Barn Find 924 questions...

[levdeb]

Hello! Got a 1978 924 from a barn where it had been sitting since 1992. They parked it there, not expecting it to sit forever, so it wasn't prepped for such a visit. Anyway, got it to my garage, and am taking it all apart to get it back on the road.

Can't believe there is no rust. And the mice didn't eat any wiring...

Ordered a few new parts, and once the cleanup is done, I will get it road ready again. I've had to remove the sound deadening as well, since it seemed to be keeping the smell in the car...

Have a few questions that my Haynes manual isn't helping much with. A couple of parts that don't look "stock" (in the photos). And when the back window is latched down, is there supposed to be a gap? Or did the metal get bent over the years?

I am considering selling the AC components to help fund the restoration. Good idea? I am not going to use it, and would rather not get it serviced.

And if you want to follow my progress, I've created an instagram page: 924barnfind

Back to the garage now... for day 8 of "mouse poop removal"...

Thanks!

[wwdwgs]

Hello,
Nice find. You already stripped this car...
Regarding the gap in weatherstripping of the rear hatch - most of us have the same condition. If you intend to buy a new weatherstripping, you may fit it completely without even cutting (gas shock must be removed). On one car I installed it without cutting it, on the other, the gasket was much larger (longer) and I had to cut it next to the lock area).
Regarding the A/C components - If you part with a/c, then you'll need to remove a brackets that holds alternator and a/c, buy a new bracket specifically for so-called "a/c delete" a a new (shorter) belt:

bracket 944 603 134 1R (or any aftermarket variety) and
belt Gates micro-v AT K060288 (6PK734)

[levdeb]

Thanks for the info!

It seems this 924 has a separate belt for the AC. I removed the entire AC system, including the bracket. And the alternator is not effected (on a different pulley even). So hopefully its good to go!

[levdeb]

And yessir, its stripped!

[wwdwgs]

oh. my mistake - your 924 has an Audi engine, which is different from early 944 and 924.
Sorry, I misled you.

[924RACR]

Not surprised to see that ballast resistor for the rad fan destroyed; the factory did a ****ty job on the early car, putting it right where the water runoff from the hood dripped onto it to destroy it. Later cars and 2.5L cars had it up under the dash where it was protected.

You can also see in that photo a nice big fat aftermarket relay; your job will be to figure out if it's for headlights, rad fan, or whatever else! Then move it to a safer place, for the aforementioned reason...

[levdeb]

Yeah, not only is there that resistor, but also one under the dash (also broken)... The relay was for the fog lights, which are toast... lol

[levdeb]

And just to wrap up the "mouse smell" issue, now that its all cleaned out, is there any reason to keep those tunnels "open"? I was going to make sure its all dry in there, replace the plugs, but also maybe use spray foam in there? Unlike our old 911, there isn't any use of those tunnels to transfer heat or wiring or anything... To keep the smell away (if I missed any poop along the way), I figured I would just close them up...?

[curtisr]

+1 Nice find and rescue.

[originalowner]

If you haven't found it already, the 924board.org is a great resource.

[levdeb]

Originally Posted by originalowner

If you haven't found it already, the 924board.org is a great resource.

Yes, signed up earlier this week. Seems a bit dated, but a TON of info there! Thanks!

[grendiers]

While the dash is apart, behind the fuse box, up beyond anyone's reach, are a set of ground wires, attached to the underside of the metal portion of dash. Good opportunity to lay on your back and clean those posts. Solves potential future problems with electrical gremlins.

[levdeb]

Originally Posted by grendiers

While the dash is apart, behind the fuse box, up beyond anyone's reach, are a set of ground wires, attached to the underside of the metal portion of dash. Good opportunity to lay on your back and clean those posts. Solves potential future problems with electrical gremlins.

Heading down to the garage now to make that happen. Thanks!!