Which DE car to build? '80 931, '81 931 or '83 944
09-22-2004, 09:07 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Blaine, WA
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Which DE car to build? '80 931, '81 931 or '83 944
Well boys, I finally have just a bit more money than brains and 3 cars sitting in my garage awaiting their fait. I want to build a Drivers Ed. car and maybe use it for some club racing down the line. I don't want to be ultra competitive, just have some fun and improve my driving. All 3 cars are runners and in similar condition. They would be used in Vancouver (Mission) BC. Just wanted to hear some opinions on which of the 3 to build and why that would be my best choice. I know the '80 931 has the better tranny for racing but the '81 has better engine controls. The 944 is considered more reliable, but how would it compare speed wise? I'm considering all factors including reliabilty on the track, cost of repairs and maintenance, and cost of mods for speed and handling. I don't care about fitting in to certain racing classes, I want to go out, go fast, learn, and have fun. BTW, we do not have 944 spec racing here so that is not a factor. Budget for the build would be $6500 US. I do not want to go out and buy a 951 so lets stick with what I've got in the garage. Don't know what the maintenance/entrance budget would be as I'd probably only use it for DE events the first year. Anybody's opinion welcomed.
09-22-2004, 09:09 PM
#2
Nerd Herder
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
My choice? 83 944. All manual, but heavier. reliability- NO CIS!!
I.E- expensive *** fuel system to fix. 944- lots more aftermarket parts.
I.E- expensive *** fuel system to fix. 944- lots more aftermarket parts.
09-22-2004, 09:35 PM
#4
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Blaine, WA
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not a bad idea Glen, I'm just looking to see what other guys have done and what worked best for them before I get going on anything. Plus I want to rebuild all relevant components over the winter off-season and be good to go when the time comes next year.
09-22-2004, 09:36 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
80-931....BOOST to play with.....some suspension work and a lil more muscle and itll do great on the track and itll be a bit more rare than the 944 on the track..-chris
GT-racing body panels tooo
GT-racing body panels tooo
09-22-2004, 11:46 PM
#7
Race Director
Go with the 944. There were more of them built - and I'd hate to see you shunt a rarer 931 into a guardrail at the track.
Not that anyone is expecting you to shunt anything!
-Z-man.
Not that anyone is expecting you to shunt anything!
-Z-man.
Trending Topics
09-23-2004, 12:23 AM
#8
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by roy_josef
Why the '80 and not the '81 Chris? How much reliable boost/HP we talking about?
09-23-2004, 07:14 AM
#9
Nordschleife Master
Roy, seeing as how I don't want to crash my newly painted 951.. I'd love to buy a 924 and turn it into a budget 924GTR replica for DE and eventually club racing. originally I wanted to do a 911RS2.7 replica, but I think a 924GTR replica would be way cheaper. what do you think? It should be fairly easy to bolt on a 951 running gear.. I want to start with a stripped shell, weld in a roll cage similar to the later 968TurboRS and support braces for the struts.. GT racing fibreglass panels, paint.. etc etc
09-23-2004, 11:10 AM
#10
Instructor
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Since you are not concerned about fitting into any race spec (PCA or 44 spec) the 931s lend themselves to serious 'hot rodding' for power. It responds perhaps better than most Porsche to the simple expedient of opening up the exhaust. And, not that I would recommend; but for example you can simply replace the wastgate spring for (much) higher boost. All the way from the .6x bar of the Euro version to the 1 bar (I think from the 930 - same waste gate - look at the part number on the wastegate!)
CIS is, in my opinion, unneccesarily maligned. If you learn to understand it there is a lot more you can do before you need to replace the CIS for more power.
It goes without saying that you will never ever get anything for the 931 on resale either as it sits or after you massage it. But, then, the 944 won't make money either.
CIS is, in my opinion, unneccesarily maligned. If you learn to understand it there is a lot more you can do before you need to replace the CIS for more power.
It goes without saying that you will never ever get anything for the 931 on resale either as it sits or after you massage it. But, then, the 944 won't make money either.
09-23-2004, 11:23 AM
#11
Race Director
My choice is the NA for simplicity sake.
some 931 parts can be VERY expensive since they are 931 only. Most 944 parts are pretty cheap. Plus no turbo to fail. Also which one are you more faimilar with to work on? Old track cars will need some qucik "at the track" maintence to fix minor things that can send you home.
Be wary that turning up the boost will make any car LESS reliable and cause a driver to focus on power power power vs handling and driver skill to get faster.
My biggest concern however would be with maintinence costs.
some 931 parts can be VERY expensive since they are 931 only. Most 944 parts are pretty cheap. Plus no turbo to fail. Also which one are you more faimilar with to work on? Old track cars will need some qucik "at the track" maintence to fix minor things that can send you home.
Be wary that turning up the boost will make any car LESS reliable and cause a driver to focus on power power power vs handling and driver skill to get faster.
My biggest concern however would be with maintinence costs.