Just joined the 944 owners group ???

[vdubr928]

So i just bought a 944 for my wife today. I'm a 928 owner and skilled mechanic. I paid 350 for the car. It has a nice body with nothing that a little elbow grease and some rubbing compound can't fix. Except the lower valance on the front wing is broken off. The interior is cloth with the embroidered Porsche lettering (it's light gray) and is in decent shape (except the drivers bolster.... I wonder if anybody but me ever gets tired of hearing that) and needs a good cleaning. It's a complete car though and doesn't look molested. The guy is getting for-closed on and just wanted some cash for it.

Here for the questions. It runs although he cannot find the ignition key so I didn't get to hear it. He is a close friend of a close friend though so I'm sure it does. He said it has top end noise. It has an 8 valve motor and he said it's an 87. Does the 8 valve motor have a counterbalance system like the 16v 944 motor? Is the 8v an interference motor? Will the 16V 928 head and cam work on a 928 motor? (ie will any of the parts interchange? I have a 16v v8 that I can pull parts from) What is the likely cause of valve train problems?

Thanks, my name's Carl and i look forward to getting to know you all.

[vdubr928]

Here are some pictures.

[vdubr928]

[vdubr928]

[Rudeboy42]

Nice deal but those wheels are the wrong offset. Notice how far they stick out.

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by vdubr928

So i just bought a 944 for my wife today. I'm a 928 owner and skilled mechanic. I paid 350 for the car.

Here for the questions. It runs although he cannot find the ignition key so I didn't get to hear it. He is a close friend of a close friend though so I'm sure it does. He said it has top end noise. It has an 8 valve motor and he said it's an 87. Does the 8 valve motor have a counterbalance system like the 16v 944 motor? Is the 8v an interference motor? Will the 16V 928 head and cam work on a 928 motor? (ie will any of the parts interchange? I have a 16v v8 that I can pull parts from) What is the likely cause of valve train problems?

Thanks, my name's Carl and i look forward to getting to know you all.

Carl__ welcome to the Pelican 944 world ,first let's try to answer some of your question _yes the 2.5 8 valve is an interference motor with two counter balance shafts -no the 16v 928 head & cam won't work on your 944.Top noise could be a number of thing ,just hope he didn't break the timing belt & bent some valve or worst case scenario damage any off the pistons.So it should be the first place to look ASAP.Don't attempt to start it without checking the belts first.On the positive side of it even if he did scrap the head they are cheap to buy (compare to the 16V one & easy to find)Lol for the price your paying for it you can drop a rebuilt into it & still be ahead of the game.I beleive that not many parts can be interchange between a 16V 928 & 944 NA motor ,but you can always do a little research on it.This will be your friendly garage from now on Clark's Garage Home Page .Here you will find all the answer to your questions I'm 100% sure.Once more congrats on your find ,the 944 is a hell of a nice car to own & drive when maintain properly & being a skilled mechanic you shouldn't have any problem fixing it.

[John_AZ]

$350 !!

Great steal. There are quite a few members from Colorado.

I guess this brings my 2011 value to $950 and ernies 968 to about $4599.96

GL & welcome
John

[mikepellegrini]

That's a great price for an 87 NA. It looks like it is in decent shape. For $350, you got a really good deal even if the engine is complete toast.

Yes, the 8 valve 2.5 L engine is an interference engine, and no, there won't likely be any parts you can use off a 16V engine.

The engine does have two balance shafts. That belt and the cam (timing) belt probably oughta be replaced ASAP unless the previous owner can document they've been replaced in the last 4 years/30K miles or so.

The top end noise could be a stuck lifter - or it could just be the injectors firing (they are quite noisy). Worst case is a broken valve spring. Get it started and see what it sounds like. If it isn't too nasty, maybe a bit of SeaFoam would free the lifter...

Congrats on the purchase! You got a great deal.

[ernie9944]

^^Forgot this is what you'll be looking at once the the front belts cover is off.

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by John_AZ

$350 !!

Great steal. There are quite a few members from Colorado.

I guess this brings my 2011 value to $950 and ernies 968 to about $4599.96

GL & welcome
John

Dreaming again John

[89-944NA]

BEFORE you attempt to start that engine, pull all the spark plugs and then pull the engine through by hand (24mm socket on the crankshaft bolt) a couple of complete revolutions. Remember it's an interference engine, so if when you pull it through, if it stops and won't budge, you have a valve or two hitting the pistons.

Welcome to the group, there are a lot of very helpful people on here, since we all share the love of a much underappreciated Porsche automobile.

[vdubr928]

Originally Posted by ernie9944

^^Forgot this is what you'll be looking at once the the front belts cover is off.

Wow..... nothing like a 16 or my 32v 928 motor. I had to go into the purchase assuming the engine was toast.

Not sure about the offset of the wheels. They look stock but the tires look huge. Lol. These cars go in the 3-4 thousand range around here. It could need a clutch and t-tube. No way to know. I told him id get it wednesday but i'm itching to see what's wrong so I may set it up for tomorrow. Of course im going to need some reference marks for the cam and shafts. Pics? Is there manuals for dl? (Pm) good to know I can get a rebuilt. Links? How about power? My wife wont drive my 928. Its a monster. Can't I slap a turbo on this car without too much work? Its an L-jet right?

[vdubr928]

Oh...... by the way. I have an audi tensioner on my 32 v. No adjustments needed. What is the deal on the belt system on these?


Ps. Thanks for all the replies. Good to know I have support!

[sparky4017]

Welcome from sparky4017 in Oklahoma

[89-944NA]

Timing marks: on the distributor you will see a round window, pull the engine through by hand, and line the mark on the cam gear up with the pointer inside the window. NEXT, at the rear of the engine (firewall, drivers side) look for another window, you need to line up the "OT" mark there also. If these two are NOT lined up, pull it through again until they do. Once BOTH MARKS are lined up, you have TDC. To verify that you have the "OT" mark, you need to climb under the car, there is a notch in the bottom of the bell housing, and you should see a WIDE line on the flywheel.

Check Clark's Garage Home Page for this procedure. Haynes manual is almost useless, but will do in a pinch, there are a lot of people out there with the service manuals on cd (pdf format), you can most likely get a copy from someone. Or if you can locate a set, the Factory Service Manuals are also available out there.

You have around 147 hp in that non-S 8v engine. Bottom end torque leaves a lot to be desired, your wife should do just fine with it.

[Pete R]

350 bucks!, that's probably less than it will cost for the windshield in that Ranger Rover (?) back there. I too wrenched on 928's for years, I then bought a 944 turbo thinking "this should be much easier to work on" .... boy was I wrong. They are still awesome little cars. good luck

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by Pete R

350 bucks!, that's probably less than it will cost for the windshield in that Ranger Rover (?) back there. I too wrenched on 928's for years, I then bought a 944 turbo thinking "this should be much easier to work on" .... boy was I wrong. They are still awesome little cars. good luck

Pete, looks like you and I have the same IQ. I thought the same thing myself about my 928.

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by vdubr928

Wow..... nothing like a 16 or my 32v 928 motor. I had to go into the purchase assuming the engine was toast.

Not sure about the offset of the wheels. They look stock but the tires look huge. Lol. These cars go in the 3-4 thousand range around here. It could need a clutch and t-tube. No way to know. I told him id get it wednesday but i'm itching to see what's wrong so I may set it up for tomorrow. Of course im going to need some reference marks for the cam and shafts. Pics? Is there manuals for dl? (Pm) good to know I can get a rebuilt. Links? How about power? My wife wont drive my 928. Its a monster. Can't I slap a turbo on this car without too much work? Its an L-jet right?

HEY! slow down man ,read carefully what 89-944NA is telling you,use the link to Clarks Carage if in doubt (manuals somebody will come up or pm you with a link where you can download your car shop manual)your 88 is allready making aproxx 158 to 160 HP ,all you need once you get it going, is to do a good tune up on it with the rigth parts . I'll PM you as what parts to use since I don't want to go into this here.Forget the turbo like mention a good tune up is all you need & the wife should be pretty well satisfy with the power believe me. The engine management on the 944 is done via a DME as seen in the diagram .Wheels look like 15" Cookies Cutter which will be the wrong offset for your 88 since it's an early car wheel.

[ernie9944]

Once more I forgot (getting late here + I'm not getting any younger) anyway all the parts you'll ever need you can get it here on Pelican. Pelican Parts - Porsche Parts & BMW Parts - Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche & BMW

[vdubr928]

I actually just placed an order for some speed bleeders. Im a supporter. So how many ponies is it really. Im getting mixed numbers. Im sure it will be fine for her. Ill let you know what I come up with.