Jump to content

944 Turbo S - Project Time


eldavo69
 Share

Recommended Posts

So just about breaking even then by the sounds of it, given yours was previously the cheapest in the country, and all the money you already have/will be spending replacing missing/damaged trim etc.

Not criticising your decision BTW, just wondering how it stacked up, and I'd take the 48 left thing with a huge pinch of salt, as it won't include cars that aren't currently registered/taxed.

What makes the 'Turbo S' more special than a normal Turbo?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That number includes SORNed cars too. They only ever built 1635 Turbo S cars worldwide.

They have the lighter weight of the earlier cars along with the higher output engine, bigger brakes, etc. of the later cars. Also have hardened gearbox gears, LSD, strengthened chassis, different torsion bars, etc etc.

So far I've spent £240 on a wheel refurb, £40 on stone guards and wing decals, £90 at Porsche on washer tank & pump plus seals, etc/rear badge/ armrest hinge/other trim bits. £160 with my mate Alasdair for armrest cover, clock repair kit, cubby hole, quarter panels, roof trim pieces headlining and a set of black carpets - all due to land in a couple of weeks.

This was always designed to be a bit of a project for me to undertake. I could have left the car "as-is" and it would still do the same things.

Admittedly I didn't count on spending £1500 fixing it up post-bump, but I did spend most of this year keeping my eye on the market so knew what I was buying was undervalued due to being rough around the edges.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It had a respray a couple of years back after all the sills and wing bottoms where replaced. Adrian has already told me he'll blend it into adjacent panels so the front end stone chips will be taken care of anyway.

No criticism/offence taken at all, as you know rational economic thought sometimes goes out of the window with hobby cars. (Looks at Patently).

At least now I've got a handle on costs and potential timelines it will motivate me to start doing all the other little jobs on it too. Been holding off these just in case the news was terminal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It had a respray a couple of years back after all the sills and wing bottoms where replaced. Adrian has already told me he'll blend it into adjacent panels so the front end stone chips will be taken care of anyway.

Ah, no need then. +++

I'm totally with you on taking the setback on the chin and cracking on with the project. Always liked the 944, especially the Turbo, and I've never bought into the crazy notion some so called enthusiasts seem to have that the only Porsches worth keeping/restoring have the engine in the back.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess the 924 and its VW connection never really helped the 944 and it's image.

However, most Porsche fans hold the 944 in high regard. The real fun comes from being perceived as the underdog, the 911 of the time (3.2 Carrera) had 231bhp, a standard 944 Turbo was a smidge over 250bhp.

Unlike the 911 where everyone knows what they are, the 944 kind of slips under the radar. I've seen some very surprised faces in my rear view mirror and hope to see many more ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

as you know rational economic thought sometimes goes out of the window with hobby cars.

This is why I recently bought a Honda Odyssey. My head was saying sensible and practical but my heart couldn't resist the beauty and romance.

Glad you're ok, Dave, and am sure you will get your project mojo back before long. Just 48 left is quite exciting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess the 924 and its VW connection never really helped the 944 and it's image.

However, most Porsche fans hold the 944 in high regard. The real fun comes from being perceived as the underdog, the 911 of the time (3.2 Carrera) had 231bhp, a standard 944 Turbo was a smidge over 250bhp.

Unlike the 911 where everyone knows what they are, the 944 kind of slips under the radar. I've seen some very surprised faces in my rear view mirror and hope to see many more ;)

I think you're underestimating the appeal/reputation of the 944 there personally, i've never, ever heard anyone have a bad word to say about them, even non car types know it's a Porsche!

I know i'm slightly unusual in that I don't like the 911 (doesn't mean I don't appreciate it), but even then, I don't understand why anyone would have bought a new 911 over a new 944 Turbo back in the day?

It is, imo, an iconic car recognised by pretty much everyone.

Did they do an S2 turbo? I drove an S2 cab once, and loved it, and have always thought i'd own one one day.

Some friends of ours emigrated to OZ about 10 years ago, and they took their knackered, rusty, brown with brown velour 924 with them, it was really very tatty, and sold it for about 10 times what it was worth here!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If the car is built before a certain date and you've owned it a year (I think) you can take it to Oz with you and they do sell for a fortune.

I dot get it so much now, but when I first had the red one everyone asked me if that was the one with the VW engine in it?

They did the standard 8v 2.5 lux, the 16v 2.5 S, then the 8v 2.7 lux (my old one), then the 16v 3.0 S2 as well as the 8v 2.5 Turbo in earlier (220bhp) and later (250bhp) guise.

The S2 is about 225bhp off the top of my head. They're a really nice drive with lots of torque, the S2 vs Turbo debate rages on!

The 968 ran a further development of the S2 engine and has a Variocam setup to liberate more power. They did a very limited Motorsport run (12 cars IIRC) of 968 Turbo cup cars. £100k plus now if you can find one I think.

There are various stroker engine conversions available for the 2.5 Turbo to make it either a 2.8, 3.0 or 3.2 all utilising a combination of S2, Turbo and 2.7 lux top ends and bottom ends. The 3.2 Turbos are fearsome, I think there are 2 in the UK and both about 400-420bhp with a monster torque curve too.

The final option is what one guy on the forum has done, lightweight early 944 lux, S2 engine and gearbox plus a Supercharger. There are 924s with 968 running gear tearing up tracks too.

Edited by eldavo69
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I never knew they did a 968 Turbo race car! +++

However, I did know they had to give the 968 some pretty hefty weight penalties to stop it beating 911s in the Carrera Cup!

The friend with the black 993 used to have a Guards Red 968 Club Sport on the road and a 924 Turbo on the track. The 968 was a stunning car, possibly one of the best balanced A and B road stormers I've ever been in. My friend achieved something very rare in it - he blew the engine... :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nah, you're better off going to Ninemeister and getting them to do one of their supercharger conversions.

They come in 360, 430 or 480bhp states of tune!!!

Specialist cars of Malton have one in for £25k. Although I remember it being for sale privately last year for about £15k.

http://www.specialistcarsltd.co.uk/vehicle/porsche-968/porsche-968-clubsport-supercharger

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, got my project mojo back this week.

I took delivery of all the interior trim bits I need to replace the headlining and quarter panels, etc. after the bodywork has been done along with a kit to repair the clock screen and a replacement arch liner.

I got in touch with a local windscreen fitters I was recommended, they have a correct screen in stock and will remove the old one, supply the new one and fit it at a later date when the bodywork has been done. (Screen is needed loose to line up the pillar work, etc.) The windscreen company will also do it as a glass claim via the insurance company so it'll be £75/£100/whatever it says on my policy.

Got the car on axle stands and removed the mashed up arch liner to see the extent of the damage:

[ATTACH]47252[/ATTACH]

Removed the badge panel that covers the intercooler and the bent headlight cover. Replaced the plastic trim pieces and bent the surround back into shape:

[ATTACH]47253[/ATTACH]

The brake cooling duct bracket was bent at a jaunty angle and the power steering pipe cooling loop was knocked out of position:

[ATTACH]47254[/ATTACH]

A bit of bending and pulling saw this straightened out and sorted near enough at the moment. When the arch liner is refitted it'll bolt into this and straighten everything up properly:

[ATTACH]47255[/ATTACH]

Removed the undertray "batwing" and then the light units from the bumper. Unbolted the bumper from the wings at either side and it slid neatly off:

[ATTACH]47256[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]47257[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]47258[/ATTACH]

The wing is proving a bit of a challenge as the 3/4 remaining bolts sit under a load of underseal and behind the wing-mounted ABS pump. My friend locally reckons you can release the ABS pump from its mounting and get to the bolts if you know where they are rather than remove the pump. I've changed a pump before and it's a bit of a faff, so he's going to come round over the weekend and show me how it's done!

Plan is to get the bodywork done by Xmas and then sort the interior and refresh the top end of the engine in the new year. Ready for MOT and tax in March/April.

post-15559-137914489375_thumb.jpg

post-15559-13791448938_thumb.jpg

post-15559-137914489385_thumb.jpg

post-15559-13791448939_thumb.jpg

post-15559-137914489394_thumb.jpg

post-15559-137914489398_thumb.jpg

post-15559-137914489403_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If I'd have had a choice I'd have done away with the pillar in the middle and had one big roller door rather than two separate up n over doors.

I'd have also made the garage deeper, the Porsche fits in fine with the cabinets, etc. and there's still room to get around it - but neither of our regular cars could fit in with the cabinets in place.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...