Porsche 944 Project

[Gawernator]

Hello, I bought my first car, a '83 944 for $2,200 with about 150k miles on it. Although I bought it late Fall of last year, I haven't been able to actually work on it until about a month ago after returning from a naval deployment. I've taken the mission of restoring the car to its original beauty, I've already made some cosmetic fixes including buffing and polishing the entire car to remove an oxidation layer and applying some touch-up paint. Replacing all four rotors and pads was my first time-consuming project, and I'm happy to say that went successful. Other repairs included replacing the relay for the turn signals and headlights, as well as spraying silicone to lubricate the partially stuck headlight mechanism. I've purchased a replacement driver side male seatbelt to replace my current one, which is frayed and no longer holds its tension. I've also bought seals/gaskets to replace on the door handles of each side of the car, as well as a gasket for the hood crest. Only problem is, I am not entirely sure on how to approach removing and installing the new seat belt. I am pretty sure I can replace the gaskets but would welcome any advice or tips, and would it be better to just take the doors off and rebuild the internals while I'm doing this? One major issue I didn't realize until recently is that to replace the hood crest on the early model 944's you have to remove the front panel, which is spot-welded on? Thanks for your help guys, this is a great website.

[Ederd]

on my 84 i was able to get the badge off with just dental floss! the badge just has 2 pins that just push into two holes in the nose panel. just got the floss under the bottom of the crest and pulled up and then just wiggled it until it popped off.

[Cocacolakidd]

To replace the door handle gaskets (Outside handles) you will have to remove the door panel cards to access the linkage from the inside also.

See : Clark's Garage Home Page then go to Garage manual, then choose "D" for door handles. You will often find your self going back to Clarks-Garage for many of the repair/restorations on your 944 - Thank goodness for Clark's as sometimes we would be lost without his wonderful site.

PS: You will soon be addicted as all of us are

[alan6272]

My front badge just popped off with a small screw driver and some care

[GorillaFoot]

The seat belts are pretty straight forward. You have to remove the panel under the side quarter glass, which is held on by a few screws. But there is a catch- the vinyl covering of each panel is tucked into the quarter glass seal. You can get it out, but good luck getting it back in without removing the quarter glass. I haven't done it, but I understand removing and replacing the quarter glass is not that difficult and you probably want to replace the seals around it anyway

The side panel vinyl also wraps around door seam- just pull back the u-channel door trim and peal it back.

Remove, if I remember right, the 17mm bolts holding the belts in and everything comes out.

I think I still have my original belts in very good condition, if you are looking for some. They are from a 1989 951.

[snake1996]

First of all, Thank you very much for your service to our country. Your 944 looks very nice already. As you do more work to your 944 you will find that it really is a simple car to work on. The advice on the Clarks Garage web site is spot on. Just study up on what you are attempting to repair and take your time. Congrats on the car and have fun!

[FrenchToast]

^ Likewise - Many thanks to your service. That demands much respect!

As for the car, looks like you're mostly covered, just want to add a few things. Make sure when replacing the seatbelts to tighten everything down properly and snug - there may even be a torque spec on this.

Also, I wouldn't recommend taking the doors off - as putting them back on may require lots of nudging on the hinge locations to get them aligned and closing smoothly as before.

Car looks great! Have a blast!

Be safe, take care!

[Gawernator]

Thanks so much for all the helpful replies. It sounds like I should purchase new window seals for all four windows, and change those while I'm at it. I have been getting a majority of my parts now from partsheaven.com which is only a few hours away from me and they have a great assortment of parts that I have only been able to find there. I did buy new springs for the parking brake from Pelican Parts only to end up getting the whole set of hardware from Parts Heaven for $20 (mind you the Pelican Springs were genuine Porsche and brand new) so if anyone needs the upper and lower return springs for a 944 parking brake, I have a set. Thanks GorillaFoot for the advice, and thanks for the seat belt offer but I already have the one I need

I saw Clarks Garage from searching through this website yesterday and it is awesome!

edit - Does anybody know of a reasonable price/where to buy the door window seals? I can get them new from parts heaven and have them here in a day but the main windows seals are almost $70 each, is that normal? I can afford the price but I want to make sure I'm not throwing money to the wind.

[GorillaFoot]

I replaced my outer door sill seals last year and went through 6 factory stamped seals, from 2 reputable retailers, before I found 2 seals that worked! This was a manufacturing issue- not fake parts.

The seals slide into a small U-channel (you will see it when you get the old ones out) and the faulty ones I kept getting were too fat to fit into the u-channel. I ended up getting my good ones (and a few bad ones) from Auto Atlanta. I don't think they were that much, but I don't know what they cost. Auto Atlanta should have the good stuff now as I made them well aware of the issue.

[Gawernator]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Gawernator]

Thanks again GorillaFoot, just finished the job. All I had to do was remove the bottom two screws and the U-channel to get access to the seatbelt. You were right about the bolts being 17mm as well. No need to touch the glass however.

[mytrplseven]

I like the picture of your car. You're fortunate to have a lot of local resources in California for Porsche parts. There's just something enduring about a "red" 944. I'm doing a "while your drive it" restoration on my '87 as well. All the mechanical issues (and there were many) are done and now I'm on to the cosmetic stuff, i.e., new dash, seat covers, carpets, fine buffing the paint.

[v2rocket_aka944]

Where in CA are you?

Just saw a red NA yesterday in Fontana/Rancho Cucamonga as I got off work...was that you, around 1230?

[Gawernator]

Oh no, I'm in Norcal, the East Bay area

[Gawernator]

This is the current state of the car... some detailing and touch up paint does wonders... plus armor all.