[Ozark Lee]

An update on the progress on getting my daughter’s 944 up and running after being parked for 8 years.

I changed out the timing and balance shaft belts. In the process of clearing stuff out of the way to get to it the J boot fell apart so I ordered a new J boot, AFM gasket, and throttle body O ring. Cleaned all of the crap out of the throttle body and got it to work smoothly, I also got the idle switch set correctly. Replaced the plugs, wires, cap and rotor.

It was a good thing I pulled the timing belts since the water pump was frozen. I used a pipe wrench on the beveled part on the front of the pulley to free it up and it now turns smoothly. During the very limited run time it didn’t leak but I think it is officially on the list for replacement.

Since the DME was missing, I picked a DME on eBay and then pulled the injectors and cleaned them up and replaced the seals. They were in just awful shape.

After pulling the fuel rail I noticed that the vacuum lines below the intake manifold were a melted glob. They were so melted that I couldn't really figure out which line went where but I took my best guess and cut the old lines out, leaving 1 1/2" or so at each end and then re-plumbed it with standard vacuum line. I think I got it right but I'm not 100% sure. I found a vacuum line diagram on Clarks and I will recheck them.

The car will start but reluctantly and with a shot of ether. Once it starts it runs very smooth and sounds great. I sure wish that the fuel rail had a standard schrader valve on the end of the fuel rail.

The next problem is the quart or so of oil per minute that it pumps out onto the number one cylinder header. I think I located the leak at the cam tower gasket so I fired up a Pelican Parts order for a new cam tower gasket, a new rear cover gasket, and just for grins a set of intake manifold gaskets.

I've read a few threads on the cam tower gasket changes and quick failures afterwards. What would you folks suggest for gasket sealer to do it right?

I plan on changing out the gasket this weekend.

TIA,

...Lee