Dan's 944 Build/Maintenance Thread

[bordin34]

Last September I bought my 1986 944 N/A. I never started a thread here on it so why not.
When I first got it it needed a water pump, timing belt and some other maintenance.





More Pictures

[bordin34]

I then replaced the water pump, rollers, timing belt, balance shaft belt. I fixed the fuel gauge, refinished the wheels, and polished the single stage paint.
Refinishing the wheels. They are 16x8 and 16x7 Fuchs forged wheels. Very strong and weight around 16lbs.
To refinished the wheels I took the following steps. The paint I used was semi-gloss rustoleum spray cans.
- Cleaned the **** out of the wheels with soap and water
- cleaned more
- scuffed with red scotchbrite pads
- cleaned more
- masked a **** ton
- sprayed the paint, about 5 light coats on each
- let dry

[bordin34]

Then I bought some 944 turbo brembos. I installed some stainless lines at the same time. Also the turbo brakes use 300mm rotors all around instead of the ~280mm stock



While I was under the car I noticed that none of the suspension bushings were cracking or dry rotted and were all in good condition. I assume it has had some suspension maintenance work before. Even the sway bar bushings were fine.

I replaced the oxygen sensor. The car runs and idles much better. My dead spot while warming up is gone and the car consistently idles at ~900rpm. The rich fuel smell is also gone. I wish I had replaced it awhile ago, total cost was $28.


Also, bought some Ground control coilovers with 275lb/in springs as well as cheap ebay junk camber plates to hold me over until I can afford the ground control ones.

[bordin34]

Then this summer killed the ring and pinion today. Was taking off slowly from a stop sign, hit some gravel, a tire spun, hit pavement, tire hooked, now the car doesnt move and the trans sounds like ice cubes in a blender.
So it was time for a new transaxle.
I killed it good




Luckily I had a parts car with an LSD trans.

[bordin34]

So about a month before I killed the trans, around June, I found a cheap 1985.5 944 on craigslist around midnight one night. By 10am the next morning I had bought the car for $950. The car had a bad engine that the coolant had mixed with the oil and the interior was disgusting.
However, the car did have some very desirable parts on it such as 930 16x8 Fuchs, Saratoga sunroof, LSD trans, and turbo bumpers. I parted that car out and made a couple grand while still keeping some good stuff for myself.






The trans from the parts car needed new carrier bearings and races so I replaced those.

[bordin34]

This is what became of the parts car before I sold it.

A couple weeks ago I picked up some KW V3 rear coilovers for the car. One needs a new shaft but I got a pretty good deal on them. I also got 3 free RE-11 tires around that time. They will become my AutoX set.

Last week I had to drop the trans again to replace the input shaft seal.