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944 turbo (SOLD)

jkeith

Well-known member
Joined
22 Jan 2010
Messages
643
Hi all,

my latest edition is the 1986 944 turbo that Jim French sold 18 months ago. It's the thick wall block, forged internals, homologation version. Kalahari beige metalic with brown interior.

I bought the car in London on tuesday and drove it directly to JMG Porsche in Dorset for Jon Mitchell to sort. Engine, clutch, suspension and brakes are all getting the JMG treatment.

I fly back to Southampton on 1 December to collect it. :thumb:
 
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You kept that quiet! It looks lovey Keith, I saw it at fast lane show a couple of years ago :thumbs:


Ian
 
Thanks Ian, I wasn't certain of buying the car right up to the day I travelled to London (by overnight coach - never again) to see it in the flesh. It was really Jim French's knowledge of the car and it's history that created my interest.

It has quite a few issues I am getting sorted but I hope to end up on the right side of 'money spent' versus 'resulting value'.

The weather (biblical rain), speed restrictions (lots of 50 mph average through road works) and faults with the car didn't give me a chance to properly drive it in anger on the journey from London to Dorset. That makes my return journey from Dorset to Jesmond on 1 December much more significant. I'm looking forward to that. Fingers crossed for some kind weather on that day.

I don't have your confidence to strip and rebuild cars so Jon Mitchell is doing the important bits. He is a proper expert on the 944 turbo's and a really nice guy to do business with. I'll do the minor tinkering during the winter months.

Cheers, Keith.
 
My neighbour had one of those in the mid 90s. A great car :thumb: I remember it well as his Mrs had a fantastic pair of hooters :grin:

I fear the worst as I suspect rust and gravity have taken hold :nooo:
 
:floor: Well, I was able to eliminate any concerns on the rust front. Sadly, I was not given any opportunity to assess if there had been any gravity affecting deterioration to the hooters. None were evident on the day despite my detailled inspection of bodywork!

I will keep my eyes peeled for this ongoing survey! :eek:
 
The drive back will be epic :D what you having done? She looks sweet on those tele dials mate
 
Look forward to seeing it on one of the NE meets - always loved the 944 arches and stance.
Cheers.Ian
 
The work being done:
major service (none done in 18 months)
Fix air con (suspect faulty condenser, a/c has not worked for years)
Power steering leak
Correct idle fault (suspect faulty throttle position switch and temperature sensor to ECU)
Replace clutch master and slave cylinders
Check sunroof not closing properly
Front engine overhaul (water pump, thermostat and coolant, front engine oil seals, belt tensioners and rollers, cam, balance and auxiliary belts) Jim did the belts 18 months ago but my seller had to replace the head gasket when the rad failed. Whoever did that repair seriously over tensioned the belts - it sounded horrendous.
Replace rear fuel pipes
Replace anti roll bar bushes
Replace rear discs and pads
Replace rear wheel bearings (near side seal is gone, grease on disc/pad)
Replace front off side sensor (clipped to brake line but not connected)
Remove rear braided hoses
Replace rear cv boots
Replace rear brake heat shields
Replace front castor rear mounts (M030)
Adjust front wheel bearings
4 wheel and front suspension geometry
Plus a few other odds and sods! Well you did ask.

Cheers to both Ians, hope to have it on the road, not sure yet if I will sorn it from December? (trade plates for drive home?)
 
Oooofff, that all sounds costly! Be mint when you pick her up though :thumbs:

Might have to take that comment back about the cost, seeing as I've just had to rebuild the 64 gearbox and I'm in the middle of restoring a 28 :eek:


Ian
 
She really is a good un boy,s regret selling it but had to let one of the 944 turbos go when I bought the 997, this was due to a lack of garaging for 3 lots of pork.
Guy I sold it too was a complete tool tbh and I regretted the sale as I knew he would ruin it, chuffed it is going to a good home with Keith.
As Keith has said an early thick wall block, forged internals example, and qualifies for classic racing though it is way too nice for that, looking forward to seeing it again, and I have first dibs should Keith decide to sell :bandit:
 
Your right Ian, doing this amount of work is not cheap.

However, my view on the value of individual cars is the same as residential property. If it is accepted that house prices can vary dramatically depending on condition (within a price band), why should that not apply to Porsche cars? I've seen some very ordinary cars with top asking prices. Some cars have had fastidious ownership and their valuations are above a market ceiling.

For this particular car, the bodywork is very good with no rust.

A realistic purchase price plus the mechanical repair costs will elevate the value, hopefully to a figure above my budgeted spend.

I'm not too keen on the interior trim colour but it might grow on me (?).

Cheers, Keith.
 
Thank god that car has gone to a more deserving owner than the last spam javelin!

Great that it is back in the northern territories too - I look forward to seeing it soon, if there's anything you need then just shout up.
 
What was up with the previous owner like? Did he not look after it?
 
Thanks Dave, if I need anything I'll let you know.

Ian, I think the previous owner (Soli) is an ok guy but he was unlucky with some age related faults and I consider he was not afforded the best level of repair by the various garages he has used. It started on his return journey to London after buying the car. The radiator failed and taking the quick option of filling it with cold water caused the head to crack.

Taking the top off the engine on a 944 turbo is just not the same as for example, a ford escort. Particularly if the car is 30 years old. A chain of problems followed and without the best possible ability to correctly diagnose, a process of replacement by elimination followed. That also did not work. Some parts were replaced with second hand parts that were also faulty. In the end, he threw too much money at the car without solving all the issues.

I had read about Jon Mitchell's expert knowledge and was impressed by his web site www.jmgporsche.co.uk sufficiently to call him and ask if he could take on the job. He is simply a proper technicial engineer with a passion for all things Porsche and a vast experience of 944 turbo's in particular. I'm impressed by his professional approach and excellent customer service. It's just a little inconvenient that he is on the south coast but return flights to Southampton airport are only £75.00! Jon is also a technical advisor for both TIPEC and PGBOC.

You also mentioned the teledial wheels Ian. The '86 turbo cars are shod with 16" wheels of a different offset and are numerically rare. Fuch wheels were an option but I now like the teledials on this car.

The next seven days should reveal any hidden issues and I am getting ready for the return journey, looking forward to that! I think I have covered any of the 'while you are in there you may as well' type of repairs or maintenance items.

The car is dramatically different from my 911 of the same year, which adds to the ownership experience of them both.

Cheers, Keith :mechanic:
 

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