Semi-resto of an '84 944

[944 boy]

I had a neighbor with a faded guards red '84 that overheated very quickly and had some odd symptoms. He was mechanically inclined but not necessarily experienced with Porsches. I offered to do the work then ended up moving. he got back to me about 6 Mo. later asking if I was still interested. I said yes and he trailered the car over to my garage. I drove it in before tearing it apart. I was assuming a leaking head gasket and was planning on replacing that, water pump, belts and rollers.

This is how it looked in my garage.



So I started tearing into it and found that the water pump was locked solid and the belt was sliding against it wearing into the pulley. When I got it off it looked like this:



I now have it all back together and I have smoothed out a number of electrical bugs. Got the brakes flushed and bled. Cut and buffed the paint. I wanted this car to keep running and be enjoyed for years to come versus getting parted out. Everything from the doors shutting perfectly to the nearly perfect sport seats makes me want to see this car put back to it's former glory.

I think I am charging something like $3.75/hr for my labor. This is how the car looks as it sits now.




Keep more 944's on the road!!

-Greg

[pschaars951]

wow! shes a beauty what does it mean to "cut" the paint? and $3.75, huh? I have some things...

-pete

[944 boy]

I used a medium cut cleaner on a rotary buffer to remove all the oxidation. I used the term 'cut' because I had to remove a small amount of paint to remove all the crud and oxidized paint. Now it's as smooth as glass!

[ERAU944]

Originally Posted by 944 boy

I used a medium cut cleaner on a rotary buffer to remove all the oxidation. I used the term 'cut' because I had to remove a small amount of paint to remove all the crud and oxidized paint. Now it's as smooth as glass!

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL work!

However, if it's anything like my old '85.5 it'll look that good for about a month and then the paint will begin to oxidize again.

NEVER again will I own a red Porsche.

[89-944NA]

Damn, $3.75 an hour? Want to move down here? I'll put you to work, and make money while never getting my hands dirty. Depending on the job, I go up as high as $50-$60 an hour. That's about half the shop labor rate down here...IF you can find a shop to work on any 944 series car.

Uh, what's with the bike leaning against the Porsche? Just waiting to slip down and put a nice big scratch in the nice paint.

[944 boy]

Thanks!

haha, here it is typically $90-130/hr. I squeezed it in between other projects and really just had to adjust my rate to hit my target price I quoted him. He is helping me out with some glass I needed though.

As for the bike... sadly the paint is not nice. It's been under the knife for all new custom fiberglass bodywork. What you can't see is pink insulation and plywood glued to the rear quarter for a form. It's becoming one of those race-car projects that takes way too many years to complete.

[89-944NA]

LOL I know about those projects. The rate runs about the same here, I did a job for a guy at the beginning of the year, suspension, engine work, brakes, etc, gave him a bill for the same work based on the rate from a local shop, it was almost $7000 (labor only), charged him $2000.

[Rasta Monsta]

Originally Posted by 944 boy

Keep more 944's on the road!!

-Greg