Fidalgo911S

Back to your original question. I think the only people who bash the '74 911 are those who don't own one. I bought a '74 911S last year and love it. I've had a few 911's over the years and I feel this is the one I'm going to keep for the years. The '74's are vastly underrated - and that's good, more for us who appreciate them. If I could add another '74 911S to the stable, maybe a targa, I would.

Edgy01

If I could find anything wrong with the 1974 911 line (911, Carrera) it would be the lack of galvanized body steel. That development occurred one year later in 1975 (save the roof) and by 1976 the entire body was galvanized. This IS a significant issue in that a 1974 car is now over 30 years old these days! This is one more area that you must pay close attention to.

Dan

r911

I'm not sure what makes you think that. Here is what I've come up with based on published sources:

Body Galvanizing in Porsche 911

Thyssen steel = steel with Zinc layers on both sides; thickness of the Zinc layers varied from 10 um to 20 um, depending on exposure conditions (Frere, p. 201)

1970 – Galvanized steel (not Thyssen type) used in floor pan and wheel arches (Bob White in Pano V: 142); the “entire platform, including the floor, the longitudinal members, the wheel arches and the seat pans were galvanized.” (Boschen & Barth, p. 124)
1971 models – had galvanized steel in areas particularly exposed to rust (Frere, p. 201)
1972-1973 – Thyssen steel use began (Bob White in Pano V: 142)
1973 – Thyssen steel: rocker panels, inner rocker panels, floor pans, & some other parts (Chuck Stoddard in Pano V: 142)
1975 – Thyssen steel: entire body treated (Bob White & Chuck Stoddard {began in Feb. ’75 production} in Pano V: 142, 192)
1976 models – had Thyssen steel in entire body except roof (Frere, p. 201)
1977 models – on – had Thyssen steel in entire body (Frere, p. 201); an “important step forward was the use of zinc-coated sheet steel for the manufacture of the entire body structure (except for the coupe’s roof on early production cars). Coated on both sides, this made the structure virtually immune against the formation of rust….” (Boschen & Barth, p. 143)


The Zinc steel added 22 lbs. to the weight of the body structure (Frere, p. 202)

Pano = Panorama volume: page number
Frere = Frere, Paul. 1997. PORSCHE 911 STORY. 6th ed., Patrick Stephens Ltd. Newbury Park, CA.
Boschen & Barth = Boschen, Lothar and Jurgen Barth. 1978. THE PORSCHE BOOK: A DEFINITIVE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY. Argo Books.


Note: the Panorama and Frere comments can be harmonized since most cars for one model year are constructed in the previous chronological year

Dan Cobb

I can tell you this. I didn't have any known/noticeable rust on my 74, but my 84 has a bubble along the inside edge of the passemger fender, where it meets the hood, just behind the headlight area.
Don't think that a galvanized body is a save-all against rust.

BTW, there is absolutely no evidence of any previous body damage or repair in the affected area.
+++

Edgy01

It looks like you made my case. Only by 1977 were the 911s fully galvanized. (I know,--I was picking up a new 911S at Zuffenhausen in March 1977).

Dan

Edgy01

Thermal reactors were kicked into the 911S in 1977.

Dan

Peter Zimmermann

Thermal (aka thermo) reactors were fitted to CA 1975 - 1977 911s.

T Tanner: "Catalyst" began with the '78 SC models, your '76 car was definitely a "No catalyst" model. Your car was fitted, from the factory, with the 49-states exhaust without reactors.

Pete

r911

Right Dan - fully... Most likely it was the roof that was last.

T Tanner

Thanks Peter!! for the correction

psychoideas

Hi Pete,
Thanks for the advice. Sorry it's taken me so long to respond but I've had really bad computer problems.
Can you advise me on a supplier for the unit you suggested?

Cheers
Frank

Credit_Card_Guy

Pete,

Please do post the supplier on the unit you suggested. Would this eliminate the points all together?

Thanks everyone for the input. Its is good to know that people in the know, know what I am talking about.