924Board.org

[Txdave46]

I was basically given a project car, I drove it home today( about 40 miles) car ran well shifted ok( clutch felt a little stiff) brakes ok, a little shimmy at 55 but smooth at 65, a little cold to start and idled high. Got it home the oil is clean, antifreeze looks good and green. Body smooth with alot of primer paint, interior pretty shot, tires ok ...just wondering what ya guys think. What am I looking at here. I like the way the car felt and drove, could slap a paint job on it and clean up the inside and sell it for something...but I kinda like the lil car
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1979 924na Runs and drives great
Work In Progress
Rockett,Texas

[Txdave46]

I guess I would just like some insight from someone who has taken a car like this and made it a sweet ride. I just stumbled across this car and just wondering if Yall think its a money hole or let me hear some good stories, hell I am thinking I will get it presentable and drive it as a back up car just wondering and looking for a little insight about the car... is it worth sinking a little/lot of money in to it...alot of money I don t have by the way... Have a young one entering college next year
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1979 924na Runs and drives great
Work In Progress
Rockett,Texas

[Lizard]

the car will be a blast to drive, if you wish to fix the int right up to new condition then it will yes be a money hole,

I would personally slap some paint on it and tear the int out if it is in that bad of condition, maybe turn it into a autoX car,

the main thing that you will have trouble with is electrical gremlins and bad grounds which you will just have to fix, time is bad part.
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3 928s,

[Txdave46]

Damn thanks for the reply what do ya mean a autox car? and I know what ya mean bout a blast to drive... I drove it homke and kinda careful because I haven t checked it out .... braking steering ...leave me on the side of the road kinda thinkin anyway thanks for the reply
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1979 924na Runs and drives great
Work In Progress
Rockett,Texas

[Neil924]

As long as the motor and tranny as in good shape, it won't MAKE you spend a lot of money. If you WANT to get the car mint, then send jr. to MacDonalds to get a job, because he will have to help you pay for the restoration! All joking aside it seems like you know what to look/ hear for. So if you aren't stressing about a noise or shake, the car should be set.
Keep the oil changed, shift slower than you would on a newer car and like Lizad said, check grounds before worring about a light not comming on, lights that are dim, bouncing tach/ speedometer etc.... These are older cars and wiring does seem to be the sore point. As for what you can do yourself in terms of maintenance, pick up a Haynes manual {a revamped copy of the Porsche manuals} it will have almost everything you need. Although it seems to lack enough pictures and enough wiring diagrams. You can search the archives for pretty much everything from, blinkers not blinking to engine smoking and even suspension/ motor upgrades.

P.S. in your profile you can state where you are so people don't ask that question over and over.

O and show us a picture of the car if you can. We have a little fetish with 924 pictures.

[Txdave46]

Hey I hear ya.. it does have a jump in the speedo... noticed that on the way home, all the lights seem to work. I understand the older car gremlins and I have a Haynes manual that was with the car. I am gonna give it a chance and tinker with it ....maybe a paint job and see what happens Sheet it was basically free and I have seen some pics online that look good and hell I always wanted a porsche
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1979 924na Runs and drives great
Work In Progress
Rockett,Texas

[Lizard]

the click in the speedo is going to a mechanical issue, it can either be the speedo cable (most likely) or the speedo unit itself (doubtful)

it would be very helpful for you to add to your signature year of the car,

if the car is a 1980 or later then it is actually going to have 2 speedo cables, I STRONGLY recommend that you revert to the early style (eliminate the mileage counter box in the engine bay) the early style is a single piece cable which runs from the front drivers side wheel (LHD cars) to the speedo itself, we can supply part #s if you need, the haynes manual will be one of the most useful tools you can have besides this board

the milage counter in the engine bay I refer to is there to countthe miles and then after x miles it lights up a light on the dash reminding you to change your )2 sensor.

also just an FYI for you most of the 924 Odometers do NOT work, if yours does DO NOT push the reset button while the car is moving! this will break a small plastic gear inside.

also in regards to autox, this is short for Autocrossing the car, that is when a group gets together and rents a HUGE patch of pavement and sets up cones and drivers go through the cone maze to see who can get the best time, and obviously there is different classes.

also just noticed it is my 6699 post
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3 928s,

[Txdave46]

thanks the speedo sounds mechanical.... I got to go thru this car, definitely clean it it up and get a good look at it..I will add to my sig the 1978 thing. I appreciate ya response to my posts and will keep Yall updated Just lookin at the engine this afternoon I can see some emission and vacum lines cut and plugged off...wondering about that and all ... looks like regular point ignition and coil? fuel injected ..still have to peruse this vehicle. Fun ass car to drive home for basically free tho ...
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1979 924na Runs and drives great
Work In Progress
Rockett,Texas

[Khal]

Well, lucky you! Just given a 924, eh?!

I agree with all said here. If you're not looking to make money (you won't, they aren't worth much) and you're happy to spend some time tinkering, it'll be a very fun car to own.

From your description, seems the car is in reasonably good mechanical condition. That's a bonus. Doing engine, clutch and gearbox reconditioning or replacement can get expensive, but on the whole these cars are quite cheap to maintain.

If you've got some spare time and cash, do a basic service on the car: Replace the spark plugs, the leads (wires), the distibutor cap and rotor button, the oil and oil filter and the fuel filter.
Replace the brake pads. Even get the brake disc/drums machined, if you're feeling keen Bleed the brakes. Change the tyres -you mentioned a shimmy... could be wheel alignment but more likely just a buggered tyre (or two ). Get a wheel alignment and balance done. She'll start to feel like a brand new car!

None of the above is very expensive if you can do it yourself -the parts are quite cheap.
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'80 924 Turbo

[Lizard]

actually the car isnt point ign, it has a pickup in the distribuor and there is a ICM (ignition control module) in the front wheel well which picks up this signal and signals the coil to spark,

I have eliminated all vacuum componants on my car except for the brake booster, less to worry about and it cleans up the bay abit.
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3 928s,

[Txdave46]

Hey the oil looks real clean the disc pads look thick tyres aint bad .. a little weather cracked and brakes feel strong. looks like new wires, ain't checked the plugs yet. Any way I think I like what I hear here and I am not looking to make money seems like a neat lil car ...I am partial to fords tho.....I know I know been good to me c yall for the night
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1979 924na Runs and drives great
Work In Progress
Rockett,Texas

[Lizard]

well I cant say I like fords

now you say that the brakes feel firm, but one question is do you have 4 wheel studs or 5? in other words do you have disc in the back or drums, if you have 4 bolt and drums in the back then be aware that you are going to have to keep adjusting the rear drums to keep them operating tip top.
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3 928s,

[Txdave46]

I think they are rear drum....but hell its dark here in Tejas the wheels / rims aint bad just missing one middle cap
And Lizard kinda funny u are speakin at me because I have had that nickname from a few gals ...take care
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1979 924na Runs and drives great
Work In Progress
Rockett,Texas

[Khal]

Sounds like she's well maintained, then. Or at the very least, has recently had a service. I'd still be tempted to replace the filters but I might just be paranoid

I'm willing to bet that shimmy is a bad tyre. But it's either that or a wheel balance. So, the cheapest thing is to take it to a tyre/suspension shop with a wheel balancer and get 'em to do their thing. If the shimmy disappears, well it's obviously not the tyres! Probably just a counterweight that dropped off a wheel. If the shimmy's still there, it's almost certainly a dud tyre. And if they look weathered, well, who knows how old they are.

As for the interior, there's a parts forum (click here) on this 'board. Keep an eye on it. I vaguely recall a set of rear seats going for free recently?! Y'never know what might come up.

Original parts from the factory can be insanely expensive! Good second-hand items are by far your best option.
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'80 924 Turbo

[924guy]

it sounds like we might have another convert...

i was a "ford guy" too... well, i still am on occasion , but they come and go..the 924's are sort of like a chocolate bar, no matter what happens, once you get a taste, you always just have to have at least one hidden away someplace... some have many more than that- they get much better gas milage than fords do too, some have reported over 40mpg highway..best ive done is about 35mpg on long trips..,28 average in my turbo with a/c, but it need some things..

oh , and get that "green " out of your cooling system, flush it, and put the orange juice in (phosphate free) , itll like you allot more and treat you better afterwards..theres a few tricks to properly bleeding the air from the system though, so check back here on it before you start....

Congrats, and welcome!
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Eric
78 924
82 931 SE "smokey"
99' VehiCross
Y2K Honda Insight
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