Giantman

Hi all,

How can I tell if an '83 SC has had the chain tensioners updated? And how much labor is typical for the job?

Thanks.

Jay H

If the Carrera style tensioners have been added, you will see oil lines on top of the timing chain cover housings.

Here's a shot of the lines that have been added to a 1983 911SC:



Labor could run anywhere from $400 to $800 for this job, plus the tensioner kit.

Jay
90 964

82Targa

I was quoted around $750 including the kit here in Seattle.

Giantman

Thanks Jay, I will check it out. Do you think because the update is not strictly original equipment that it negatively impacts on resale? Or is this upgrade generally seen as resale positive because of the potential catastrophe it avoids?

Simon.

TAREK

resale positive IMO

cmoss

yes, in fact NOT having it may make a sale more difficult.

Giantman

Well I checked it out and I definately don't have the Carerra tensioners. This car is pretty much original except for the CD player/speaker update. Pop-off valve and tensioners will be the first jobs when I take it to the shop.

Thanks all for the replies.

Jay H

Others have answered and I agree with them that this upgrade definitely helps with resale value. You might not get significantly more money for the car verses a similar car without them, but buyer's are assured that it's "one less thing they have to do" when they get the car. Overall condition will really determine the value of any older 911.

The only time upgrades like this will hurt a car is when the car is being judged at strict concours competitions where a fully original condition (including a design flaw such as non Carrera style tensioners) is valued.

Carrera tensioners are the least prone to failure, but they can fail too. The last non pressure fed tensioners were decent tensioners and can last quite a while (over 100,000 miles). You can save some money and refit new non pressure fed tensioners if you are on a tight budget (or if originality really counts for some reason). They (non pressure fed style) were in use since 1965 (though modified through the years) and aren't as bad as people think...

Jay90 964

Christien

Does anyone have any other pictures or different angles? I was checking mine out, and there's definitely some plumbing there, but I can't quite tell where it goes, or if it's the same as in the pic posted above.

Thanks

pjc

Jay,

Surprised at your comments regarding concours - in the UK this would NOT be penalised as everyone recognises the benefits and is a recognised standard Porsche modification.

PJC

pjc

Christian,

Hope this helps - pics of a '76 engine.

PJC

pjc

Christien,

Seems I failed to upload pics - will send private message.

PJC

pjc

Christien,

Hope I've cracked it - this is the RHS, LHS to follow.

PJC

pjc

Christien,

LHS.

Hope this helps.

PJC

Jay H

I agree that this is typically not an issue. Based on conversations I've had with pro concours guys, this type of originality would only be an issue at very top level, rare concours classes for cars that are treated more like artwork than cars. (And then I bet it could be debated and only scrutinized if there were two cars that were so close in points and some sort of tie breaker was needed...)

For the 99.99% of the rest of us, adding Carrera tensioners should not be considered detrimental to a car's value, even if you concours a car. As an amature judge, I'd never, ever deduct points for something like this at the lower level concours that are pretty common events [unless of course the tensioner lines were dirty! ]

Regards,

Jay