924Board.org

[Chrenan]

yes
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

[DMB14]

So what's the deal with that? To me (I'll admit I don't really know what I'm talking about though...) an interference engine sounds pretty flawed. I've read some stuff that makes it sound like the timing belt could go at any time (and really f*ck your engine up), then I've also read things that make it sound like not such a big deal and that you only need to change it every 50k miles. I'm not sure I could sleep if I had a car like that.

[D Hook]

Most Hondas are interference motors, IIRC.

You should visit the Rennlist.com board sometime and go to the 928 board. A snapped timing belt on those motors can get pretty ugly, financially.

I think there's some guys (Ideola and Lizard and Dennis are the three I can think of off hand) on this board that have 928's and can attest to the importance of belt changes.

It's just something you deal with, I guess. Sort of like how 924 owners get used to getting passed by soccer moms in Windstars.
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'80 924 n/a SOLD

[ideola]

Lots of modern engines are interference, so it's not a flawed design, just a tradeoff that the design engineers made in order to achieve the desired performance characteristics without having to start with completely different piston blanks. Interference engines should only keep you awake at night if you don't plan ahead for the required maintenance. I have a 924S, a 928, and two 931s, all of which are interference. Knock on wood, no problems yet, but I do my maintenance before it's due.

One of my 931's is being converted to non-interference by installing custom pistons that were specifically designed to clearance the valves. And I have a non-interference engine sitting in a crate waiting to be built and installed in the 928 as well. Same deal, pistons were fly-cut for valve clearance.

The point: if you're really that concerned about interference, you can modify the internals in most cases to overcome it...provided you have enough time and money
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

[Chrenan]

Of course, keep in mind, a timing belt for a 924 or 931 costs around $16. The tensioner about $30. You can change both in 30 minutes if you've done it before. Change them once a year if you are worried.
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

[DMB14]

[Rasta Monsta]

[Chrenan]

Ssshhh indeed. If too many people find out how easy and relatively (compared to other Porsches) cheap the 924 is to work on, everyone will want one.
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

[Paul]

It's the same part as a million VWs....
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White 87 924S "Ghost"
Silver 98 986 3.6l 320 HP "Frank N Stein"
White 01 986 "Christine"
Polar Silver 02 996TT. "Turbo"
Owned and repaired 924s since 1977
Porsche: It's not driving, it's therapy.

[jopather]

Just thought I'd add my two cents, since I bought my 924 when I was 17.

I thought I was getting a great deal - $500 (I now realize that wasn't even that great). I proceeded to spend the next four summers and about $8000 or more (a bunch of my reciepts got wet and so I don't have an accurate record) on getting the thing running and looking half way decent. And there's still more to do.

Don't get me wrong, I love the car and I'd highly recommend having the experience of rebuilding a car like that, but... you don't want to get part way through the project and get stuck, so if money's an issue, get something different. If you really want to work on a car, get a honda or something with cheap parts. (though as has been mentioned, at least we get to overlap with VW... )

The other thing to consider is this - you really don't get the money you put into a 924 back out. Mine *might* be able to be sold for about $3000 if I found the right buyer who hadn't hung around on this board much

Sounds like you already made your decision, but thought I'd throw my experience in. Best of luck! If you want to buy a '78 924NA rebuilt about 5000 miles ago, let me know - might be able to hook you up
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1978 924
My car - a hole in my driveway where all my paychecks go...

[DMB14]

[johnrizo]

haha i bought a 924 as my first car its been great, its only running on 2 cylinders now i think lol, but its still great fun to drive when it works.
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1981 924 non-turbo

[DMB14]

One more question... How hard is a 924S to work on? Could a novice like me learn to replace the timing/balance belts?

[Rasta Monsta]

[czechsmola]

I am kind of in the same boat as you. I am also looking into getting a 924s from a friend of mine. This Friend of mine raced Porsche's as a hobby. I had always been interested in cars but never had the opportunity to work on any cars. We were able to take one of his 924 engines and completely take it apart and put it back together quite easily, after that I was quite confident that I could do it again quite easily. so the answer about the timing belt is that I am sure that you would be able to do it your self. Although it helps to have a someone who knows that they are doing to help....

One thing if you are going to get this car and want to do your own work on it.... DON'T BUY CHEAP TOOLS......do yourself a favor. I am not saying go and outfit your self with Snap-On stuff, But a quality tool is worth it. If you are from Canada Check out the Mastercraft Maixmum sets they are very close to the Design of Snap-on sutff.....


Sorry about the long post its late...