Hello 911 forum, I wanted to introduce myself. I am not new to Rennlist, but am new to the 911 forum (I have a 964 RS America). Some of you may remember Steve Thornton (deep_uv) from this thread:

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ferrerid=43271

Sadly, Steve passed away from cancer in June 2010, despite putting up a strong fight, leaving behind a wife and young daughter. Steve and I were very close friends and we also started our Porsche addiction and track addiction together. We both owned 964's (his was a targa) that we both bought within months of one another. I talked Steve into trying his first DE back in 2007 which began his track addiction. I was also the guy that connected him with the 1980 euro SC that he bought to turn into a race car. The SC belonged to my brother-in-law (in fact, I'm the one that took the photos of it in front of the airplane hangar). It's funny that many people posted that the car was too nice and unique to gut for a track car because I told him the same thing!

Fast forward to today... I bought the car from his wife a month ago. She wanted the car to go to someone that knew Steve and would be a good steward for the car that he loved so much. It's funny, I used to get almost nightly email updates from Steve packed with photos of everything he'd done that day on the car. We used to jokingly wonder how Steve had time to actually work on the car given how much time he spent taking photos of everything he was doing on it. He enjoyed working on it and he was a good mechanic. And when he got sick, the car became his therapy and his escape... until he got so sick that he couldn't work on it any longer. But even then, we'd talk about what his future plans were for the car.

So now the Euro SC is in my garage, partially built into a race car, exactly as Steve last touched it. I have boxes and boxes of parts that came with it and have spent a lot of time in the last few weeks trying to decide what to do with the car. There's no question that I am keeping it. The question is where to take the build from here. Steve's plan was to race it. That meant the car would be gutted, cage welded in, etc. I do race also (I'm also a PCA instructor), but I race Spec Miata in NASA/SCCA.

So as I said, I am thinking about what I want to do with the car. It is too far along the modified path to take it back to 100% bone stock without spending a bunch of money. So the question is whether to build it into a full D class race car as Steve had planned or to finish it out as a modified street/DE car. And if the latter, then to what degree to modify it. It already has many things done to it that I will probably not reverse. For example, it has headers and megaphones for exhaust. The original heat exchangers and cat were sold. All the ducting for the heat is removed (the car never had a/c). The bumpers have been removed (and the rear euro bumper sold) and Steve was in the process of installing fiberglass racing bumpers. He installed a Wevo type shifter and gate. He installed a front oil cooler (which requires a modified front bumper). He's removed the original interior (I still have the pascha seats) and installed harnesses and Sparco seat on the drivers side (have them for passenger side too, but not installed yet). It has a bolt in roll bar now (easy enough to remove). It has a fiberglass duck tail lid installed (I still have the original deck lid). The suspension is still stock, but I have an entire racing suspension in various boxes waiting to be installed (mostly Elephant Racing parts). He installed a Sparco steering wheel with quick release. You get the idea. It's no longer a stock car.

Forgive the long story, but I wanted to introduce myself because I'll probably be coming here to pick the collective wisdom of this group. I love the rennlist community and have greatly benefitted from the help and input I've gotten from the 964 forum over the years. I have been surprised how different the 911 SC is from the 964. For example, when I first brought the car home, I'm embarrassed to say that I couldn't figure out where the oil dipstick was til I searched online (this forum actually). And of course, "what's this little compartment in the trunk with a metal hatch covering it?" Ah, that's the smuggler's box! Things like that. Speaking of which, I need a good repair manual for the SC. Any suggestions?

Here are a few photos of the car in its current state.

 

I followed Steve's story on this car and his pics on RW. I am very saddened to hear of his passing.

I guess the big question is whether to build the car the way he wanted it or to finish it out as something that works for you. This is a tough spot and one that is not financially simple!

For us Carrera guys, we consider the Bentley as the gold standard for manuals. You can see the SC version here: http://www.bentleypublishers.com/por...ir-manual.html

They often show up on Ebay and Pelican.

There are a few others that are good references:
- 101 Projects for your 911 from Wayne Dempsey at Pelican
- How to Rebuild and Modify your 911 Engine from Wayne Dempsey at Pelican

I have a spare 101 Projects book and Haynes Manual that I would like to donate to the cause if you are interested.

I'm in Dallas and willing to help out if I can.

 

Welcome to the 911 forum. Sorry to hear of Steve's passing. It would be a great tribute to make it something you would drive. Since you don't race 911's, keeping it streetable seems like a good path.

Good luck. Scott C has covered everything with the manuals.

Brett

 

Welcome!

 

Hi Scott, I'd like to take you up on your generous offer (of help and the 101 projects and haynes manual). I'll send you a PM.

Thanks everyone for the welcome!

 

Replied.... We'll get it worked out soon.

 

Well that sucks about Steve. It is good that his car went to a good home, good luck.

(Get some metal strips under that lift! You'll wear troughs in the concrete with the rollers)

 

That is my favorite 911 color. Hope to see you on the streets in Dallas. Sivler Miata w/hardtop.

 

Hi Greg,
What a touching story. I'm saddened to hear of your friend Steve's passing, but at the same time glad that you have such a wonderful and personal part of him to call your own now.
Steve's direction with the car was clearly driven by his interest and passion. He was making it his.
I think you need to make it yours now, and fully enjoy the ride while remembering a good friend.

BTW, that is the same bumper & tail combination that I'd like to do to mine some day.

 

I have posted this picture before, it shows what I did to my '83 Euro SC transforming ( as in improving on the original) into a fun track car that is also "streetable". By the way, the 964 front rubber smile works very well between your new glass front bumper and the body

 

welcome

 

I started following the car's progress through the photo albums, then learned of Steve's passing last year. I am very glad that the car has gone to you.

 

That is exactly the direction I'm thinking about taking it. In fact, I think I have that same front bumper that Steve bought for my SC (see my photos above). I was actually thinking of swapping it out for the 74 IROC bumper instead out of concern for ground clearance. I have to have the space for the front oil cooler. But that airdam front bumper that I have now is very low and I'm afraid that the first driveway incline or speedbump will take it out. What's been your experience with it on the street?

Your car looks stunning, BTW!

Here's a photo of the style of front bumper I was thinking about swapping to (but for a narrow body car).

 

My car is lowered some and I don't have any problem, IF I AM CAREFUL ! Love the Petrol blue.

 

I just went out to the garage and measured the clearance from ground to bottom of the front airdam. it is 4 3/4" (car still has stock suspension on it). Do you happen to know what your clearance measures?

Thanks!