924Board.org

[Chrenan]

There is a 924 parts car for sale in Edmonton I am thinking of picking up. Complete car, early 1977 model, 4 speed. I don't really need it, but I wouldn't mind a replacement rear hatch, doors, etc in case I ever need them. All the seats in the car are rip free and somehow look brand new. Go figure. Car doesn't run, owner cited problem with the coil but based on answers to other questions he knows nothing about the car. Anyway, a few questions for the experts:

1. Price is $500, I am pretty sure I can get it down to $400 at least, is this reasonable?

2. Any reason I couldn't rebuild the 1977 engine with better pistons, head work, cam etc. to get a bit more performance?

3. Is the torque tube and shaft interchangeable with my 1980?

4. How much does a 924 engine weigh?

5. I know it is easy to take the front seats out, I've done it a few times. How hard is it to take the rear seats out, especially the lowerportion? I'd like to swap the seats form the parts car into my car.

Thanks everyone,

Chrenan
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

[Sleykin]

If all you take is the seats at $400 it would be a break even. If storage is not an issue then it sounds like a good deal. Definately gonna be a parts bonanza and might just be an electrical problem keeping it from running. Oh wait this is a Porsche ... they don't have electrical problems do they ?<LOL>
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Glenn Neff
Medford, OR
87' 924S

[kye]

for 5. check out http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=7086
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it's funny, but when they said "Anything is Possible", that's exactly what they meant....

[jpab924]

1) 400.00 for spares isnt` too bad of a deal. I picked up a 77 for 300.00
Its always nice to have spare parts...

2) Early 77 engine for us/can models has the 8.0:1 cr pistons. Also the head has smaller intake and exhaust valves, smaller bore throttle body...etc... = a 95 hp engine. No reason you couldn`t re-build the engine, you just need a big wallet.

3) I don`t believe the 4 speed central tube is interchangeable with your 5 spd 016 tranny

4) engine weighs 313 lbs bare.....this is according to haynes. Not to sure how specific bare means. Head and block alone with no accessories and no intake maybe?

5) bottom portion of seat is a cinch. Just peel and re-glue with a good apholstry glue.

There will be quite a few differences you will notice between the 77 and 80 model years. Under the hood and throughout the vehicle. And probably alot more than I can mention.

[Lizard]

[gohim]

Some of the earliest 77 US model year 924 engines were built with 125hp Euro engine parts because Porsche did not have an adequate supply of the 95hp engine components available when the first US engines were assembled.

So, before assuming that you have a US model 95hp engine, you might want to try getting the engine started.

The early cars had two ballast resistors mounted (one on each side of the coil). Later cars had one or no ballast resistors, and people who try to service the wiring on the early cars often had no clue about how they were wired. If either of the ballast resistors burned out, or the wiring to them was damaged, or the wiring harness between the alternator and the starter was damaged (included the wiring for the two ballast resistors), the engine will not start, or will not run after the key is released from the starting position of the ignition lock.

All that being said. $400 is probably a high amount to pay for a parts car here in CA. I could probably pick up 3-4 924 cars a year for free from people giving them away Ioften advertised in the "throwaway" newspapers dumped on our driveways once a week.

[Fuzzbeaner]

Wait, dual ballast resistors means Euro engine on a '77???



Maybe I'll have an easier time getting rid of this damn thing then I had expected....

-Jeff
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A Ravaged '77 924 (Electric Conversion in Progress)

[Chrenan]

Hmm, interesting, I thought I remembered a rumour about some early 77 cars having the 125 hp motor. Next time I look at it, I'll check for dual ballast resistors.

In 1977 there were 7,496 cars produced for the US, the serial number on the one I am looking at is 9247201174, so that would be the 1,174th car out of 7,496? My guess is that it is not early enough to have the Euro spec motor, but one can always hope.

Wish I lived in California Gohim, they aren't giving away 924's in Edmonton yet. They are actually pretty rare in these parts, everyone is fanatical about muscle cars and pick-up trucks here...
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

[gohim]

No, dual ballast resistors just mean that the car is a 77 model year car of some sort.

The only way to determine what type of engine parts the engine contains is to remove the cylinder head to see what shape the intake ports are, the size of the valves are, and the shape of the piston tops are.

[Fuzzbeaner]

Welllllll:

http://evproject.com/eng/engine.htm

Could someone tell me from that?

Thanks!

-Jeff
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A Ravaged '77 924 (Electric Conversion in Progress)

[Doodle]

Hi Chrenan, should you decide not too buy it yourself, let me know. I'll take it for $450.00. You make an easy $50.00. My car was sold as a '77. Built in 11/76 for the California market. Interesting tidbit, serial # 9247207794. It came with the dual, 4 and 6 ohm ballast resistors, deeply dished (low compression) pistons and the tell tale small intake valve head (38mm versus 40mm of the 77.5 and later models). The '77 model year is divided roughly into Pre 77.5 and Post 77.5 models. The post 77.5 models beiing more desirable because of more horsepower and far better reliability.

In my opinion the early engines are slightly more expensive to upgrade versus a later engine. You need the head off the later engine for the larger intake valves. Larger intake valves require the larger throttle body, etc.

Almost all parts listings, except for the Dealership, start at 1977. It's as if the '76 to 77.5 models never existed. Every pre 77.5 specific piece has been superceeded to post 77.5 parts. Sometimes with expensive consequences.

I believe you'll find the drive shaft of the '77 to be about 1/2" shorter than the one in your car.

Oh, by the way, not EVERYONE in this area is fanatical about muscle cars and pick-up trucks.
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Doodle
Pre 77.5 Mars Red

[1982Porsche924]

Fuzzbeaner, that looks like a 77.5 engine. 40mm intake valves and 8.5:1 compression. Measure the intake valves to make sure.
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1979 Porsche 924 "S"
Engine: Euro pistons, Light Flywheel, Weber TB, Bursch Header, Cam Wheel
Suspension: Front coil-overs, adj sways, Solid bush. Thicker tors. bars, 5-bolt, BBS rims
Body: Fiberglass widebody kit, 931 Nose

[Chrenan]

Well, phoned to work out the final price with the owner, I had been talking to a sort of "middle man". Turns out the previous owner of the car had a right of first refusal on any sale, and he decided to buy the car back. Oh well, such is life.

I guess Doodle is right, not everyone in Edmonton likes muscle cars and pickup trucks. But technically, both Doodle and I are from Ontario, so we don't really count...
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan

[Chrenan]

An update...

The guy called me yesterday to tell me the person who had "right of first refusal" never came to get the car. So I offered $200 and the car is now at my place.

Started pulling parts last night that I can easily store if ever needed, hood, doors, rear glass, quarter glass. Will also take the front and back seats and swap them into my car. Me and a buddy are going to pull the engine this weekend.

Funny thing is, the VIN decoder on this site says it is a 1977, but the build date is 5/76. At some point someone loved the car enough to install a Weber big throat throttle body.
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1987 951 - M193 Version for Japan