Kermit is ready to come home -- Need Help

[larry47us]

Gentlemen:

This is where I ask for some suggestions. Kermit is ready to come home. I am flying to Westport, CT on Sunday to pick him up.

I have two issues:

1. The person that was going to do my PPI is MIA, and I need to find someone else to do the final inspection. I know about Deman Motorsports in Nyak, NY, but Mike said that this is a long way away. He suggested a local place, Fairfield County Motorsport. I know nothing about this place, and hope that someone on this board has experience with them.

2. We are going to drive Kermit back. A straight shot is about 1,000 miles. If we take a bit of vacation along the way, going through Deals Gap, it will be about 1,700 miles. Mike is nervous about this. He suggested that I have the car trucked back to Chicago. He is planning on taking the car on a 100 mile jaunt today or tomorrow, but he said that the car has been basically sitting for two years, and he doesn't know what he doesn't know. Specifically, he said, "What happens if you lose a wheel bearing somewhere in Virginia?" I am comfortable that the engine will run correctly. The car had new brakes and calipers put on before Mike bought it. In addition, a new clutch and tranny rebuild.

So, am I tempting fate to take Kermit on a drive like this without being more familiar with how the car runs? Will a solid PPI give me confidence that I can take the car "on the road?"

TIA

larry

[ckissick]

I have a new 3.0 engine with about 300 miles on it now. It runs very well, but it requires maintenance in the first 1000 miles during break-in. I just adjusted the valves yesterday, and they were pretty far off. I also recently developed a noise from the left chain tensioner, and still haven't resolved that. The noise might have been the valves, but since I have an exhaust leak between the muffler and the Birsch headers, I'm trying to fix the leaks before I start the engine again. Also, I can't get my clutch adjusted right (this started after about 200 miles). It either just needs more tweaking, or there might be a problem inside the tranny/clutch area.

As you can see, there are a lot of things that need sorting out. I wouldn't want to be far from my garage. Therefore, I vote for shipping.

[pwd72s]

goferit! I say this because Larry's car doesn't have a fesh engine, the work involved mainly body and paint...

[ckissick]

Oh. In the immortal words of Emily Litella, "Never Mind." Or was that Rozanne Rozannadanna?

[larry47us]

Charlie:

Thanks for your comments. I don't think that I would have tried to "brave" a cross country trip on a recently rebuilt engine.

Paul - thanks for the confidence. Let's hope that Murphy is vacationing in Denver when I start this trip.

larry

[69Sman]

Larry, go for it!

[SandyI]

When I leave Otto's, he guarantees his work if I want drive my car to the moon. Who is Mike? And Mike "doesn't know what he doesn't know?" What the heck does that mean? Lose a wheel bearing in Virginia? Why? Are the wheel bearings bad? Hasn't every possible system in your car been checked and rechecked?

[JCR]

I once drove a 356 I just purchased from LA to Michigan, the PPI gave me some confidence. Not even the slightest problem during the trip - these cars love the open road.

The 100 mile shakedown should identify any issues. Have the points, plugs, wires, alternator and battery well checked. Also, tire condition and wheel balance/alignment. Have him run the 100 with the lights on, and make sure the heat works... you'll need it!

[larry47us]

When I leave Otto's, he guarantees his work if I want drive my car to the moon. Who is Mike? And Mike "doesn't know what he doesn't know?" What the heck does that mean? Lose a wheel bearing in Virginia? Why? Are the wheel bearings bad? Hasn't every possible system in your car been checked and rechecked?

Sandy:

I understand your comment. This purchase was a "bare metal repaint." There was a minimum of mechanical work that was contracted for. If I lived in Connecticut, I know that Mike would stand behind his work. The issue here is that I live in Chicago, and Mike doesn't want to be beholden to a Porsche shop in Chicago charging him for work, with no recourse or verification. I understand that. As with any used car purchase, it should run well now, but no one can guarantee that items won't fail next week, next month, next year. This isn't a new car!!

Re: the wheel bearings, I think that he is just being cautious. He has been very conscientious during the rebuild, but we haven't really gone over all the things that can be checked. The car is supposed to be operating properly. I am going to suggest (strongly) that he repack the front wheel bearings before I pick up the car, since the car has been sitting for two years.

Also, the shop doing the PPI will take it out on the road to make sure it runs right. I just felt that a 1,700 mile jaunt with an unfamiliar car was a bit - how you say - (spoken with a french accent) adventuresome.

I really want my wife's first experience in a Porsche to be a good one.

larry

[JackOlsen]

Mike's a pretty well-respected guy -- but in this case, he just did paint and bodywork to a used car. On the other hand, he's selling the used car. And this isn't a $5,000 fixer-upper, either.

I'd do the drive. You're going to be on the east coast, where there's good cell phone coverage and lots of people. Between this board and Pelican, you're about 10 minutes away from a solution to just about any problem.

Bring basic tools and spares. If your cell phone doesn't have internet capability, I'd use this as an excuse to get one that does.

Early 911's are very simple and reliable cars. It would be nice if the seller were a little more confident about what he's giving you the keys to. But if it's running now, it'll probably get you back to Deerfield without a hitch.