Hello,

Today was a big day! After spending 7 months working on my new 1987 S, I took her (and my son) for a little ride across town. Just to see how she behaves.

When I acquired the car, there was a lot of body work to do and the engine was not running. It seems to have been stored outside for several years. After fixing all engines issues, replacing all rubber hoses, and putting new brakes, I was hoping to see what’s next to work on!

My first discovery is a passenger side control arm that seems tired… There is some knocking coming from it even when rolling over the smallest road imperfections. I will investigate that. No real concern there.

What is puzzling me a big more is a subtle shudder I feel when accelerating in fist gear. It’s hard to describe. The engine is not the culprit. I can feel all the 190 something ponies doing their work! But it feels like there is some kind of low vibration. Not feeling it when I go in other gears even under heavy load. It feels like it’s coming from the front not the rear and you don’t hear anything… You just feel it.

Any idea or suggestion on what it could be or where to investigate?

Thank you

Martin

If the clutch is still a rubber centered friction disc, could be that coming apart or torque tube bearings.

In this case, should I see some rubber fragments coming out of the bell housing? For the torque tube bearing, should it vibrate at any speed since it's rotating at the engine speed?

Torque tube you should be able to discern a noise or shaking difference even stationary in neutral. With the clutch pedal out, the torque tube will be spinning and if you push the pedal in, the shaft in the torque tube will come to rest and start spinning again if you release the clutch pedal.

I've never had a 944 with the rubber clutch so not sure how the failure mode presents other than the disintegration and vibration I've heard about.

It should not be the torque tube, as I played a lot with the car in neutral while investigating the engine's issues (all resolved now!)

Thanks for your help.

M.

Could be residual water in the gas tank. Put in some water removal additive/FI cleaner in the tank and see if it goes away. If not, revert back to the rubber centered clutch idea.

No, it's not that. The fuel pump, filter and strainer (and fuel in the tank) are all new.

I will try to put a camera inside the clutch to see if I still have the old rubber model

Thanks.

Martin

Took another ride today with my son. He’s getting better and better handling the shift stick! I took the wheel at some point and could not feel the shudder anymore… I don’t know how long the car was left in storage when I bought it as there were many previous owners… maybe it was from the lack of running… I will keep my eyes (and my ears) open to see if it comes back.

For now I need to finish the body work and find where that damn fuel smell is coming from! (Yeah, that’s a new thing…).




Thanks for your usual help!

Martin