pcleary1210

While fretting over my 944s and what to do with it, a friend offered to buy it for what I had into it. He's going to stuff a 2.0 ecotech turbo motor into it and make it a track monster.

I, on the other hand, picked up a 944 turbo that I'd seen crawling around craigslist here in the bay area for a while. Odometer stopped 8 years ago at 140k (PO said it's near 190 now). It has a chip, 911 turbo 18" wheels, and a few other goodies but the seats and steering wheel are pretty well shot.

The main problem, though, is that there's no oil pressure. I'm already looking into the OPRV and a few other items. It has multiple oil leaks so maybe one allowed air to be pulled up instead.

My plan for this thing is mostly to drive it until it stops, rebuild it, and then do it again. Might see some light track use. Inside will get racing seats, and the bulk of the rest of the interior will be pulled out. It's not gonna be a "pure" car and it's not going to get restored. It's going to get driven

Pics soon.

-PC

Brantley

Ahhh, good to see someone finally bought that silver one. Welcome to the world of boost!

Did you tow it home? Or, is it driving?

pcleary1210

Pulled it home on a dolly. It fired right up but without oil pressure the lifters are very angry sounding.

Josh B

Congrats on the purchase!

pcleary1210

Assume re-priming the oil pump fails, should I start with oil pickup tube or OPRV?

When you start the car there's no pressure at all.

-PC

Dougs951S

cracked pickup tube

pcleary1210

Thanks Doug. That's my thinking, too. Especially after I remembered that the P/O removed the balance shaft belts/rollers.

I'm guessing the excessive vibration was not beneficial to the pickup tube.

P.O. said he started it up, heard the lifters and killed it. Did it once more after removing the oil filter to see if there was flow, and then started it for just a second when I purchased it.

I hope the engine isn't cooked. I guess I'll get a look at the bearings when I have the pan off.

Rod and crank bearings while I'm in there?

-PC

Dougs951S

Yes, balance shaft delete on a stock rotating assembly, without reinforcing the pickup, will eventually ruin your engine's day.

And yeah, the bearings are probably cooked. The PO more than likely knew that, which is why it was sold.

FWIW, every engine I've ever heard of that grenaded from a cracked pickup tube had the balance shaft delete "feature". It can be made to work, but only with a rotating assembly much lighter than stock (which is deceptively heavy for a 4 banger, we have very heavy cranks and our pistons and rods are tanks)

pcleary1210

Well I can guarantee you, then, that the tube wasn't re-inforced. They didn't even do the delete kit they just removed the rollers and belts for the balance shafts

Maybe I'll just bite the bullet and pick up a rebuild kit sooner than later

pcleary1210

If it was only run for a short time without oil pressure, how bad off am I?

Also, since the engine's at 160 to 180k, what're the chances when I dig into it I need to start budgeting for a new sleeving and other machine work?

I guess my thought here is whether or not I can replace the pickup tube and drive it for a bit, until I get funds for a proper build.

Dougs951

Do the rod bearings while you have the pan off. That's normally the biggest issue with oil starvation.

pcleary1210

Thanks Doug. Yours and other cars on here are really motivating me.

-PC