83-944

Hi, My Name is Michael Higgins and I have aquired a '83 944 5spd that is not running at this time. The previous owner said that he blew the headgasket which put the car off the road about 1 yr ago. When I got it home I tried to start it after checking water level in radiator. Well, it didn't start but a large amout of water shot out( with force) from around the timing cover/water pump area. (Possible that it blew at front of head?)
I also checked the coil acorrding to a Haynes manual but came up in spec,but, the spark is a weak yellow color even on a hot battery and another car connected to add power. Fuel pump runs normal and there is the smell of fuel at rear of car when cranking( from tailpipe)

Questions:

Is it normal for head gasket to blow in this way or could there be
more cooling problems?

Any suggestions on spark?


Ok, flame me for this , but has anyone had the POWER PROM from F.R. Wilk
installed ( the one with set maps that operates without Ox sensor)
what do you think of it

I know this is a lot for a newbi to be asking to start off but any help whould be appeciated before I am at the mercy of the local Porsche shops

Luis de Prat

That's a tough way to get started with these cars, but you probably have your reasons. However, I must say that from your description the prognosis for this car's engine does not look very good.

Do you have any other history on this car from the previous owner? Maintenance records of any sort? One thing to keep in mind is that serious damage can occur to the head/valves if the timing is off for whatever reason, so I wouldn't try starting the car unless you know for a fact that the belts are up to date.

Another thing that comes to mind, is that the car may have overheated due to a seized waterpump. In that case, it's very possible that the timing belt broke and some valves were bent also.

The first step is to get the timing belt cover off and have a look see. Report back with your findings and you'll get a lot of more helpful responses than mine here to help you decide what to do.

Welcome to Rennlist and be sure to check out the archives.

Blue S2

Hmm...cant really help with the head problem. I hope you didnt buy the car on hopes of a cheap, quick fix though! The gas smell might be somewhat normal depending on how much you smell it. If my car sits a while and then i start it up, you can smell the fumes a little bit, but its not back. It clears up in a minute or two.

Welcome to the list! I doubt you will be flamed. Most people that get flame to seem as honest about the car as yourself. If you came in only asking about that chip and big gains, and typing in all caps, maybe... but i think your straight for a first post!

Mike C.

It certainly does sound like you will need to pull the head but it is possible that the water pump has let go and the P.O. might have mistaken the steam for a head gasket failure. Once you get the front cover off and determine the condition of the belts, you might also try grabbing the water pump pulley with your hand and see if it rocks (indicating failing water pump bearings). If the belts look O.K., the timing marks line up properly and there is no obvious damage to the water pump (other than leaking), you may try and do a compression check to see if it really is a head gasket problem. If the belts are broken or missing teeth, you can proceed to head removal since you will most likely have some bentvalves. If you don't yet have any manuals for the car, I would suggest the Haynes 944 manual as a good, cheap, how to for the 944 (especially the early ones like yours). Also, Clark's Garage web site has very good step by step info on water pumpreplacement, head removal, etc. Good luck!

Devia

There is a small radiator hose near there. Go to www.clarks-garage.com and take a look, and then compare, looking for the hose ruptured.

If it's not it, then probably the waterpump, and maybe the headgasket.

Also, when you check the oil, is there anything else in there, other than oil? If there's radiator fluid, sure indicator that it's the head gasket.

Also, if you go through the effort to yank the head, it would be a good idea to have the head inspected and re-leveled (forgot the word, okay?), and re-angle any valves that are still good, and put in new ones to replace bent ones.

Also, head gasket set of seals should also include cam gasket, and front and rear seals. Good time to replace them.

Let us know what's up, okay?

- Julie

83-944

Thanks for the great info from everyone!!!! I will try in the next week or two to get the head off and check the condition. I forgot to say in my post that the car has 160,000 miles on it and I got it for $500.00. I have a understanding that the engine can't be bored because of the way the cylinders are treated from the factory. Is this true? Also, anyone know of a sourse for the Porsche script upostholstery? As you can see I will fix the car some way some how. Once more thanks.

Blue S2

For that price, you got a steal no matter what!!!! HAHAHA, you could make like 1000% profit just parting it out!

ERAU-944

1000%??? thats a bit optomistic.

500% is more like it, still a nice number

i hope you get it fixed. if you want some decent black front leather seats, i have a set, $100 each, and various parts for early cars like yours. welcome to the best place for p-car information online.

-Michael-

83-944

I don't want to canablize it yet! lol

Sgopher

Michael, you can find the porsche script fabric here:

http://www.lemansoriginalfabrics.com/index.htm

The company is Le Mans Original Fabrics. I just contacted them about 3 weeks ago. Do a search on the porsche script for some of the threads concerning it. From one of the threads, someone ordered 3 meters. I checked with Le Mans and it would run about $ 525.00 USD to get 3 meters of fabric to me in Ohio from New Zealand. The cost was 185 NZD per meter and about 200 NZD shipping. After that, you will need to find a good upholstery shop to have it installed. I have not checked on that but I would figure 300 - 600. That is for the front AND back seats.

They did not have the fabric in black at the time. I was considering black, silver or grey. They did have the silver in stock and it did not seem like they were able to order more. If you find another source for the fabric, please post it. I have not been able to track one down.

Good luck.

83-944

Steve, Thanks for the info!!!! Like you I am interested in the Black but have not been able to find it,but, listed below is a place located in England, that, in there ad in 911&Porsche World magizine. states that they sell the Logo cloth( They even show a picture of the Tartan cloth--Ugly!!!). I have not tried contacting them, but, give them a try. Contact me if you find out something.

Once again Thanks!!!

Mike Higgins


Southbound Motor Trimmers
(Porsche specialists)
Little Dean Yard,London Road,Stockbridge,Hampshire, SO20 6EL

e-mail: southbound@ukgateway.net
www.southboundtrimmers.com

tel: 01264 810080

stoked944

Sgopher where in columbus are you located ?

Sgopher

Near Raymond Memorial Golf Course ( Wilson and 70 ). At I-70 and 270 ( on the west side ) there is a small pond/lake. My house is located at one of the corners of the pond/lake.


EDIT:

I was trying to post and work at the same time last night. It should have read I-70 not I-71. I edited the above. Stupid pagers....