924Board.org

fergie · Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 72 Location: Michigan

I am the new owner of a 1977 924 that needs "restoration", and have had a few problems with the project so far... i expect there will be many more to come. This board seems like a helpful place, so i hope somebody can clear up some things for me.

I got this 924 from a friend for $200 and figured that, if anything, i can get it running and sell it for alot more than that... but now im not so sure. Ive had to replace the battery, starter, spark plugs + wires, fluids and a couple of belts so far. The cooling system is completely torn apart, none of the vacuum lines are hooked up, a few components are missing entirely, and it has a blown head gasket. I got it to run breifly, but apparently the resistor that feeds to the coil when the key is turned to the on position has gone bad, so it only gets spark when cranking the starter. After the engine ran for a few seconds, oil started coming out of the water pump (the coolant lines werent hooked up), confirming that it must have a blown head gasket. Right now i'm in the process of pulling the head off to have it resurfaced and replace the head gasket. I'm hoping that this leakage was the cause of my poor compression test numbers, as i got 120, 120, 90, 100 psi.
The only other major thing i need to do is fix the cooling system, which seems to be missing the expansion tank, and a little hose peice that goes to the transfer tube. I have no idea where to find these items, if anyone can help me get a hold of an expansion tank i would greatly appreciate it.
My goal for the car is either to get it running for the least $$ possible and sell it for profit, or to try and make it somewhat quick and maybe autocross it once in a while. Im not really sure whether it would be worth trying to make a competetive autoxer out of this.

Anyways, i really need a decent source for parts... if anyone can help with that.

And one other thing... i cant figure out my engine code. I dont know if it's a '77 or '77.5 model. I am pretty sure it was a california car though because it has an air pump. The engine code is not located where my haynes manual says it should be. The code # is 924720###

thanks for reading through all my questions

Lizard · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 1:25 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the board

as per your plans with the car, I doubt that due to the market you would be able to fix it and sell it at a profit,
you could get it running and strip it down to make an autoX car, however it would not be all that quick.

as per the head, it is aluminum, and I would recommend that you have it checked for straightness first, and if straight then dont machine.

good luck with the car.
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3 928s,

fergie · Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 72 Location: Michigan

Thanks for the advice.

I'd imagine it will be pretty slow (~90hp?), but supposedly they handle good so i might take it to the track once just for fun. Ive been searching alot for ways to make it faster, but it seems that there are no inexpensive ways to do this... or at least without pulling the engine out of the car. Im not really looking to put that much money or work into it because it's a real beater.

fergie · Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 72 Location: Michigan

I pulled the head off today... and i must say this is the strangest engine I've ever seen. I didn't realize the combustion chambers were in the pistons instead of in the head. That's just odd. Anyways, i can't see anywhere on the head gasket where it would've been leaking. The gasket itself looks fine, except that there are no holes where the water flows through! There was absolutely no way for coolant to get from the block to the head... What couldve possibly happened here?