Non-running 924 for $400

[Brando]

So a local shop has a 924 in their bay. Nice yellow color and it won't run. The story is that the current owner is a speed/acid junkie and one morning it didnt start (he probably turned the key the wrong way). While on a high he ripped out a ton of the wiring and now it doesn't run. The shop owner looked at it for free and gave the guy an estimate of $2500 for parts and labor to get it up to snuff. The owner refused and wants to unload it.

From what i've been told, when it ran it was very strong. Everything on it works (or worked) normally before the wire-hash incident and the guy just wants to get rid of it now. Basically i'm asking if this is a good deal for a fixer-upper car. I already have a beater and i'm trying to snag my neighbor's 90's van for a low cost, as well as unload my ghetto bug.

Would the price for the car be worth it to re-wire and drive it? What all is involved with getting the wiring done?

All help is appreciated.

[scottmandue]

Brando,
I know where you can get a running 1984 944 for $3000

[Moneyguy1]

"What is involved with getting the wiring done?"

Patience, creativity, and the ability to read wiring diagrams. Hook-up wire and connectors are a necessity, much of which can be bought from surplus electronic places like "All Electronics" that has hookup wire in different colors and gauges. You will NOT be able to get all the colors, stripes, etc, your car originally had, but replacing ONE wire at a time, you may have a chance. I had one person with an early 944 that he bought. Certain things simply did not work. I went under the dash and counted 27 wire nuts. THe PO had jammed one of the main connectors in upside down, then tried to "fix" it by switching wires around.

It really depends on how much damage the PO actually did. If both ends of a wire are still there, soldering and shrink tubing may restore some functions. I would call this a labor of love.

[Zero10]

Worst comes to worst, you could probaby get a used wiring harness, and just swap whatever is torn out.
Although, I would really worry about what condition the car is in, given he is a speed/acid junkie.

[scheistermeiste]

if it was just the wiring id do it... but i love eletrical junk. if it was down here id be all over it

[Brando]

I've seen the car, it's sitting in a covered area of a Mercedes/Porsche shop lot. The car from the outside looks pristine, i haven't had a chance to look at the inside yet. It's got the circular turn signals on the front, so i think it's probably a 79 or early 80's production. I also have a friend who can tow it for me, no charge.

scott: I'd love to take you up on the offer, but if i had $3000 to play with i wouldn't be lookin at a 924, thats for sure!

[ronin]

well, if you feel confident that you can do it, go for it. it all depends on how much wiring the PO actually ripped out. you could consider buying it, and if it just gets to be too much for you, then simply part the car out. yes, it does sound tragic considering you said the car was pristine, but if all else fails, at least you'll be able to recoup your investment and a few dollars extra. heck, I'd be sorely tempted to do it if it was available to me

[unclebilly]

Like Zero said, get a used harnes and put it in. I had a buddy that destroyed the wiring harness in his 69 RS Camaro in much the same way that you describe happened to the 924...

I've also replaced hacked wiring harnesses in a few Toyota 4X4's, it can take up to a day, don't replace what you don't need to (solder and heatshrink every splice) and you'll have no problems going forward. You should be able to get a good used harness for under $300 from a wrecker (try to get everything - the fuse box, switches, every thing that's been hacked on you car) so certainly for under $1000 and a weekend's worth of work, you could have a runner. The key is to take you time and put the harness back in excatly the way it was.

[Brando]

A bit of an update, i got a real close inspection of the car today. Firstly, it's a 78 924 Automatic with all 5 mag wheels.

He said he'd take my offer of $400 for it. The outside is straight, no dents dings or bumps, but the paint is chipped a bit in the front and on the doors and there is a small half-dime sized spot of rust or two on the hood. Needs the rear hatch glass to be resealed (i have a replacement hatch that's fresh). The front valence is pretty beat up. Aside from that everything else looks okay on the outside.

The engine compartment has a few things disconnected but can easily be repaired or replaced. What caught my eye was the gaping hole where the fusebox/relays should be. There were a lot of wires dangling and the fuses/relays were in the back. The center console had also been taken off and was in the back.

I think with the replacement parts and about a week's time i could get the thing up and going. The shop owner also said i had free reign to the wiring diagrams (yippee).

Is this still a good deal or no?

[SoCal Driver]

Would not touch an automatic. This sounds like a parts car.

Did you mean the wheels have five lugs or there are five wheels?

[Brando]

5 lug mags, 5 of the mag wheels. Fixing this car would be opening my door to work at this mechanic's shop. I'll be talking to the 'rents to finance this project.

Only thing is, i can't find a replacement wiring harness for 78 anywhere. ebay has one for an '80 without AC. Any websites that y'all know of with 924 OEM/upgrade parts? If it comes down to it, i'll be buying a few spools of wire and fabricating the new wiring, i have all the electrical tools, heatshrink material, wire shielding, etc.

Socal, is it possible to use a wiring harness from a later year, or possibly a 944?

Thanks for your advice everyone

[SoCal Driver]

You will have to fab the harness.

If there are no adapters on the wheels to make them five lug then this is a late 924 or possibly even a 924S. Does the engine look like your old one?

Let me know what you find out ASAP.

[TCMdocs944]

Big project...

Sounds like a cool autox thingy though.


Wheres my welder!

[Brando]

Okay, another update. I went out there later this afternoon with some tools and a notebook.

All of the wiring is there, just some parts snipped, cut, etc. All the relays and fuseboxes are there (they were in the passenger footwell in a can). It looks like all the guy did was cut the wires and remove the fuse/relay blocks.

The center console was also ripped out. All of the vents/heater/defrost sliding-switches need to be reinstalled, and possibly wiring for the stereo as well. The little faceplates for all the switches/rockers (lights, emergency flashers) gotta be replaced as most are broken or missing.

It is a manual transmission. Some of wires to the engine/EGR are disconnecte, as well as tubing to the vacuum advance-looking thing. It also needs a new front winshield (my old one needed on too) and the rear hatch replaced (got one). Also i was wrong, they are the 4-lug mag wheels, that have a hex insert on the lug bolts.

The engine turned over without any problems. No water in the sump so that's a good sign. Some of the rubber plumbing hoses need to be replaced and it needs all new belts. I dont think it has AC but it looks as if there's an AC pump on the engine (not sure if it's AC pump or waterpump).

Aside from all that it needs, it could use some touchup paint and it'd look brand new. Body is straight and no dents / dings / scratches. Just chipped paint and some surface rust.

I'll have to find a '78 wiring diagram as i can't even begin to remember how my '83 944 was wired. Hugh, what's your estimate on hours it'll take to do this thing? I got plenty of time and just need a book with a diagram...

[TCMdocs944]

I am thinking that you need to find a salvage yard for the glass bits...otherwise expensive.

Isn't there an aftermarket plexi rear hatch?..good for track.

Wiring can be rather tedious..need to figure if splicing some extra in there will be necessary and prepare for that.

[FLA944]

Brandon,

Get It! and enjoy. Lose the mags.

Haven't installed your old stereo yet I have some interior wiring issues to work thru first.

Good Luck,

Rick

[SoCal Driver]

78 electricals are on the Pelican Parts side of this site. A lot like the early 944's for everything except the DME stuff.

Have no guess on hours but I bet it's at least a month of spare time or more.

[svandamme]

you can always try it, if it doesn't work you can sell off the car in parts and even make a buck out of it...

[rammstein]

if you can, take pics of your work as you do it. I am interested in watching/learning.

[944boyfutureman]

Sounds like a fun project.