924Board.org

iwantacarrera · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 99 Location: Ravenshead, England

I finally collected my 924 yesterday. The car is an '81 model and was purchased from a seller on the Ebay auction website for £410.00 with 12 months MOT.

I was aware that at this price the car might have a few problems but as it had passed the MOT test was assured by the owner it would get me home, a 3 hour journey.

I first saw the car in torrential rain, whereupon the owner left me with it at Maidstone railway station. Not being familiar with Porsches (its my first) I hoped to get used to the controls, fill up the fuel and check the levels, then gently proceed home.

This wasn't to be ;-(. After less than 10 minutes, the 'good' battery the seller had installed died and I was left stranded in a strange town, with a dead car. Local enquiries and a half hour walk led me to Motor World, where I purchased a Lucas battery and some wiper blades. I returned to the car and fitted the battery (with my limited tools) and as the weather was now dry decided to leave the blades till later.

Now the car started and I went hunting for fuel. Five minutes on the car cut out and wouldn't start again. This time it was a lack of fuel. As I was winding the engine over the front wiper jammed also. Another walk to Motor World ensued and I returned with Emergency Fuel and some washers. As the wiper hadn't been tightened correctly I fitted a new washer and it worked as it should, I then added the emergency fuel and headed for a petrol station.

With a full tank and a bag of nerves I finally headed home, contending with:

No passenger side mirror glass (would have got one at Motor World but they are special order).
No drivers side window (electrics inoperable, swapped the switches but still no joy).
Heater constantly running (3 bar slider, no rotary switch - assumed dead).
No rear hatch catches (one previously missing, one sheared off on the M1).
Sticking throttle
Blowing exhaust

Despite the list above, the car drove great. Its fast, handles well and comfortable. It will need some bodywork, mechanical maintenance and the repairs above but I do love it already. I just question the competence of an MOT testing station that sends a car out in the state above as 'safe'.

Anyone who could offer advice on the points above would be very well thanked at this stage. I haven't got the manual yet and any assistance is helpful.

Thanks

Paul
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1981 Porsche 924/80 Porsche 931 GT rep

5150 · Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:43 pm Post subject:

Hiya Paul

Congrats on the 924 purchase, doesn't sound like there's really much to be sorted out, just niggly bits and bobs.. Does seem odd the MOT tester missed these issues though.

You'll find most parts are cheapest from euro car parts and if there's one near you then you can save on the postage costs http://www.eurocarparts.com there's also quite a few breakers over here that will have things like your mirrors (try Porsche Apart http://www.porsch-apart.co.uk).

What size battery did you pick up? I was having a lot of starting issues with my '78, everywhere here was listing the battery as a "065" but changing up to a "075" has provided a lot more cranking power and sorted things out.

Throttle either wants a new cable or just a clean and a touch of light oil on the moving parts.

My heater blower fan runs slowly with the slider over to the off position, i just take it as one of those quirks she has! The three sliders are top for the blower speed, middle for the temperature and bottom for the airflow direction.

Might find your exhaust is just a loose joint, but the setup is simple - manifold connects with 5 nuts/studs to a down pipe, which connects to a center box (three bolts pulling two plates together), center connects to a long rear 2-box section using a single a clamp (center and read slide together).
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Mars Red '78 Euro 924 n/a
http://www.cardomain.com/id/5150_uk

Graphite? Grey Metallic '85 (late model) 944 2.5

There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.

iwantacarrera · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 99 Location: Ravenshead, England

Had a little play this morning and sorted the following:

Heater - on closer inspection the unit was coated in a thick black greasy substance. I wiped it all down, brushed off the bits, gave the 3 power rails a little wet and dry as well as the slider contact. Works fine now with 3 speeds but like yours 5150 it runs slow when off

Throttle - suspected the linkage, cable or pedal. Turns out the carpet has been up and it was sticking behind the pedal

Instrument lighting - replaced most of the dash/switchgear lighting

Electrical issues seem to be the norm. Are 924s like this as a matter of course?
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1981 Porsche 924/80 Porsche 931 GT rep

Dez · Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Posts: 189 Location: Wokingham, UK

Hi Paul, welcome to the UK's unofficial 924 club...i think.

Hope you get the baby sorted out, hours and hours of pleasure there mate.
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1982 Porsche nine two four with Carrera GT conversion - people think i'm slow cos it's an X plate!!
http://www.p-caronline.com/directory/dez

5150 · Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 10:54 pm Post subject:

Cool you got a few out the way already

Electrical stuff.. well, they're old cars you know, usually once you locate and replace any duff (or previous owner mangled) wires they're okay for a good stretch, usual problem area seems to be around the alternator/starter as it gets wet, dirty and hot down there.. i replaced all my wiring in that area last year and i've had no problems since, just bought a few spools of wire and a pair of crimping pliers... it's actually quite relaxing sitting at night watching telly while making up a new set of wires lol...

Can honestly hand on heart say that after almost 3 years with my car, she's been a good purchase and I'm eager to find the time and money to pick up another. My running/maintenance costs have been about the same as any other car i've had with the exception that the parts seem to last longer when they are replaced so i've spent less time working on her and more time driving her. Bought the car for £900 with 11 months MOT, a small crack in the windscreen (which grew until the insurance kindly replaced it heh!), a leaking sunroof seal and a few minor niggles... this year i replaced the motor after killing the last one, cost me £200 for a good condition used engine and a case of beer for my helper, that's been the biggest spend to date but i'm expecting a lot of miles from this motor and the last one easily must have had 1/4 million miles on it.
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Mars Red '78 Euro 924 n/a
http://www.cardomain.com/id/5150_uk

Graphite? Grey Metallic '85 (late model) 944 2.5

There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.

Dez · Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Posts: 189 Location: Wokingham, UK

We'll soon have enough UK folks for an annual meeting!

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1982 Porsche nine two four with Carrera GT conversion - people think i'm slow cos it's an X plate!!
http://www.p-caronline.com/directory/dez

5150 · Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 11:04 pm Post subject:

Actually, that would be an excellent idea.. though i think you've just nominated yourself as the official event organiser bud

Still no-one from my area on here though.. the guy in this area i talk to with the 931 has his car off the road at the minute with a messed up gearbox (the usual 2nd gear problem), i've mentioned the site to him but i don't know if he has a PC or not.. There's another lad a couple of streets away from me with an n/a though, i'll have to point him in this direction.... maybe make a little window sticker with the site URL to put in the back of the car...
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Mars Red '78 Euro 924 n/a
http://www.cardomain.com/id/5150_uk

Graphite? Grey Metallic '85 (late model) 944 2.5

There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.

Dez · Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Posts: 189 Location: Wokingham, UK

Ok, Meeting in Wokingham this Saturday. There! that wasn't hard! haha!

Not a bad idea to have window stickers with the web address on.

I see plenty of 944's about but no 924's........
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1982 Porsche nine two four with Carrera GT conversion - people think i'm slow cos it's an X plate!!
http://www.p-caronline.com/directory/dez

iwantacarrera · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 99 Location: Ravenshead, England

5150 - I fitted a Lucas battery (4yr guarantee) model 065/4 which is the deep cycle type. Cost £60.00 but I think with batteries you get what you pay for.
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1981 Porsche 924/80 Porsche 931 GT rep

cleethorpes · Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 5:49 am Post subject:

Probably wouldn't have guessed but I'm in Cleethorpes...currently have an 81 924 and an 82 931 (with the usual carrera gt body bits)

Blyth's not too far from me, been down that way battering the fruits in the services!

iwantacarrera · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 99 Location: Ravenshead, England

I did wonder....lol.

Where did you get the GT bits from. The only place I have seen them is ClubAutoSport and they want silly money.

I'm going to swap the tailgate for a 944 spoilered one, fit S1 944 wings and go from there. The 924 has got mild front end damage so work has to be done anyway. Would prefer to go the GT route...
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1981 Porsche 924/80 Porsche 931 GT rep

cleethorpes · Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 7:33 am Post subject:

the kit currently fitted is clubautosport.

It's absolute rubbish! was fitted in 1995 though so maybe they have got their act together by now. The rear extensions are held on with genuine rusted look screw???? how arse is that? The bonnet scoop is badly screwed on aswell so binning it and bonding the new one.

Car came with a new spare set of gt-racing(in America) rear wing extensions and I just got a gt-racing bonnet scoop sent over (£45 postage and taxes...nice)n total of around £170 ...best get one now though while the $ is so poor

kike924 · Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 10:02 am Post subject:

Wellcome!!!!

924s are beautiful cars, you are going to enjoy it very much

I bought mine 6 months ago and still get a happy grin in my face every time I go to 5000 rpm in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear.

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Euro 924 1980 N/A
Daily driver + week end racer

Roger · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 1235 Location: Cordova, TN

Yes 924 electrical systems are prone to gremlins.

I would stay away from anything with the Lucas name on it, but that come from the advice of an old MG owner...hehehehe

As for the heater the grease you cleaned off is supposed to be there. It is dielectric grease and it should not cause a problem. If the heater is stuck on I would suspect the heater valve.

As for the window the power is routed through the drivers side. If the passenger side works and you tried swaping the switches then check the motor on the drivers side. If you end up replacing the drivers side motor I would also replace the lower weatherstripping on the window.

I am not sure what you are refering to on the rear hatches. Do you still have two pendulmum shaped posts comming off the railing that is attached to the rear glass?

As for the throttle the cable is fairly striaght forward. Check to see if the cable is sticking. If its not the cable I would suggest looking at the throttle body.
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1981 924 NA

Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything, but you
still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

kye · Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 12:14 pm Post subject:

I recently purchased a GB model 81 931, and i'm just sorting out a few things too..
one thing I noticed is that the heater is on slightly all the time.
it also doesn't work when I want it to work, which i'll have to sort out..

but, I did read in the manual somewhere that the fan is always on slightly, so what you're seeing is probably normal

I just have to oil the bearings in mine because they squeek intermittantly!
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it's funny, but when they said "Anything is Possible", that's exactly what they meant....