924Board.org

[Rattlinbone]

Yep, after 2 years of tinkering and spending enough moolah to buy 2 cars, I finally got my toofah up and running. I've never driven a car like this, it's a lot of fun, sure, but there's also a lot to listen for and get used to and understand. I still consider this car a work in progress, it's got significant cosmetic stuff to deal with, but first things first, I gotta get the car mechanically sound.

It's getting there! Completely rebuilt engine, new pistons, rings, valves, guides, springs, you name it. It's a new engine. Cleaned and refurbished the radiator, all new hoses and lines. New clutch, New brake pads and brake lines. Cleaned and relined the gas tank. New bushings, wheel bearings. I think I'm close to getting this car back on the road.

Here are some things that still need to be figured out:

the fuel accumulators, they're dripping and I need to replace them.

I need to figure out whats wrong with the speedometer. I get a speed reading, but no odometer reading. My experience with motorcycle speedometers/odometers is that when the speedo works but the odometer doesn't, that means there's a gear inside the instrument that has broken and I just need to replace it. I have a replacement, so I'll pop that in and see if that solves that problem.

I'm also not getting a fuel level reading. I put in a used fuel level gauge, and it made the needle jump all over the place until it, too, apparently failed. So I'm not quite sure what the deal is with that. Also, when I filled up the gas tank, gas leaked out of the top of the gauge into the hatchback! it must need a gasket or something back there.

Can't get the lights to work. I mean, they don't pop up like they should. If I crank up the lights by hand, the headlights work, so it's the motor. I either don't have it hooked up right, or I need a new motor. The motor worked before I took the engine out, so I strongly suspect that I have it hooked up wrong.

My muffler is crap. THere's a baffle in there rattling around and it's too loud. Gonna have to have that replaced soon.

So, that's my to-do list, fuel pressure accumulators, odometer, fuel level gauge, headlights, muffler. To too bad considering, I guess.

So yesterday I took it out on it's maiden voyage after having the engine put back in. I think it did very well. I drove it across town, about 15 miles out and 15 miles back. Then I drove it from downtown Boise to downtown Nampa on the farm country back roads, about 30 miles out and 30 miles back, and then I took it from Boise to Idaho City on a nice twisty highway, about 40 miles out and 40 back. I'm guessing about 150 miles with plenty of variation from slow to fast, low rev cruising to higher rev accelleration. I did not push it very hard, tho. I'm breaking in this engine, and I don't want to ruin it or do it wrong.

I'm happy to report that it did very well. it ran like a top, didn't stall or poop out. It started and stopped without any problems, held on to the road through some fun turns, and overall behaved like a car ought to.

There's a lot to get used to in this car. Lots to listen for and understand. Like, as I drive, I hear a whine that appears to synch with when I put my foot on the gas. I think it might be coming from the rear, which suggests that it might be the transmission. But I could be wrong, and it could be coming from the front, which makes me think it might be the fuel injection. I don't know for sure. I don't think it's a problem, it's just something I hear that I'm unfamiliar with. Do you guys and gals hear that whine as well? What is that?

I'm not entirely used to the shifting on this car. I don't think there's a problem, I'm just not used to it. The gears are all tight an there's no slippage. I'm a short guy, and reaching the pedals means I have to be a bit closer to the steering wheel that I would prefer, and that makes getting into and out of the car a bit of a chore. The distance of the pedals from engaged to disengaged is a bit further than I am used to. Eventually I will have to look into seeing if these issues can be adjusted for. And, of course, I've never driven a car with the reverse in the upper left.

But, so you know, even though I have a catalogue of things that I need to figure out, I am actually quite pleased. This car is cool as hell and so long as I keep at it, it's only going to get cooler. I dig the heck outta my toofah and I hope to be toolin' around in it for a good long time.

Allen

>still gotta fix up the dash, reupholster the seats, replace the carpets, repair the latches and seals on the sunroof, replace the struts and trim on the rear window, some minor bodywork, repaint... oy<
_________________
Fred- 1979 924

[Grenadiers]

Nice write-up there! My rebuilt G31 has a harmonic 'noise' to it as well. I ignore it. I have an almost complete set of parts for a '79 down here in New Mexico. So, if ya need something let me know! Dave
_________________
'83 944 Track car.
'88 924S Track car.
'89 944 Turbo
2004 Winnebago Vectra monster RV
2012 Jeep Wrangler
2014 Kia Soul
2001 Ford F350 powerstroke

[rat]

Odometer is pretty much guaranteed to be a little plastic cog that has slipped or cracked. Very fiddly to get the speedo cable off (pop the rev counter out for access, noting which of the 4 pins the 3 wires go to), but other than that easy enough to prise the bezel off and glue the cog back on.

http://www.924.org/techsection/odo_speedo_repair.htm

[datatrain]

If your vertically challenged as I am at 5'6" when I was young. (Only because much of the world is overgrown.) Try this... put 3" long aluminum spacers about 1 inch thick and drilled for the bolts under the seats. Mount between the seat and the rail. You'll need longer bolts but that's easy. It makes a huge difference.

Can't help with the close to the wheel problem. Maybe blocks on the pedals ? LOL

Otherwise sounds as though you'll get years of fun.
_________________
'78 924 NA with Collector plate
33 year old car, with me for 21 yrs
Mint '92 318i BMW
Near mint '98 Buick LeSabre
VE7HFR

[joejax]

Congrats Allen, looks like you've done some major work there, all the other stuff will be fairly easy and possibly more satisfying.

At least you don't have to worry about your motor letting go at any moment like I do. I got my radio to work, only to leave it off while driving to be able to hear what's going on.

I'm sure a tranny service is on your to do list too. Seems mine makes some whining noises and it's on my list.
_________________
I got nothin'
Uhhh...you got any pics?

[Lizard]

The harmonic noise is caused by the cut/profile/teeth mesh of the ring and pinion gear.
_________________
3 928s,

[jbwheele]

Exaust can be cheaply renewed if you have an angle grinder and welder and some ssteel pipe or mild steel if you want. Cut out the old tube/baffles (Which will be munted, Thats stuffed in NZ talk. ) Then drill holes in the new pipe , weld it on and then weld the old outer on then stuff with fibreglass batts then weld on the tail piece anf tail pipe.


_________________
Joe
82 932 Stripped bare full rebuild
80 932 GT Lookalike Engine S2 swap

[ideola]

Allen, congrats on getting your car on the road!!!

The whine is somewhat normal, it's the transaxle. Have you drained and replaced the gear lube? You have the 016Y/Z (a.k.a. snailshell) gearbox, which requires GL4 gear lube, so make sure you get the right stuff. I recommend Royal Purple or Mobil-1 full synthetic. Don't use Redline. Also, make sure you remove the upper fill plug FIRST before removing the drain plug.
_________________
erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made