dirtyTurbo

I'm looking forward to the upcoming meet in Hershey, PA, hoping to buy a cheap car/shell to make a daily driver. It seem that a 924 in the same shape as a 944 is almost always cheaper, and I like the front end more, so I might end up going that route. So what's it like in comparison? I know it has a smaller motor with no vibration dampening, but I'm more concerned with reliability and longevity.

And if I do just get a shell, how much work is it to put a 944 motor into a 924?

Thanks

M758

You buy a 924S.

Seriously the 924S = 924 body with 944 mechaincals.

dirtyTurbo

I'm aware, but my "budget" is going to be more of a factor than anything, so I'll take what I can get haha. Are there a lot of 924s's out there?

ernie9468

What kind of budget,this one is for sale on Pelican rigth now 84-944 NA turbo look $3,250 OBO.Heck of a nice 944 for the money.Why spend your money on something which would cost you probably a couple of grands to fixe when you can open the door of something like this get behind the wheels drive & enjoye instead of crawling on your four & laying on your back trying to fixe things,remember they is no such thing as cheap Porsches.

F40LM

In my experience your more likely to find 924s cars, certainly more parts since engine is same as 944.

michael

dirtyTurbo

That's just slightly out of my budget, I'm in college you know

Plus I don't mind cursing at a car for a few weeks. And if I get a car and motor separately I can rebuild it while it's on the bench

pettybird

seriously? an engine rebuild will cost more than the car above.

just look at clist all day and wait for one to pop.

dirtyTurbo

How do you figure? Perhaps I don't know the exact meaning of rebuild, I'm talking new bearings

And I do check craigslist, multiple times daily

racer

What's the budget? How long is the timeline to "make it a driver"? How mechanically inclined are you? Do you have access to tools? Will this be worked on "at school" or on weekends in a parking lot or at home on break in the parents driveway?

Are we confusing the 924 as in the 2.0l motor or do you mean the 924S (ie, 944 motor in the 924) ?

A general guide is find the newest, nicest one you can find. Many out here will tell you, the "cheapest one to buy is not the cheapest one to own" !!!

and I have my own maxim.. "that all 944s are $10K cars."

While others will say its no issue.. longevity and reliability on ANY 20+ year old car is always a cause for concern. See first paragraph about how you will achieve this reliability.

piperporsche180944

Last time I bought a 924, the previous owner included his other 2 924's in the sale for $100 more. The initial one ran and drove fine, the second was a complete 924, less a engine, the third was a 924 with transaxle issues. I ended up selling them all to a kid for $1,000

pettybird

Rod and main bearings are over $250. An oil pan gasket you'll need to replace getting to the bearings is $100. Front engine seals are $50, and a head gasket set is $120. And that's if nothing is wrong... Figure $300 to recondition the head IF it doesn't need valve guides. Injectors are $100 to get rebuilt. Belts and rollers are $300. Water pump, hoses, etc etc etc...buy one that's had someone else spend the money.

I broke the timing belt on my 944S and by the time I got done spending my costs were close to $2000, and I didn't get into the bottom end. I did everything myself other than the head refinishing. I'll be lucky if I get a quarter of that money back when I sell my now (obviously) better car.

schip43

You could look for a 944 with a broken R&P, that would be an easy fix. I know cause I have one 85.5. Mine is just sitting because I have the 951 and it's a demanding Mistress!

Or as has been said a 924S, I don't think they are that expensive but I don't know.

dirtyTurbo

Guess I should have specified all of this stuff haha. I transplanted a motor in my turbo already, so there shouldn't be too much I can't handle, ideally

It also doesn't matter how much time it takes, I have a daily atm. The car will sit in my garage until it's ready to go.

As far as the 2.0 vs. 2.5 goes, well that was the point of this thread. I don't know anything about the 2.0, and I was wondering if it's practical enough to get me to work every day. Not all that concerned with power either.

Btw my turbo cost $2500, so maybe I'm spoiled as far as pricing goes

thirdgenbird

My 924s is a great car but I would much rather DD a 2.0 924 (and I may in the future)

dirtyTurbo

Interesting why is that?