Just to confirm: on my USA market '88 951, I can install the original crank bolt & washer without the power steering pulley, correct? ie. there's no reason to keep that pulley other than for the power steering belt?

 

Yes, that's what I did on all 3 of my engines.

 

Great, thanks

 

You can also fit a non-ps lower balance shaft cover without the hanger for the pump. I did on one of mine with manual steering because a hanger without anything on it would really irk me.

 

You must have gotten really lucky with that one. The covers are align honed with the block, so you aren't supposed to switch them around. If you delete the balance shafts then it's not a problem.

 

he's referring to the "front bearing housing" thing that the balance shaft tensioner and power steering pump hang onto, not the "BS cover" that's bolted to the block.

the 82-83 non-PS cars don't have the little leg for the PS pump to hang from since they never had PS so it looks a little cleaner.

the front housing is interchangeable between cars no problem.

 

My 85/2 also came without the hanger. They probably used those on all non ps cars.

 

Gotcha. Makes sense now.

 

As an aside, I see used balance shaft covers and crank girdles by themselves all the time on E-Bay. All I can do is shake my head and wonder why...

 

yep that’s what I was referring to.

also the non-ps cars are more common in europe, the 86 I had over in england didn’t have ps and I think it was an option for all 944’s there until 86 so manual racks are more common. cruise control and ac were rare. you can find a bunch of unusual parts for our cars in england like a rear battery tray, separate clutch/brake reservoirs, non-ac climate control units, etc.