double yes on walking away anytime i see myself getting in a jurry, or things are not going smoothly! I saw the paper towel thing earlier but didn't ask. Years ago in college when working in a fcar shop in Kirksville, MO, my boss had just put a new shortblock in a BRG 1967 bug. what a cool looking car!! Came back about 2hours later from the test ride. Left a shop towel in the engine compartment, sucked it into the fan. Those things happen to us all sometimes. Keep the faith, she will rise from the ashes!!

hey i live in fairfax station, and have a running 85.5 944 engine sitting in my garage. if youre interested give me a call 703.966.1257

Thanks for the offer, but I found one already and I'm in the middle of a total rebuild.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-924-944-968-technical-forum/487924-project-924-s-engine-replacement.html

interesting

maybe a small motorcycle can help alleviate things, or an Ebike?
easier to store. I have a bunch of cars, last week I was in to a volvo brakejob nuts deep and happily driving my van, until suddenly the waterpump died, I had that towed home.
I had another car that Id drained the brakes in , thinking Id simply refill the reservoir but I got distracted and tried to move it , sooo.. pedal to the floor..

that led ot ordering a bleeder thing and I properly bled the brakes did an oil change and got the third car on the road.. meanwhile the 944 waits so patiently, it never complains about being last on the list. the beaters I drive dayly become more important than the fun project car.

the moral is , sometimes sht just happens and you just have to roll with it, I try not to get mad at myself, that's the girlfrinend's job. ;-)

the story re,inds me of one dear old dad told me , his dad ( grampa) wanted to use his car but knew little about cars. well the oil light went on so he floored it to get home just as soon as he possibly could ;-)

It sounds like the crank seized but it dint end with a cruncing sound or a big bang so maybe bearings and give the crank a polish? lets hope.

if it was me , I'd buy another beater to bide timeand then Id fall in love with that one too. You have to know that just by its nature, swapping an engine will present some sort of reason for unexpected delay.