944 Do it yourself of maintenace

944 Do it yourself of maintenace

Author
Discussion

rocky65

Original Poster:

101 posts

150 months

Friday 24th January 2014
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Hello.Not had a 944 before but looking at getting one.Just wondered if anyone can give me some idea of what someone with a reasonable amount of knowledge could expect to undertake themselves in the way of maintaiance Also including repairs and parts cost etc.
Thanks.

Edited by rocky65 on Friday 24th January 13:59

DKL

4,479 posts

221 months

Friday 24th January 2014
quotequote all
Plenty. They're not too bad to work on.
Get yourself over to the 944 forum on pcgb and tipec (both free to use but you need to join, also free). Lots of traffic and helpful people. Welcome!

tr7v8

7,185 posts

227 months

Friday 24th January 2014
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Virtually nothing you cannot do yourself, some of it is lengthy like a clutch especially on the Turbo. Belts really need special tools at least a flywheel lock. But I hire one (plus the other tools) out via the TIPEC forums for a refundable deposit & a donation to charity.

rocky65

Original Poster:

101 posts

150 months

Friday 24th January 2014
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Thanks for that.Just sold a merc SL500, ABC suspension packed in, computerised nightmare. I need a car that I can get down and dirty with to find out whats wrong without having to plug it in to a computer to find out.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Friday 24th January 2014
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tr7v8 said:
Belts really need special tools at least a flywheel lock.
Not if you're a Jedi belt master laugh

Ray Singh

3,045 posts

229 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
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This is what you will need. Most tasks on a 944 can be sorted using this guide.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/

I give you, Clarks garage.


UK952

763 posts

258 months

Saturday 25th January 2014
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The factory manuals are available from a few places for free download and are very good.

trackerjack

649 posts

183 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
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I wanted a classic car that performs ok and looked good with fine mpg with a prestige badge that I would enjoy driving, after looking at a few I almost gave up when last Sept I bought a 1987 2.5 944 Lux.
I drive it everyday it returns just under 30 mpg plus it has not dissapointed in any way.
I do all my own maintainance and so far a tiny circlip caused gear select problem easily fixed. I was lucky to sort a starting problem quickly when I found that that some numb nut had fitted an alarm imobiliser by just twisting the wires together! A little solder and no problem since.

Took it for an MOT which it sailed through and the tester said he loved it and wanted to buy one............I grinned and said "not this one pal".


pauljmcnulty

850 posts

238 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
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They are pretty simple cars, but as mentioned some jobs are awkward, like the clutch, compared to other cars. I think the key is like any other car, if you've got somewhere under cover, and ideally can get under the car easily, you're well away.

The main thing to look for is the bodywork. Unless you're skilled repairing and painting sills etc. this is where the big money could go.

It's well worth getting to know the cars by reading around the 944 forums first: far cheaper than buying one then asking the questions! smile

DRH986

284 posts

143 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
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Ray Singh said:
This is what you will need. Most tasks on a 944 can be sorted using this guide.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/

I give you, Clarks garage.
It's nice to see the 16 valve cam chain and tensioner pad replacement procedure I wrote over 15 years ago is still on Clark's website!

PawnSacrifice

101 posts

158 months

Sunday 26th January 2014
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DRH986 said:
It's nice to see the 16 valve cam chain and tensioner pad replacement procedure I wrote over 15 years ago is still on Clark's website!
Good work! Clark's is a great site, use it a lot.

And yes, the 944 (based on the experience on the 924 S) is a very easy car to work on, even doing jobs for the first time (removing the transaxle / fuel tank / engine swap all far easier than I would have expected... the biggest problems I've had have been down to poor work by previous owners - mostly re-using damaged / rounded bolts.

rocky65

Original Poster:

101 posts

150 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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Thanks very much for all your interesting and informative comments,I will be on the look out in the next two or three months once I have finished the garage.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Wednesday 29th January 2014
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Personally I think they are an awkward PITA to work on.

Cheburator mk2

2,973 posts

198 months

Wednesday 29th January 2014
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blade7 said:
Personally I think they are an awkward PITA to work on.
How?

You should try and work on a 928... See how you get on without the hands and vision of a gynecologist... Oh, and a 2-post lift...

Darryl H

111 posts

157 months

Wednesday 29th January 2014
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Mine's been a treat to work on so far. A few fiddly jobs but I'll happily give anything a go.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Sunday 2nd February 2014
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Cheburator mk2 said:
blade7 said:
Personally I think they are an awkward PITA to work on.
How?

You should try and work on a 928... See how you get on without the hands and vision of a gynecologist... Oh, and a 2-post lift...
Unfortunately a 2 post lift and tame Ed China aren't in my tool kit...

Cheburator mk2

2,973 posts

198 months

Monday 3rd February 2014
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blade7 said:
Unfortunately a 2 post lift and tame Ed China aren't in my tool kit...
It took us a total of 6hrs to take the cam tower off, then the head, and ultimately the rest of the engine out from my 944 Turbo S race car. No engine hoist either, no two-post lift - just a home garage full of shiny tools, two excellent quality jacks, a scafolding pole and some Dyneema rope. Oh, within the above time frame, we also managed to check the valve guides for wear, to split the turbo as it appeared to be leaking from the rear seal and also to inspect the clutch... wink Difficult to work on? I wish I bought a 944TS 10yrs ago, and not a 928GT... Well, almost...

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Monday 3rd February 2014
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Usually when I work on my 944T I get a little misty eyed for my old 3 door Cosworth. 2 men 6 hours to pull out an engine and take off the head ?, I'd do that in 3 with a lunchbreak on the Ford .

Cheburator mk2

2,973 posts

198 months

Monday 3rd February 2014
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blade7 said:
Usually when I work on my 944T I get a little misty eyed for my old 3 door Cosworth. 2 men 6 hours to pull out an engine and take off the head ?, I'd do that in 3 with a lunchbreak on the Ford .
Ours was a journey of discovery - neither of us has ever, ever worked on a 944 before. Never... smile

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Tuesday 4th February 2014
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smile I'm not saying a 944 is difficult to work on it just takes too much time. At least Porsche made the 968 clutch easier to change.