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Helping a friend, slow restoration on a 1978 911SC Targa, we have really no history on the car. About 120k runs well, no rust. Paint is bubbling all over, no rust under paint. Body man (old timer) says it looks like oxidation in the surface metal. We pulled the front off this weekend, chin spoiler, valence, bumper and lights. The front valence has the fog lights in them, and it has the whale tail. Looking at photos we do not think they were put on at the factory, obviously added later. So this coming weekend plan on going after the rear bumper, valence and whale tail. Looking tonight it looks like the rear deck lid is two parts, the main frame (with a badly dented corner) and the actual fiberglass (?) tail. So were all the deck lids the same and you could just remove the flat vent and put on the tail? Also the AC condenser is connected to the deck.
AC is currently not working so disconnecting the condenser is not an issue. So is removing the deck stripping , repairing and painting the way to go?
As Ice mentions, photos would help, especially at the front. A 1978 should have come with a valence under the bumper with fogs, but it sounds like you think yours may have been changed. I think there were factory tail options even then. If a tail was added, there should also have been a rubber lip spoiler added to the steel front valence. The valence would have been drilled to allow the rubber lip spoiler to be bolted on.
The steel rear deck is standard across the board, and the tail could have been added at any time. Just need to drill holes for the mounting points. I think factory tails have steel bodies and rubber lips. There are several variations of rubber lips on tails, and aftermarket tails that have no rubber and are all fiberglass. Or even fiberglass with rubber lips. Also a variety of different vent openings. There was even a very heavy, all-rubber factory tail.
OK, here is the front, just got back from the blaster, will prime tonight and it will get painted with the rest of the car then reassembled. Start on the tail this weekend.
That looks like the later Carrera front valence where the fog lights are more integral. The SC fogs mount on brackets on the front of the valence and are not recessed.
Did it have the rubber lip spoiler that fits on the lower edge? If not, that is highly recommended if you have a rear tail. Helps keep the front planted and the car better balanced at high speed. You can add this by drilling holes in the bottom lip of the valence to fit the mounting studs on the rubber spoiler.
My 1979 has this later valence and fog lights as well. I like it.
So what we are wondering is the build sheet under Optional Equipment states “Air Conditioner without Front Condenser” would that include the Whale Tail to hold the Condenser?
That looks like a typical "whale tail" spoiler, as opposed to the "tea tray" that came with the Turbos (edges are more upturned all around). Could be a later part. If you are thinking about replacing the deck lid, you can buy any used lid and fasten this tail to it.
Didn't know "AC without front condenser" was an option. AC was either dealer installed (often a real hack job, like on my 1979) or factory. I believe dealer-installed usually was without the front condenser, but factory had it.
See that silver bar poking out of the underside of the front of the car? Only reason that is there is to protect the front condenser, which is mounted horizontally under the body behind that bar. Odd you have the bar but no condenser. There should also be a fan in the front trunk in front of the fuel tank that blows down through a hole in the floor above the condenser.
There is always a rear condenser, even without a tail. It is bolted to the underside of the deck lid beneath the vents.
78 side 78 rear Front is off, media blaster comes in a few weeks.
ok so that tail is a Carrera tail, was introduced in 84 so not original to your car. it does look like a genuine Porsche piece however . at the centre underneath you should see a Porsche crest if it is original.
copper brown targa with a Carrera tail is an excellent choice 😊
So what we are wondering is the build sheet under Optional Equipment states “Air Conditioner without Front Condenser” would that include the Whale Tail to hold the Condenser?
no . the condenser goes under the deck lid regardless of tail. Ac cars have have an extension plate where the coil sits to move it lower so it clears the condenser
Rear bumper is off, bolts very rusty! The right rear trim piece from the wheel arch to the bumper has a wrinkle in it. If the rear bumper is “tapped” and the shock compressed does it pop back out? It looks like the right is about 1/2 inch shorter by tape measurement.
the build sheet says AC.
I'm pretty sure the bumper shocks are one-time use, so they don't rebound. You may be able to pull it back to where it should be, but you will have lost the shock protection unless you replace it.
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1978 911SC Targa strip
