My 944 so far

[Ilearnedstick]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forums so I thought I'd start by Showing you all what I'm working with. I own a 1986 944. I picked it up off a guy who didn't know much about the car, he left it outside, and he treated it poorly. I picked it up for $2800 and I actually got a Saratoga top with it, as well as the normal roof. The car runs fine but it has plenty of things that need fixed if I want it to be a well running everyday driver. The only problem that I've come across so far is that the Torque tube needs replaced, and I have a new one that will be installed soon. And the previous owner hit a deer and it dented the drivers side quarter panel, and he decided to take a hammer to it and painted it with spray paint . Other then that it has no BIG problems but I'm sure some will pop up as I start to drive more and more.
I wound up selling the Saratoga top to fund my repairs, and so far I've fixed the impact shocks inside the front bumper, I've replaced a the front indicator lights, fixed the sunroof motor, and replaced the screws holding the exhaust gaskets because the exhaust was leaking. And In the future I'm looking at replacing the torque tube, and fixing all the other problems like the cracked seats, dash, and new fog lights. One other thing that you will probably notice in the pictures is that the panels in the front don't line up right, that's because of the deer and I'm hoping to get that fixed as soon as I can.

[jeffrsmith]

It look pretty darn good for a $2800 driver!

[BryO]

Grats on the purchase and not bad at all for $2800.

[John_AZ]

Nice car for a poor high school student

You may be fortunate to find a 944 in a local wrecking yard for parts. Keep looking.

I find most used repair parts on eBay or on the Pelican Parts "used parts forum.

Porsche 924/944/968 Used Parts For Sale & Wanted - Pelican Parts Technical BBS

You have mentioned the torque tube needs to be replaced and you have a spare.
This is not an easy task and usually the clutch is inspected, parts replaced and the rear main seal installed. A very big job and usually something goes wrong or breaks.

How bad is it? What is the problem?

Maintenance is important.

Have you inspected the belts, rollers and water pump?

GL & welcome
John

[Ilearnedstick]

Thanks for the welcome guys! Yeah, I have a spare, and I have also been told that It may be a clutch problem, What happens is that when I let off the gas after driving it makes a loud buzzing noise, and my clutch clunks sometimes when I let go of it... It may actually be the clutch then. I'll post a video of it if I'm not making sense. And on the belt, the last recorded time the belts were changed and inspected was 2001, so I definitely need to change those out some time soon. Also, I forgot to mention in my first post that I have a new drivers side quarter panel to replace the dented one but it just needs painted. as for the rollers, I have no idea whats those are, I'm clueless when it comes to cars, I've just been going of guides online like "clarks garage" and others that I found here on the forums. But I'm hoping to learn from them

[John_AZ]

The first time you change the engine belts, cam & balance, you will need help.

The Porsche 944 is an interference engine.
This means that if the belts fail/break, the valves will hit the pistons.
If the belts are not installed correctly, the valves will hit the pistons.
If the belt is loose it may jump a cog or 2 on the cam gear---valves will hit the pistons

An independent shop will charge over $200 labor + parts +++to change the belts and retension (after 1000 miles-required)

Try to get help to DIY

GL
John

[Ilearnedstick]

Since I posted last, I have replaced a few things. The pictures below show some of the progress that I've made. I'll start with the inside of the car. Inside the car, I have replaced my burgundy steering wheel with a black one, but I kept the burgundy center. I have also replaced the radio with a new Sony, and I replaced the speakers with a set of Pioneers I got off a guy in Cincinnati who parts out 944's. I also have a new parking break I have yet to install.
On to the outside... On the outside, I have replaced the hood badge with one in better condition, I replaced my broken fog lights with newer one's, and I replaced the housing for the drivers side indicator light.

This coming Monday I'm taking it to a shop to have the torque tube and clutch replacements I have, put in. So after all of that is done, the only real problem will be the dented quarter panel and a new paint job. As well as replacing the timing belt and the water pump. I'm guessing all of the problems should be done by around December. And then it will be a fully functioning Chick Magnet!

[xsbank]

I really recommend that you do the belts, rollers and any seals (water pump?) before you fix the clutch and are tempted to drive it.

If the belt breaks you will very unhappy.They are supposed to be replaced REGULARLY.

[Gawernator]

That looks like the same radio my PO installed, heh

[Ilearnedstick]

The car will be garaged from July 16th to around December 6th since i will be away for basic training... During that time i will have the my dad drop it off at the shops so it can be fixed, that will be the only driving of it while Im gone, and one of the things that would be getting replaced while Im away are the belt and other things.

[Gawernator]

Hooyah, which service?

[John_AZ]

Originally Posted by Ilearnedstick

The car will be garaged from July 16th to around December 6th since i will be away for basic training... During that time i will have the my dad drop it off at the shops so it can be fixed, that will be the only driving of it while Im gone, and one of the things that would be getting replaced while Im away are the belt and other things.

Did the recruiter tell you they have popcorn and movie nights during basic?

Do you know what your specialty will be?

Please do not just give the shop your car without knowing the exact amount in writing what they will charge. If something else is bad when they replace the TT, it will cost more than the car is worth.

Good luck during basic.

John

[Gawernator]

Fun times in basic...

[Peter Burrowes]

I also just got a 944 (had a 924 before) and paid $3,500 for it. like yours it has many small issues that I am working on. My shifter was shot and i replaced it with the one from 944ONLY,what a differance,a great $50 investment !

[Chucked]

I have had a 1985.5 944 since 1986. With proper maintenance these cars are great. The mileage is 132,543 with only the alternator and water pumps and belts replaced so far.

You really cannot delay replacing the water pump and all of the belts and rollers. If the belt breaks or the water pump seizes and breaks the belt, you engine will be toast.

[Ilearnedstick]

I'm taking the car in tomorrow to have the clutch and torque tube replaced, After that, the only thing that needs doing is the belt and stuff, and a paint job isn't necessary but I'd like one. After all of that, the only things needing fixed would be re-aligning the panels and replacing the drivers side quarter panel. Thanks for all the good lucks on going away to basic!

[black_falcon]

Give that carpet a deep cleaning, along with the rest of the interior, and it will not only look much better but make the interior a much more pleasant place to be. New seats shouldn't set you back too much from someone parting a car. Looks like a nice project that could end up being a nice car with some time and money, and more money.

I'd ditch the phone dials and pick up a set of fuchs. You'll be amazed how much better it will look!!

[89-944NA]

Originally Posted by John_AZ

The first time you change the engine belts, cam & balance, you will need help.

The Porsche 944 is an interference engine.
This means that if the belts fail/break, the valves will hit the pistons.
If the belts are not installed correctly, the valves will hit the pistons.
If the belt is loose it may jump a cog or 2 on the cam gear---valves will hit the pistons

An independent shop will charge over $200 labor + parts +++to change the belts and retension (after 1000 miles-required)

Try to get help to DIY

GL
John

Uh John, I hope you meant $1600 parts and labor for the belt job....If I could find a shop to do it for $200, I'd let them do mine!!!! LOL

All kidding aside, the belts/rollers/water pump should be addressed NOW, not later. From your paperwork, those belts are 11 years old, that is over twice the service life of the belt, and like most of us, since belts are such a critical component, we do them every 2 to 3 years (I do belts every other June (2 years), and the water pump every 4 years. As old as those belts appear to be, just starting the car can snap the belt.

You really need to stop driving the car until you get those belts changed, right now they are on borrowed time, and as John noted above, a broken belt gets expensive very quickly. Cost of replacing a couple (if you're lucky) of bent valves, and a valve job is going to be in the neighborhood of $2000-$2500 at a shop. Based on the labor guide hours of 18.7 to R&R the head (includes valve job), and a labor rate of $100 per hour that's $1870 for labor plus parts .

If you're unlucky, bent/broken valves, holes in pistons and if your're REALLY unlucky(39.8 hours+ parts), toss in a severely scratched cylinder (or 2, 3 or 4)....and it's engine replacement time.

Cannot overemphasize, DO THE BELTS NOW!!!!

Good Luck, ask questions and enjoy the car (when the belts are done)

[John_AZ]

Whoops.

I need to stay away from the Sangria in the afternoon.

[mikepellegrini]

Originally Posted by John_AZ

Did the recruiter tell you they have popcorn and movie nights during basic?
...

Good luck during basic.

John

Oh yeah. We had popcorn and movie nights at Ft Dix when I went through basic. And the drill instructers would give you a foot massage if you asked!

Ha! Drill sergeants are especially chosen extremely sadistic bastards that derive their greatest pleasure from debasing, humiliating and terrorizing their recruits, often in the strangest and most imaginative ways.

You should cut back on the sangria, John!

OP: disregard what I just said and you have fun in basic! I'm sure you'll have a blast! [they let you fire REAL machineguns!]