Interesting suspension question...

many944s · 04-04-2006, 07:00 AM

Here is a question I have had in my mind for some time now....
My 85/1 has the early style dashboard, early style fusebox, etc. on the inside. However the front A-arms are cast aluminum, not the standard pressed steel for the "early" models? I am the third owner of her, and I have every receipt from the time she rolled off the showroom floor, and none of them ever show that these were ever replaced? Any ideas?

Thanks,
Nick.

55 Ford Fairlane
69 Triumph Spitfire MK III
74 VPJ Indy Car
82 DeLorean (lost in divorce)
83 944
85/1 944
87 924S (wrecked @ speedway)
95 Ford Mustang

GMingst · 04-04-2006, 07:36 AM

Yeah split year. I have an 01/85 that has a late engine code and it is all original. Does your car also have that prototype option code? I have it. No one seems to know what it means. My guess is Porsche started putting some of the next generation stuff on the early chassis. I think the official year for the aluminum arms was 86 but things happen.

Or maybe they were changed sometime early on...

checkermel · 04-04-2006, 07:50 AM

85.5 (85/2) had aluminum control and trailing arms as stock. I think they are the same as the 86 Turbos? 951 part numbers anyway.

I would guess your early 85 was one of the last off the production line so they used the upcoming replacement parts rather ordering more steel arms. Are your rears aluminum too?

I have bolted up 85.5 aluminum control arms to my 80 924 Turbo. See pic old vs. 85.5 arms.

many944s · 04-04-2006, 08:09 AM

Ok, that answers some of my questions, I have tried to find out what the "prototype" code ment, but have never really been able to find anything pertaining to it.
As for the trailing arms, yes, from the underside of the car, everything looks like a later model 44.

Thanks for the info!

55 Ford Fairlane
69 Triumph Spitfire MK III
74 VPJ Indy Car
82 DeLorean (lost in divorce)
83 944
85/1 944
87 924S (wrecked @ speedway)
85 Ford Mustang