1983 944 issues?

[epbrown]

I'm looking at purchasing a 1983 944 soon as a daily driver and garage-mate to my weekend-driven 1983 911 SC. (Okay, my goal is to also get a 1983 928S eventually, to have all 3 cars offered in the US in '83). I've been lurking here, I've checked the FAQ, and I don't see any specific issues with the 944 N/A for this vintage, but I wanted to double-check. Any current owners of this model have advice to offer? And what's a good price? Checking around they seem to be all over the map...

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Emanuel Brown
1983 911 SC Targa
http://home.att.net/~epbrown01/91183.jpg

[stray15]

It is truly important to buy one that is in excellent condition and has all its maintence records. Or, you will pay an arm and leg to get it running right. Timing belt is the most common thing that needs checked....

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There is no substitute,
Tim
'83 944

[Kevin Fraser]

check out the 924/944/968 FAQ's at http://www.connactivity.com/~kgross/944faq.html

kev

[Kevin Fraser]

check out the 924/944/968 FAQ's at http://www.connactivity.com/~kgross/944faq.html

kev

[epbrown]

So, Kev, when I said I'd read the FAQ in my original post, what did that mean to you? :-)
To be more precise, I've read about the various issues for the 944 in the FAQ, but I was interested in specific problems for the 1983 model year. Similar to how the 911 FAQ mentions problems with the 74-77 2.7 liter engine, or the tensioners and clutch on the sC models. The stuff in the FAQ seems more general and mentions the 924/944/928 all in one breath. Do all of the warnings in section 5.6 (water pump, timing belt, etc) apply to the 944 equally, for example, or is one model more resistant to these problems than others?

Originally posted by Kevin Fraser:
check out the 924/944/968 FAQ's at http://www.connactivity.com/~kgross/944faq.html

kev

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Emanuel Brown
1983 911 SC Targa
http://home.att.net/~epbrown01/91183.jpg

[stray15]

The water pump in the early 944 goes bad, but most likely it has already been upgraded to a newer one. I can't think of anything else off the top of my head right now.



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There is no substitute,
Tim
'83 944

[stray15]

I think the older interior looks better....

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There is no substitute,
Tim
'83 944

[Harp]

Hey Mideastmafia, if you make a typo on your post, just click the edit icon (the one with a pencil) and it let's you correct your mistake. And I agree with you about the 85.5 and later having a better interior (and A/C heat ventilation).

[thamlin000]

Buying an 83 has its advantages.

-You'll never replace power steering components (common 944 problem) or have power sunroof problems.

-Parts for early 944s are normally cheaper.

-You'll get that handsome, straight-forward early 944/924 interior that will never be mistaken for an interior out of a 96 Accord.

[RealRideRacing]

There are no serious disadvantages of the earlier 944's ('83-'85) vs the later ones ('85.5+). All 944's should have their Timing Belts changed regularly. The early cars had a water pump recall and a simple call to any Porsche dealer with the VIN# of a prospective candidate can determine if the water pump has been updated.
Perhaps the most recognizeable trait of the early cars are the dashboards. While the later dashes are more sculpted and provide better ventilation, they are also slightly heavier. Porsche did increase the horsepower of the later 8 valve cars up to 155hp (170hp for the 2.7L) from 143hp. However, the later cars also did weigh more so performance was unaffected. For this reason, I would guess that the earlier cars would tend to be a little nicer of brakes, tires and suspension.
Speaking of suspensions, the earlier cars (until '86) had a different offset which utilized VW Rabbit style steel front control arms. Many people prefer the later style aluminium control arms which also set the hubs further out, creating less strain of the bearings. Many Racers though, prefer the earlier Steel arms since steel would bend before it breaks and also because VW made a reinforced control arm (straight bolt-on) which encapsulates the balljoint. The rear trailing arms are also steel for the earlier cars and aluminium for the later cars, offset is not interchangeable as well.
Since the cars with the early offsets were made for such a short time, replacement wheels are harder to find for the early cars. It has become Stylish to bolt on 17" or 18" wheels on 944's and you may find it difficult to get replacement wheels with early offsets. From a performance standpoint, larger diameter wheels offer no advantage except to allow larger brakes and extreme low profile tires (impractical for street use).
The steering mechanism for the early cars are simpler and less likely to fail (lighter too), though you may find them a bear to steer at low speeds. And yes, manual sunroof on the early cars means no stripped gears (a common 944 problem).
Basically, the common strengths and weaknesses of the early and late cars tend to cancel each other out. For a daily driver, I would recommend the latest car you can afford. For track use, the early cars tend to be more desired.
Other 944's to consider (Turbos not withstanding):
- The 2.7L 8V had 170hp and a lot more torque.
- the 16v 944S had 190hp but tended to be a heavy car
- 944S2's are nearly the power of a turbo without the lag.

The key to buying a used 944 is to make sure it has been well cared for. Since the 944 was one of the first "affordable" modern Porsches, a new public suddenly found themselves Porsche owners. These same people were not the typical Sportscar owners and drove their 944's to the ground, yet cared for them like they would a Toyota. For this reason, many of the 944's on the used market are tired. Buying one would likely be a money pit since 944 parts are as much as any other Porsche part. Besides the typical inspection by a qualified Porsche Tech, look for records indicating the following:
- Timing Belt change
- Water pump upgrade
- Clutch replacement/upgrade

Key areas to look for:
- Rear Main Seal leak
- Steering Rack leaks
- Water pump leak
- Rust under the battery tray or rear compartment
- Disintegrating clutch
- Worn shifter (cheap fix)
- Delaminating rear hatch glass (very common)
- Cracked dash (also common)
- Worn motor mounts

Hope this helps. We just had another post at our Message Board on the same subject. Might be worth checking out.
David www.RealRide.com/racing
(Visit our Message Board for Racing Enthusiasts)

[epbrown]

David, thanks for the detailed reply. This was the sort of information I was looking for. A remaining question for everyone is twofold: does anyone know when Excellence last did a listing of the market value of the 83 944? I subscribed a few months ago and it isn't covered in the issues I've got. And,on a related note, what's are early 944s going for?

To recap: I'm looking for a 1983 944 in Guards Red or black, either with a black interior, as a mate to my 911 SC from the same year. As it happens, someone posted a black 1983 in my local PCA magazine (Chicago Scene) , but they're asking nearly $7000. That's more than I've seen any other '83 advertised elsewhere. Some non-local ones that are quite nice seem to be in the $5000 price range.

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Emanuel Brown
1983 911 SC Targa
http://home.att.net/~epbrown01/91183.jpg