1983 Porsche 924 :: Project: Goldie Hawn - Gone

[delux]

One of my earliest boyhood recollections of marvelling a Porsche came one sunny day at a friend of my fathers in the late seventies. It was a gleaming red rocket standing on his architect designed house's driveway next to his blonde bombshell wife and two greyhounds. You get the picture. It's quite a vivid memory.

Now I have Goldie Hawn, well not THE Goldie Hawn but my new 924 project. Why that moniker when she's really bronze not gold?

Well… 924's are sleek. Not voluptuous or curvaceous. Yet not shapeless. So the clean lines and general hue are a good era 'fit' as it were… I could really stretch this reasoning out but it just seemed a good fit so it stuck.

So here's Goldie Hawn my 1983 Porsche 924 in Bronze as she was when I first laid eyes on her…despite the rain she was resplendent!






I'm particularly happy that she is bronze - like a good natural sun kissed tan.

As the eagle eyed viewer will notice there are a few charming features already.

Firstly - no spoiler - which makes the flowing lines of this car even cleaner and more seventies than eighties like my 944.

And secondly - some nice polished door handles!



No mirrors, and no side strips but a few paint issues to address:



The alloys are in great condition as is most of the body work it must be said. Only those two exposed primer areas on the drivers side from where the side mouldings were removed and a little attention needed on the lower valance. The passenger side is perfect.

There's also a full stainless steel exhaust tucked underneath:



and the holy grail of rust free sills!



Goldie Hawn you made my day!

[slot]

Congrats !
Looks like a tidy example, will be good to see where you take this ?
I can only imagine your smile resembles ....... ?

[delux]

Indeed it was bar the gold bling bling gangsta fx!

Today I went to collect the car and bring 'er home.



This elevated position gave me a good opportunity to have a better look underneath.

And I was pleasantly surprised to find a set of SPAX rear dampers already fitted! I just need to establish if they're adjustable.



So I can remove those of the list - at least for the rears. I'm not certian about the fronts yet.



Up front there was another surprise - an anti roll bar - wasn't expecting that tbh.



Not to bad underneath the motor:




Structurally it appears very sound and rust free.




Let's get Goldie Hawn started shall we!

[g52oyc]

Looks clean, have a series 1 and a series 2 turbo myself. Just broken my other turbo due to rot so may have a few parts if you need any =).

[Felix]

Looks great, love the colour!

Front ARB is standard, you can get a rear one if you like or beef them up with larger bars from 944's, 68's etc

924 Owners Club is worth joining, they're a helpful bunch and there's a few 924's around in Kent.

[delux]

Thanks guys.

g52oyc - lmi if you have front seats that would suit my 924 - they're beige leather & pinstripe

felix - I joined last night!

So today I tried to bump start and tow start the 924 - fail. Got her to run a few times but it stalled after about a minute. I did buy this car knowing that it may need a starter motor but as it turns out there was a new one fitted…



The problem I suspect is this battery to starter to alternator loom…



How could a mechanic fit a new starter motor and not sort this issue…seriously! I'll make a new one.

I also sorted this connector at the battery while it has been put on charge:



Pulling the starter motor is a nightmare so I removed the alternator in order to detach the wires from the starter and then pull out the wiring loom - this gave me access from the front to the back of the starter motor contacts:



So not everything was bad news - it turns out BH has new starter motor and new cam belt and water pump too!



PLUS - the front dampers are SPAX adjustable too! Just like I fitted to my 944. Luverly



Happy days despite not being able to drive Goldie Hawn today - ah well.

[spandelly]

Nice purchase. Looks like a solid car with a few nice upgrades to boot. Just one bit of advice to check the brake lines where they run up behind the torsion bar housing. Mine looked ok up to that point and they blew while I was checking the brakes on the drive.
Cool car though and the paint peel is pretty common when the rub strips get removed.

[delux]

Thanks for the headsup - I'll check them out seeing as tho it's currently on axle stands

[delux]

Just compiled a list of bits & bobs needed for Ms.Hawn and sent off an email to my OPC - miscellaneous shiny bits should start arrive soon.

With the 'admin' out of the way it's time to start removing things and thinking about what direction to go in with this little number - I'm thinking 70's deluxe!

It would suit the car as it was launched in 1976 and a little back dating could be pretty cool I reckon. Mmmm let's see...

[delux]

If something comes off it needs to be cleaned and refurbed and put back better than it was. So I started with the wiper motor area behind the battery.

Looks much better now - before on the left, after on the right:



I love the satisfaction of little advances like this as sad as that might be to some!

Picked up some new ignition related bits:



Distributor cap looked a bit worse for wear - it didn't fit securely either as it rocked side to side pretty easily.



But the condition of the rotor was quite a surprise!



The new one fitted nice and snug too compared to the outgoing one.

Surely spark plugs shouldn't look like this!



There was one mismatched one too!

New air filter in place:



Yawn…

Then did something much more fun - cleaned up the alternator!



That's more like it.

[ChasR]

What are you like? Was one project not enough for you? .

It does seem as if you have struck lucky with Goldie Hawn going by initial impressions. Maybe the goodness (and a progression of how you proceed) continue .

[delux]

Thanks Chas.

I started stripping off the front suspension this afternoon - progress was halted by stuck wheel bolts on the NS front…not even the impact wrench would budge those four bolts…goshdarnit

[countvauxalot]

WANT! Now I have to get one after seeing this

[delux]

C'mon James!

Right-O - I don't like rusty bits…



So now that the stubborn front NS wheel is off and most of the front suspension - well, if it's not off, then it's loosened and about to fall into my grubby paws.



ARB is already 23mm so I may not replace it with a thicker one - that's going on the 944!

New bits are arriving everyday now - Febi Bilstein wishbone kit for mk1 Golf (bargain!) and new binnacle to replace my cracked one:

[delux]

More time in and around the front end - everything is now off under the front - steering rack and cross member included:



Struts stripped and all sorts boxed...



…and off to the powder coater! :cool:

Started tackling the gunk on the steering rack:



And started to wire brushed the spindles:



With the cross member off there's fantastic access to the bottom of the filthy engine - unlike the 944 where the cross member supports the engine.



I might just have to remove that sump…to clean it up real nice ya'll

[hilly413]

theres lots of parts that fit these that are the same as other cars but 10x cheaper ive just put a brand new clutch in one ive got for banger racing for £13 compared to £250 for a porsche stamped part

[pauloliver]

Where can you get a new clutch for £13? A link would be most appreciated!

Car is looking good, I recently did a front end rebuild and it made a world of difference to the cars handling

[delux]

I'd like to know about that clutch too. Right now I'm trying to figure out what other VW Golf and Beetle bits are compatible with the 924...

[pauloliver]

I think a list needs to be written up to help save coins. It seems that a great deal is inter compatible although things like golf steering wheels don't really appeal to me

[hilly413]

there is a list online somewhere its mainly for brakes etc
this is the clutch i fitted www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261317631136?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

ford wheels fit and have no problem with clearances...... i fitted a ford ka master cylinder an servo, took me 5 mins to modify it, all the pipes match up blanking 1 hole off and i extended the back rod using the fooked porsche one