test drive disaster

[jvandyke]

after several decent test drives, this one ended as below, not sure what happened but the end result is below. I need A LOT of parts now. (far more than the poor car is worth unfortunately. ouch Fire extinguisher saved the car but just barely.

[grendiers]

Is your AFM upside down?

[jvandyke]

Nope, thats the melted and charred black top covered in extinguisher residue.

[bell]

where are you located? I'm getting ready to sell my 87 924s cheap minus interior/ carpet (only seats and dash)...
runs and drives with ice cold a/c....

[jvandyke]

West Michigan

[dgcantrell]

FUuuuuuhhhhh.... What happened? I'd be crushed....

[jvandyke]

No idea, it was the 5th or 6th test drive and our confidence had grown, can only guess a fuel leak that somehow ignited, bit suspicious of #1 spark plug, if that injector leaked and it started there, looks extra crispy right there.

[Jfrahm]

Did you have the injector retaining clips fitted?

[jvandyke]

yes
I missed something no doubt and this is the result, took extra long to put it out because I had taken out the extinguisher a day or two ago when working on the interior and didn't put it back and had to wait on one, that time cost us dearly, and I know better. My bad.

[Project560]

Wow, that's terrible! You guys must be in shock. We're here for you.

I guess I will push mine out of the garage before I start it up once I get the intake and everything back together...and I will buy an extinguisher too.

[jvandyke]

thanks for happy thoughts, if anyone wants to give up serviceable used parts for a good price for a good cause to help a good kid out let me know, I'm hoping to fund the bulk of it myself as "lead" mechanic, this is really on me anyway
I insisted on carrying an extinguisher when we fired it up and took drives, stupidly left it out this run, huge mistake, one will be on board from now on (assuming we opt to rebuild)
too eager
it was running pretty nice too, my last words before the fire were:
"it's running the best yet"
then, "is that steam?"
then, "oh #$$# that's smoke and fire!"

[pfarah]

Sorry to see this...

[mhariush]

jvandyke, send me a list of what you need and I'll help out. I parted an 85.5 and and 85 recently, have a lot of the parts left.

[Alexb944]

that is horrible, guess ill be getting a fire extinguisher now... but plyhammer is a good stop for looking for good used parts, hes also a member of this forum.

[bell]

if we were closer id be able to help you out.......post here what you need...
looks like the engine should be fine, just need a bunch of parts....
id consider the Lindsey fuel line kit.....that's probably what failed.......
good luck with getting it sorted, we all have parts we can donate....for cost of shipping or whatever......just let us know

[jvandyke]

thanks guys
Car people are the best people, no?
I'll tear down ASAP and see where we're at.

[pfarah]

I've got a complete intake snorkel in decent shape from an 84. I think it's the same part number but check it out and PM me if you want it. I'll donate it to the cause if you pick up the shipping.

[jvandyke]

Started tearing it down,
Items destroyed:
j tube
air box
afm (cover at least insides look okay)
tps (complete ball of plastic)
all wiring, crispy all the way back to the firewall
all fuel lines
injectors
plug wires
oil separator housing
master cylinder reservoir
all vacuum lines
rear carpet (used as a flame suppressant, quite ineffective BTW)

I have to wonder what happens to the DME in such a situation? Since the wiring burned and shorted, who knows? I turned the ignition off right away for what that's worth.

Don't know what to do yet.
Which bit(s) are the hardest to come by?
A big part of me wants to save it if for no other reason than to have succeeded with my boy in the face of utter disaster. Maybe that's all the reason I need.
I'm willing to spend unlimited time on this so labor is not a factor. Parts availabiity and cost is the issue. His 16th birthday is in September.
I'll try to gin up the courage to take some pictures.

[dgcantrell]

I'd say the DME got it. If I had any early stuff, you'd be more welcome to it but I don't.

If you're on Facebook, go join the Porsche 924 944 Spares group. There's a lot of stuff out there for sale for great prices. Some of the fellows are in the UK but most are US based.

[plyhammer]

I've got everything listed minus the fuel lines and good rear hatch carpet. $200 shipped