"Guesstimate" advice wanted... 88 924S
#1
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I am looking long distance now at an available 1988 924S that has been previously well maintained. I am over 4 hours away and have not seen the vehicle yet.
So right now the situation described to me is that the lower radiator hose broke from hitting the fan. ( it was not put on properly and little room for error.)
After the hose broke the car was driven maybe 1 mile to max 1.5 miles at 35mph or less. Owner thinks blown head gasket but he is a young kid and working hourly wage . Does not want to pay for tow to mechanic and put more $$ into the car. He says there is "No coolant in the engine but there is pressure going into the coolant from the engine.: Therefor he says he "cannot bleed the air pressure from the coolant reservoir".
Can anyone give their thoughts suggestions etc on what the damage may be based on this , or offer suggestions ......I am real interested in this 88 since I sold my 87 automatic a few months ago.
Loved driving the '87 Automatic , so '88 5 speed would be great to own.
.................Thanks, Austin
So right now the situation described to me is that the lower radiator hose broke from hitting the fan. ( it was not put on properly and little room for error.)
After the hose broke the car was driven maybe 1 mile to max 1.5 miles at 35mph or less. Owner thinks blown head gasket but he is a young kid and working hourly wage . Does not want to pay for tow to mechanic and put more $$ into the car. He says there is "No coolant in the engine but there is pressure going into the coolant from the engine.: Therefor he says he "cannot bleed the air pressure from the coolant reservoir".
Can anyone give their thoughts suggestions etc on what the damage may be based on this , or offer suggestions ......I am real interested in this 88 since I sold my 87 automatic a few months ago.
Loved driving the '87 Automatic , so '88 5 speed would be great to own.
.................Thanks, Austin
#2
Burning Brakes
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I think you'll regret buying a car from a "a young kid and working hourly wage". If he can't afford this I doubt he could afford much else maintenance-wise. Head gasket is the obvious assumption, but if it got really hot then there could be damage in the lower end.
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Austin,
if he'll take what it's worth *($300~$700), get it, fix it, sort it, and drive it.
but, in Florida, good 944 cars will be plentiful. you should start with an 1986~91 model. even a non-running example.
otherwise, as with all life in VW, the engine will be fun, pricy to keep up.... and eventually, try to ruin you.
when it finally goes full-moneypit (which, could be soon – or years from now),
simply embrace your vehicle for the fine donor kit tub that it is – and move up to a proper V8.
picture this: a raging steed out of the Apocalypse: a 190mph 924S with a 470 hp LS3 that Mr. Goodwrench built just for you....
getting to skip jail and making the big move now.
why?
1. because you can.
2. you only live once.
3. V8 supercars are fun.
4. everyone should have a V8..... http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2006/07/v8s-rule/
5. Carol Shelby would do it *(if he were with us today).
6. it follows the natural laws of hotrodding and automotive engineering.
7. besides; why should Maxwell Smart have all the fun?
8. this will be like a modern day, Sunbeam Tiger **(Maxwell Smart's old ride). except, your donor tub w/ fresh Pilot Sport II's handles like a dream.
9. every ******* who comes up against you will be left for dead.
10. your friends will be in awe – and chicks will dig it too.....
-
if he'll take what it's worth *($300~$700), get it, fix it, sort it, and drive it.
but, in Florida, good 944 cars will be plentiful. you should start with an 1986~91 model. even a non-running example.
otherwise, as with all life in VW, the engine will be fun, pricy to keep up.... and eventually, try to ruin you.
when it finally goes full-moneypit (which, could be soon – or years from now),
simply embrace your vehicle for the fine donor kit tub that it is – and move up to a proper V8.
picture this: a raging steed out of the Apocalypse: a 190mph 924S with a 470 hp LS3 that Mr. Goodwrench built just for you....
getting to skip jail and making the big move now.
why?
1. because you can.
2. you only live once.
3. V8 supercars are fun.
4. everyone should have a V8..... http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2006/07/v8s-rule/
5. Carol Shelby would do it *(if he were with us today).
6. it follows the natural laws of hotrodding and automotive engineering.
7. besides; why should Maxwell Smart have all the fun?
8. this will be like a modern day, Sunbeam Tiger **(Maxwell Smart's old ride). except, your donor tub w/ fresh Pilot Sport II's handles like a dream.
9. every ******* who comes up against you will be left for dead.
10. your friends will be in awe – and chicks will dig it too.....
-
Last edited by odurandina; 10-22-2014 at 05:15 PM.
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Thanks, ...
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#5
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Austin,
if he'll take what it's worth *($300~$700), get it, fix it, sort it, and drive it.
as with all life in VW, the engine will be fun, pricy to keep up.... and eventually, try to ruin you.
when it finally goes full-moneypit on you (which, could be sooner – or years from now),
simply embrace it as the fine donor kit tub that it is – and move up to a V8.
you can even skip jail and make the big move, now. picture this: your next car is fleet 924S with a 470 hp LS3.
why?
1. because you can.
2. you only live once.
3. Carol Shelby would do it–if he were with us today.
4. because it follows the natural laws hotrodding and automotive engineering.
5. because why should Maxwell Smart have all the fun?
6. this will be like Maxwell Smart's Sunbeam Tiger. except, your donor kit tub handles like a dream.
7. every ******* who comes up against you will be **** out of luck.
if he'll take what it's worth *($300~$700), get it, fix it, sort it, and drive it.
as with all life in VW, the engine will be fun, pricy to keep up.... and eventually, try to ruin you.
when it finally goes full-moneypit on you (which, could be sooner – or years from now),
simply embrace it as the fine donor kit tub that it is – and move up to a V8.
you can even skip jail and make the big move, now. picture this: your next car is fleet 924S with a 470 hp LS3.
why?
1. because you can.
2. you only live once.
3. Carol Shelby would do it–if he were with us today.
4. because it follows the natural laws hotrodding and automotive engineering.
5. because why should Maxwell Smart have all the fun?
6. this will be like Maxwell Smart's Sunbeam Tiger. except, your donor kit tub handles like a dream.
7. every ******* who comes up against you will be **** out of luck.
Thanks.... AA
..........................
#6
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I spent a lot of money on my engine, when I probably just should have done something like this;
http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/spe...und-1125469009
if you're on a budget, I'd go straight to sourcing an aluminum, 5.3 short block such as one of these....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-GEN-IV-5-...4dfdc2&vxp=mtr
and then proceed...... I'd keep the stroke at 3.662"....
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/pro...-build-part-3/
add an LS3 forged crank... and these pistons;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Probe-Forged...-/271211905553
.
http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/spe...und-1125469009
if you're on a budget, I'd go straight to sourcing an aluminum, 5.3 short block such as one of these....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-GEN-IV-5-...4dfdc2&vxp=mtr
and then proceed...... I'd keep the stroke at 3.662"....
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/pro...-build-part-3/
add an LS3 forged crank... and these pistons;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Probe-Forged...-/271211905553
.
Last edited by odurandina; 10-22-2014 at 05:18 PM.
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Austin, offer him $650, the kid doesn't want to fix it, he wants it gone. Try fixing it, and if all is sh*t, part out the car and get your money back, hopefully.
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I think he's saying the head gasket is blown and compression is getting into the cooling system. This could be an easy fix, or not. Not much risk at some price point.
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Head gaskets on these cars aren't that terrifying of a job, I would be more worried about the head being warped.
Source: have a warped head sitting in my room from a car where the PO sounds a lot like the guy Austin is describing. He replaced the head gasket and failed to ensure the head wasn't warped, so it leaked a lot still.
...and that's how Admiralkhole and I got a running 944 for $300. (Od, you know that car better as Cale's LT1 swap...)
Source: have a warped head sitting in my room from a car where the PO sounds a lot like the guy Austin is describing. He replaced the head gasket and failed to ensure the head wasn't warped, so it leaked a lot still.
...and that's how Admiralkhole and I got a running 944 for $300. (Od, you know that car better as Cale's LT1 swap...)