My inadvertent 944 turbo project

George Elliott · May 15, 2015

These thoughts always go full circle.....[

][

] I'm convinced there is no substitute (certainly not from Bavaria anyway) maybe Stuttgart or Ingolstadt, thinking 996TT which is un-burstable, or S4 B5 or B8 Very difficult, you need confidence to set of into the Channel Tunnel.... I had the fuel line fail, but following some work and no harm done. I Imagine there was a tad of pressure on that day...[8|][8|] Hang in there Jab, there is actually not much that can go wrong with them, they are pretty crude and simple as you know George 944t

aporschefan · Sep 5, 2020

Thought I'd update this thread.

The car's been locked away for a good few years. Maybe 5+ years? I wasn't able to/intending to bring her out and restarting the project just yet but I've had to. (Long story...)

Unsurprisingly, after all this time, I wasn't able to get her started up. I changed the DME relay and could hear that ticking over but nothing from the fuel pump and no pressure on the gauge on the fuel rail so i'm guessing it the fuel pump. I'm no mechanic but interested to hear your thoughts on what else it could be?

Anyway, the car is back with JMG and they'll get her up and running and it'll get an inspection following that. Can't say I'm eagerly awaiting the outcome but lets see what JMG find.

So, bearing in mind it's been sat still for 5 years or so, what do you think will need replacing and is it worth "upgrading" any of those parts?

dlknight · Sep 7, 2020

Who can say?

Rubber perishes so if hoses etc weren't brand new 5 years ago then they are 5 years older now so probably best to replace based on inspection.

Let us know what JMG report back [s1]

aporschefan · Sep 7, 2020

Some were changed just by JMG during the process and just before locking her up.

Happy to report back when I know more.

aporschefan · Mar 13, 2021

The car is up up and running thanks to JMG. To get her running I think they had to address some electrical gremlins that arose due to the long time spent in storage.

After that, unsurprisingly, there was a MOT failure to deal with. The fixes included: (not a full list but the main items)

Front & rear brake hydraulic hard lines and flexi hoses

Brake fluid change

New windscreen washer pump and strainer

Headlight adjustment

Steering shaft tightened/realigned

Emissions were all over the place and were improved.

Next steps - get the car fully serviced and all belts changed and some other mechanical fixes.

I'm trying to work out what to do with the Head gasket. What are people's thoughts regarding the head gasket? The car has probably done 500-1k miles (max!) since the HG was last replaced by JMG. Does lack of use for a sustained period impact the HG?

I'm also strongly considering the J&S safeguard knock detection kit so if I opt for that, it may help us dial in a little bit of safety that we wouldn't otherwise have? If I don't change the HG now, it would need replacing in the next 2-3(?) years anyway - at which I have to do the belts again so at least then everything is aligned a little more for future maintenance schedules.

Eldavo · Mar 14, 2021

If the HG was replaced and it’s not been used then personally I’d just leave it as is.

What sort of boost levels are you planning to run?

PSH · Mar 15, 2021

I doubt that the HG needs replacing with only 1k miles since fitted no matter how long its been standing. However, I would add that this depends on whether the engine had its correct coolant mix during this time and also which HG was fitted? If a cometic it should be fine for many years standing.

Pete

aporschefan · Mar 16, 2021

Eldavo said:
If the HG was replaced and it’s not been used then personally I’d just leave it as is.

What sort of boost levels are you planning to run?

As she's been sat for so long, initially it'll be quite a safe boost setting at say 14 psi. Just want run everything in and then in the summer, when we know everthingnins working, we can run a higher boost setting.

aporschefan · Mar 16, 2021

PSH said:
I doubt that the HG needs replacing with only 1k miles since fitted no matter how long its been standing. However, I would add that this depends on whether the engine had its correct coolant mix during this time and also which HG was fitted? If a cometic it should be fine for many years standing.

Pete

It was 1k miles at most, more likely it was half that. Anyway, it's a wide fire HG. Coolant was replaced by JMG so should have been fine.

944Turbo · Mar 16, 2021

I would think it is fine - coolant (not straight water) and no pressure on it, its had an easy life so far.

Tony

aporschefan · Nov 27, 2021

Hi all, long story short - I might need to replace my EBC.

Which EBC's are people using? How are you finding them? Which ones would you recommend that are available today? Are there any that are better suited to modified a modified 944t?

At a high level, EBC's are all the same aren't they? Some give the tuner a little more flexibility/ease with tuning but apart from that, is there a big difference between them? (I'm not comparing cheap Vs expensive brands, just trying to understand the technology/hardware)

944Turbo · Dec 1, 2021

I have a Greddy profec B-spec but don't think it is available for some years, gave me a very flat boost 'curve' Even when I bought mine the Type S was replacing it. Fairly basic with minimal settings, knobs for max boost level and gain (how quick solonoid switched) too low and boost creeps too high, too high and boost curve goes saw toothed with drops below max boost.

Others (that I have no experience of!) display boost, allow different boost for different gears, gain curves rather than a fixed level etc.

Tony

944Volks · Dec 18, 2021

Interesting read. My knowledge of 944T engines is limited, but a couple of things spring to mind.....

is this amount of maintenance common, or just bad luck?

If common...... Anyone wanna buy a 944T cheap? Lol.

Great thread though, admire your dedication, did I miss why you put it into long term storage?

aporschefan · Feb 1, 2022

I think I got unlucky. Big time.

She went into storage due to work & home life commitments.

aporschefan · Feb 1, 2022

Update - I'm changing the rear linkage to the Road Shift version which JMG sell. The wheels are being switched from 18" split rim replicas to 17" cup2. I had these refurbed but not used. They do need new rubber though. Any suggestions?

The window seals at the bottom of the frame are both being replaced. A Cat 1 alarm was fitted as well as the J&S Safeguard with a led display kit.

The car should be back in the next few weeks. I've just dug out my sports seats and ordered some leather cleaning products and colour dye from Gliptone. Anyone here use this before? Any tips?

Also, does anyone have D90 wheels they are looking to offload?

944Turbo · Feb 1, 2022

I hope the ownership experience only gets better from now on!

My favourite tyres (when I was doing 15k miles per year) for the 944 where Dunlop SP9000s not the gripiest but very predictable and good wear - previously had n rated michelins/ bridgestones (S02) and some pirelli (P7 I think) I ran them at 32psi for even wear max grip.

My GR Yaris has Michelin P4S which is also a great tyre (if they do them in 944 sizes) surprisingly capable even in the winter, have driven briefly on snow in them (where they should be useless) and very heavy rain. In the warm and dry they are very grippy, at this time of year (with sport selected (70% of torque to the rear wheels)) it can be popped sideways, so traction maybe an issue on cold damp salty roads in a 944.

I noted that Gordon Murray has specced them for the T33, so should also suit a 944!

Tony

Diver944 · Feb 3, 2022

aporschefan said:
I've just dug out my sports seats and ordered some leather cleaning products and colour dye from Gliptone. Anyone here use this before? Any tips?

I used the Glipton cleaner and dye on my linen leather sports seats. I took the seats out of the car and took several days applying multiple coats of the dye using the small sponges in the kit. I was initially going to spray them as I had the equipment but after one coat with the sponge I could see it was going to work very well and removed the mess of overspray/wastage with a spray gun. The results were very good and lasted several years before I think they would need doing again. I used the car often so the sports bolsters got a lot of abrasion.

aporschefan · Apr 30, 2022

Thanks Paul.

Hoping to get the seats finished in the next few weeks.

Separately, I'm looking at using Polytrol to restore the spoiler when I get the car back from JMG.

Link: [link=https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/polytrol/]https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/polytrol/[/link]

Would this be suitable for the dashboard too? Anyone here used this before?