Fix up automatic 944?
 

Hello everyone,

I was gifted an '86 944 non turbo from a friend.
It is an Automatic car, but the previous owner sold the trans out of it.
It was running when his wife stopped driving it about 8 years ago.

He sold the trans and intended to use the engine for another of his cars.
It spun other with a fresh battery in it, but I dare not crank it.

I know the belts on these are paramount.

My question is should I part the car or get it running instead?
I could also get it running without the trans and then sell it.

I am fine with fixing everything myself as I have been working on cars since I was a kid. I can borrow all the specialty tools I need from the previous owner.

Ultimately, this car will be flipped to fund a standard 944 or other Porsche.
I have been pricing the belts, seals,etc.
Just wondering if parting the car will yield more than a running auto 944.

Thanks in advance.

Interior 10 or 1?
Engine- Minimum expected cost to get into selling condition $1500 parts alone--head, WP, hoses, front of engine service, motor mounts, shocks, rubber. Add $300 if PS leaks------all DIY and standard parts ---not upgrades

Tires 10 or 1?

Cost of Trans? If automatic is kept, add another $1500 for the rubber flex disc replacement.

Cost to convert auto to manual $500-minimum.

Part it.

GL

J_AZ

There is really very little logic behind what we all do here- a $2000 car will cost $5000 over a few years to get it from condition 3 to condition 1, where it is worth $6000. The only financially logical thing is to spend the money up front and buy a condition 1 car from the get-go, really.

We are all riding on the back of the 911 market though... The 914 market has exploded recently, but anything water-cooled is staying pretty stabile (low). A condition 4 911SC is going for condition 2 or 3 996 prices. i guess my point is that you should base your decision more on yourself and what you are passionate about versus looking at it from a financial investment standpoint. Is there any logic behind spending $2000 on a car that costs $1200 in parts for a clutch?

Looks like a part out.

I am not really into this car at the moment.
If it was a manual car I would hold on to it.

Ill start to create a listing for it soon.

If anyone needs any parts, I have a whole car minus transmission...lol

If you have script door handles---they are worth more than most parts on the car....

J_AZ

Thanks for the tip.

I am pretty sure I don't have them, but ill double check.

A 944 Automatic is a fun car to drive, well balanced, and nimble.

If the exterior and interior are in good shape then adding a trans and a belt job will put it back on the road.

When you buy the trans insist on them throwing in a good used flex disk (no dry rot or cracking) and make sure the seals on the tranny (especially the seal between the trans and the diff) are sound or replaced.

If gear oil gets in to the trans fluid it will ruin the automatic clutches.

How odd, I was also given an auto trans 944 recently. It has a title issue that's a little complicated, hadn't run in 4 years. I do not have the time or space right now to part it, so I threw some belts on it, got it running and put it on eBay at no reserve. I guess the market will let us know what it's worth.
Porsche 944 | eBay

keep us posted!

I'll be the devil's advocate... what's wrong with doing the belts and finding another trans to install? There have been 2 auto 944s in local yards, they come up all the time. You could have it back on the road for under $700 if you DIY everything, which is not hard at all on these cars.

sausagehacker,

I am really considering that right now.

I bet that the flex disc on both are toast....

J_AZ

So, this weekend I did the timing/balance belts and oil/filter.

Sprayed some starter fluid in the throttle body and the car fired right up.
That was with old plugs too.