Sonic dB

""Remember the old saying if its not in the shop its not a porsche."

Spoken by a guy who put a Chevy engine in a 911 body and wants to justify his superior decision by deriding everyone else. George...maybe its just me, but I dont think of you as a 911 owner. The majority of your posts that I have seen are simply knocking Porsche's reliability. Theres no pride of ownership in your car or attitude.

To the rest... if the kid wants to ask questions about potentially bad cars...let him. Hes looking for a deal and asking advice. Yeah, it would be nice if his questions were a little more specific...but no ones forcing us to read or respond to his question.

Just get a PPI.

82Euro

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Sonic dB:
<strong>Just get a PPI.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"><img border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" title="" src="graemlins/bigok.gif" /> A couple hundred bucks spent that can easily be deductedfrom the selling price. If you don't buy it it will probably be because the PPI saved you thousands. You can't loose.

Ignore the flat 6 comment it's just kind of a teaser thing that is ongoing. <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />

George 911-V8

Sonic relax, I hope the guy follows the information and gets the PPI done. I'm only calling it as I see it. I have been there and done that when it comes to porshe maintance and repairs. I put my porsche wrench's children thru private schhol with the money I spent with him over the years.

George

16jake

rjt, i did state that last time i went to pomona i arrived an hour late and all that was left was fixer uppers that were way to expensive, Not for my budget, but for the value of the car(more simply they were way overpriced). I guess i should of been more accurate in my description. anyways i asked about p cars with a motor swap to see the reaction. i hear about it all the time with my friends and muscle car crap so i wanted to know the view point of this for a porsche. you see i learn something new everyday. i always got my eyes open and ears listing because thats the type of person i am. i never do anything without researching it first. (ex. i built a real bent grass putting green a golf practice area in my yard last year from scratch and seed. i researched on how to build for at least 3-4months so i would do everything properly. the result was great. i have one of the only successful real bent backyard putting greens in my town and it is maintained everyday by me, a 16 year old).this is why i ask questions, it seems it can be very helpful in life. but mybe it doesnt work for all of us. i appreciate the input from everyone even when it is negative. My father and i may go look at this car if it is still available this weekend and yes i definately would get a ppi. And for the comment i would spend 6k to make it drivable. no i doubt that considering it is perfactly drivable now and even if i did have to invest 6k into the car. would that be all so bad. at least i would know what i had after that and i might be able to enjoy for many years to come. Pestimistic seems to be your middle name. and it also seems there are many happy porsche owners out there who have spent between 8-15k(about what my family is looking to invest in a porsche) on their p car and are very happy with it and dont seem to always need an advil("headaches"). frankly rjt, if i wouldnt have posted this post on this c2 i wouldnt know everything i now do about common problems on early c2. And i only have one issue of panorama. where can i obtain a copy of porsche buyers guide? and once again how do i post a pic on this forum?

Christian K

Dear George

I'm not a chevvy specialist, but isn't there any difference in the airport cab engines and the vette engines? I suspect a cab engine is a detuned robust engine which has as first priority to last a long time with no or very little attention to performance. I think you can't compare it to a sports car.

Porsches (at least the older ones) combine good performance with longevity and relatively long service intervals. That's what make them unique and has made them so sucessful in racing over the years. The stock 930:s, 964:s and 911:s do have a lot in common with quite a few of the P-race cars, with the 935 being maybe the most famous. It's when you can take a car to a track and go for more or less full throttle in 24 hrs that impresses me. You can do that with a more or less stock 911. Most cars will break down under such treatment, even so called sports cars from various manufacturers.

I quick speedburst or a few laps around a track is something completely different.

cheers

Christian

911 Carrera -84

jim912928

George, most engines will last about as long as you want based on how you care for them. I've had 4 porsches with well over 100k on them and no engine issues. But normal (I mean normal...proper oil changes, replacing belts, plugs, air cleaners) on any engine increases life. Likewise, proper driving and not abuse prolongs life. I've also had corvettes that went over 100k...but I took care of them. Whether it be a chevy or a porsche, if you do stupid stuff as far as not maintaining it or driving them abnormally they will break! I currently have both a 911 and a 928 with both pushing close to 100k and I drive them both daily....100 miles a day...have never failed me...and have never been "holed up" at the dealership with major/minor engine problems. But I do proper maintenance.

Now, I did have a sweet 78 Camaro with 4speed that I abused and the engine went at about 35k miles (my teen years). Now, do I generalize and say all chevy engines are bad?...Nope, I drove it hard and abused it..so I got what I deserved.

Now, porsche engineering..especially engines, are renowned for innovation and longevity...so either the world is wrong and you are right..or you are generalizing what happens to any car..they break. You can go to any dealership and see an entire garage full of their cars (hmmm...my jeep's and mini-vans have spent more time at the dealership then my porsches!). Another random thought...if p-car engines are so notorias for failure...wonder why harley davidson had porsche design end-to-end the new v-rod motor?

Misc. thoughts from a long-time porsche owner who diverted to vette's for a time and neither ever left me stranded!

Eddie Hotrod

I'm thinking of getting a crappy old Chevy and putting a Porsche engine into it.......

hoffman912

even better... get a vw beetle and put a porsche engine into it! ive seen it been done, bolts right up like it was meant to be there. (actually there might have been some stuff done to get it to match up to the geat box, but aside from that maybe, and making room for the engine, its pretty simple.)

Christian S.

Re the Chevy V8 versus Porsche Flat 6 debate - the only way to really address George's views on their relative reliablility is to consider the numbers of each engine produced, the numbers still in use and the best way of comparing a ubiqutous power unit with a rare one.

Gazing into a Porsche shop and remembering one's own problems with a flat six is not the most reliable way to compare with an engine that has been produced in millions, fitted to countless different vehicles and is 101 for even the most knuckle headed mechanic to work on.......

RJT

Jake....Sorry if I sound pessimistic, I'm probably the most optimistic person you'll ever meet. I'm glad that you have learned something from Rennlisters advice. That is what this is all about. I learn something everyday myself, I'm disapointed if I don't. But realize that everyone that has posted to your questions are trying to help you. A discussion forum is for comments, suggestions and advice, some or most of it might not be what you want to hear. There are hundreds of Rennlisters that either didn't read your questions or simply didn't want to bother responding with advice on something like an SC with a 73 motor in it. Or an early short wheel base 912 with a C2 body kit!?!? Only a moron would do something like this to a vintage Porsche, and only a moron would buy it from him. Then a question about an already suspect car with tons of miles on it for less money than it should be selling for. Hmmmm....Sounds like you were pretty excited about all of these "cars", and at 16 this is understandable. I was 17 when I bought my first 911.
There are Porsches out there for sale that have not been butchered into being something else. Pomona Swapmeet is held every 6 weeks, I know, I sold Porsche stuff there for 15 years. It opens at 5 AM (early bird gets the worm) If you arrive late, sure the good cars will be gone!
Go to the closest Book store that sells magazines, buy Excellence. It's a great magazine about Porsches, nothing but Porsches!

Email me your address. I will send you a copy of the book, Porsche Buyers Guide. Read it cover to cover. It will tell you which cars to avoid or be very careful to inspect before you buy, 75-77 911, early 90s C2, first year 986 etc. etc.

Have you noticed that most/all of the posts now are not directed at your original question, but at George with his 911(?) with a Chevy V8 in it? Wonder why?

hoffman912

Jake,

do yourself a favor and listen to robert and take him up on this. he is giving you a gift greater than the advice given here. this book will help you out a great deal!!!

RANDY P

Cabs use burned out police cars / ex fleet vehicles.. They're big, and cheap. The only two criteria a taxicab company has. It's not for the reliability that George is implying.

rjp

jim912928

Jake,

Barnes & Nobles bookstore carries Excellence Magazine!...go buy it! Then, find out where your local PCA club is and go there...they will help!

16jake

I think i will take rjt up on his offer and i will try to get my hands on anything i can find. After all i did find this forum and look at all ive learned. i appreciate everyone who has taken time to give me advice and keep me from buying a heap of crap.
Jake
oh yes on the subject of putting porsche mtrs in vws. i saw a very nice old bug with a porsche tail and motor. looked and sounded great.

hoffman912

Jake,

now read, study and learn that book robert is sending you! it will be your guide! (although this will not substitute for a ppi)

they do, but they dont have the handleing capabilities or aerodynamics of a porsche. if you want a porsche.. stick with a porsche, cause a bugged out beetle with a 911 engine still isnt a 911! (even if its tricked out and done right ala hot vw's mag).

where are you at in california? if you are interested in checking out some cool early porsches, there will be a show in solvang (north of santa barbra) called the 912 rendezvous. no, im not necessarly trying to still talk you into a 912, (i know what you really want is a 911) but there you can check out and find stuff out about what to look for in old 911's (as 912's are old 911's with 4 cyl motors). you can ask me, and other owners there what kind of problems occour etc, what to look for, etc. the only thing different is our engine.. so everything other than that will apply. if you are looking for an early 911, this show will teach you alot. people in the 912 registry are very helpful and kind. i know they would be more than happy to assist a young porschephile (i know this b/c they help me, and im a youngin!). and although the focus is the 912, they realise the commonality of these cars, and will gladly share their knowledge and teach anyone who is willing to learn. the show is july 31-august 3rd. for info click here. <a href="http://www.912rendezvous.org/" target="_blank">http://www.912rendezvous.org/</a>

the best thing you can do is surround yourself with people who know porsches. get into the pca. (as someone suggested), and go to porsche shows. listen to conversations and what they talk about. if you get lost on what they are talking about politly ask them to explain, and how it works etc. also read books. read mags. read books on repairs and maintenence. learn as much a you can.

the same applies here on rennlist too. not just asking questions of them/us, but read the other forums, read other topics, and listen. absorb what they have to say. if you dont understand somthing then ask. you can learn alot by just eaves dropping, reading the topics, conversations, and listening.

the key here is to absorb as much info as you can. and as you learn more, the more you can join in the conversations and be conversational and fluent in 'porsche speak' and problems, parts, etc that actually deal with the details of maintenence and daily running of these great autos.

this, honestly is this best advice i can give you personally. if you surround yourself with people who know these cars, you too will eventualy know them as well.

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
Harry