924Board.org

IdahoDoug · Joined: 16 Mar 2017 Posts: 3 Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID

So, first post to say hello and let you know what we're up to. This 1978 came to us about 9 months ago with a bad engine. We found another 2.0 924 engine and put a new head gasket and seals in it and will be stuffing it in within the next few weeks to find out what else we have on the car. The old block is still sitting headless in the frame (head had missing chunks from what looked like aluminum decay) and bell housing bolts are all loose, hoist is in place.

We're looking forward to getting it on the road and it will be my 16yo's first car. A nice fun to drive RWD manual with rewarding handling but not too much power should be about right. I'm a car guy from way back and am excited.

The car's in average shape and yet to be discovered are all the operating things as it has been sitting for years. It's been completely repainted and oddly has the vented snout of a turbo on it. The window sticker also says "Sport package" with no elaboration and the price of the package was low - couple hundred bucks? We could find no info on the snout vents so I think the previous owner may have put the turbo snout on whenever it was in for body work/repaint. Dunno - thoughts? The package must have been just sway bars for that little - thoughts on that?

No initial post is complete without a question or two. So as best I can tell to pull the engine, I leave the torque tube and bell housing attached to it with 4 bolts in the car, and pull the clutch with the engine off the splined shafts? Ours is a manual. There is confusion in the book because for the auto you apparently have to release the torque converter bolts or something through a window and rotate the engine to get them all. But it implies for the manual you don't.

Am I right - just pull it? Just release the half dozen or so bell housing bolts/nuts and pull the engine out for the manual? Thanks for any input. I'm sure when we do this something will bind and I'll be left wondering if I'm about to damage something or just the usual splined shaft binding a bit?

We are in the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho area and looking forward to the 2017 National Porsche meeting in Spokane in July. It's only about 30 miles away, so we're hoping to drive this old girl there.

Doug

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

Yup, 4 bolts, pull It forward, down and out.

Great time for a full front end refresh as well. New dampers, bushings, tie rods, ball joints, wheel bearings, brake hoses, calipers...
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Toofah King Bad

WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

IdahoDoug · Joined: 16 Mar 2017 Posts: 3 Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Wait, that's not what I am doing. You're saying disconnect the torque tube 4 bolts. The manual says disconnect the bell housing bolts (there are about 8 of these) from the engine. This is the exact misunderstanding I'm trying to figure out. Which is it for a manual 2.0 stock 1978 924?

Thanks, Doug
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Automotively Eclectic: 2 80 series LandCruisers, 1990 Quattro 20V, Lexus LS400, VW Vanagon, Mitsubishi Van Wagon, 1978 924, Subaru Outback. Expecting: 1994 Acura Legend Coupe.

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

I would leave the bell housing attached and unbolt the tt, although I would note that the fsm says to unbolt the bell housing. Not sure what the advantage would be to doing so.
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Toofah King Bad

WeiBe (1987 924S 2.5t) - 931 S3

a239947 · Joined: 15 Nov 2015 Posts: 31 Location: Australia

It is easier to remove the engine from the torque tube and then remove the bellhousing after. As was said. Four bolts and pull it down and forward. Take the radiator out for more room. The torque tube splines are quite long. You undo the mounts from the chassis by the two nuts on the top of the mount and drop the engine down. If the mounts are getting in the way as your trying to move the engine out, unbolt them from the block.

IdahoDoug · Joined: 16 Mar 2017 Posts: 3 Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Ah, thanks. I am pulling the Vanagon engine this afternoon and was planning to pull the 924 engine this evening. But I was planning to hoist the engine up and out. Manual says once loose, rotate the engine to the right and such and such. But if its easier, I'll lower it to the floor onto cardboard and drag it out. That's how the Vanagon's engine comes out, so BTDT I guess. Thanks.

Entire head and intake are off 924 engine so perhaps I can sneak it up and off. Will unbolt from the torque tube - thanks.

Doug
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Automotively Eclectic: 2 80 series LandCruisers, 1990 Quattro 20V, Lexus LS400, VW Vanagon, Mitsubishi Van Wagon, 1978 924, Subaru Outback. Expecting: 1994 Acura Legend Coupe.