to do buying an "orphaned" motor. Second, you will have access to loads of parts that you didn't realize you need until you're sitting in the middle of your garage cussing.