My 1980 924 Turbo Purchase Project Mexico Beige/Mocha Black Project! Advice Welcome

[Tember_912]

Hey Everyone Im new to the Porsche Water Cooled Cars. Figured its time to step away from my 912 for a Mental Break of the Project. started looking around I Found this Car online 931 In Mexico Beige/Mocha Black 2 tone Paint Turbo.

Story Behind the car Was Grandpas Car, Bought it new. Grandpas Gone (passed) Grandson Abused the maintenance, Boom Head Gasket. No Desire to Bring back Grandpas Pride and Joy. (this kid will regret it Grandpa is Livid im Sure)
-Did compression Test
-Drained checked Fluids
-Hand turned the Block
Seems to Show all Signs Head Gasket

After seeing the car i don't or am not ready for a project but i just couldn't resist. i figure Head Gasket, New timing and a few other cosmetic Tweaks and He'll be one of my pride and Joy

The Good

83k Original Miles
Car came with File book Of maintenance Records
Gob's and Gob's of Extra Parts
Exterior 7-10
interior 8-10
Pirelli Tires 80%
Removable Top With the Leather Drive Sunroof top

I picked the car up Friday Night time for wrench work Today

ANY ADVICE OR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME, EXTRA EXCITED TO TURN HIM INTO MY DAILY DRIVER.

PLAN IS TO DO NEW HEAD GASKET AND TIMING BELT, ALSO DROPPING THE HEADS OFF AT THE MACHINE SHOP

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD REPLACE WHILE IN INTO THE CAR THIS DEEP AT THIS POINT?

THANKS FRIENDS

[v2rocket_aka944]

The colors are very 1980...
But it looks in great shape!
Check condition of the various fuel hoses and replace if necessary..

[thomasryan]

Grandpa has taste in cars. Great color combo.

Tell us what the option sticker or window sticker says....looks well appointed if gramps ordered it.

[fiily]

Congrats, what a blast from the past. Car looks to be in excellent condition. Enjoy the redo.

[djnolan]

[QUOTE=Tember_912;8726567]
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD REPLACE WHILE IN INTO THE CAR THIS DEEP AT THIS POINT?

I love the front body work on that model.

But look for anything rubber such as fuel, cooling system and vacuum hoses, power steering hoses if it has them...

Some are just a leak hazard and some are a fire hazard...

[ideola]

Congrats on the acquisition of a nice example! Here are two reference threads you should bookmark, print, and peruse:
A Systematic Approach to 931 Diagnostics
931 Resuscitation - how to resurrect a long-dead turbo

If you're interested in performance mods, check this one out:
Project Planning for 924 Performance Modifications

You should sign up for 924board, as you will find a more active 2.0L 924/931 community there (no disrespect to our host here, but this forum is predominantly 2.5L 944 enthusiasts).

You might also consider adding your car to the official 924 registry, and don't overlook the useful material at 924.org (not to be confused with the forum).

As for the "while you're in there" question, these are the things I recommend to every new 931 owner, listed more or less in order of priority and importance:

• Replace timing belt and tensioner
• Replace the water pump
• Replace the thermostat and temp switch. These are a matched pair, and I highly recommend running the colder range setup. PM me for details.
• The above two steps will require draining, flushing, and refilling of the coolant system. During this step, I strongly recommend pressure testing the system to identify if there are any pinhole leaks in the radiator or any of the aging hoses. Replace all of the hoses you can, but be aware that several of them are NLA. PM me for details.
• Get a complete head gasket kit and do a full top end recondition
• Replace the plastic elbow at the cam oiler tube
• Inspect each cam lobe and each lifter bucket for wear and damage (common on these cars)
• Inspect the exhaust manifold for hairline cracks at the #1 and #2 runners on the underside, near the 3-bolt mani-to-turbo flange. Replace the exhaust mani gaskets (comes in full h/g kit)
• Check valve guides for wear
• Replace valve stem seals, cam seal, valve cover gasket, etc. (comes in full h/g kit)
• Lap the valves into the seats
• Don't lose the head gasket guides that fit into block
• While the head is off, consider replacing all of the turbocharger seals, and retorquing all of the fasteners. Ensure that the lower charge tube bracket has not gone missing (common problem)
• Get a proper CIS tester kit and do a complete CIS test using the instructions here: How to connect & operate the Hoffman CIS Test Kit
• After complete CIS test, if everything checks out, check and reset idle and mixture
• Replace fuel filter and make sure it is pointing the right direction (arrow points at the windshield...this is a common mistake of new 931 owners)
• Replace air filter, and verify that the air filter box straps are intact
• Replace spark plugs with fresh Bosch WR-6-DS+ standard copper plugs (do NOT buy any of the fancy platinum or iridium plugs)
• Replace the distributor cap, distributor rotor, and plug wires
• Drain the oil, replace the copper crush washer at the drain plug, replace the oil filter, and fill with a good quality 20W50 with adequate ZDDP content. I now use Brad Penn exclusively in all of my cars.
• Drain the old fuel out of the tank. Replace the in-tank pump seal, and replace the external fuel pump with a new one. If the old one is working, keep it as a spare.
• Buy a spare fuel pump relay and put it in the glove box. Make a fuel pump relay jumper and put it in the ash tray or glove box.
• Get two bottles of Techron fuel system cleaner and run it in the system for your first two full tanks of gas
• Consider replacing the alternator. I have never had a 924 that didn't have the alternator fail within the first month or two of me driving it on a regular basis. You can get $100 unit after core trade-in at most big box FLAPS with lifetime warranty.
• Drain the trans oil and replace with a high quality 75W90 GL4 synthetic. Mobil-1, Redline, and Royal Purple are all good options.
• Inspect the CV boots and address as necessary
• At some point you will undoubtedly need to address the shifter bushings for the main shift selector rod and the "guide tube" ball socket. This is not an easy job, and will probably take you the better part of a weekend the first time you attempt it, but it will be well worth the effort, and you will probably never have to do it again once completed. PM me for details on part numbers and procedure.

[Tember_912]

Thanks! It screams JoyStick 1980s

[Tember_912]

thomasryan
Window Sticker? How do i cross reference the vin to find out all the options The car came with?
Thanks

[ideola]

Originally Posted by Tember_912

thomasryan
Window Sticker? How do i cross reference the vin to find out all the options The car came with?
Thanks

You don't. You need the option code sticker in the rear boot, under the hatch carpet near the spare tire. Lacking that, the only other way is a COA from Porsche.

[Tember_912]

ideola

Thanks For the detailed list of replacement parts Ordered in a Majority of the parts. Took off the Head last night. Man what a job 4 hours later. Everything appears to look in really good shape Hoses Etc. Intake Manifold has 2 cracks and has been welded, thank goodness This gentleman saved every part, Found 2 Manifold intakes in all the parts. Solid.
Time to drop off the Head at the machine shop to be checked out and replace the valve stem seals. and any other unknown.

Having a hard time loading pics ill update the progress soon

Thanks again Everyone