The 944 is off the road...at last!

simdel1 · Jul 4, 2013

Sorry. I've been gone a while [&:]. All sorts of things have gone on which have taken me away from the PC - new job, baby on the way, endless broken cars...

Anyway, now that the Rover is back after it's comical clutch issue (a £30 seal in the 'box failed taking the clutch with it and causing 9-months and £1000 of pain..) and I'm not having to tend to the missus' new MG, I can take the 944 off the road and do some serious work to it.

The plan is to get the car sorted for the Youdrive event at Silverstone in September. It's a bit of a tight deadline, but I really want to get it done and I can't have a substandard car at that event!

On my list for the next couple of months is:
-New wishbones, bushes, balljoints and track-rod ends
-Replace the manual rack with a power rack
-Professionally refurbed alloys
-New dampers
-Replacement/resealed rear hatch
...and anything else I can fit in!

I've already got the wishbones and bits through from veedubmachine.co.uk. Guess what colour I'll be painting them [8D]

I also have a replacement power rack from Elliot.

One thing I'm still unsure about is the dampers. I was originally going to just get Sachs, but I'm tempted by the Spax PSX kit. Google can't find anyone who's tried them on a 944 before though...

Hopefully, now that the car can be laid up, I can make pretty good progress.

It's good to be back [

]

Hairyarse · Jul 4, 2013

Welcome back Simon [8D] Hope all is well with you and Danni?

You should get that work cracked off in no time

Give us a shout if you get stuck for owt

Don't forget about those rear wishbone bushes, I think it's the one item that's not MK1 Golf/944 compatible

Catch you soon

robwright · Jul 6, 2013

Not too heavy on square dash spares mate but I am just up the road now and willing to help with tools, advice, blood, sweat and tears if needs be. I owe you one from the piss wet through transaxle day [

]

Hairyarse · Jul 6, 2013

Hey I just thought, there's talk of local 944 work going down and there's been no mention of lasagne or cottage pie yet- what's going on?? [

]

simdel1 · Jul 6, 2013

I think it's implied now. Even Dani offered to to provide cottage pie without prompting!

simdel1 · Jul 23, 2013

I've just come back from a week away with work so I've not been able to do much. Before I went away I got the wishbones up to the first coat of yellow. I'm not happy with the finish yet though. I might cut it back a bit and lay a few more coats.

While I was away, Wheelrite in Spalding did the alloys for me. I proved to myself that I could do it on one wheel last year, but the amount of time it took was insane. Besides, they've done a much better job of polishing than I could!

I've thrown the old wheel centres away. They were completely the wrong type and didn't fit properly. I'm now on the look-out for some decent replacements.

944 man · Jul 23, 2013

They should be a cheesy black plastic cap with a lame (fake) looking yellow and red Porsche crest. They were the original parts and they were pretty underwhelming. From memory they were well over an inch deep too, and far from aesthetically pleasing.

simdel1 · Jul 23, 2013

I figured as much. I'd imagine that 'hen's teeth' sums up the availability of them too. Some lateral thinking may be required!

944 man · Jul 23, 2013

Id imagine so. I bought the last 7.5" x 16 wheel (the last Porsche fitting) from the original importers in 1994, so I would guess that any available are now at least twenty years old and they were cheap and nasty when they were new.

Whats the centre bore size? Will ATS Cookie Cutter / Fuchs centre caps fit? Theyre expensive but Im sure that I have seen reproductions available.

Hairyarse · Jul 23, 2013

Wow Simon, the wheels look excellent, good call there

Why aren't you happy with the finish of the wishbones?

ChasR · Jul 23, 2013

Those wheels look fantastic. Maybe I am alone here, but with a slight drop the car should look spot on with those

.

I cannot comment about the Spax PSX kit, but Andy Watson of this parish had a Spax coilover kit on his 944. Bar the rear helper springs causing him issues, I seem to recall that he is pleased with the difference a fresh set of springs and dampers have made.

I have used Bilstein B6s on previous cars with great results though (I think they are available for the early 944s

).

JM1962 · Jul 24, 2013

+1 for Bilstein B6. I fitted them to my early dash Lux and they transformed the car. I think I got them from Larkspeed for around £450.

simdel1 · Jul 24, 2013

ORIGINAL: 944 man

Id imagine so. I bought the last 7.5" x 16 wheel (the last Porsche fitting) from the original importers in 1994, so I would guess that any available are now at least twenty years old and they were cheap and nasty when they were new.

Whats the centre bore size? Will ATS Cookie Cutter / Fuchs centre caps fit? Theyre expensive but Im sure that I have seen reproductions available.

I'll measure it up tonight. That would save me a lot of hassle if they're the same.

ORIGINAL: Hairyarse
Wow Simon, the wheels look excellent, good call there

Why aren't you happy with the finish of the wishbones?

Thanks!
There's a few marks in the paint and a bit of a dodgy texture on some of the hard to reach surfaces. I guess I'm just being fussy though!

ORIGINAL: ChasR
Those wheels look fantastic. Maybe I am alone here, but with a slight drop the car should look spot on with those .

I've been thinking that drop would look good too. i wouldn't want to go too low...

ORIGINAL: JM1962
+1 for Bilstein B6. I fitted them to my early dash Lux and they transformed the car. I think I got them from Larkspeed for around £450.

So that's two votes for the Bilsteins then. Looks like I'll have to add them to the 'can we afford this before the baby comes' list. [

]

Hairyarse · Jul 24, 2013

I've just bought a Bilstein B12 kit for my MK1 Golf (still in the box! [

]) but the kit on the car was Bilstein too. Would highly recommend and the build quality is top-notch

simdel1 · Aug 10, 2013

*sigh* It seems that I need to add a timing belt to the list...

I noticed a large oil stain was starting to form under the car - which seemed to be coming from the front of the engine. Once I removed the timing belt cover it became very obvious that one of the front seals has failed, coating the belt in oil. I was planning to do it in the next 12 months anyway, but I'm not driving the car again now until it's done.

The oil may have reduced its life, but there's also significant damage to the belt. It seems that its overhanging the front of the cam gear by a few mm so that the edge of the gear is cutting into the belt. As a consequence the front edge of the belt is showing signs of rubbing against the side of the large crank pulley. I'm not sure how this could have happened to be honest. The belt was professionally installed after all...

Looks like I'll be going to the you-drive event in the MG [

]

924nutter · Aug 11, 2013

You have an 8 valve engine(type M44.12 I believe) I presume, and it could be that they have professionally fitted the wider belt from the S2 (type M44. 41) which is slightly wider because it drives two camsahfts via a connecting chain from the exhaust cam. Even if it is not a genuine Porsche belt it should have some kind of part code that you can cross reference just to check the theory. If, and only if this proves to be the case, and there is nothing else in the belt run that is otherwise misaligned, I suggest you check what your consumer rights are and take it up with the professionals who fitted the belt.

Porsche part numbers are 944.105.157.04 for the 8v belt and 944.105.323.02 for the 16v belt.

Hilux · Aug 11, 2013

ORIGINAL: Hairyarse

I've just bought a Bilstein B12 kit for my MK1 Golf (still in the box! []) but the kit on the car was Bilstein too. Would highly recommend and the build quality is top-notch

Sorry to butt in just been catching up - Hows the Golf resto going? I put Weitec`s on mine

Hairyarse · Aug 11, 2013

ORIGINAL: Hilux

ORIGINAL: Hairyarse

I've just bought a Bilstein B12 kit for my MK1 Golf (still in the box! []) but the kit on the car was Bilstein too. Would highly recommend and the build quality is top-notch

Click to expand...

Sorry to butt in just been catching up - Hows the Golf resto going? I put Weitec`s on mine

Slow but progressing, haven't had much time the last month or so, but am actually spending time on it and welding metal back on! [

] It's the MK1 club's 10th anniversary next summer so making sure I have it done for that

Hairyarse · Aug 11, 2013

Hi Simon

Given your belts were done not so long ago I think you should be talking to TWG if it is the case that they fitted the wrong belts, or simply incorrectly. Why should you be paying to rectify their mistake when you should have 4 years life out of the belts. Let us know how you get on.

Cheers
Andy