Project S: 1988 Porsche 924S
Discussion
Third time lucky!
I loved driving my NA to lots of places and I love looking at the Turbo (and the power) but now's the time to combine all I've learnt through years of 924ing!
This is Project S. It's a 1988 924S, so it's got the tweakable, high compression 944 engine. It has been a South Wales car from new. I went to see it on a bit of a whim and was smitten. I had always had an '88 Guards Red S in the back of my mind anyway. This one has just had the belts/waterpump done, new brake lines, stainless exhaust & new sills.
The plan is to drive it around for a while first, iron out any niggles that arise and then make it my own. I want to do a backdate 924. Taking an 88S with all mod-cons and a lightly tuned engine, with the styling cues of an early modified car. The wishlist includes some tasty wheels (to be collected) nice sports seats, a spoilerless hatch (chrome trim too?) and to lower it slightly. It could do with a suspension refresh and I'm torn between Bilstein B6's & lowering springs or coilovers.
Here's a photograph from the ad along with another ad which hints at what's to come this Friday...
In the meantime, if anyone has some useful tips for S ownership, fire away!
I loved driving my NA to lots of places and I love looking at the Turbo (and the power) but now's the time to combine all I've learnt through years of 924ing!
This is Project S. It's a 1988 924S, so it's got the tweakable, high compression 944 engine. It has been a South Wales car from new. I went to see it on a bit of a whim and was smitten. I had always had an '88 Guards Red S in the back of my mind anyway. This one has just had the belts/waterpump done, new brake lines, stainless exhaust & new sills.
The plan is to drive it around for a while first, iron out any niggles that arise and then make it my own. I want to do a backdate 924. Taking an 88S with all mod-cons and a lightly tuned engine, with the styling cues of an early modified car. The wishlist includes some tasty wheels (to be collected) nice sports seats, a spoilerless hatch (chrome trim too?) and to lower it slightly. It could do with a suspension refresh and I'm torn between Bilstein B6's & lowering springs or coilovers.
Here's a photograph from the ad along with another ad which hints at what's to come this Friday...
In the meantime, if anyone has some useful tips for S ownership, fire away!
I went to pick up my wheels today, which had the dual purpose of testing the car. Cruised happily at 70ish on the way and dealt with bank holiday traffic fine on the way back. I've racked up 500 enjoyable miles now.
Trial fitted the wheels, I was expecting the late offset to pee on my bonfire but it looks like it could be overcome. Rears fit nicely. Fronts stick out a mile. If I go from 205 to 195 tyres on the front and have some negative camber, maybe it'll work? You'll have to look for the potential since the wheels could do with a polish, likewise the red paint. Perhaps when I go to lower the suspension, if I find some early offset hubs I can swap them in on the front?
Trial fitted the wheels, I was expecting the late offset to pee on my bonfire but it looks like it could be overcome. Rears fit nicely. Fronts stick out a mile. If I go from 205 to 195 tyres on the front and have some negative camber, maybe it'll work? You'll have to look for the potential since the wheels could do with a polish, likewise the red paint. Perhaps when I go to lower the suspension, if I find some early offset hubs I can swap them in on the front?
I took the car to a local Porsche Indy for a good checkover and the feedback was encouraging:
Slight oil leak from the top front of the engine
ARB bushes worn
Play in steering shaft
Tired shocks
A few other niggles I'm not worried about and a cosmetically challenged interior!
I've been busy polishing lately. A friend recommended Meguiars NXT metal polish. After making no progress with Brasso, I was amazed how good it came up with this polish! I put a pea sized amount on a cloth, wiped it for a few seconds and they came out shining! I imagine it's great for exhausts too. Really impressed!
I fitted the cream leather rear seats that came with the car too, a Porsche horn push for my steering wheel and the throttle response cam.
The black car went to its new owner on Friday and so I bought lots of things from Rose Passion to help me get over it! Should turn up later this afternoon...
In the meantime, I took advantage of the 3 for 2 cleaning offer in Halfords and got a clay mitt (saved a lot of time for a similar result!) some compound, polish & wax. Spent the morning making my arms ache to achieve this:
Sadly the bird poo on the back won't come off and the paint is a bit rubbish on the bonnet. However, I didn't want the burden of an immaculate car! The paintwork is more of a Mars Red than Guards, perhaps due to age and various touch ups
Comes with the standard delaminating windscreen & broken sunvisor clips
Slight oil leak from the top front of the engine
ARB bushes worn
Play in steering shaft
Tired shocks
A few other niggles I'm not worried about and a cosmetically challenged interior!
I've been busy polishing lately. A friend recommended Meguiars NXT metal polish. After making no progress with Brasso, I was amazed how good it came up with this polish! I put a pea sized amount on a cloth, wiped it for a few seconds and they came out shining! I imagine it's great for exhausts too. Really impressed!
I fitted the cream leather rear seats that came with the car too, a Porsche horn push for my steering wheel and the throttle response cam.
The black car went to its new owner on Friday and so I bought lots of things from Rose Passion to help me get over it! Should turn up later this afternoon...
In the meantime, I took advantage of the 3 for 2 cleaning offer in Halfords and got a clay mitt (saved a lot of time for a similar result!) some compound, polish & wax. Spent the morning making my arms ache to achieve this:
Sadly the bird poo on the back won't come off and the paint is a bit rubbish on the bonnet. However, I didn't want the burden of an immaculate car! The paintwork is more of a Mars Red than Guards, perhaps due to age and various touch ups
Comes with the standard delaminating windscreen & broken sunvisor clips
Permanent bird poo and yellow shocks, a lovely rear!
I had a non-start issue which threw me for awhile, turned out it was the ECU. Serves me right for buying a modern one
It's fantastic fun through the lanes, a narrow body with poor paintwork is easy to place on the road compared to the gleaming black paint and wide arches of my last car!
Anyway I've been waiting desperately for some sports seats to appear, knowing that when they did, I would have them!
Saw a set of seats on eBay just listed and offered a cash on collection price. 300 mile round trip ensued (you have to make your own fun with shift hours). I couldn't believe it when I saw them and feel slightly embarrassed by my excitement over a set of seats! They are a garage find having not been in a car for a long time, the fabric isn't faded and the foam is still very taught. Even all the paint on the bottom of the runners is there, I almost feel bad fitting them in my car! It's a bit like having new-old-stock.
My rear beige leather seats are in excellent condition and I was thinking about dying them black? Just the wooden centre console to go now and the interior is looking better!
I had a non-start issue which threw me for awhile, turned out it was the ECU. Serves me right for buying a modern one
It's fantastic fun through the lanes, a narrow body with poor paintwork is easy to place on the road compared to the gleaming black paint and wide arches of my last car!
Anyway I've been waiting desperately for some sports seats to appear, knowing that when they did, I would have them!
Saw a set of seats on eBay just listed and offered a cash on collection price. 300 mile round trip ensued (you have to make your own fun with shift hours). I couldn't believe it when I saw them and feel slightly embarrassed by my excitement over a set of seats! They are a garage find having not been in a car for a long time, the fabric isn't faded and the foam is still very taught. Even all the paint on the bottom of the runners is there, I almost feel bad fitting them in my car! It's a bit like having new-old-stock.
My rear beige leather seats are in excellent condition and I was thinking about dying them black? Just the wooden centre console to go now and the interior is looking better!
Time for an overdue update!
Got sent a cool Flussig sticker from the states (thanks Pablo!) check out the site for some transaxle musings:
http://www.flussigmagazine.com/
Went to Brooklands, had a good natter with more 924-philes. Asked nicely to have a look at the cars for auction without buying an expensive catalogue.
Bought some more parts:
And some more:
Gave it a service. Spring loaded, perpendicular dizzy cap right up against the pop-up light mechanism was fun. Obviously the new cap had much stronger springs to help!!
Had a play with another red one, lamented the sale of my turbo.
Chased it in this
And now it's away getting the clutch fitted, rear beam reindexed and last few suspension parts refreshed. I've been using it daily and it has been great! A leaky sunroof has turned the interior to an infusion of wet dog smell however...
Got sent a cool Flussig sticker from the states (thanks Pablo!) check out the site for some transaxle musings:
http://www.flussigmagazine.com/
Went to Brooklands, had a good natter with more 924-philes. Asked nicely to have a look at the cars for auction without buying an expensive catalogue.
Bought some more parts:
And some more:
Gave it a service. Spring loaded, perpendicular dizzy cap right up against the pop-up light mechanism was fun. Obviously the new cap had much stronger springs to help!!
Had a play with another red one, lamented the sale of my turbo.
Chased it in this
And now it's away getting the clutch fitted, rear beam reindexed and last few suspension parts refreshed. I've been using it daily and it has been great! A leaky sunroof has turned the interior to an infusion of wet dog smell however...
Enjoying this! Looks like your 924 is receiving the care it deserves. It'll look great with the rear bars reindexed, hope everything comes undone ok as I had some fun with mine... Once done it makes like much easier setting the car up though without the problem of rusted up eccentric adjusters on the hubs.
I still have a hankering for a nice 924S one day
I still have a hankering for a nice 924S one day
Some negative camber and a set of lowering springs solved the offset issue.
I suppose the 1988 924 must be quicker than all the 2.5 8v 944 variants, with the lighter more aerodynamic body and the same drivetrain...
I had some aluminium spigot rings made up, which has got rid of my wheel wobble as expected. I took the car to a local VW garage who look after our T25 and they were keen to do the rear beam for me. However, after having a few looks at it, they didn't want to risk it not coming apart happily and losing one of their ramps to half of my car. In the end we had a truce and I collected it with just the wishbones, balljoints etc fitted.
Happily, I had the car for Retro Rides, which I was really looking forward to. On the Saturday evening a biblical storm saturated my tent, sleeping bag, clothes, supplies and I felt like a trench warfare veteran by the time the show on Sunday came around.
Having sold my Volvo S60 to my sister and not getting the clutch/beam changed, I was feeling a little flush, so ordered some parts from Only944. I had a rattling rear hatch and rather than buy all new locks, I got the little inserts from Only944. At the same time I got the redesigned shifter and an inner sunroof seal. My sunroof has stopped leaking now, the hatch has stopped rattling and the gearshift is excellent! It was only $100 for the whole lot and took a couple of days to arrive, no customs charge either. The shifter is a great idea, as mine looked new when I took it out but the shaft had worn. With this one, once it's tightened up, the thrust bearings mate with the sides rather than through the centre, so it's always going to be a sweet gear change.
I'd certainly recommend the shifter to anyone with a 924/44, although some over items on the site are typically American garbage, the massive cup holders and $120 alu seat releases spring to mind!
Rear hatch pin seats new vs old
Matching rear seats, even if the mint front seats show them up a bit!
And with no Volvo, it's a bonafide daily driver as winter approaches...
I suppose the 1988 924 must be quicker than all the 2.5 8v 944 variants, with the lighter more aerodynamic body and the same drivetrain...
I had some aluminium spigot rings made up, which has got rid of my wheel wobble as expected. I took the car to a local VW garage who look after our T25 and they were keen to do the rear beam for me. However, after having a few looks at it, they didn't want to risk it not coming apart happily and losing one of their ramps to half of my car. In the end we had a truce and I collected it with just the wishbones, balljoints etc fitted.
Happily, I had the car for Retro Rides, which I was really looking forward to. On the Saturday evening a biblical storm saturated my tent, sleeping bag, clothes, supplies and I felt like a trench warfare veteran by the time the show on Sunday came around.
Having sold my Volvo S60 to my sister and not getting the clutch/beam changed, I was feeling a little flush, so ordered some parts from Only944. I had a rattling rear hatch and rather than buy all new locks, I got the little inserts from Only944. At the same time I got the redesigned shifter and an inner sunroof seal. My sunroof has stopped leaking now, the hatch has stopped rattling and the gearshift is excellent! It was only $100 for the whole lot and took a couple of days to arrive, no customs charge either. The shifter is a great idea, as mine looked new when I took it out but the shaft had worn. With this one, once it's tightened up, the thrust bearings mate with the sides rather than through the centre, so it's always going to be a sweet gear change.
I'd certainly recommend the shifter to anyone with a 924/44, although some over items on the site are typically American garbage, the massive cup holders and $120 alu seat releases spring to mind!
Rear hatch pin seats new vs old
Matching rear seats, even if the mint front seats show them up a bit!
And with no Volvo, it's a bonafide daily driver as winter approaches...
Little update:
I had the handbrake fettled, new tie rods fitted and put it in for MOT whilst I was away on holiday. Failed on silly things like a numberplate light and insecure wiring. After that was taken care of, it went in for setup and we managed to get the rear eccentrics adjusted. It sits much more level now and handles like a 924 should with all new suspension, bushes, steering and lightweight wheels should!
I've purchased a complete cam tower and gaskets to rebuild it, but plan on getting a hot cam and fancy ECU in the new year, with the aim of 20% power increase. Then I'll have the same power/weight ratio as a 968 Sport, only it'll be lighter/nimbler/better. In the meantime, I'm making my first step onto the property ladder, with most of the deposit coming from the sale of the black turbo
But in all honesty, the S isn't as special but suits me much more. I'm not precious about the paint and I drive it with great enthusiasm but don't worry about breaking it
I had the handbrake fettled, new tie rods fitted and put it in for MOT whilst I was away on holiday. Failed on silly things like a numberplate light and insecure wiring. After that was taken care of, it went in for setup and we managed to get the rear eccentrics adjusted. It sits much more level now and handles like a 924 should with all new suspension, bushes, steering and lightweight wheels should!
I've purchased a complete cam tower and gaskets to rebuild it, but plan on getting a hot cam and fancy ECU in the new year, with the aim of 20% power increase. Then I'll have the same power/weight ratio as a 968 Sport, only it'll be lighter/nimbler/better. In the meantime, I'm making my first step onto the property ladder, with most of the deposit coming from the sale of the black turbo
But in all honesty, the S isn't as special but suits me much more. I'm not precious about the paint and I drive it with great enthusiasm but don't worry about breaking it
I've been busy driving around over the Christmas period, covering over 2000 miles in 5 weeks! I went to the Sunday Scramble at Bicester today, it was a nice venue even if the weather wasn't great! Tomorrow I'm getting some new tyres fitted, managed to get a good deal on some Continentals. The S may not be special like the turbo but it's a great car to enjoy everyday.
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