This is handy, just bought a track 944

This is handy, just bought a track 944

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Chim

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

177 months

Monday 16th December 2013
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Just bought a 944 track toy for the lad and me to play with a do up. Will be a long term project, he is only 15 but car mad like his dad. Will be hoping to pick up advice and keep all updated with progress. Not picking up to the weekend but first pre collection pics and some spec below.

Would appreciate comments (good and bad) and advice as well. Lad will be posting as we go and asking questions so be please be patient with him





Porsche 944lux road Legal track Car. Rothmans replica 2.5 8v

6 point weld in roll cage with harness bar.
Drilled and grooved front brakes, greenstuff pads all round
braided brake lines
fuel and brake lines run internally
uprated fuel pump
new fuel pump relay
fly-off handbrake
falken ziex tyres
quickshift induction kit
omp steering wheel
race mirrors
FULL Rothmans replica vinyl wrap
lightweight fixed back bucket seats with porsche and rothmans logos
TRS 6-point harnesses
Polycarb windows with sliders
carbon fibre footwell plates inc alloy footplates for passenger side
new alternator
new battery
custom straight through exhaust with mk2 x-flow rally back box
flip switch and push start ignition system

Chim

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

177 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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tumbleweed

supersport

4,061 posts

227 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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Get yourself on Porsche Club GB forum or TIPEC, big 944 user base there with loads of advice and appreciation of proper Porsches there.

Should be good fun, enjoy.

ridds

8,222 posts

244 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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Liking that a lot.

GC8

19,910 posts

190 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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Six point weld in?

No mention of suspension (which is required, expensive and never omitted from a decent car), so I will be pessimistic/negative until proven to be wrong. Hopefully it wont be a bad car and I do hope that you havent spent too much on it.

Chim

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

177 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
GC8 said:
Six point weld in?

No mention of suspension (which is required, expensive and never omitted from a decent car), so I will be pessimistic/negative until proven to be wrong. Hopefully it wont be a bad car and I do hope that you havent spent too much on it.
Not laid out cash yet and final deal to be done on inspection, he is looking for 2.5k. Would appreciate any tips on what I should be looking for and advice on price.

Actus Reus

4,234 posts

155 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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That livery alone is worth £2k. Please do keep us updated on here as this is something I'd love to do myself one day.

GC8

19,910 posts

190 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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Chim said:
GC8 said:
Six point weld in?

No mention of suspension (which is required, expensive and never omitted from a decent car), so I will be pessimistic/negative until proven to be wrong. Hopefully it wont be a bad car and I do hope that you havent spent too much on it.
Not laid out cash yet and final deal to be done on inspection, he is looking for 2.5k. Would appreciate any tips on what I should be looking for and advice on price.
May I suggest that you join the PCGB 944 forum? Its free and you neednt be a PCGB member. TIPEC is worthwhile too.

It does seem like a strong price for what is essentially a low value car with a (presumably) cheap rollcage and seats, some trinkets but no real prep.

Chim

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

177 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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Just popped over to PCGB, just my luck, seems today is the day they have chosen to migrate their servers to a new hosted site and it will be down for up to 36 hours frown

thegoose

8,075 posts

210 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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GC8 said:
May I suggest that you join the PCGB 944 forum? Its free and you neednt be a PCGB member. TIPEC is worthwhile too.

It does seem like a strong price for what is essentially a low value car with a (presumably) cheap rollcage and seats, some trinkets but no real prep.
I thought your comment was right....then I realised I mis-read it. I thought you'd written doesn't seem like a strong price!

If it's what you're after and is in sound condition this looks much better value than trying to create anything similar from scratch.

GC8

19,910 posts

190 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
Chim said:
Just popped over to PCGB, just my luck, seems today is the day they have chosen to migrate their servers to a new hosted site and it will be down for up to 36 hours frown
It was back when I looked a few minutes ago.

Chim

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

177 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
thegoose said:
GC8 said:
May I suggest that you join the PCGB 944 forum? Its free and you neednt be a PCGB member. TIPEC is worthwhile too.

It does seem like a strong price for what is essentially a low value car with a (presumably) cheap rollcage and seats, some trinkets but no real prep.
I thought your comment was right....then I realised I mis-read it. I thought you'd written doesn't seem like a strong price!

If it's what you're after and is in sound condition this looks much better value than trying to create anything similar from scratch.
That was my thinking, not looking for a complete car either as we intend to work on it over the next couple of years to get it the way we want it. Will be a learning experience as well.

I kinda thought 2.5k for a car already at this stage was good value, then again i really don't know jack st about them at this stage so open to all views smile

GC8

19,910 posts

190 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
quotequote all
thegoose said:
GC8 said:
May I suggest that you join the PCGB 944 forum? Its free and you neednt be a PCGB member. TIPEC is worthwhile too.

It does seem like a strong price for what is essentially a low value car with a (presumably) cheap rollcage and seats, some trinkets but no real prep.
I thought your comment was right....then I realised I mis-read it. I thought you'd written doesn't seem like a strong price!

If it's what you're after and is in sound condition this looks much better value than trying to create anything similar from scratch.
Perhaps Im jaded, but Ive seen a lot of tired old cars with tatty interiors which have the tinsel of preparation sprinkled over them, but little real money spent, then advertised as 'track cars'. This is key because what matters costs real money. Here they chose Rothmans livery over substance.

Lets ignore the fact that its missing the single most important thing (new suspension) and focus on other important points: sills - look in through the vent and absolutely any sign of rust is bad and virtually all 944s are rusty here with rectification costing a great deal; belts - when were they done as youre looking at approaching £500 for this; clutch - costs £1,000 to replace.

If everything above is good then it might well be worth buying and spending the money on GAZ dampers or similar, but good cars are seldom 'converted', with tatty and poorly cared for cars frequently messed about with like this...

GC8

19,910 posts

190 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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A couple of further observations: 'polycarbonate windows' fitted, but no mention of the rear. Theres little advantage to fitting PC to the side windows if you dont swap the extremely heavy hatch for an extremely costly formed polycarbonate hatch.

The rollcage is covered in useless pipe lagging! Proper cage padding isnt particularly expansive, but theyve opted for a far cheaper alternative from Wickes!


I may be criticising the car far too harshly, but its better that someone points out the potential pitfalls before you part with your money.

MrMoonyMan

2,584 posts

211 months

Tuesday 17th December 2013
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I think it looks like a good, fun car!

Also the price is fine if it looks as it does in those pics and has solid sills.

Wish my Dad had done something like this with me when I was a kid.

benjj

6,787 posts

163 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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Simon has a particular way of delivering his thoughts, often rather (H2G2) Marvin-esque, but I have to agree.

Track car essentials: suspension, brakes and safety. None of these done to a particularly good standard.

Not a complete loss but I wouldn't be getting into it for more than about 1750.

adbett

187 posts

223 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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I've no knowledge of 944s so would either do research on forums etc to learn key things to look for or find a nearby specialist who will look over it.

Agree with earlier comments, brakes, suspension + engine are heavily stressed on a track car and will consume the most money so I'd definitely focus on these when you inspect.

It does look good though and is a great idea whatever car you buy!

PawnSacrifice

101 posts

159 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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Looks okay, the spec is a little confusing... some good and bad, imo, but this is more to do with it being billed as a fully prep'd track car - as a project it's probably not too bad, as long as you're not expecting the finished article - the Green Stuff brake pads aren't track items, which makes me question the other bits. As has been pointed out there is no mention of suspension work and the ride height suggests it is stock. A yet there's a fly-off handbrake?

Is it my imagination or are the door cards duct tape?

There isn't really much to add to what's been said. The ride height suggests it is on the original suspension - just check when the shocks were replaced.

Before you go I would check out the make of the seats and see what they're worth - I wouldn't anything too cheap otherwise you'll want to replace them.

When you go for a drive open the windows (as much as possible) - if the cabin starts to smell of petrol chances are the tank's leaky - which isn't uncommon - another check is to remove the filler cap and listen for the pressure release. The tank can be a DIY fix but more bargaining power for you.

This may sound a little odd, but ask what dB readings have been off that exhaust - assuming you're going to want to start your son off somewhere safe like Bedford you want to be able to get out on track!

Any question regarding costs of work or parts I'd give JMG a shout, knowledgeable and helpful. If they're not too far from you they do offer a free inspection. Or at least they did.

edh

3,498 posts

269 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
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Very hard to tell much about the car without larger hi res pics..

The car still has number plates - Is this just a road car that has had a cage & seats fitted or has it ever raced? It certainly looks like it sits pretty high, like a car on standard suspension that's had a few kg's removed.

£2k doesn't sound too far off if it's sound, but easy to spend another grand on suspension. Are you looking for a road legal car or will you tow it?

Chim

Original Poster:

7,259 posts

177 months

Wednesday 18th December 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies guys, will have my list of look for bits and questions ready now for Sunday. It is a road legal car, I will though not be using it as such. It really is very much a base to go with for a long term project for my lad. Not worried about spending money on it and intended to do this anyway to get it right and ready for racing so not having race suspension is not an issue and will be our first task smile

What I really want from the car as I said is good base to start from and it looks like it is.