The Great belly pan debate - what do YOU do?

[Panzer909]

While I've always been a proponent of keeping my engine undertray bolted on, I decided to remove it during my last oil change and powerwash all the grime off it. But for whatever reason, I didn't immediately put it back on, and have been driving around without it for the last several weeks. Anyways, to my suprise, there has been a noticeable difference in my engine temp reading (for the better). And contrary to what others have said in the past, the engine bay is not any dustier.

Has anyone else had this experience? Do YOU run with or without the bellypan?

[tifosiman]

With.

It is designed to help the car run cooler, and over the long haul (not just a few weeks), it will keep the engine bay cleaner.

[legion]

I thought only the 951s had the tray. My old 944S did not have one...must have been removed and discarded at some point.

[tifosiman]

Early (pre-85.5) cars had the metal pan. Late (85.5-onward) had the plastic pan.

Turbos had the same pan as the late cars, plus the batwing under the bumper cover and an additional metal panel in the rear.

S2's had the same pan as late cars, plus the afore-mentioned batwing.

[THE manning]

I keep mine on. It makes a good place to store all the parts that fall off the engine while I am driving

[schmedes1]

No question... ON! Even went to the trouble of finding a good batwing to replace the missing one after buying my car this year. Contrary to some opinions, there are no unnecessary parts on these cars.

[Taz's Master]

When purchased mine was without. It still is. Hasn't caused any failures/damage yet, but I'll keep you posted.

P.S. My '86 is without a pan, and is a NA with a turbo nose, is there a pan that will fit?

[herdman]

The 924,944,968s make great track cars. On the race track zero to x speed isn't as important as late braking, balance in the corners & aero dynamics on the straights. It would be nice to have more torque out of the corners but these are 4 cyc. cars. The balance helps you maintain your speed in the corners and you can excel. sooner than a car with poor balance. So what does this have to do with why did Porsche enginers add an under engine tray to their entry level car? The air traveling under the car is as important to aerodynamics as the air on top. With the tray in place your car is more slippery through the air at high speeds. Will you notice the differance on the street? Probable not, so take your 924 944 951 or what ever and go to an open track event! Just my 2.50 cents worth. Larry

[rucool]

I run my 89' 951 without the metal and plastic trays but the first plastic
section that forms the bumper is still in place, if I was to trac or high
speed run the car (200km+)I would refit them .
In general running in a warm climate (22c /75f in the middle of winter today) it runs cooler and cools down faster without.
fun driving
Russell

[Don 944 LA]

never had one ...

I do wonder how my engine temps would be affected if I did have one.

I'm sure I could have used it when I came down off a launch @ excessive speed and caught some air.

Don

[tifosiman]

Originally posted by Taz's Master
When purchased mine was without. It still is. Hasn't caused any failures/damage yet, but I'll keep you posted.

P.S. My '86 is without a pan, and is a NA with a turbo nose, is there a pan that will fit?

The stock 85.5-onward plastic pan is what you would use independant of whatever nose you have on there.

If you have the real turbo bumper cover (not a fake one that is flatter), then I would suggest you get the black batwing that goes under it, if possible.

[AaronM]

Just for clarification, the batwing is the little black bit with the ducting for the front brakes that always rubs in a tight, banked corner if you're really pushing the car, right?

Aaron

[bryanthompson]

my 83 never had one... maybe I should get one now.

[tifosiman]

Originally posted by AaronM
Just for clarification, the batwing is the little black bit with the ducting for the front brakes that always rubs in a tight, banked corner if you're really pushing the car, right?

Aaron

It's not really little, it is the big black underpiece shaped like the bumper cover:

[SidVicious]

Without.

When I had the stock batwing I used it. When I fitted the splitter, I didn't want to drill holes in it to get to the undertray's bolts, so I left it off.

[AaronM]

Originally posted by tifosiman
It's not really little, it is the big black underpiece shaped like the bumper cover:

Hmmm, I believe that my car has that but not the rest.

*wanders off to find out how much the panels cost*

[THE manning]

I also leave the one on my car because with the AC deleted the alternator sits down pretty low and I don't really fancy having water splash up on it in wet weather.

[tifosiman]

And while we are beating this belly pan subject to death , I have a free metal belly pan to give away (fits early 944, and 924S cars) to anyone who can use it. However, the catch is that it must be picked up. I don't want to ship it (bulky due to the shape and the sides that go up at a 90 degree angle).

[tifosiman]

Doh, I should have mentioned where I am at, eh? Near Dayton, Ohio.

[Cory9584]

My 86 turbo had the metal bellypan oddly enough. I took it off though to simplify oil changes