What are my options

[Baza]

Now I know I can just repair what I have.
BUT what options do I have for up grades keeping cost down to a minimum. I would like the options to stray relatively factory useing as much as I can from what I have got with as little time as posible of the road. ie: S2 swap or the like.
Thanx Barry (as he opens the can)

[mscromer]

I dont really understand your question? Options for upgrading what? The engine, suspension, interior, all of it. What are you wanting speed, handeling, looks. Let use know and maybe we can help.

[Dantilla]

Step 1- Where do you think the car is lacking? Power? Handling?

By far, the best reurn for money spent is driver education. Take your car to a track, and get some advanced instruction. You will quickly see that a completely stock 944 is far more capable than most drivers.

And the basic things you learn on track will improve every vehicle you drive, for the rest of your life.

[Eldorado]

in an earlier post, he realized he has a bent valve.. in the repair, 'while hes in there', he wants to know if he can do anything worth upgrading...

[Razorback1980]

See earlier post. Total repair cost IF you didn't break a piston will be around three hundred dollars. Leave the engine in the car, take the head off and replace the valve. Turn the head upside down and pour gas on the valves and see if they hold it or let it run through. If they let it run through, get the head reworked before reinstallation. Problem solved. ...and of course remember to change belts a little more often.

[Baza]

Sorry about the lack of information. Unfortunatly owning one of these cars here in Australia is not a cheap option as mechanics tend to charge quite a bit more for 2 reasons
1 most porsche mechs are dealers and to them the 944 is a poor relative and shuold not be seen on the workshop floor
2 all other mechs just dont have a clue and see the Porsche badge and think this guy has cash.
The Quote I have gotten from the mech I use is $800 plus parts if there is no damage to the piston. and that does not include new belts. rebuilt Long motor from only recycler with 200 miles of me is $1900 with 6 months warranty 2.5 or 3.0 ltr. Checked the date of the belt replacement it was 15 August 2004 with retention at 12 October 2005 with the car only travelling 15000 kilometers since 2004 and not on the track.
As to the upgrade handling is under control ( my first stop for mods)
I would just like a little more punch out of the corners and of the line. but its not a biggy As Eldorado said "while Iam in there" why not.

[Eldorado]

well the 800 bucks sounds reasonable... remember, baza... ya gotta pay for labour... if you do it yourself, you'll save about 50%.

as for engine mods... i dont think there's much you could do, but i'll let the more experienced comment on that.

[Razorback1980]

When I did that to mine at the track the Porsche dealer here wanted $2000 to fix it. It cost me about $300. That was when I decided I had more time than money and all remaining repairs to my car were no longer taken to the dealer. $800 doesn't sound out of line for what has to be done.

[Baza]

Thanx guy's, Ive repuilt my small block chevy boat many times I think its time to learn about my small block Porsche. After all Ive been reading hear enough to know that there's plenty of support if things get tuff.
Tanx Guy's

[nynor]

is that $800 USD or australian? if australian, that is a steal.

[Baza]

Its Ausie Dollar its not the labour costs but the parts cost ie $550 for exchange secondhand head then you reco it.

[Razorback1980]

There should be nothing wrong with the head you already have. Take it off and see if you can just replace the valve. After replacing the valve, turn it upside down and pour gasoline on it....if it holds gasoline, it should hold compression as well. If not, then take it and have the valves reseated, replace all seals and you are good to go. These engines are a little different than your small block Chevy, but not that much. The hardest part to understand is the torqueing of the head bolts and how to do the balance and timing belts. There are a lot of posts on here and Clarks-garage that will step you through those processes. If not, ask and we'll help you.

[Brando]

Baza, both of those options (head for $800, longblock for $1900) are very, very fair. Here a fully-worked head service after a broken T-Belt will cost in the neighborhood of $2000-$3000 US if all of the work is done by a shop (or dealership).

If you are capable, I would encourage you to take the least expensive route, without cutting corners. There is the possibility your head will need to be machined and that costs time and money.

As for a "while i'm in there" upgrade, I believe Lindsey Racing offers cams that will work with the D-Motronic system, and they have the chips that are mapped for them. Definitely call them, though, to make sure you get a pair made for eachother. You're going to have the head apart, so a cam change won't be difficult.

[Baza]

Thanx Brando will do.
Well I got the head of it wasn't to hard. And boy am I a happy chappy I must have just touched and the valve is bend but only just. So its off the shop to have the whole thing checked and reseated, seals replaced.
New plan
As I am halfway through clutch replacement and I have the clutch kit (job planned for August holidays)
Have head reconditioned
Install new swaybars off a tracked turbo I left the wreckers with, after checking prices of head and long motor (While I was there)
Install head (maybe lindsey cam and chip)
take car on trailer to mechs and have new belts installed
I think that will do till I save some more cash (unless something brakes)
and give me time to plan next improvements.
Thanx for all your help everybody I think I let the Porsche badge scare me to us only mechs instead of what I normally do that is get the tools out and have a go.

[Razorback1980]

They are a little different but the principles are still the same. Next will be learning to do timing belts yourself....again, not too hard actually easy to change the belts, just a trick to get the right tension. Read the posts here, you'll figure it out.