Repair a Porsche 944 auto?

[garage_gorilla]

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.

[black_falcon]

People made a living parting these cars out a few years ago.

What's the condition of the body/interior? Overall I think you'd be money/time/effort ahead to buy a 944 that already runs and drives. Prices are creeping up but you can still buy an awfully nice 944 for $5k. Unless you enjoy projects, trying to get your current car back on the road would be more of a headache than it's worth IMO.

[Matt Monson]

What's the body like? If it's solid maybe consider converting it to 5spd? Otherwise just dump it or part it.

[garage_gorilla]

The body seems pretty solid (will need a paint job), but the roof has been leaking on the passenger side.

The carpet is moldy and probably a right off.
I haven't really checked the floor pans yet, so there could be an issue there.

I want to do a 5 speed track car, so the interior will go.
How much would I be looking at for a manual conversion?

[Matt Monson]

I don't know what the conversion would cost. The 944 forum on Rennlist is pretty active. I would dig around there. There's probably a FAQ somewhere on that board.

The thing about a track car is that you would want to go through the gearbox and freshen it up anyway. So if you did that as part of the conversion it might save you some big picture money.

[Jrboulder]

IMO regular 944s just aren't worth parting out, especially if they're in poor shape. I parted out 2 86 944 Turbos in 2011. I made a pretty good return on the really nice one and barely broke even on the dumpy one. Of course if this 86 has Fuchs wheels it might be worth buying just for the wheels and some other little parts.

[black_falcon]

I would pass on the project in question. Needing paint just clinches it. You'll have waay more in that car than it's worth in no time flat. Off the top of my head, at minimum you'll need a torque tube, transaxle, manual gearbox, rear CV axles, master and slave cylinder, have to drill through the firewall for the clutch assembly, possibly a new radiator, and some clever fabrication to make it all work. I've been a lurker on the Rennlist 944 forum since 2004 and the general consensus on jobs like this has always been a resounding NO.

[garage_gorilla]

Thanks black_falcon.

This is what I am leaning toward.

I may do the belts and get the engine running, just to bring a higher price for the car.
Even still, may just try to unload the car as it sits.

[Matt Monson]

Agree on the needs paint kills it. Too many with decent paint. And painting costs more than the car is worth.