944S - Newbie queries

[dougwoollett]

Hi folks,

I've recently bought a 1987 944S and am loving it but have a few queries!

Firstly, it's black and registered JAZ9044, does anyone know it? It has an old club sticker on it, hence I figured someone might. (I'll also be selling that plate as not into special plates and am a bit broke at the moment!).

It has 15" cookie cutter wheels at the moment, which I belive must be completely incorrect!! As far as I can see they should be late offset and am i right in saying the cookie cutters only came in early offset? They also foul the rear arches on hard cornering, which i thought was because they had 225/60 tyres on them but presume it's more to do with the offset than that.

Does anyone know what the correct standard wheels would have been for the S? 15" teledials? Or would it have had 16" ones, or were they just an option?

It also vibrates quite a bit under braking but the left tie rod seems sloppy at the connection to the steering rack so that's my first course of action. That coupled with proper sized wheels before I investigate anything else, like warped disks etc.

A few other small things to sort out (sunroof, electric mirror...) but nothing else major, then might be time for a trip to the Nurburgring!

 

[944 man]

52mm offset ATS telephone dial wheels were standard. Early offset wheels will fit a series two car, but not with chunky tyres like those. A set of 1986 ET23mm telephone dials would look better of course, because theyd be the correct style (which Im toying with the idea of fitting onto my own series two car).

Simon

 

[PSH]

Hi doug

That plate does ring a bell , it's a good few years ago now but it may be from a guy in wales.. but for the life of me I can't remember his name although if it is the same car he was very active in late 90's early 2000's.
Perhaps others here may have a better memory than I?

Pete

 

[Pastry]

ORIGINAL: 944 man

52mm offset ATS telephone dial wheels were standard. Early offset wheels will fit a series two car, but not with chunky tyres like those. A set of 1986 ET23mm telephone dials would look better of course, because theyd be the correct style (which Im toying with the idea of fitting onto my own series two car).

Simon

so youre toying of putting the wrong offset wheels on your car? wont the extra 29mm offset and resulting 58mm greater track put strain on the wheel bearings?

 

[dougwoollett]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Although it looks good and presumably the wider track makes for better handling, I know there's issues with the legality of wheels sticking out eyond the bodywork (is that what you mean scotty?), though I'm not sure what the dimensions are and mine isn't too bad.

I would also be worried about the extra strain on the wheel bearings.

Think the previous owner was called David something...if that helps! I can probably find out but then he's probably not the one you're thinking of as he's not from Wales. I bought it from a guy who was selling it for a friend, all a bit dodgy but the V5 came through in the end and it all checked out fine.

Will be getting on ebay tonight looking for some teledials I think!

Doug

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: sc0tty

You can't put early offset wheels on a late offset car, they will stick out too far beyond the wheel arches.

No they wont, they will stick out 29mms further than they do already. EMCs garage is full of them.

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: Pastry

ORIGINAL: 944 man

52mm offset ATS telephone dial wheels were standard. Early offset wheels will fit a series two car, but not with chunky tyres like those. A set of 1986 ET23mm telephone dials would look better of course, because theyd be the correct style (which Im toying with the idea of fitting onto my own series two car).

Simon

so youre toying of putting the wrong offset wheels on your car? wont the extra 29mm offset and resulting 58mm greater track put strain on the wheel bearings?

Yes. Itll shorten the life of the wheel bearings and the factory geo. at the front will be altered too: the back will be fine though. As with many things theres a degree of trade-off. The car is going to remain road-focused now, so Im not sure which wheels I will use.

Simon

 

[944 man]

James: I have forgotten more than you know.

 

[dougwoollett]

Looks like I've sparked a bit of a debate!

Think I'd be more comfortable with wheels on it that were designed for it, might be some handling benefit to a wider track but as I'd need new tyres to stop them fouling the arches I figure I might as well just pick up a set of teledials with tyres on them off ebay or classifieds.

Also, another question, are the badge panels the same as on the 924? I want to replace mine as it's badly rusted (to the point it would be hard to get it to a decent finish even if rubbed down and treated and smoothed with filler) and there seem to be more 924 ones around than 944 ones.

Cheers,

Doug

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Hi Doug

The 924 (and early 944) had a welded in badge panel, yours being after 86 will have a bolted on one - I'd stick to a later (oval dash) bolted one.

The early ones can be made to fit but not easily.

Whilst doing the job have a good look around the area and check for other damage as the rusty badge panels seem to be ones previously replaced due to accident damage years ago.

Mike

 

[MRGT]

ORIGINAL: dougwoollett

Will be getting on ebay tonight looking for some teledials I think!

Doug

If you are serious I have a set of 52mm offset teledials fitted with 195/65/15 Dunlop Fast Response sitting in my toolshed at the moment.

 

[dougwoollett]

Thanks Mike, I'll have a good poke around when I take the panel off and will also hold out for a late 944 one to replace it too.

When I cought it I did the text service thing that checks out the vehicle and it did say it had previously been subject to a total loss claim. I was too tight to ring the premium rate number to get details though and there wasn't anything out of place when I was looking at it - all panel fitted well, nothing obvious behind the bumper etc. It does tie in with the fact that the wheels are incorrect though, could have been replaced after an accident.

MRGT - I've PM'd you about the wheels, though is there much difference in handling between 195/65 and 215/60's?

Doug

 

[MRGT]

Doug

I have emailed some pics

Howard

 

[millimeep]

Welcome to the S club, least made and loved of all 944s! []

As for tyres, ours came with 15" Teledails wearing 215/60 VR 15, which needed changing and looked a bit 'balloony' for my liking.

The manual lists them and 195/65 VR 15 on the 7J x 15 H2 rims, so we fitted those when it needed new tyres, and they've been absolutely fine handling wise.

The only real problem is that they look completely lost in the arches, so you'll be hankering after 17"s in no time []

The manual also lists 16"s, 205/55 VR 16 on 7J x 16 H2 front, and 225/50 VR 16 on 8J x 16 H2 rear if you want an alternative factory fitment.

All offsets are 52.3mm of course.

And another thing I learned the expensive way is make sure you take off the belt covers and have a good look at the belts. Quite straightforward to do once you take the air filter box out. You'll need to have a good look at the teeth on the belt to make sure they're not starting to break away on one edge.

Don't ignore it even if you have service history saying it was done 3 years/14,000 miles ago, my cambelt lost teeth, which would have been obvious if I'd looked []

All the teeth had broken away on one edge - photos to follow!

 

[dougwoollett]

Thanks millimeep, think I'm going to have Howard's wheels with the 195/65's so that's reeassuring!

As for the "S", I think it's great (though have only my old 924 to compare it to) and all the more exclusive for not being one of the popular ones!

I will have a look at the belts, it's a good point. I was being lazy and assuming that they are ok as they were changed 10,000miles/4 years ago. That said, I've just serviced it and replaced the alternator and power steering pump belts as they were shot and squealing a lot so I guess the toothed belts are likely to be in a similar state.

It would give peace of mind for a trip to Germany I've got planned soon too if I replaced them now. Are they easy to do myself or are there special tools needed and such like?

 

[Peter Empson]

Welcome to the 944S club []

If your belts are four years old get them changed regardless of the mileage [] There have been too many failures over the years to take a risk with them in my opinion. You will need a special tool to set the tension to Porsche specs, there's one available for loan to club members. It's also worth checking the chain, cams and slipper if there's nothing in the history to suggest this has already been done.

 

[944 man]

Id suggest 216/60/15 tyres over 195/65/15s every time.

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: 944 man

Id suggest 216/60/15 tyres over 195/65/15s every time.

How the heck can you fit one set over the top of another???????

Sorry - it is Friday [][][]

 

[Peter Empson]

Pah, you need 225's like wot I have []

 

[Pastry]

my lux is on 195/65 15s and i like it; no tramlining, better for all this deep water in scotland too. I bet the contact patch on a 215 isnt much bigger, and you can get dunlop 195s for under £50. I looked for 215/60s but there werent many around and those that were either got bad reviews or cost a fortune.