924Board.org

Mr_Bob · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 23

Hello, this is my first post here and hopefully I will be making more in the future. I am not a 924 owner yet, though hope to be in the near future. First I will fill ya'll in on what I am wanting to do. I am looking to build a small carbureted rat racer street car. My first line of thought was to get a 944 and transplant a V8 in it. But I realize that for my budget this may not be possible. So I thought about getting a 924 and leaving my options open, but now have found out that the Renegade conversion kit for the 924 is no longer available. So... now I am trying to decide if I should get the more modern chassi having 924 and get the most I can out of the 2L motor, or stay old school with a 240Z. I have been looking at, and was hoping to get this 924 with this carb conversion done. Or getting a 924 and doing it myself.

I see it has the Weber carbs and the stock distributor (not the newer ones placed on the cam gear). I was wondering if this first generation's distributor was a basic old school distro' with just the + & - wire hook up to the coil? I see it is a vacuum mechanical advance type. Can anyone fill me in on the distributor/ignition system for this car? Or any info on this conversion kit he has used?

Peter_in_AU · Joined: 29 Jul 2001 Posts: 2745 Location: Sydney, Australia

all 2L 924's have the distributor at the rear of the engine. The 944, 924S and 968 have the distributor on the front of the cam.

Mechanical advance is only on the early 924's. The later cars had electronic spark control. If it is a later car then whoever did the carb conversion may have changed the distributor to a mechanical advance one - people who understand carbs seem to rarely understand electronics.

As to whether you should get a 924 or something like a 240Z depends on what you want a car to do. If you like going around corners very fast then go for a 924 and spend money on fixing or improving the suspension. If you're just looking for a cruiser then a Z is a nice ride and looks good. If you want to do a conversion then a Z offers more options, just don't do it to a 240, the last few good ones deserve to remain unmolestered.
_________________
1979 924 (Gone to a better place)
1974 Lotus 7 S4 "Big Valve" Twin-cam (waiting)
1982 924 (As featured on Wikipedia)

Learn to love your multimeter and may the search be with you

Vince Ponz · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3581 Location: Florida

Cam, webers, euro pistons, 44 suspension, MSD Ignition, cam gear, headers, etc and still only about 140 HP. You decide. Look elsewhere for a dragster.
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"Never let them see you sweat"
77.5 924 modified track car
79 931 Euro stock
88 924S SE
87 911 Targa stock

Mr_Bob · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 23

I said I was going to probably keep the 2L motor. With that said, a drag car shouldnt have even been assumed in the topic. Actually Z cars make a good track cars, they usually dont do well at the strip with their 2.4L straight 6. Though by anyones standards, 140hp isnt alot. I was going to supercharge or turbocharge it and see what I could get out of it.

Thanks for the info on the distributor. I have finally found what I was looking for.

It is a transistor type ignition set up. I think it is possible to drop out the transistor/ign module like on a typical one. Though I wouldnt plan to unless got an MSD box or something.

Whether I got a Z (240 to 280) really depended on money and the ignition set up on the 924. I like the 924 more as a whole, but am wanting to keep the car simple and did not want to have to deal with FI.

I have some more questions about 944's and what parts are able to be used on a 924. But I will just start a new thread to do so. TY

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

What is your goal for the car and your budget?

140hp is the top end of what you can easily pull out of the 924na engine (easily includes swapping pistons). If you want a turbo, well, lucky for you Porsche already made one

Mr_Bob · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 23

I think I am looking at around 5 or 6k. (Having to sell my current car, =3.5k, the rest of the money will just come over time when I have it, but I know all in all I wont be able to go much over 5 or 6k) And not even having it to spend all at once is part of the problem. I am surprised to hear that 140hp is all people are getting from their motor. I think it may be possible for more... but I wont argue.

Yeah', I know Porsche has alread made many turbo parts for this car already. That is the only reason why I would consider a turbo over a supercharger.

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

This is too easy then - take the $3500 and buy a nice example of a 931. The rest should be just enough to cover an intercooler and a boost controller and general maintenance (wheels/tires, struts/shocks, swaybars, misc suspension parts, alignment, timing belt, brakes, turbo rebuild, general upkeep). If you do your own work and have an excellent set of tools that is.

Result is a fast and excellent handling old turbocharged Porsche with ~220hp and a solid platform for more investment/hp as you want.

Mr_Bob · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 23

931 is a 924 turbo correct? If so, I was thinking about do that. But carb conversion and other upgrades is a must. So I doubt I will spend much on the car itself. It will be getting stripped down and stuff, so no need for something all shiny.

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

Carbs are not an upgrade...

StienbargerR · Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 1362 Location: Richmond, IN

Mr Bob,

You should definately buy a 924 turbo. I think it suits your needs better. I am pretty sure you can find a Turbo for under or around $3500, and then the extra money can be spent or restoring, and then maybe boost control stuff, and stand alone injection/ignition units.

Ryan
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1978 924 NA
-250lb lowering springs, Euro Pistons

Mr_Bob · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 23

OKay.... then I am going to downgrade it with carbs...

Yeah... 924 Turbo does sound as if it would suit me well. But like I said before. This isnt getting restored, nor will any FI be on it. But boost controllers and BOVs will be.

StienbargerR · Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 1362 Location: Richmond, IN

Mr. Bob,

I am pretty sure that adding a turbo and carbs is not a good idea. It has been discussed here too, and it is much easier just to Fuel inject it.

Ryan
_________________
1978 924 NA
-250lb lowering springs, Euro Pistons

D Hook · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3158 Location: Omaha, NE

Here's one that didn't sell on ebay. Seller only wants $1500. Got the conversion already done for ya, too!

http://cm.ebay.com/cm/ck/1065-29296-2357-0?uid=54094786&site=0&ver=LCA080805&item=230016370345&lk=URL

He's got a thread over on the "For Sale" section of this board.
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'80 924 n/a SOLD

Mr_Bob · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 23

I was considering that one. But it has a cracked block. So I would eather have to find a new 4.3L V6 which is limited in the aftermarket upgrades department. Plus carb it. Or hope that I can use what he did and put a V8 in it. I dunno' if I could just swap V6 for V8 because of mounts, and clutch and stuff. If you have any answers to my problems I would be glad to hear them.

*edit* I found the after market stuff I was looking for.

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

Why are you so hung up on carbs?

Just curious as the fuel injection system will typically get you more linear power delivery with more reliability.

If you absolutely must have a set of sidedrafts, buy a set of sidedraft throttle bodies from Jenvey or TWM Induction and have the best of both worlds. Heck, people have successfully adapted bike throttle bodies to their cars.

Troubleshooting is similar between the two systems. You need air, fuel and spark in the correct order to run the motor. If you're missing any of those or they are not int he right amounts then you have a problem.

The GM stuff for the most part uses the same mounts and bellhousing solutions between the V-6 and V-8 motors from 1955 on up. There are exceptions, especially when dealing with the Caddy and Pontiac stuff early on. So in the case of that Vortec V-6 you can swap in another Chebby V-6 or a Chebby V-8 fairly easily.