Porsche 944 - it's Yellow!

[gn3dr]

I swapped my '00 Audi A6 Avant 1.8T Quattro for this last weekend.
I've always loved 944 but wanted a black one (inspired by sumpcrackers) but when I saw this I had to have it. Most of my friends don't like the colour but I love it!

Here it is after a good wash.


It had been lying idle for a while (couple of years I'd say) so had a lot of moss on it and is a bit damp inside (sunroof seal) No rot though - just a bit of cosmetic stuff on the lower front of rear arches.

I bought it with a knock in the engine and I didn't hear it turn over before I bought it so I took a chance - although I have another engine lined up for only €250 so not that much of a risk.

I've since discovered that the flywheel seems to be a bit loose on the crankshaft - turning the engine over by hand you can see the flywheel rock a degree or two extra. Not sure how this is as there should be a dowel there. The clutch was supposed to have been replaced not too long before it was laid up so I assume the loose flywheel is related. Hopefully the crank isn't damaged but will have to do a bit of ripping to find out.

It's got the later wheels and some funky spacers - I don't think I'm all that sure about these as there are no spigots. Might have to look into a set of 17"s

Front's



Rear's - there's actually 2 spacers here!



Inside the original front seats have been replaced with Cobra Monaco's - these might have to go as well if I can find some nice black leather as an alternative.

Trying to decide now if it's easier to take out the engine to check the clutch / flywheel situation or take off the torque tube and gearbox.

I'll also need to have a look at the brakes as the calipers are seizing on after the brakes are pressed.

Besides Rennlist can anyone recommend a good online resource for these?
Also would appreciate recommendations on good and cheap parts suppliers.

[Porsche]

Nice. I like the yellow. Would look good with these Recaros bolted into the front. (Embrace the yellowness).



For Sale now on eBay!

[url}http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Polo-Colour-Concept-Recaro-Rare-Yellow-Leather-Seats-Interior-6n2-Golf-Mk3-/251257050028?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&fits=Model%3AGolf|Plat_Gen%3AMK+III&hash=item3a801653ac#ht_443wt_1320[/url]

As for online resource, try forums.tipec.net/

Lot's of specialists...none of them cheap.

[maybachman]

Hi Nice looking car:) your only £5000 away from a £2500 car:)

for manuals try www.cannell.com , Ricks site has all the manuals.... parts... try Berlyn services. What Bert doesnt know about those isnt worth knowing!

Have fun!!

[gary1998]

nice yellow looks good

[ChasR]

Welcome to the '44 world. It seems that you may have fun. The yellow seems to suite the 944 and the seats do not look too out of place either! It is interesting to see that someone has taken the time to fit on the wheelspacers. Quite a few people just bang on the later offset wheels and wonder why they sit inside the wheelarch so much! But with the early offset you can also do something similar to what Gav (sumpcracker) has on here . Is your 944 a square dash car?

The Cannell site is quite handy I must say . Clark's Garage is quite informative as well, moreso than a Haynes for the 944 IMO.

For parts I would try Bert (www.partsforporsche.co.uk). Frazerpart as well as your local dealer (they can be cheaper on many things and are certainly cheaper for most things over one rather large Porsche specialist IME).

[Mark]

Great work, and even better that you can run it on classic tax

[gn3dr]

Thanks for the info folks. I hadn't come across those sites before.

It's a square dash car but the dash has been colour coded
The dash has the usual cracks as well.



Engine bay - although it looks like the car was originally a sort of silver someone went to great lengths to do a proper paint job. Looks like it was probably stripped to a bare shell when it was painted.




Rear shot



Mark - the tax thing was a major bonus. Couldn't even consider one of these otherwise.

[indyz12]

looks quite neat! Did you check the sill vents in the door jamb?
Take the plastic vents out and use a light to see inside the arches and sills. Make sure there's no rust!
I noticed the spacers on the hubs on mine too - I think its original on the front.

[DWDarkWheels]

Black is nice, but that looks great in yellow. A good choice of yellow too.

[Porsche]

I'll just leve this here...

Yes, I know it's a 924, but you get the idea.

[sumpcracker]

I like the yellow, black is a curse tbh.

I have been thinking of re shelling mine into a 968, i had yellow thoughts about that too.
I like the steering wheel, i bet that manual rack feels nice.

[gn3dr]

I was wondering how you figured out it didn't have power steering until I noticed the p/s reservoir bracket in the engine bay shot. Don't know how it drives yet but the steering seems very light when pushing it around the yard.

Haven't looked into the rear arches yet through the vents. Should have really done that before I bought it but let's face it I'd have bought it anyway. ;D

Sumpcracker you surely can't reshell yours - it's kind of famous at this stage.

What's the general consensus on the best shocks for these? Bearing in mind that Irish roads are wibblepoo


My plans for this are to just get it running and use it for the summer. I'll try and gather up some parts and then clean it up over winter. Having thoughts about a more modern management system or turbo conversions......otbperhaps just try to preserve the balance of the original design - to be decided once I have a few miles under my belt.

[Mark]

Interested to know how much you paid for it mate? A 944 is a car I'd love to run if/when I come back to Ireland.

[Kev]

What a stunning colour! Did I read right, free tax? Can't argue with that

[Mark]

May 1, 2013 23:16:53 GMT Kev said:

What a stunning colour! Did I read right, free tax? Can't argue with that

Near enough, €52/year in Ireland for everything over 30 years old. A great saving over the €1080 it would have been last year....

[gn3dr]

It got increased to 56 euro in the last budget

The car was advertised for 1200 euro but I could have bargained him down a good bit from that I'd say. I swapped an A6 quattro and got a few quid with the Porsche as well so it was reasonable enough.

There have been a few for sale for money like that or even less if they require some work. Not too many '83's coming up yet but I'm sure they'll start appearing.

[ChasR]

If you are after shocks that are friendly for roads the stock Sachs items should be fine (If what an Irish friend of mine said was true about the state of the roads over there (He seemed to think that the English moaned over nothing with just a 'few'potholes). Others have used KYB with success as well. Most things should improve upon dampers over 30 years old.

[sumpcracker]

May 1, 2013 22:40:05 GMT gn3dr said:

Sumpcracker you surely can't reshell yours - it's kind of famous at this stage.

It will be next week


I think yours looks cool as it is, i would remove or colour code the outer door strips and get a black carpet, as for suspension i would keep it fairly stock over there, it will corner faster on the bumpy roads with soft suspension.

[Mark]

May 2, 2013 7:10:11 GMT gn3dr said:

It got increased to 56 euro in the last budget

The car was advertised for 1200 euro but I could have bargained him down a good bit from that I'd say. I swapped an A6 quattro and got a few quid with the Porsche as well so it was reasonable enough.

Holy cheapness batman. You got a great deal!

[gn3dr]

Finally got it into my shed and started ripping.



Black carpet is definitely on the shopping list.

These rear seats were manky. I know Porsche did some dodgy interiors but surely not this tweed finish?



Some nice details like an alloy jack




Drivers front seat mounts have started to crack so a small bit of welding needed here.




The last car I ripped up was an MGB GT and I have a Range Rover classic and a few classic Jag projects as well. I know they were in different leagues in their day but working on this it really does show how badly built the British cars were - especially when it came to rustproofing.