Russ In Vegas

Greetings - thanks again for all your help.

I've got a stock '83 911 with a 3.0 5 speed thats got about 300k miles on it. I can get it up to 100mph, but that's as fast as it wants to go. Any ideas of how fast it should go?

Let me add that I recently got it and it's my first Porsche - and I really don't know anything about these cars yet - EXCEPT THAT THEY'RE COOL!

Thanks,
Russ

mwildt

Hi,

Congrats with the new wheels. Sorry to hear you are disappointed by the top speed. I used to have a '83 coupe. That one was able to get quite a bit beyond 100mph, on the track that is.

So what could be limiting the performance;
- what is the compression
- what does the sparkplugs look like
- did you drive with the handbrake on ? (sorry had to list it)
- is the distributer cap good, good points etc.
- how old is the fuel filter
- enough fuel pressure
- does the throttle link getting fully engaged when the throttle pedal is pushed to the floor ? Could be kinked there by not allowing full engage.
- could previous owners have changed the gearing in the tranny
- etc etc

Michael

Russ In Vegas

Howdy -

I'm not at all disappointed with the top speed, I just figured that it should go faster. I bought the car is San Fran, and drove it back to Vegas - 90-100 the entire trip and NEVER even saw a cop - That was disappointing! I wanted to get my 'right of passage' ticket, but I didn't.

I'll check the stuff you mentioned - could be the handbrake. Thanks for the info -

Russ

theiceman

I hit 100mph in fourth !!! I hit redline at 3rd and am doing 150 km/h which is about 95mph , early into fourth I am hitting 100mph ... stock 3.0 litre... did you have a GPS to verify your speed ?

roger's 2937

Are you in 5th gear??

Russ In Vegas

No - never thought to use a GPS, but I do have one - a TomTom. I'll give it a shot - Thanks!

autobonrun

Check that the throttle linkage is allowing full travel. With the pedal to the floor, see if there is any more travel at the connection in the engine compartment. If there is, adjust the linakage so that full pedal travel gives full throttle. Years ago, I found quite a bit extra in mine.

By the way in 5th gear at red line in my 79SC, the speedo exceeded 145 mph. That was years ago before family and kids. Now I stay considerably below that.

Russ In Vegas

There's a 5th gear? Just kidding, but I will take it in to have checked out - I need to have a Pro look at it anyway, before I break something that could have been avoided.

Thanks again,

Russ

Edgy01

Many years ago I had a turbocharged 911SC. It produced 270 hp. Your's should be putitng out 172 hp. Mine would hit readline in 5th gear which was an indicated 162 mph. You should be able to exceed 150 mph in a stock SC. I would say that it might take awhile, but figure something like 155 indicated, tops. In reality, it will translate on your GPS to something closer to 149, what with the wider body which works harder to cut through the wind. (Mine was narrow body).

1986951

Ummmm... if you are referring to the blue metallic Cab in your photo, that is NOT a Stock 1983 SC Cabriolet...
In fact, the body appears to be a M491 "Turbo Wide Body" , which, interestingly, I don't think arrived on our shores until 1985... I believe I still have a photo of mine and we will see if we can compare the two...
Note the way in which the front spoiler comes up into the front fender line, and the slope of the rear fender flare, plus the "Wide Body" black "Spats" on the front of the rear fender... Sooo, not that your car being a M491 should make it slower... in fact, if it IS an '85 or newer "Wide Body", then it would have the 3.2 Liter engine with 227 (?) or so HP... And should pull about 145 mph, top end...

How about a VIN and we can see what you REALLY brought back to Vegas???

Russ In Vegas

Yes, the car in the photo is the one I'm referring to... When I said 'stock' I was referring to the engine - I know that someone put the widebody on it, But, since I don't know anything about these cars, here's the VIN# - maybe you'll have some info that'll be important for me to know.

VIN# WP0EA0916DS170873

Thanks for any help!

Russ

1986951

Ahhhh! That helps clear things up! Yes, you have the 873rd 1983 911SC Cabriolet imported into the USA! And someone went to a LOT of effort to ad the M491 Package to your car... even tho not original, it is quite a 'Stunner' as they say across the Pond!

As to why your top speed is restricted, that is an interesting question! If the engine is able to pull to redline, and the tranny is the original 915, you should have no trouble doing at least 135, even in a wide body, with extra drag... I am wondering if someone slipped in a different gear set during the refurb process, and that is somehow limiting you, or if in fact, the Speedo is that far off???
Lets get a verdict from your mechanic... I am most interested, and as you can see, I am rather fond of the M491 cars!

Amber Gramps

one of the attatched picture should be of my speedo and tach driving one handed with top down along the beach at silver strand (hotel del). I think it is showing 120 mph at 5,000 rpm's. my car, a stock '88 3.2 cab, is easily able to pull to 120 in 4th gear, and go right past 135 mph in 5th. normal freeway speed is 5th gear and 80 mph. to pass the aholes going 55 in the fast lane only a quick drop into 4th and a stab of the throtle for about 5 or 6 seconds and I'm well past 120. just a referance for what they can do. I'm sure there are alot of 911's capable of going well beond the speed and doing it much quicker. speeking of quick...I literally go back to work on monday's with sore muscles in the front of my neck from the "on/off" throtle responce.

your wide body will slow the top speed a little, but not hold you at 100 may hold you to 130 but not 100. something is wrong somewhere. I'd check the cable first, really it gets done on purpose to keep wives and teens from killing themselves in the monster. good luck and welcome to the family. (yes, I really can go 145 with the top up or down)

JV911

+1 = easy hp

1986951

So 5K rpm's = about 120 mph... sounds about right!