simplex

Hi guys,
I am not familiar with the 924, but recently saw a pretty good example of one. I like its simplicity (window cranks, no sunroof etc).
What potential might one have in turning it into an autocross/track car?
Specifically, power mods, wider rims/tires?
Any opinion appreciated.

s14kev

Are you asking if this has potential as a track car? I believe it only met with mediocre success. You might be better off considering something with real pedigree. I hear Honda civics have massive tuning potential

John_AZ

Late 924S ---'87 & '88 yes with correct upgrades. Early 924-no

J_AZ

morghen

Why not?
The S will surely not win you any races...the original 924 is a bit slower...so you're more or less in the same spot.
The upgrades you're thinking for the S you can do on the 2L 924 as well.

If anything, the 924 has the 4pot setup which gives you access to cheap modern track wheels compared to the 5lug setup that restricts you to the more expensive Porsche wheels.

Brakes will take quite some abuse as well especially if you get performance pads.

simplex

This is good to know!

What engine upgrades are available?

John_AZ

I owned the '77.5 and the 79 before the 924S came out in '87.

The problems I had with the early 924 were documented by many owners and not just my individual cars.

Wiring and electrical components-not adequate for non track use. ie- Additional ground negative cable and updated wiring is required. ie-the fuel pump relay would overheat and burn out.

The early 924 used a 4 cyl Audi engine and required constant attention. Engine is underpowered.

Suspension was weak.

This may be a good car to get your feet wet for a beginner if very reasonably priced...and then upgrade.

J_AZ

simplex

Thanks for your comprehensive answer. This helps.

V2Rocket

If you can put 944 or stiffer springs and bigger sway bars it could be a lot of fun. Very low on power but very light. I believe there was a version of the 924 trans that had a 4.11 diff ratio- that should help the little engine that could blast out of corners nicely if you can find it.

simplex

Thanks - that's the intuition I have! I track my 911, but I thought it could be a lot of fun of throwing a light platform around.

951Dreams

The step up to the 944 was more than a step, it seems it was a giant leap. It's like Porsche was playing with the 924, testing the waters, then got serious and birthed the 944. If your wanting to throw something around the track/autox instead of trying to make a 924 more like a 944, why not just pick up a 944? There are still plenty around in any price range.

However a 931 might be fun to try and play with... But the NA Audi engine just doesn't have much potential. And if your set on throwing VW parts around the track, pick yourself up a Scirocco. LOL

To be honest, a well set up 924 would be a lot of fun to just play with, but from all I've heard it's just not a race/track car.

morghen

Well the 924S is also underpowered for today's standards so meh.
But 150hp is better than 110 or whatever you get for the 2L in USA.
Still the 924S or 944 is not a race car either...just 924s with a bit more hp and stiffer springs.

To be honest with you I have never seen a 924S wiring but I have seen an early 944 and its really the same as the 924.
If you get a 924 2L don't get a 76 or stuff like that, get an 80+ they are much improved over the first cars from every point of view.

Engine upgrades: euro pistons with higher CR, euro ignition and that's 125hp. Then hot cam, machining the internals for another say 15hp. Lighter solid lifters and valve springs so you can race it at above 7000RPM. Then it gets hard...but 140hp should be possible if you do things right and you know what you're doing.

The engine is a tank, somebody on this continent has strapped a turbo to a 300.000km worn 2L engine and ran it for a year on considerable amount of boost making impressive power and the engine still runs today.
If there is anything the 2L has over the 2.5 is strength and costs.

I'm not saying the 2L is better in any way than the 2.5 but don't discard it just because some members have had bad experiences with it...its probably them or the "previous owner" not the car/engine. If you like more modern stuff then 2.5, if you like rugged raw metal and hard work then 2L.

EDIT: wanted to quote a good friend, mr Thomas of werk924.com who said this:

Noahs944

The number one trait of any vehicle is RELIABILITY.

My only experience with the 924 resulted in disappointment regarding build quality and lack of parts availability (ie: fuel relay NLA).

A stock 944 felt like a race car after driving the 924.

But people are out there having a really fun time with the narrow bodied cars, so is it possible? YES.

But you will get your butt handed to you by civic on a AX course so don't expect to win anything.

-Not trying to be negative, just relating my experience over the last 2 years.

morghen

Noah, you had a really early 924 that the previous owner "fixed" and that in factory form is far away from a post 80s 924 be it a 2L or 2.5..or a 944 when it comes to track performance lets say.

Build quality is identical to the early 944s..i never noticed any difference between them except engine, springs and wider fenders.

Also, my 924s have never been off the road...I don't have everything new in them..they still run original parts...no rust....original engines..etc.
Last year in may me and a buddy took both my 924s (turbos which are supposed to be less reliable than the NAs) on a 3000 mile trip...needless to say both cars made it without any incidents other than a loose nut on the alternator on one of the cars...because of too much 230km/h pushing on the German highways.

Anyway, if you want a car that performs next to the modern cars out of the box the 924 isn't a good choice...2L or 2.5L.
Both would require new bushings, new suspension, upgraded springs and sway bars to bring them on the track. The 2L requires even more input because of power levels in US especially...but the up side is cost.
With the money spent on a professional belt change on the 2.5L one could install EFI on the 2L and squeeze a decent amount of power out of it.

On every topic I go on about the 2L thing I post this video..its an European spec 924 with a hot cam and every time I wach this video I want to get a 2L na as soon as possible...not so often you find a good one here unfortunately as they have all been "fixed" by previous owners like Noah's early 924.

grenadiers

After doing two Western Regional Chumpcar Championship weekends, one in a 924, and the other in a 924S, there is NO comparison. The 924S was a much better car to track, actually passing other cars on the track, for example. The 924, not so much. Both cars were very reliable, (finishing these races is the goal!) minus the solid rear rotors on the 924. Brake fade was a big issue. Comparing both cars as track cars, I'd still get the 924S. They're 'newer', so bushings, and the overall suspension components are not typically as worn out; and are readily available via 944/924S parts cars; or from suppliers.

morghen

Yea but if you're about to invest in track tires you'd protect your investment with new bushings and since you're there you might as well just throw in stiffer springs and bigger sway bars....and at that point its only the power difference that sets the two apart...and ofcourse you'd flush the brake fluid out and use something modern and designed for the track that wont make the brakes fade together with maybe track pads or at least good quality pads and rotors.

Just picking up a 924 and throwing it on the track is a mistake, and if that's the plan then absolutely the 924S is a better choice...still a poor choice but surely the 924S will perform better.