New member! 1983 944 needs a clutch!

1983Porsche 944 · 09-21-2011, 08:57 AM

Hey everyone. I am very new to the Porsche world and just picked up this 83 944 non-turbo very inexpensively. The girl that had it before me made a downshift from 5th to 1st on the highway as she was trying to go 5th to 3rd and totaled out the clutch. I thought it was the trans when I purchased it but I tested it by lifting the rear end and putting it into gear. When lifted in the air, the drive shaft will spin and will spin the tires. When I set the tires on the ground with it in gear, the drive shaft will not spin but the car stays on as if it is in neutral. I am pretty sure that makes this a bad clutch.

This leads to my question: can anyone give me a good link for a 'how to' or a write up on installing a clutch in an 1983 944? I would like to get this pretty Porsche back on the road asap!! I am very mechanically inclined and have done many clutches in the past. Just need a little guidance on this one because this is unlike any vehicle I have ever worked on.

Thanks in advance for the help and I am so glad that there is a forum for newcomers like me to learn about their vehicle!

Jrboulder · 09-21-2011, 09:03 AM

Welcome to 944 ownership!

You will find a great article at clarks-garage.com.

I was 17 when I did the clutch on my 944 and it only took me a weekend.

Jackson

krystar · 09-21-2011, 09:20 AM

if she misshifted from 5th to 1st at 55mph or faster, you could be looking at damaged engine. specifically cylinder head and valves.

clarks has the clutch howto. this clutch job will be very different from any other clutch job you've done.

1983Porsche 944 · 09-21-2011, 09:42 AM

I think that the engine is alright. It runs and sounds alright. She said that she had it at a mechanic before this happened and he told her that the clutch was getting ready to go. I think that the clutch was the weakest link so to speak so it broke before anything else was damaged. What specifically should I be worried about with the heads or valves? Sealing failure of the head gasket or valve seals?

John_AZ · 09-21-2011, 09:48 AM

Hello & welcome.

I will answer your question but purchase your parts from our sponsor, Pelican Parts. Great prices and low shipping costs.

Clutch replacement by a first time owner.
There are many others but this is what to expect the first time.
Allow 2 weekends of work if you get the flywheel resurfaced----should be done.

944 Online Forum - The Porsche 944 Forum For The 944 Enthusiast.

Just hope she did not ruin the ring & pinion.

GL
John

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

That's my thought John. The ring /pinion gear for this year is a weak link too. If this clutch has the rubber diaphram, you should replace it with a spring (traditional) disk. Change the throw out bearing and anything else that is a wear item.

Good luck!

krystar · 09-21-2011, 10:06 AM

typically in an engine misshift, the driveshaft spins the crankshaft to beyond redline rpm's. bent valves is expected and impacted pistons are not unheard of.

the clutch ...if it's OEM, has a rubber center which would have probably disintegrated on the spot.

1983Porsche 944 · 09-21-2011, 01:53 PM

I gotta say, I really hope that the valves arent bent. I didnt even think about that. I will pull the transaxle cover tomorrow to see if anything in there is messed up. I dont think that is my issue though. There is no grinding or clunking, I had my head right under there while the d-shaft was spinning the wheels. I am also thinking that the gears are okay b/c with the wheels on the ground, the driveshaft will not turn. I would actually have rather the transaxle be shot than the clutch. Replacing a clutch is way more costly that replacing the transaxle. I have found 2 of them around here for 300 bucks a pop. Clutch plates are a tad bit more expensive and a lot more work. I'm not sure how severe the downshift was. I think that the clutch would have broken right away by the sounds of what happened. Also, the girl said that smoke came up from the rip in the shifter boot.

zedsn · 09-21-2011, 04:02 PM

If the car is running ok after the mishap I would think that the valves are ok.

Arizona_928 · 09-21-2011, 09:33 PM

sounds like a potential basket case. Bent valves, clutch, and trans... dang you know how to pick them.

seriously though it's not too hard, clutch in a weekend if you already have a flywheel machined, but realistically it will take you two, because you will have to find a machine shop that will machine it. due to the fact most won't touch it because of the lip. transmission is already removed with the clutch.

bent valves is another two weekend deals because you will have to get the valve job. plus $. clutch realistically 600$, plus transaxle. You are already at a grand. head is going to cost you depending on if you need new guides and valves. BTW if she was at highway speed and money shifted, it may very well be all valves bent.

In the end, I hope the girl you bought it from was hot.

ernie9944 · ernie9944's Garage

1983Porsche 944__ Welcome to Pelican,here is the link to Clark's Garage Home Page [img] & GL http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/beerchug.gif[/img]