944 repairs to tackle.

[trailpimp33]

Okay, I am a new 944 owner (83' with 92K or maybe even 192k?), I had the car checked out and it is currently having the TB, CS, pullies etc. being done. I am told that it will need a clutch, oil pan gasket, engine mounts, and wheel bearings. Here are my questions.
1. While I have not ever replaced a clutch in a car before, I am mechanically inclined. I taught myself how to rebuild both 2 stroke and 4 stroke motorcycle engines. So should I tackle this clutch myself and if so should you also replace the rear main since it is there? How difficult??
2. Wheel bearings appear to be a pretty simple job, are they?
3. I understand that if you are doing the oilpan gasket, while you are there you should also do the rod bearings? Since you have the motor loose you should also do the mounts. How bad are these jobs? How do you support the motor?

I really bought this car knowing that I would get dirty working on it, and I would prefer to do most of it myself. BUT, for the sake of the car are some of these best left to a Porsche wrench, or are they all well within a person of "learning"skill level?

[Aslet]

1. The clutch is the hardest project on our cars. It will take around 10 hours to complete and it will be a big pain. If you are decent, it will definitely save you lots of money.
2. Wheel bearings are easy to do. Fronts are real easy, backs take some effort but arn't impossible.
3. Not sure

The nice thing on these cars is that any job CAN be done by yourself. You can mess up your can and the parts if you don't do it correctly, so it depends how much you have invested... From the list of work needed, I hope you got the car for cheep. So if you don't want to spend many times the initial purchase price, it might be good to do your own work...

[pauloregon]

Have you reviewed the procedures for these repairs on Clark's Garage website? Since you say you are "mechanically inclined", not sure how comfortable you are with this work. I had a choice of paying someone to do my 85.5 944 clutch a few years ago or doing it myself. After reading the procedures and taking my time doing the job, I found that it wasn't as difficult and was actually pretty fun. If I was in a hurry, I would not have enjoyed it.

Go read some procedures on Clark's then you can get a sense for the work needed.

[John_AZ]

Originally Posted by trailpimp33

Okay, I am a new 944 owner (83' with 92K or maybe even 192k?),3. I understand that if you are doing the oilpan gasket, while you are there you should also do the rod bearings? Since you have the motor loose you should also do the mounts. How bad are these jobs? How do you support the motor?

tp33,
I have been watching Q3 for a while. I may do the task next year on my '87 924S 112K.
Here is some information I found.
http://web.archive.org/web/20041125170849/www.tech-session.com/kb/index.php?page=index_v2&id=70&c=4

EDIT Add:http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/924-931-944-951-968-forum/448600-rod-bearing-diy.html


GL
John_AZ
1988 924S 58.7K + 1987 924S 112K DD
1979 924 + 1977.5 924 + 1970 914 1.7 + MG Midget ===gone, past tutors

[SolReaver]

The clutch on these cars is not exactly my idea of a good time. However, If you are good at working on cars it is possible to do. 10 hours is an underestimate by quite a bit. First timers are more likely to spend 30 or so hours and greater than that should the inevitable problem arise. If you have a good space to work, the needed tools, 4 good jackstands and a transmission jack you can knock it out and save a good deal of money. It will cost you a few skinned knuckles and a good deal of time but it is worth the bragging rights.

If you aren't confident / capable of doing the belts (and it appears you aren't as you are "having them done") you probably will be biting off much more than you can chew. The Belts IMHO are much easier than the clutch and I have done both jobs.

If you have never done a clutch...this is NOT the car to start on..or perhaps it is as every other car will seem like a piece of cake. The parts, machining, consumables, and beer will run you close to a grand before you are done. There are a lot of "while you are in there items, such as the R M seal, which you DEFINATELY want to replace while you are there, along with the shift fork bushings, Flywheel and clutch bolts, shift rod, and the proverbial partridge in the freakin pear tree. The only part you MIGHT want to reuse is the pressure plate and that is not recomended.

As far as the rod bearings and the mounts..If it isn't broke, Don't fix it. You have your hands full with what needs 2 B done. the engine can be lifted from underneath with a jack and a block of wood to protect the pan, or, from above with an engine hoist.

[Slam]

If you're mechanically inclined, working on these cars is satisfying. I did my oil pan gasket, rod bearings and motor mounts over a few days and it was quite relaxing and enjoyable. I haven't done a clutch yet but my 924 needs one and I think I'll do it myself. I know that most adhere to the 'if it ain't broke' adage, but in the case of the rod bearings, if the pan's gotta come off anyway you may as well do them. Just go slowly, take your time and read voraciously. Plus, virtually every repair you can think of has been done by SOMEBODY on this this board, and the knowledge base is considerable.

To do all the work on your list will take some time. I'd think pacing yourself would be the challenge there.