I wanna cry.

[Tervuren]

I was taking my car into the shop this morning to get a cracked exaust checked on from when the car got hit in a parking lot. I was moving towards the exit ramp to the shop, and black smoe everywhere, AC vents, hood, all over. Car blew a connecting rod. I've never heard of that with a 944, punched through the block. So thats it for the '86 for a long time. I don't know what I'm doing with it yet, its soo sudden.

She was soo pretty, everyone loved her.


I'm probably going to prepare the fuel tank for a long storage, pull the wheels off, and set it on blocks. I'm realy about to cry...

So huhm...

[Razorback1980]

Repair should be in the 800 dollar range if you can swap motors yourself. Aero87 i think was the id of a guy here that had the same problem. I haven't heard of that problem often either...you are only the second. If you need help finding another engine, just let me know. You might be able to just find a short block for even less if you are able to transfer parts. Let me know how I can help and I'm really sorry to see that happen.

[Tervuren]

Originally posted by Razorback1980
Repair should be in the 800 dollar range if you can swap motors yourself. Aero87 i think was the id of a guy here that had the same problem. I haven't heard of that problem often either...you are only the second. If you need help finding another engine, just let me know. You might be able to just find a short block for even less if you are able to transfer parts. Let me know how I can help and I'm really sorry to see that happen.

I'm limited on equipment, never done anything of the sort, but I have a good creative mind for figuring things out. For now though, I've got no money to work with at all. I just spent $1,500 for timing belt water pump, brakes, and timing belt bearings/pulleys, etc.

I'd realy want to do a RPM modded Ford 302, around 7.5-8K RPM, get it to shreik like a Ferrari. The 944 is superior to the 308/328/348 in pretty much everything to me but power, and perhaps sound. (Although the 944 does have a good sound to it, both stock and modded)

I'm going to prep it to sit for a while, I don't know when I'll be able to have the funds and time to get it driving again. I have learned one thing though - a yellow 944 is special.

[JivenJim]

Sorry to hear about Old Yellow. Petty car. Would assume you have bent valves too. Engines probably done. But this is The Perfect Time to learn how to take apart the engine and grab that water pump, and rollers. You can't kill a cadaver.

Tell mom the sob story and ask to borrow her S2. Then tell all your relatives send you money for Christmas for parts! Find where the Local PCA meets and befriend some 944 mechanic types. Offer to clean and assist on their projects while you learn.

Save some money and buy a S2 or 968 Engine and swap it in. Would Plan 3500-5500+$ If that's too much than you could spend ~1200 on a 944 used running engine enjoy time with a lovely time bomb.

The cost of these cars will break your heart and wallet. Most of use have been or are there now ;+)
And the most revealing trades of your true character will be defined during the distress of your darkest hours. When I blew my Engine back in June I was at a track 600 miles from home. Lucky fella P-guys saved me and we'll try to help you with the same.

It's not over.. it's just on hold for awhile.

[Eldorado]

i beg to differ on a used 944 engine being classified as a "time bomb"... but that's just me..

depending on prices, you could put 4 used 944 engines in your car for the price of an S2 or 968 engine... and i'd be willing to bet that those 4 engines would outlast any single S2 or 968 engine out there.

[many944s]

Sorry to hear about your loss
If in the long run you decide to revive her, I have a heap of spares that could come in handy that I thought I was going to need on another project, but no longer do. Right down to a bare, prepped block that I would let go of at an extremely reasonable price (ok dirt cheap). I'll keep it on the parts rack until you decide

Good luck,
-Nick

[JivenJim]

Hey El,

Not ripping on the 944's, but he was talking Chevy Swap! Also Any 15+ year 150K++ miles old engine, that has not been rebuilt recently, and has a known condition/history, is a Time Bomb, in my opinion. Why you ask. Cause People buy these cars and do not give them the necessary upkeep cause of cost and/or ignorance. Then when something breaks, it usually cost more than the car value to fix. So they part em out. I saw a beautiful S2 that some guy gave to the mechanic cause he was not willing to put $700 in to water pump.

Once again, sorrow for yellow.

[Tervuren]

Yeah, I know they can cost a lot.

Jiven, I'm thinking more of a Ford 302, heavier then a LS1, but if I went with a V8, I want something that can be built to rev high, and some of the Ford 302's are already near 7,000RPM stock.

Any suggestions on storing the car? Things to do? I hate to see a 944 stay off the road and not come back, its going to cost a lot to repair everything on the car.(It got hit the DMV parking lot while I was inside the DMV) I do plan on having it driving again in the future, may be a while, I have basicly nothing left to spend on the car right now. I just paid for routine replacement of the engine front end. When I have the money to actualy spend on getting it driving again, I'll post about engine options. I don't foresee it happening this year.

My main concern is protecting as its going to sit for 3-24 months.

[many944s]

Here is what I usually end up doing for long term storage:

-fuel stabilizer
-raise onto blocks to prevent tire flats
-make sure the coolant is at proper % for storage conditions
-change brake fluid to prevent water damage
-remove battery and store out of way (just in case)
-lube all door hinges and rear deck lid pins
-put mouse traps inside car (again, just in case)
-pull hood release leaving hood closed, but "popped"
-place foil over intake horn on airbox or seal with a "caplug"
-put about 4 lbs of dessicant on drivers seat (helps prevent mildew smell if there is any moisture in the car)

-If its going to be a REALLY long time, i have even sprayed the brake disks with a coat of WD-40 to prevent surface rust.

Each item on this list has been added for an unfortunate reason over the last 16 years I have been storing my vehicles.... And yes... there is a story behind each of them

-Nick

[m21sniper]

Originally posted by Tervuren
Yeah, I know they can cost a lot.

Jiven, I'm thinking more of a Ford 302, heavier then a LS1, but if I went with a V8, I want something that can be built to rev high, and some of the Ford 302's are already near 7,000RPM stock.

Any suggestions on storing the car? Things to do? I hate to see a 944 stay off the road and not come back, its going to cost a lot to repair everything on the car.(It got hit the DMV parking lot while I was inside the DMV) I do plan on having it driving again in the future, may be a while, I have basicly nothing left to spend on the car right now. I just paid for routine replacement of the engine front end. When I have the money to actualy spend on getting it driving again, I'll post about engine options. I don't foresee it happening this year.

My main concern is protecting as its going to sit for 3-24 months.

Stick a 928 motor in it.

[Tervuren]

Originally posted by many944s
Here is what I usually end up doing for long term storage:

Each item on this list has been added for an unfortunate reason over the last 16 years I have been storing my vehicles.... And yes... there is a story behind each of them

-Nick

Yup-fuel stabilizer

Will also remove wheels and store them indoors.-raise onto blocks to prevent tire flats

No idea how to check the %'s -make sure the coolant is at proper % for storage conditions

Before storage, or before running again? -change brake fluid to prevent water damage

Will do -remove battery and store out of way (just in case)
I plan on sitting in it from time to time, so I'm probably ok. -lube all door hinges and rear deck lid pins

THat must of been fun...-put mouse traps inside car (again, just in case)

Did your door not open to get into to open the hood?-pull hood release leaving hood closed, but "popped"

Good advice, but as the motor is shot, I'll probably leave it as is. -place foil over intake horn on airbox or seal with a "caplug"

There is moisture in the car, on sunny days, I'll try and open it up to keep there from being a buildup. I've run into nasty mildew in my life in an old building. -put about 4 lbs of dessicant on drivers seat (helps prevent mildew smell if there is any moisture in the car)

I'll do that. -If its going to be a REALLY long time, i have even sprayed the brake disks with a coat of WD-40 to prevent surface rust.

Thanks for the advice.

[Eldorado]

make sure your gas tank is full.

I'd put mouse traps everywhere i could... anywhere they could sit under the car... hell, a border of sticky paper might be worth putting around the whole car :P...

as for the coolant, you can buy a pump gauge from any auto parts store... it'll suck the coolant up into a little resevoir that will read the correct coolant to water ratio to you, and tell you what temp the current mix is good for... i got one for about $5.

[Slam]

So sorry to hear about your car. Our 931 did the same thing just after my wife started driving it. It's been sitting for a while now. But she refuses to part with it, and plans to fix it someday. At least your car's not going to the graveyard.

[many944s]

Ha, yea the "popping the hood" was a fun one! I had gone out to get the '85 944 ready for the road one year, and went to pop the hood, of course the cable in the sheath had dried out and rusted... hence it broke when I tried to pop the hood! Do you know how tough it is to open the hood on these with a broken cable? It's a long story!!

The foil or caplug of course is to keep mice out of the air box, which makes a great nest for tricky rodents.

If the brake fluid has been in the system for a while it absorbs water over time, if the "moist" fluid is left in the system it can cause rust in master and slave cyl's. and brake lines causing all sorts of problems down the road.

Keep us posted!

-Nick

[mambodave]

Originally posted by Tervuren
I was taking my car into the shop this morning to get a cracked exaust checked on from when the car got hit in a parking lot. I was moving towards the exit ramp to the shop, and black smoe everywhere, AC vents, hood, all over. Car blew a connecting rod. I've never heard of that with a 944, punched through the block. So thats it for the '86 for a long time. I don't know what I'm doing with it yet, its soo sudden.

She was soo pretty, everyone loved her.


I'm probably going to prepare the fuel tank for a long storage, pull the wheels off, and set it on blocks. I'm realy about to cry...

So huhm...

Sorry Man.. Hey there is alot of us here in the charlotte area that could help with you do the work. I know of at least 3 or 4 people that can help..and could prob get you back up in a few or 4 weekends...

[legion]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss.

I too have experienced a Porsche loss.

I had dreams for weeks that my car didn't really catch on fire...only to wake up to realize it had. (Kinda the reverse of a nightmare.)

In my case, time...and Rammstein's 951 healed all wounds.

[wojciechu]

Feel sorry for you. I don,t know what i would do.
BY the way what kind of wheels are these. They look really good.

[Tervuren]

Insuranceadjuster looked at the car today, they estimate $860 for the rear end dammage. Today was my first time getting to carefully look over the car from when it got hit. I worked as a machinist for a while, and I'm very sensitive in feeling imperfections, the right rear of the car has been shifted outwards a couple hundredths. Left rear seems fine.

Because of this, I'm not going with my original plan from before it got hit and blew its engine. I had planned on modifying it for track, but its going to be my normal driver now once its running. I'll probably go with a used 944 engine. I don't know how big of a project replacing the engine is going to be, whats required, etc.

The '84, I'll see whats up when I replace the struts and mounts, if its not been hurt, then it WILL make a good track car - being one of the rare non sunroof cars. My issue though - its a documented 59,000 mile car, kinda hate to put such a nice example of a 944 to such use. It did fine at the Dragon, pictures show a lot of tire deformation, so for track, lower profile tires and bigger wheels are going to be on the list. (currently cookie's on it with proxes) Course, most tracks don't have banking like the Dragon either, which is putting a LOT of extra vertical load, allowing for even more horizontal...

I wonder if there are any Japanese engines that will fit, I'd love an inline six, older supra, etc. Probably a bigger project though.

[SD_944_2.5]

If you need an engine and some help I have several engines in stock and Im moving my inlaw to Waxhaw the beginning of December and could easily put a 944 engine on the moving truck. Im driving from San Diego to Waxhaw/Charolette and can even bring my jack and tools.

[Tervuren]

Originally posted by mambodave
Sorry Man.. Hey there is alot of us here in the charlotte area that could help with you do the work. I know of at least 3 or 4 people that can help..and could prob get you back up in a few or 4 weekends...

Haven't heard from you in a long time. I sent an email a while ago, perhaps you'd changed address. The Ex '85 in my sig is the one you bought from Brian. A toyota tundra called its number. He wasn't paying attention, and smacked into the back of some left turning cars - the back of which was me. He almost missed my by about a foot and a half, stuck me under the F350 in front. That was the end of that one, I got the yellow '86 to replace it.