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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Annapolis, MD, USA
Posts: 261
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No Belly Pan - Should 944 na have one?
Simple question: I've been running without an engine belly pan since I purchased my car over a year ago (didn't come with the car and I quite frankly didn't know it needed one). Does this car really need it and why?
Thx, Scott |
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10-07-2001, 04:40 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 230
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I would personally feel unconfortable without it...here's why:
1) The car is very close to the ground. Although its thin aluminum, it is an extra layer of protection from bottoming or bouncing a steering pump, or worse an oil pan, off concrete, etc. 2) Aerodynamics -- which i believe is its intended purpose. I wouldnt suggest it's life or death, but I would put one on.... ------------------ |
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10-07-2001, 05:00 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: CA
Posts: 555
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I've had four 944's I don't have them I do have them for this car I'm selling them becuse
1. I hate to take them off to do anything 2. they come loose and rattle 3. they add weight Matt |
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10-07-2001, 08:17 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: CA
Posts: 555
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I've had four 944's I don't have them I do have them for this car I'm selling them becuse
1. I hate to take them off to do anything 2. they come loose and rattle 3. they add weight Matt |
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10-07-2001, 08:18 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Dubai, UAE
Posts: 3
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I have an '88 auto, (not the fasting thing on the road by far) I bought it 4 years ago and restored it. It had been run in Eygpt for 2 years with no undertrays or sump guard, and some one had cracked the sump in half on a rock. The car was recused and restored by me and now lives in Dubai, never goes off road and has never had ay problems with sump/road contact. So my advise would be, if you don't have the sump guards, there is no real need for them unless you do a lot of off-road driving. (or you live in Eygpt) A much more vunerable thing than the sump is the starter motor. Whenever you go over a speed bump it is literally millimeters away from the road. I have actually had a starter motor snap out of the housing, and break in two!
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10-07-2001, 10:17 PM
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Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Vernon, CT
Posts: 849
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Ihave one of these belly pans on my '84. they are made of really thin aluminum. they wouldn't keep the car from bottoming out on anything. They are very flimsy. It might keep you from catching one of the power steering hoses or belts on stuff on the road.
I keep mine on because it keeps dirt out of the engine compartment, and it helps to extract air from behind the radiator. The car seems to run cooler with it on. The weight is really insignifigant, it probably doesn't weigh too much more than a pound. Mike Mike |
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10-11-2001, 04:45 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Annapolis, MD, USA
Posts: 261
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Thanks for the input guys. If I see one around I'll go after it, but don't feel its an urgent thing right now.
Thanks again. |
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10-11-2001, 05:44 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Tucson AZ USA
Posts: 8,228
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Please try to find a belly pan. I have seen, in older 924s and 944s damage to the power timing cog from road dust. In one case the teeth became so worn the belt was chewed apart and you can guess the results
Bob S. |
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10-11-2001, 08:27 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Indianapolis, IN USA
Posts: 246
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If we're talking about the same thing, the cover on my car is a plastic type material. I take it off and put it back on every time I do any work under it. 3 bolts in the front 5 (?) on the rear. It does keep a lot of water from splashing up in the engine compartment.
Dennis Russell  ------------------ Dennis Russell Indianapolis, IN USA 1987 944 n/a [This message has been edited by DennisR_944 (edited 10-12-2001).] |
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10-12-2001, 02:11 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 28
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I have a 85.5 951, and when I bought the car, it was missing the belly pans (I believe it is a two piece thing, correct?) Anyways, does anyone know where I can get this piece or pieces?
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10-12-2001, 07:17 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Indianapolis, IN USA
Posts: 246
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Mines only one piece. About 36"X 40" approx.
 ------------------ Dennis Russell Indianapolis, IN USA 1987 944 n/a |
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10-12-2001, 07:24 AM
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Dennis, yours is plastic?
Mine is one piece as well, but its metal. |
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10-12-2001, 07:35 AM
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The Belly Pan is there for 3 main reasons:
1) Preventing rocks and debris from collecting inside the engine compartment. 2) Protecting the hoses from drooping and catching onto road debris. 3) Keeping the engine compartment temperatures cooler= lower engine temps. The first 2 you can surmise the level of importance. The last item mainly applies for extended Highway driving. Without the belly pan, hot air can get trapped beneath the hood by turbulent air entering underneath the front of the car. The belly pan works as a wind deflector to direct the air further down the underside of the car. If most of your driving is around the city at low speeds, you won't notice the difference. But if you plan on taking the car to the track or drive on the highway for extended periods, you should install the pan. Regards, David PENNYWEB/REALRIDE.COM RACING http://www.RealRide.com |
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10-12-2001, 10:19 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Indianapolis, IN USA
Posts: 246
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Yep.....a kind of flexible hard plastic. Like Tupperware or something.
Dennis Russell ------------------ Dennis Russell Indianapolis, IN USA 1987 944 n/a |
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10-12-2001, 11:06 AM
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1983 Porsche 944 2.5 
