924Board.org

hippy · Joined: 26 May 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Fort Worth

I have a chance to pick up an 87 924s for 500$ the car has been sitting for nearly 2 years now. Interior is 100% cept 2 cracks in dash. Exterior is great xcept small dent on passanger door.
It started up rather easily after sitting for nearly 2 years

No smoke...

Now for the problem, a lot of engine noise, I know nothing about these engines but am comfortable working on numerous other vehicles.

clicking from up top, ( Valve adjustments or Worn Cam??)
noise from bottom end as well, Knock that is hardly heard at Idle but very loud when revved very little

Does this sound like a worthy investment??

What cost am I looking at to have someone rebuild one of these engines?
Or should I look to pick up a running used engine (if it can be found).

Supposedly Trans and suspension have no known problems. I have no problems dropping about 2k into the engine but will that get it done??

Thanks, the guy needs to have the car gone by sometime tomorrow,,,Help!!
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Rob
87 924s
Fort Worth Tx

Joes924Racer · Posted: Mon May 26, 2003 10:09 am Post subject:

Buy it dont let it go an 87 924s ..probly needs bearings tear down of the motor to clean and replace bearings. Maybe just a good oil change
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1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

Neil924 · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 4225 Location: Canada

If it costs a lot to fix it and you decide not to, part it out. If the interior is 100 percent + good body panels you will make a good profit.

Paul · Posted: Mon May 26, 2003 11:59 am Post subject:

Offer the guy a free oil change.

If the old oil is free of metal, I'd buy the car.

Porschephile · Joined: 04 Nov 2002 Posts: 825 Location: Denver, Colorado

$500.00 is a helluva deal

Now, that is unless the car has the problems that it is notorious for. this engine is known for it's bearing problems. the #2 bearing is "spun" (destroyed) when the car is over-revved or turned too hard. this is because it is run dry by it's harmonics and the placement of the oil journals on the crank. do the oil change thing Paul recommended. if there is metal on the drain plug, the bearing is toast. also, when ya revv it, check the oil pressure. it should be nice and strong unless it's idling.

As for the top end sounds, the valves are never adjusted. they have hydraulic lifters, that are right between the valves and the cam. no adjustment. so, I'd assume something is runnin dry of oil, or something needs replacement.

The car is strong on the race track and autocross. it handles REALLY well, and it still turns heads, despite the fact it's 16 years old.

If you still think that $500.00 is too good of a deal to pass up, go for it. an engine rebuild on these cars costs about $2,000.00 if ya do it yourself. that's for parts, seals, and everything you will need. It'll cost about $3,500.00 if ya have someone else rebuild it. it's a fun project. if ya buy a haynes manual, it'll tell you almost everything you need to know. whatever else ya need to know, you can find here.

I'm rebuilding my second engine. the first time I rebuilt it, I didn't put a cross-drilled crankshaft in. this cross-drilling redirects the oil flow, and gets the oil to where it needs to go to keep the bearings from going dry.

Hope I was able to help ya make a choice. happy driving.
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werd B.

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

I'd buy the car in an instant, even with a bad engine, IF the body and interior are clean, and original. NO repaints (even if the same color), NO wrecked body (or previously badly wrecked body), and NO giutted interior (must be all there and original, cracked dash is to be expected).

If you don't want the car, please let me know and I will buy the car in the condition described above for $500, and find transportation to CA.

I have no concerns about rebuilding the engine if necessary.

-nick · Joined: 16 Nov 2002 Posts: 2699 Location: Cambridge, MA

i believe eturbo has an engine he's selling for around $800. email me and i'll get you his number. if there's a knock coming from the lower end, then the rod bearing is pretty likely gone. still, it sounds like a heck of a deal to me.

-nick

hippy · Joined: 26 May 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Fort Worth

Thanks to all for the quick replies, I was pretty sure it was a good deal, thank you for confirming my thoughts. I picked up the car today

Man I cant wait to get it on the road although it will be several months before I get a chance to do anything with it.
After closer inspection the body damageis also in front of the passanger wheel well, most all of the damage quite minor though.
Looked underneath the car and see no signs of any bottoming out ever!!
Trans shifted fine into reverse and drive, it powered itself onto the trailer.
Cleaned up the interior, only flaws found are several cracks in the dash, dome light is out of its holder, and the clip to hold up one of the sun visors...
All in all I couldn't be happier with the purchase. I will try to get some pics up soon.
Thanks again.
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Rob
87 924s
Fort Worth Tx

Porschephile · Joined: 04 Nov 2002 Posts: 825 Location: Denver, Colorado

Welcome to the world of the 924S. it's a great car. is yours an Auto? when ya said shifts into drive, It seemed so to me. Still, one helluva deal. If you are planning on doin your own wrenching, I'd recommend going out and purchasing the Hayne's manual for the 944. not everything necessary in the rebuild is in there, and the pictures suck, but it'll help a lot.

Anything else, we would be happy to advise ya on. just ask. Also, when I got my 924S, I assumed that the 924S discussion area was the only place to get info. this, is wrong. all the board except the 924 turbo section will help ya out. well, happy driving. hope to see the pics soon.
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werd B.

hippy · Joined: 26 May 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Fort Worth

http://www.geocities.com/rwade71/1.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/rwade71/4.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/rwade71/5.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/rwade71/6.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/rwade71/7.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/rwade71/9.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/rwade71/speedometer.jpg

I had to copy and paste the address's from above into the addressbar for them to work ?!?

pic 6 shows the only body damage on car.
sorry for the poor quality, shot with the cam corder not a digital.
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Rob
87 924s
Fort Worth Tx

924RACR · Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 4:50 am Post subject:

Cool... looks like your odometer's broken too - common problem... not a big deal, fixable...
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Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

hippy · Joined: 26 May 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Fort Worth

how do you know that by looking at it?!?
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Rob
87 924s
Fort Worth Tx

gohim · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 4459 Location: Rialto, CA

Congrats!

Now what you need to do FIRST, is determine what the engine noise that you are hearing is, and whether some engine repairs are necessary.

The 924S engine has hydraulic lifters. If the car has been parked for a while, and/or was a victim of infrequent oil changes, the noise that you here from the top of the engine is proably underinflated lifters, or one of more defective lifters, not valve clearance adjustment.

If you did not get a complete maintenance history with the car, you need to take the car directly to an experienced Porsche 944/924S mechanic, NOT THE LOCAL CORNER SERVICE STATION.

An experienced 944/924S mechanic will have the special tools, and knowledge necessary to diagnose and repair your car as necessary.

He/she will also be able to perform the every 3 year of 30K mile front of engine service, which is due right now unless have paperwork to prove that this has been done recently. The front of engine service includes the replacement of the following parts: camshaft timing belt, balance shaft belt, front engine seals, water pump, rollers, and pulleys. This service with parts will cost you between $1000-$2500, depending on who you get to do the service, and who and where the replacement parts are supplied from.

If these parts are not inspected and the belts tensioned every 10K miles, or replaced every 30K miles, one or the other will break and do $$$$ thousands of dollarts of damage to the engine.

Stu2j · Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 5:17 am Post subject:

hippy · Joined: 26 May 2003 Posts: 26 Location: Fort Worth

If i plan to keep the car, would I be better off buying the tools (for later use as well)?

I hope to pick up a used engine in running condition to drop in it to get it on the road while I am building the broke engine.

I do plan to shop around to see what kind of quotes I can find for a complete engine rebuild though, anyone know where I should take it in the DFW metro?
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Rob
87 924s
Fort Worth Tx