944 Turbo

tykes · Apr 28, 2015

I have just bought an 87 944 Turbo in Ocean Blue here in Dubai and notwithstanding the fact that it is LHD, I shall be bringing it back to the UK with me when I return in a month. I am more of a 911 man with a 993 but I have always liked the punch of the 944 Turbo but I don't know a lot about them.

This car is in pretty good condition considering it is nearly 30 years old and came from Japan so whilst I have no idea of the true mileage it doesn't feel like it has been round the clock and all feels very tight with plenty of power. The rear feels a little uncertain but I suspect the shocks may be on their way.

I got the car with a load of spares including spare discs, 2 brand new (well they look like it) front Brembo callipers and 2 very good used Brembo front callipers plus new track rods etc etc. The belts and water pump had just been done so all in all quite happy.

I believe the car to be totally stock but I have a couple of questions if I may of the many experts on here:

- The battery in my car is under the bonnet whereas I thought it was supposed to be in the boot. Was this later cars only?
- The front fog lights appear to have another lighting addition to the fog although one side is what appears to be a blank. I can't figure out how this turns on assuming it is a driving light.
- My car is fitted with BBS RS 3 piece split rims with Porsche centres. I assume these were an aftermarket fitment and not an option? Whilst they are in excellent condition I don't like them so will be looking for a set of Fuchs if anyone has any. My car is early offset and no ABS.
- I note that the car has yellow adjustable Konis on the front and yellow Konis on the back but not sure if they are adjustable or not. The rear feels a little wallowy so I suspect the rears may be shot. Is this the optional set up for the sports suspension
-The odometer is very intermittent working sometimes and sometimes not but I have read somewhere that this is a common fault with the nylon gear breaking up. Are replacement gears available from an OPC as would rather not buy a new speedo or worse a cluster.

My intention was to post up a couple of pictures but it keeps saying file too big! How do I sort this ?

Many thanks

Richard

bmnelsc · Apr 28, 2015

I have a '92 S2 that came from Japan as well. Regarding the battery - it is under the hood on the right side up close to the firewall. I believe only RHD models had the battery re-located to the rear and I believe it was for safety reasons...you don't want a battery in your face as a result of a collision. My fronts are fogs and driving lights (separate) although in the same housing - I have two switches on the dash to operate although they have been "jumpered" in the fuse block to operate as Daytime Running Lights as required in Canada. I could put them back in proper operation and use them as DRLs with the purchase of several expensive relays

I'll leave the rest for the Turbo gurus

chrisg · Apr 28, 2015

The M030 konis are adjustable front and rear , you have to remove the rears to adjust them though by compressing them and twisting at the same time.

Diver944 · Apr 29, 2015

ORIGINAL: tykes My intention was to post up a couple of pictures but it keeps saying file too big! How do I sort this ?

You can resize them using Paint which comes apart of Windows. Failing that email them to me at diver944 at yahoo dot com and I will resize them for you Congratulations on the purchase [

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pauljmcnulty · Apr 29, 2015

My intention was to post up a couple of pictures but it keeps saying file too big! How do I sort this ?

There's a restriction on picure sizes to keep the forum costs down. If you host them on a site like photobucket you can post any number of full-size photos. [

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tykes · Apr 30, 2015

Many thanks for the replies and tips re photos. Attached some photos of my car assuming I have done this correctly!

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[/URL]/image] Would be interested in others views of the wheels on the car - I don't particularly like them as I don't think they suit the car. Aside from Fuchs what are peoples preferences? On the question of adjusting the shocks - I have a spare pair of Konis so will experiment with them but how do you know by how much you are adjusting them? When compressing and turning them do you get a click or something similar so you know how much you have adjusted? I would like to make the rears a little stiffer. There is definitely another lamp in my drivers side fog light assembly but only one switch on the dash. The passenger side appears to have a blank reflector. On a separate subject are there any recommendations for 944 specialists in the South West? I will be shipping this back next month. Many thanks

Eldavo · Apr 30, 2015

I don't think the wheels suit it - they look very American. A set of clean D90s in Turbo sizes would look lovely

zcacogp · Apr 30, 2015

ORIGINAL: Eldavo I don't think the wheels suit it - they look very American.

Agreed, but it seems to have a US rear bumper and US reflectors in the rear wheel arches. And an airbag steering wheel. Are you sure it was Japanese spec? Oli.

JagdHamster · Apr 30, 2015

I changed to D90s because they were the standard wheel. They certainly helped the ride/handling improve, too. Previously had 17" Cup-IIs which looked great but crashed about and made steering heavy. I bought mine on a 944 forum; came off an S2 in great condition, about Â£100 a corner with good tyres. D90s look like this:

Diver944 · Apr 30, 2015

ORIGINAL: tykes .My car is early offset and no ABS.

Are you sure it is early offset? I thought a 1987 car should be late, which would open up your choice of wheels somewhat

944Scott · Apr 30, 2015

I have to agree, loose the wheels. Other than that it looks a nice car.

George Elliott · Apr 30, 2015

to set the dampers, hold in soft jaws in a bench vice, compress & twist on full compression and the damper rate will change. to measure the stiffness, compress fully, then release and observe the time required to return to full extension. to match a pair of dampers, place both side by side in vice, compress and adjust until the pair extend at the same rate. I know what you mean about wallow, mine were about 3/10 hard and when increased to 8/10 the car was very different Looks like the Covers thief has been in your town [8|], are the headlamp motor cover, front toe eye cover and front damper top covers in your bag of spares? George 944t

tykes · May 1, 2015

The car came from Japan but the VIN has AA in it so suspect it is US spec. Always surprised at the number of LHD cars in Japan. The reflectors in the rear wings actually have bulbs in them but they don't appear to work - haven't checked the bulbs yet! The car is an 87 model but date of manufacture is 11/86 so I am assuming that driver and passenger airbags are standard for the year. I agree about D90's - are these the same as the D90's fitted to early 964's? Anyone have a set that they want to offload? Thanks for the tips on adjusting the rear shocks - I will experiment with my spare pair. Well spotted re the covers - I haven't found anything yet in the box of spares. I assume the tow bar has a plug of some sort? What should be on the topmounts and the headlamp motor? There is a strange looking rubber boot in the box but it has a split so that might be it. I am now not sure about the offsets (will have to take a wheel off) but I understood that cars without ABS were early offset. Is that not the case? What are the offsets early and late? Thanks for all your help.

Monkeythree · May 1, 2015

If your rear dampers have bumpstops in them you will need to fish these out first before trying to adjust them. Needle nose pliers can just about get enough grip on the split in the bumpstop to get a hold.