Hello, first 944 $600!

floorMatt · 11-01-2006, 09:21 AM

Hello all,
I just picked up a 944 for $600 the other day as sort of a learner project. I'll tinker with it over the winter in my garage and by spring maybe it'll run..maybe it won't. The car itself has 270,000 miles on it, but the engine has been replaced at some point. It starts right up, maintains oil pressure, and keeps relatively cool. I drove it about an hour to get it home and it has good power with no hesitation, Yay! The issues that I will face over the winter are suspension problems. While the engine may have been replaced at some point, the suspension most certainly has not, and it reflects all 270K miles. The front left tire (drivers side) has extreme wear on the outer edge, The rest of the wheels make wierd knocking/grinding noises. My question to you all is where do you start on a massive suspension project? What should I plan to replace and what should I inspect first? The haynes manual is on the way, but are there any better manuals (Is there a Bentley manual for 944's?) Thanks all for your help, it's good to be back in a Porsche.

Schumi · 11-01-2006, 09:26 AM

Congrats on the purchase. If it drove you home all that way and didn't overheat, die, buck, or leak fluids all over... I say you got an OK deal for 600$!. The Haynes manual is pretty much the best from what I have heard. I have used them and they are pretty easy to follow. Sounds like your ball joits are toasted. www.clarks-garage.com is going to probably be your biggest help. Look there for tutorials and step-by-steps on pretety much everything.

Have fun!

Slam · 11-01-2006, 09:30 AM

Congrats and welcome to the board. Your 944 looks like mine when I got it years ago.

The first thing everyone here will tell you is to do your front of engine service - timng and balance shaft belts, rollers, tensioners, water pump and seals. It's been covered in great depth here and on other sites.

For suspension, do you want to do everything? I'd start with bearings all round and probably tie rod ends, ball joints and strut mounts in the front, and shocks/struts - then tires. If the tire's worn to the outside, have an alignment done after you've replaced some components.

Haynes manual is okay for the early car, and the Haynes 924 manual is a good partner for it. You can pick up shop manuals on e-bay, and they come up for sale on this website every now and then.

Good luck and have fun!

floorMatt · 11-01-2006, 10:06 AM

Great, thanks for the info. I look forward to tearing into this thing to see what I can do to fix it. I'll keep you all posted.

pozican · 11-01-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by floorMatt
Great, thanks for the info. I look forward to tearing into this thing to see what I can do to fix it. I'll keep you all posted.

There are some factory repair manuals in pdf format online...
But seeing as they are copyrighted materials, and we shouldn't post any links to illegal things here, I suggust you check your PMs.

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

I'll give you a $1,000 for it!

Eldorado · 11-01-2006, 02:30 PM

tie rod ends, front upper strut mounts.. new bearings/seals/inner/outer races in the front and back.. what year is it?

after those, you may want to invest in some new struts... maybe even some shocks.. replace your sway bar bushings...

but... before you do that.... follow Simon's advice... FRONT END SERVICE

NeilW · 11-02-2006, 08:14 AM

Looks good for the money, congratulations and enjoy. One thing though, the tyres look too small in terms of diameter. They don't appear to fill the wheel arches as you would expect. What profile are they?

Cheers,

Neil

TSNAPCRACKLEPOP · TSNAPCRACKLEPOP's Garage

the noise while moving could be the outer rear cv joints.

congratulations!! that is the original color of my 87, which later was painted a dark deep purple. Yesterday I saw a very dark blue one in Independence, Mo.

floorMatt · 11-02-2006, 10:21 AM

The tires are 205/50-15's And yes, they look too small. The noise coming from the rear is a low hum that is actually quite loud. Perhaps a wheel bearing? or is that the sound that cv joints make? How do you folks feel about used parts for suspension maladies? is it worth it? As of last night I am having an informal competition with a few friends to see who can build the best street legal autocross car for $2k total by this spring so budget is tight. I think I have a good head start, but one friend is shopping for a BMW 3 series and another is determined to find a 16v VW GTI. We'll see what happens!

TSNAPCRACKLEPOP · TSNAPCRACKLEPOP's Garage

i just disassembled my joints, turned them around, and reassembled. now the noise goes "RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIHW".

keep the pieces straight when cleaning them, pack with new greezzzze.

Schumi · 11-02-2006, 12:00 PM

Matt, 2000-600=$1400... If your friends are really shopping for a 3 series and a GTI, you are far ahead of them.

205/50-15's all the way around? That is right for the front's but I would think the rears would be 215's or 225's. Wait, is this an '83 944? I think maybe the very early ones have smaller tires.

My 924S has 205's all the way around and I certainly wouldn't say there is a lack of grip though...

Eldorado · 11-02-2006, 12:14 PM

i have 205/60/15 in the front, and 215/60/15 in the rear

pozican · 11-02-2006, 12:49 PM

Depending on what year 3 series beamer, they might out accelerate you, but if you get the suspension fixed, they will never out corner you.
So you will be great in autoX

Be cautious though -- if one of them gets a 914 you are all done.

-Alex

AaronM · 11-02-2006, 02:00 PM

Standard tire size for a 1983 944 is 215/60 R15 on all 4 corners.

205/50 R15 is far too low-profile. That's about a 25% difference sidewall height, which means that your speedometer is reading 25% fast with those tires. (I.e. when your speedometer says 60 mph, you're really going about 48 mph.) It also means that for every 100 miles you drive, the odometer registers 125 miles.

Schumi · 11-02-2006, 02:34 PM

I knew that 50 sidewall sounded off.

And I'd like to know where one of your friends is going to find a 3 series BMW that is anywhere near competitive for 2000$...

floorMatt · 11-02-2006, 02:59 PM

I think "anywhere near competitive" is the operative phrase here. He's not committed to the three series but they are numerous and cheap and that inline six is a good motor. However, everything I've seen within budget is a TOTAL piece of crap...I think BMW owners drive their cars for long after Porche owners consider theirs "parts".