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As I reflect on this incredible journey with my 1987 944 Turbo, it's astonishing to realize that just over $200,000 has been invested in this remarkable car over the years. This journey began with the car itself, which came with a comprehensive service history spanning its lifetime.
To arrive at this staggering figure, I meticulously totaled the receipts for the car, its original purchase price, and all the modifications made by previous owners and myself over the years. Taking into account inflation over time, the grand total surpassed $200,000.
It's a testament to the passion and dedication that Porsche enthusiasts, like me, invest in these incredible machines. The 944 Turbo has undoubtedly brought happiness to many of its previous owners, and I'm committed to continuing its legacy as a devoted caretaker. I'm certain that I won't be the last to experience the joy and excitement that this exceptional car has to offer.
As this chapter comes to a close, I'm excited about the future adventures and experiences that await with this great machine. It's been an incredible journey, and I look forward to sharing more updates and insights with all of you.
Here's to the timeless allure of Porsche and the camaraderie of fellow enthusiasts!
I have no plans to sell right now. I am fully enjoying this beautiful machine right now, But I guess for the right price every thing is for sale. Just a thought.
Allow me to provide a comprehensive recap of all the work that has been accomplished, primarily with the assistance of my 16-year-old son. From the rear to the front, top to bottom, here's a detailed breakdown of the tasks completed:
Installed sunroof flap clips.
Replaced sunroof gears with brass gears, installed the missing cables, and motor, along with a new sunroof seal.
Fitted a new windshield and seal.
Upgraded to Porsche wipers.
Installed a new rear hatch seal and closing pins.
Found and installed a dash without cracks.
Refurbished the dashboard clock.
Replaced CCU (Climate Control Unit) buttons.
Swapped the carpet for a good-used one.
Installed the missing rear seat top and bottom.
Upgraded to 964 comfort power seats in black leather and new switches.
Installed missing rear and front seat belts and associated hardware.
Replaced the steering wheel with a 964 airbag steering wheel from my 964 Turbo.
Upgraded the instrument cluster with LED lights.
Installed a Sony CarPlay system, wireless phone adapter, and wireless charging pad in the center console.
Added the missing center console cover.
Installed 968 power mirrors with a 968 wiring harness in the doors for easy removal.
Upgraded to LED bulbs in the rear tail lights and third brake light.
Equipped the car with a complete toolkit, jack, spare tire, gloves, and bag (the air pump is still missing).
Replaced the transmission mount with a new one.
Replaced transmission output seals and regreased CV joints.
Installed the 944 Only short shift kit and added the missing shift rod tube and foam.
Upgraded to Hypercoil 350 lbs rear and 250 lbs front springs. Rear torsion bar delete
Replaced the rotors and pads with New OEM Porsche Turbo S units.
Replaced the front bearings.
Fitted a new set of tires sized 225/45/17 in the front and 255/40/17 in the rear.
Installed 964 Turbo center caps with turbo logos.
Resurfaced the flywheel.
Replaced the slave cylinder.
Replaced the speed and reference sensors.
Installed a new Fabspeed 3-inch full exhaust with a 200-cell catalytic converter and sport muffler.
Replaced engine mounts.
Installed a replacement short block with new rod bearings and resealed it using my LR Stage one head, complete with new gaskets, hoses, water pump, belts, etc.
Installed a rebuilt 27.8 turbo.
Installed a new voltage regulator.
Fitted a new ground cable to the engine.
Installed the missing AC compressor bracket, compressor, AC lines, O-rings, dryer, and condenser.
Upgraded to H4 headlights.
Installed a NEW Lindsey Racing MAF/MAP kit with injectors.
Replaced spark plugs and wires.
Flushed all fluids, brakes, trans LSD oil and fresh Valvoline VR1 20/50 with Porsche filter
Replace the fuel filter.
Replaced the fuel lines with 944 online units
Replaced DME coolant temp sensor
Replaced Knock sensor
Replaced radiator fan sensor
replaced the hood shocks
replaced the Porsche badge with nice shiny new one, the cherry om top
Replaced the rear Turbo badge with one from a 964 turbo in black not as bulky as the original
PDR the whole car to perfection
Performed a 18 hour paint correction and ceramic coated the paint and glass and wheels .
This remarkable transformation has been the result of countless hours of labor over the past year, a testament to the dedication and passion poured into this project.
An amazing journey and slippery slope. When you first purchased it even I had no idea how far this would take you but looks like perfection to me. Having your son help to me is.... Priceless.
Allow me to introduce myself; I'm Helio. My enduring passion for all things Porsche traces its roots back to my childhood in the late '70s and '80s when I first encountered the IMSA 935s and 962 race cars. In my late teens, a fateful encounter with a book by Bruce Anderson and a feature in Road & Track Magazine, highlighting Porsche's 1988 model lineup, ignited a profound fascination with Porsche's racing history and its unmistakably distinctive cars. Besides, I must admit, the notion of turning heads and attracting attention, especially from the ladies, was rather appealing.
I vividly recall the moments spent at my local Porsche dealer, where a brand-new Rose Gold 1988 951 Turbo S, adorned with the turbo decal on the passenger front fender, captured my heart. However, as a freshly-turned 20-year-old newlywed, my budget at the time didn't quite align with Porsche ownership. So, I opted for a 1989 Trans Am instead.
Nevertheless, my infatuation with Porsche endured. I found myself repeatedly returning to the Porsche dealership, just to catch another glimpse of that same unsold Rose Gold beauty over the next couple of years. It seemed fate had other plans for me. Yet, the dream of owning a Porsche, particularly a 911, remained firmly entrenched in my heart, even though it felt like an unattainable aspiration at the time.
Then, in 1990, a stroke of luck came my way. I stumbled upon a 1986 944 Turbo, which had recently been recovered by insurance after being stolen. Remarkably, it came with a clean title and, apart from a missing radio, was in remarkable condition. This marked the beginning of my Porsche journey. Keep in mind, this was my first Porsche, and back in those days, there was no YouTube to turn I had to learn the ropes the old-fashioned way. My father in law was a truck mechanic and helped me do my first clutch job on this 951 the the power rack them the BIG one, timing belt went. I had noi idea back then. That was expensive back then. Ouch! anyways Got her back on the road running great and installed a set of chip from Auto authority. A few months lates in early 1991 I was able to trade up to my dream Porsche 911 Carrera with a 3.2, That was it. I have since owned a few 911's and now own 1992 964 Turbo Black Black 3.6 turbo wheels the ultimate Porsche, 31 years of 911's and then it happened, my son is turning 16 and want to buy his first car. I found a nice high mileage 1987 944 base from California for him to learn on. Now, I have the 944 Bug again, I also bought myself a 1987 951 that looked just like my first Porsche. Stay tuned .
My Porsche journey had modest beginnings, but it was the start of a lifelong love affair with these remarkable machines. I look forward to sharing stories, insights, and experiences with all of you fellow Porsche aficionados Porsche aficionados
Just wanted to share the latest update on my 951. I've made some significant changes, including installing the M030 front spindles and turbo S brakes. Interestingly, when I replaced the rotors, I discovered a 3mm spacer between the hub and the rotor. It turns out this was a clever mod to avoid the expensive M030 hubs. Dealing with rotor warping issues within a few hundred miles led me to explore alternatives.
Porsche offers replacements at a hefty $1200 to $1600 each, but I found a great deal at Racers Edge – their custom hubs are priced at $639 each. They look fantastic, come with seals, bearings, and installed races. This upgrade should address my rotor alignment issues with the hub. I'll share pictures once I kick off my winter project in January.
Additionally, She came equipped with Porsche Turbo Cup Koni double adjustable coilovers front and rear (TB delete car), originally valved to R 900lbs and F 700lbs springs. I'm planning on sending them to Performance Shock Inc in Ohio for re valving according to my specifications – to my Hypercoil springs, F 225 lbs / 10 inches and R 425 lbs (240 lbs wheel weight) / 9 inches. The goal is to achieve a slightly firmer setup than the M030, complemented by adjustable sway bars. and getting her to a more reasonable ride height, to about 25 1/5 to the lip vs 24 3/4, Hoping with all these changes $$$$$ will transform her into a smooth daily driver.
Apologize if I missed it, but if you haven’t yet, upgrade to the 968 caster blocks. They eliminated my highway shimmy. A huge improvement for making the car smoother. Plus needed if you have 17” plus wheels.
I got mine from Elephant Racing. Highly recommended.
This threads an amazing find and I’m so glad to see another member bring back the car to its former glory. I’m currently in the process of doing similar things with my 22 year old son. Making memories, one Porsche at a time.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year! I wanted to provide some updates on my 951. Recently, I observed a bit of oil in the engine valley. After cleaning it up, I noticed a swift return of the oil. My initial inspection under the intake manifold, checking for split hoses or a leaking AOS, yielded nothing obvious. Although I replaced all seals a year ago during the engine overhaul, I suspected a loose clamp or another issue.
Upon closer examination, I discovered oil around the intake gasket, inside the intake manifold, and in the intercooler. Despite having the turbo rebuilt last year with no visible oil on both sides of the turbo, I decided to remove the intercooler for cleaning. To my surprise, I found oil along the edge of the head and block, with oil seeping from the cam tower. This prompted me to embark on a teardown.
Upon removing the cam tower, I observed a torn gasket, and it appeared the lifters were catching on the gasket's edge. While I'm here, lets take the head off and inspect the head gasket. I encountered tight head nuts, as expected. I found nothing obvious. I've ordered necessary parts and sent the head, intake, and intercooler to the machine shop for cleaning and inspection.
The machine shop confirmed the head checked out, and the fire ring was intact. I opted to replace the valve stem seals, and although the wide fire was good, I replaced it with a new gasket and hardware. After cleaning the top of the pistons, I reassembled everything, making a minor modification to the paper gasket to avoid potential issues.
Additionally, I installed a Saikou Michi oil separator catch can and a homemade oil breather unit, replacing the oil cap. The setup includes a 2.5 x 1.5 rubber coupler, a 1.75 short round motorcycle air filter, and a 1-inch sump pump valve with a light spring valve from Lowes. This setup is intended to maintain vacuum and release crankcase pressure, potentially addressing the oil in the intake and intercooler. and reduce crank case pressure. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this modification.
I have Lindsey Racing's Steam Vent kit installed, making coolant bleeding easier. After a 120-mile drive with no issues, I tested the catch can's dump valve and successfully drained about a tablespoon of water that resembled tea. It seems to be working well.
Lastly, I'm considering tapping into the cam tower cap and installing a PCV or brake booster valve. I would then T it to the catch can hose to help create a vacuum in the engine case. Does anyone here have experience with this, and do you think it will assist in controlling crankcase pressure which I believe is caused by the K27.8 Turbo and 15psi boost?
09-25-2023, 04:49 PM
