944 S2 Restoration project

[PLISKIN]

Help and advise from someone who knows what their talking about please!!!

I'm in the middle of a full restoration project on a 1991 944 S2, and I've found some tin worm at the bottom of the rear arches, ahead of the wheels. I need some advice on repairing this complex bit of body work.

I also need some front wings, so if you know anyone who has some for sale then I’d be happy to talk business.

Any one else involved in a similar project…?

[interloper]

Genuine but 2nd hand front wings turn up on E bay occasionally or try Porschapart.

www.porschapart.com/

Just make sure they are S2/Turbo wings as early 944 wings are slightly different and wont marry up to the S2 front bumper.

For resto advice it might be worth trying these forums.

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/forumdisplay.php?s=97e8bdf83098d85bb114e88b8534c971&forumid=70

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=10

[AJLintern]

I have exactly the same rust on my car at the bottom of three of the wheel arches and also near the rear light cluster. Got quotes for £1000 - 1500 so far.

[rubystone]

Iguana

[interloper]

Look here!

www.pistonheads.com/ads/44301.htm

[iguana]

rubystone said:

Iguana

You rang


Ok rear arches, I was pennyless when i got mine sorted (nothing new there then!) but diddnt want a lash up job, but couldnt afford a mega job.

So rear arch I was lucky it was only the lower area that needed sorting on mine, which makes spraying far more simple as its got that stone fleck stuff all along the lower sill area & F&R wings + the stick on stone protector on the rear wing, thus doesnt have to then be blended into the rest of the wing, thus saving on paintshop time.

The metal round the actual arch on mine was ok, which makes it far easier to sort as diddnt need to construct the actual arch which is time consuming & not that easy to do properly.

So angle grinder out the rot, which was a nice big section, place in new section- mine was a bit of a VW Passat bonnet! well at least it was a German car weld in place, grind down welds, tiny bit of filler to make perfectly flush, & spray.

[pliskin]

iguana said:

rubystone said: Iguana You rang Ok rear arches, I was pennyless when i got mine sorted (nothing new there then!) but diddnt want a lash up job, but couldnt afford a mega job. So rear arch I was lucky it was only the lower area that needed sorting on mine, which makes spraying far more simple as its got that stone fleck stuff all along the lower sill area & F&R wings + the stick on stone protector on the rear wing, thus doesnt have to then be blended into the rest of the wing, thus saving on paintshop time. The metal round the actual arch on mine was ok, which makes it far easier to sort as diddnt need to construct the actual arch which is time consuming & not that easy to do properly. So angle grinder out the rot, which was a nice big section, place in new section- mine was a bit of a VW Passat bonnet! well at least it was a German car weld in place, grind down welds, tiny bit of filler to make perfectly flush, & spray.

[pliskin]

Thanks for your help guys. Have a look at these new photos I've posted on Webshots. These show exactly the problem i've got with rust...

http://community.webshots.com/user/ket69

Has anyone got advice on re spraying callipers...?

[Fatboy]

I've just painted my front brake calipers using a lacquer kit from Halfords - went on very easily, and looks great.

Haven't done the rears yet as I may need to replace the rear calipers as well .

Edited to add I found rust on the sills and front arch that needs sorting - didn't spot it when I bought the car as it had been sprayed over (pretty well), but all the new paint came off after I'd washed the car a few times...

>> Edited by Fatboy on Monday 27th June 10:37

[sheepy]

pliskin said:

Thanks for your help guys. Have a look at these new photos I've posted on Webshots. These show exactly the problem i've got with rust...

Doesn't look too bad. Not a porche I know, but this is part of what I had to deal with on my XJS:




I'm currently rebuilding the front passenger side which had rotted completely around the jacking point.

[Thom]

Would be interesting to know what kind of life this S2 had. First time I see a 944 with so much rust.

>> Edited by Thom on Monday 27th June 18:33

[iguana]

Thom said:

Would be interesting to know what kind of life this S2 had. First time I see a 944 with so much rust.

Do they salt the roads in France in winter tho Thom? its not that unusual here on 944s to get rust on lower edges of front & rear wings or on the sills, mostly high milers- mine was 200k miles, but also seen it on 100k cars.

Normally only see some rust spots, but further investigation often sees a fair bit of rot lurking.

[Thom]

In the north they put salt in winter, but I guess you're less likely to see a 944 putting its nose out of the garage in winter than in the UK - just have to see how everyone here handles snow

iguana said:

Normally only see some rust spots, but further investigation often sees a fair bit of rot lurking.

Yes ; we found rust spots on a friend's 60k miles 944 garage queen, not in lower edges of front and rear wings though but in remote parts of the shell in the engine bay, in the floor and at some places around the rear cross member.
Never seen one as rusty as that white S2 though. Best of luck for the restoration.

[sheepy]

iguana said:

Normally only see some rust spots, but further investigation often sees a fair bit of rot lurking.

I'd agree. What you see is quite literally just the tip of the iceberg. My XJ piccys show what I found behind some "light bubbling" in the wheelarch!

Sheepy

[glpinxit]

I wonder if it has previously been in a bodyshop for new metal where it is rusting now. The car would have been fully galvanised when new and my '87 110K mile 944S is only showing any corrosion where there are indications of previous repairs from which I've inferred PO/body shop used cheapo non galv parts.
Guy.

[pliskin]

Jesus that Jag looked pretty bad mate, but it's a credit to you if the pictures showing your repair are anything to go by. Well done that man...

Answer to comments about what sort of life the car's had; well as far as I can make out, it was owned by an old Gent living near York (Yorkshire for those that don't know...)his family sold it to a local garage after he died (as well as a number of his other cars). I inspected the car (NEVER BUY A CAR- ESPECIALLY ONE YOU'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF OWNING- ON YOUR OWN...) and it looked well to me at the time and so I bought it.
I'm one of those people who can't stop myself from putting things right. It all started off with fitting new discs at the front and has developed into a HUGE restoration project.
Anyway, back to the question in hand. With less than 70k on the clock, two owners from new (including said old Gent) I too would have expected far less rot than I've found. No body panels have been replaced (I can just tell) but I'm convinced that the car's been sat, unused, for a LONG time. I just think it's been stored and allowed to get damp (?). Oh, by the way, when I gave the car its first good clean (as you do) I found green algae (like moss- don't bloody laugh!) in all the little crevices that you start to poke around at once at home with your new car on the driveway. It's this, and the rust, that led me to the long term storage and damp conditions conclusion. The interior is V nice though, with full black leather (mint condition) and climate control etc.

I've been doing a bit of research into second hand front wing availability and prices. Most suppliers either can't get me good ones (rust free) or never get back in touch. The one guy who went out of his way to help was Simon at ESS. He has a supplier for brand new pattern parts (recons said supplier may have bought press formers from Porsche..). Still not cheap mind you at £235 each, but better than paying almost that for some crap second hand items. He admits that they’re not galvanised but has supplied body panels to customers from the same people and they’ve been fine.
mailto:[e-mail]
Phone: UK 01442 258536