Skitch

I have been lurking here for a couple of months now and have already picked up alot of helpful information. Thanks! I am a new Porsche owner, and I am aleady hooked. (I actually bought Micah Jones 83 944 N/A) Micah was the one who recommended the site. I am just curious about a few things:

1. How often should you replace timing/balance belts?
2. I have done a regular tune up (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel & air filter) Is there anything else that you would recommend looking at?
3. If say I had $1000 I wanted to invest in the car what would you do first?

Thanks for any advice.
<img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />
Tim

MichelleJD

Welcome!

You're lucky b/c you bought the car from someone who took care of it and can tell you it's history. I believe Porsche recommends the belt change every 30K, but I always go 60K. I had no problem going this far on my n/a (272K), but I'm not sure about my turbo. Others can give you better info. The best way to spend the $1000 would be to put it in an envelope, address it to Michelle....ooops. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> Sounds like the person to ask would be Micah.

Good luck and welcome aboard. You'll be hooked forever

streckfu's

Porsche recommends the belts be changed every 35k miles with adjustments at 2.5k and 15k. Personally, I recommend staying close to this as the result of a broken belt can be a lot more than the few hundred dollars for the belt change.

As to where the $1000 should go...It's hard to get much power from a N/A so chip it, maybee new wheels, sway bars, 968 aero mirrors(see the new Excellence), etc.

If the maint on the car is good, join the <a href="http://www.pca.org" target="_blank">PCA</a> and get some track time to learn how to drive your new car.

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Dave in Chicago

Ditto, belts every 30k, check adjustment every year (regardless of miles), and get as much DE time as you can stand. The helmet, entry fees, and other consumable/safety-related items will be consumed with a huge smile on your face.

OR

Put the money in an envelope and save it for the next spat of maintenance. Things will pop up and many will easily consume the grand in a blink.

Micah

Tim,

Good to see you! Can't tell you enough how much I miss the 83 I will own another early 944! I guess if I was going to spend 1k on the 83 right off the bat (without saving), then I would do a belt change and have a look at the pump - when I sold her, she was within reasonable range of being due - not really necessary yet, but not too far on the horizon either.

Her tires/clutch/transmission/suspension were all fine, so I really don't know what else except for cosmetic stuff. I would've loved to have had all of her dents pulled. Sigh...

Anyway, you're bringing back memories! Do a belt/pump job in the next couple k's to make yourself completely confident with the car... then buy a steering wheel recovery kit and a shift boot to pat yourself on the back. BTW, you have to promise me a quick drive at some point when I can make it up to Laf!

I'm glad that she's in such good hands Man, what a car. <img border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" title="" src="graemlins/bigok.gif" />

Micah

SidViscous

I agree with Dave. Put the money in the bank and save it for when something unexpected happens.

For instance things that could put a big dent in that. Clutch, wheels (Fecking alloy lug nuts), valve work for a broken timing belt (Could happen after a new one, there are some stories here), Main or lower bearing replacements, Tranny, Even brakes if you get a bad problem.

Bank the $1000 and then start replacing things as they need it.

If your itching to do smoething buy a battery cable kit (Assuming Micah hasen't already done that) that will be your best bang for buck.

Skitch

Thanks for the replies. I checked the receipts and from my calculations the belts have about 30k on them now so I will head towards getting them checked/changed. I may try this myself after doing some research. It sounds like I might just do some odds and ends (maybe splurge on getting the seats re-done) but keep the money in the bank and see what happens. Its been fun to drive especially with the manual steering!

Thanks again,
Tim

Devia

Skitch - change timing belt, all other belts, water pump, thermostat, and radiator hoses EVERY TWO YEARS or 35k, whichever comes FIRST!

- Julie

Tremelune

The timing belt should be replaced after 45k miles. It should be retensioned 1500 miles after it's put in, and every 15k miles after that. It's worth being a **** about it because depending on the damage, it could total the car.

If I had $1000, I'd put in IceShark's lighting kit, his battery cables, and a subwoofer. My suspension is dandy. Don't worry about chips and power, you'll never have enough, and most of the time you won't miss it. Drive the car for a month or so, see what bothers about it.

Do a search around here for "maintainance," there's lots...And of course, welcome! You'll get spoiled by the 944 as compared to other cars you can get for the money...If you're good with a wrench, it won't kill you to maintain, either. This place is dynamite for that. Careful, though...You look at some of the cars around here and you go green at some of the georgious monsters...

Skitch

I have found quite a few places to purchase parts. Any suggestions on somewhere to get a "kit" for the timing belt replacement? I bought a tune up kit from PAP and was pretty happy with their service. Thanks.

83na944

I put a K&N filter on my '83, seems to make a difference. Anyway, they last forever, so it's not a bad investment if you have a few bucks left.

I also highly recommend IceShark's headlight and battery cable upgrade.

gleamingred944

If you lose the timing belt, it costs $3000 or so to fix the result - vs. $200 to replace it.

Spend the money on DE - a 944na is no muscle car, but you can learn a tremendous amount about driving with one.