Ever more impressed with my 951

[Hilux]

I nearly sold it earlier this year but kept it as SWMBO made me build an extension.

Had the oil leaks looked at and its now fine, uses little and goes like stink. The more I drive it the better it gets.

Went to the R24 Holland WOTY and put 1100 miles on in a weekend, faultless miles that is. It even seemed to get faster and looser the more I drove it (and I drove it as it was meant to be driven I can tell you with a period at circa 150 mph on a german autobahn [])

I am now a firm believer that they need to be driven regularly and quickly. So I fully intend to [8D][8D]

Decided this weekend to sort out the minor rust that is appearing on the lower f ront wing edges. Took out the wheel arch liners and found that the o/s wing is a new one so no issues as its just on the leading lower edge which has been sandblasted over the years. The original nearside has 1/2 inch of the lower ledge rotted back from the edge under the car but the under wing spoiler covers it up. Both wings are all `cu-rusted` and `waxoyled` so should last many more years.

I write to say I was amazed at how quickly I did it. Every single bolt (however rusty) came undone (even on the rusty lower wing ledge). The underseal and galvanising (and oil from the major sump leak) has meant that the car is solid underneath. I crawled around under it and you would not believe its 18 years old. Its not concours but its so well put together yet simple to take apart.

Bl**dy brilliant. I love it [][][][]

Upgrade itis is in the air this winter so I`ll be asking the experts many questions, watch this space.

ps: N/S rear damper (sachs) is leaking so I need to replace them. Any recommendations from you track day kings re adjustable ones?

 

[Guest]

Glad you decided to keep her! They are simply amazing cars, especially on long stretches of motorway[]

I also love the fact that, even though the 944 isn't exactly a rare car, it's nice to drive in a car thats not only well built and still a good looking car,....they aren't that common on our roads either...I like that[]

John daly.

 

[sawood12]

Glad you think you made the right decision in keeping her. I've been itching to do a long journey in mine like you have in yours but the opportunity has not come yet as i've been busy fixing things like oil leaks like you. My brother now lives in Aberdeen so I can see a few trips up there over the summer but I am starting to plan an excursion to the Nurburgring which is one of the reasons I bought my 944 in the first place.

Regarding rear shocks the Koni M030 shocks are adjustable. I've been wondering how the M030 softest shock setting compares with the standard Sachs shocks as i've been considering replacing mine with them as I have been wanting to address rear end squatting under accellaration - I also think my rear end is a bit soft compared with the front. I think that the M030 shocks on the softest setting and the non-M030 rear torsion bars might be a nice compromise for road and the odd track day. Another option might be the 968 rear M030 shocks with the coil-over 'helper' springs to help stiffen up the rear end.

However as a few have already advised on this forum that by replacing with std Sachs shocks would probably transform the car as the ones fitted are getting on a bit now and have probably gone a bit soft.

 

[Fen]

I stuck a pair of 944 M030 Konis on the back of my Cab when I refreshed the front struts with standard ones (because I had them lying around under by Turbo with 3,500 miles on them from new). That worked quite well, but they were only ever supposed to be standard replacements. Note they have to be removed to adjust them, and even then it's a rubbish method involving removal of the bump stop cushion to allow prongs in the top of the lower body to engage in slots in the bottom of the top body and you need to keep the shock compressed the whole time (against pressure as they are gas filled so tend to open completely). In short you wouldn't want to be doing it very often. To be fair the KW's need to come off to reach the top adjuster also, but at least it's just so you can access an Allen screw rather than as a first step to further disassembly and the bottom adjustment can be done in-situ. I wouldn't recommend fitting any rears with helper springs unless you change the fronts also, and you will almost certainly have to reindex the torsions to suit as well.

 

[sawood12]

Fen, how are you KW's working out? Are you running them without the torsion bars?

 

[Fen]

No, I kept the torsion bars, though after mine were fitted KW approved the use of their units without them (with stiffer springs to compensate). I'm really pleased with them, possibly the best bit of the whole car to be honest with a good compromise between compliance and stiffness, though that shouldn't give the impression my car is in any way a limo-smooth ride. I think the high speed bypass valving makes quite a difference on bumps such as kerbs etc.