Yup, definitely had the cog in the wrong orientation for one of the balance shafts before, so that's fixed, double-checked tension on everything, and tightened up a few hose clamps where some coolant seems to have been escaping after the water pump fun. Test drive suggests that the balance shafts weren't quite right when I bought the car either, so it's ridiculously nice now!

Also, got an NA? Get the 4 degree offset cam key. Now that the car isn't shuddering all the time, the power shift and boost is amazing...

 

Got over 40 degrees today, positively balmy. Car was still not starting/running easy. Double checked the intake plumbing. Snorkel was loose, almost off where it fits to fuel injection unit (probably have my terminology wrong the extreme end of the route away from the motor as it fits over the cone thing), surprised I made it home. Tightened it down, also found this:




Was hoping the tape (yes center of pic, is electrical tape) was over a replaceable hose, but all part of the same intake snorkel piece. Pulled off tape, discovered missing snorkel, cut off straight, attached short piece of hose.




Bit of a kludge, but a higher class of kludge than the electrical tape.

Started at the first turn and ran much smoother after the above adjustments.

The goal at some point is an autocrosser, may do a cosmetic restoration too, so at least tires and shocks will be needed, as well as several smaller outlays as well I am sure.

 

yesterday..
put some exhaust wrap on the section of pipe between the 2-1 collector and catalyst...to try to heat the cat faster and keep it hotter.

replaced DME temp sensor.
new air filter.

going back for smog re-test today.

 

Back from the body shop again.



With a painted bumper, for now...

Need turbo headlight covers, the NA ones stick out like a sore thumb.

 

looks like that bumper was made to work with an NA nose panel?

 

Originally, yes.

 

Plastidipped the rear bumper strip, it was pretty faded. Looks great now!

 

Nice! I'm debating the dipping strategy more and more- I'll do a proper paint job eventually, but want to get the mechanicals all set before dropping that kind of cash on a cosmetic improvement. Might look into plastidip as a medium term improvement since the PO's Maaco special is chipping off the car more every day. (Trust me when I say that faded red with brown flecks is not a good look on any car, especially something as sleek as the 944...)

Replaced a thermo vacuum switch that I broke while doing vacuum lines last weekend, which means the vacuum lines are actually finished now. Also repaired the odometer for the 4th (5th?) time last night. I used e-clips to help keep the shaft and gear from wandering anymore, so hopefully this time it'll hold regardless of temperature!

 

New braided stainless brake lines all-round, fluid flush, refill and bleed (including clutch, which is every bit the pain in the *** you'd think)!

For reference, this is the old brake fluid, or at least it's what came out of the brake fluid reservoir:

 

The only change between these two smog tests, one last week and the other today, was re-doing the connection from my replacement O2 sensor to the DME wire.

Previously there were 3 or 4 strands of shielding in the crimp to the signal wire...so no signal was going to the DME = running open loop and rich.

Fixed the connection, just compare the numbers, with a working O2 sensor.

 

Half-hearted attempt to replace the oxygen sensor, was only going to do it yesterday if I could get to it easy from up top, cold day and not much time. Assume it is an under the car job, do they tend to get rusted on?

 

They get stuck sometimes.
But it's a job for under the car, or at least along side it on an NA.

If it's not rusted in, replacing it is about a 2 minute job.

 

Update: Nope.

 

Thanks rocketman