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Khal · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 4:26 am Post subject:

Epic fun, as usual. Big thanks go to Rasta and the missus for their excellent hospitality. And a tip'o the cap to Paul for turning up on a whim, too. Great to see everyone again, of course

So, I decided to create my own little Top Gear Challenge this time around. Bought a 924 on Friday for $1,500 (not quite as cheap as Hamster's £750 jobbie in today's money but they did have a £1,500 budget, so I was well under that). Got it Aircared and insured and set off for Portland (340-odd miles/550-ish km's) the next morning... on winter tyres with sidewalls that resembled a topographical map of the Grand Canyon

Well, it made it to Portland with nary an impolite noise. Didn't even use a tank of gas. But after unanimously horrified looks from the attendees, I decided to get her new boots for the ride home, and duly set off on Sunday afternoon.
It wasn't to be. Two hours out of Portland (Lacey, near Olympia), we hit a seriously ugly traffic snarl and as I come to a stop with my foot almost to the floor on the suddenly floppy brake pedal, the engine idles down, shudders... and dies. Even with one of the worlds foremost 924 experts in toe, on the side of I-5 in 90-degree heat, with no tools, there ain't jack sh*t we can do about it. So, with a little creative storytelling we get a AAA guy to bring the beast back to Rasta's place at a very reasonable rate. At least now we have two of the worlds foremost 924 experts looking at it, and a ringer bimmer mechanic who just happens to know a thing or two about CIS, as well.
The gurus manage to track down at least half a dozen fairly serious, but easily remedied, faults and we get them sorted. But nothing that definitively caused the issue I had (except for the brakes, which was a vacuum line that I likely knocked off while I was checking the oil *slaps forehead*

).
So, the next afternoon I set out again, with fingers crossed. This time, with no traffic, the little beast flies up the highway, smooth as silk... until I get to Boeing Field, where the Vice President has just landed and they've blocked the highway to let his motorcade across. As I pull to a stop on my newly restored brakes, guess what happens? Yep. Cough, splutter, dead. ARRGGGHH!

Because we didn't get the issue definitively sorted, and because cooling down overnight seemed remove all trace of the problem, I decide I'll remain calm and just let it sit for a while, which I do and wouldn't you know it, a short time later she fires right up and I dive off the highway at the nearest exit and find a place to let sit and cool down properly.
After a couple of hours, I get back in and she's smooth as again. Off I go up the highway and in the early evening and with almost no traffic, she never misses a beat... until I get to the border and have to stop in the lineup. Guess what? Yeah...
I sit, rather embarrassingly, for an hour or so at the limbo point at the border, with the hood up, waiting for her to cool down, AGAIN!
But, to her credit, once she's cool, she starts right up and runs like a top. The border guard waves me through with a pitying look after asking if I was the one broken down at the side of the lineup and I'm finally back in the Great White North. After a short and uneventful run from the border, I arrive home near enough ten hours after I set out, completely wrung out but ultimately none the worse for wear.

Quite the adventure. And although I'll surely be back for the event next year, I'm not doing something stupid like buying an untested toofah the day before to head down in!

A pic. of the little b****:

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'80 924 Turbo

PeterW · Joined: 17 Dec 2003 Posts: 78 Location: Auburn WA

Learning for next year. Khal and all coming through the greater Seattle area on the way down, PM me and I will be happy to provide a phone number so if a breakdown occurs I can pull you off the road. Happy to host a someone with a garage full of parts.
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1980 931

Joes924Racer · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:05 am Post subject:

Khal, what a story!
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1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

Paul · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 12:47 pm Post subject:

Khal pop in a spare fuel pump relay and see if it helps.
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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.

joejax · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 11:13 am Post subject:

Good stuff Khal, was kinda of ballsy to head at on a 350 mile jaunt in an unknown car, sure makes for an interesting trip.

I'm sure I'd have been a nervous wreck, it's bad enough driving across town and back wondering what's about to give out.

The car looks pretty good though, even with the zits.

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I got nothin'
Uhhh...you got any pics?

fiat22turbo · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 4040 Location: Portland, OR

Good grief, Khal! I thought my experience bringing the "white whale" back from the border was a harrowing one....

Glad you made it with your spirit intact though!

DME relays don't exist on the early cars. I'd suspect an issue with vacuum lines or the throttle body (remember your missing plastic bushings?). Could also be leaking shaft seals on the TB. I remember you mentioning that it idles a little high, now it's idling too low....

Speaking of little bitch....

Damned thing beached itself in my driveway...might need some 'splosives to get it free....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBgThvB_IDQ

Then again, that might be a silly idea

Good luck with it! Maybe we can have another get together sometime later this summer?
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Stefan
1979 924 Carrera GTS (clone-ish)
1988 944 Turbo S (Silver Rose)

Paul · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:53 pm Post subject:

Stefan, I corrected my post: DME relay to fuel pump relay.
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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.

Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW

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Toofah King Bad

WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW

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Toofah King Bad

WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

joejax · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:42 am Post subject:

YEE HAW!!

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I got nothin'
Uhhh...you got any pics?

Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW

MORE:

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Toofah King Bad

WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

joejax · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:09 am Post subject:

the_mad_electrician · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1073 Location: Central Georgia

Which one of you is the tall one, and how do you fit in a 924?
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81 924 N/A

2004 Ranger "Edge"

2005 Mazda 6

Rasta Monsta · Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 11733 Location: PacNW

the_mad_electrician · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1073 Location: Central Georgia

Next to those two you look more like 6'5" or 6'6" which I think most people would consider tall.
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81 924 N/A

2004 Ranger "Edge"

2005 Mazda 6