924Board.org

[finaltable]

My oldest son just turned 9. I have been planning for some time to restore a project car with him as a father/son project so that he would have a car into which he had personally invested time in when it is time for him to drive. I worked in a garage about 20 years ago and three years ago I sold a 1990 Toyota Supra on which I put over 50K miles so I am familiar with the quirks of owning an older vehicle. I have an uncle who runs a garage that works on everything from Fords and Hondas to Porsches & Jags. One of his employees restored to pretty good condition a '87 924S for his "idiot son" (his words) who tried to race a Boxster a couple years ago on IH-35 and blew the engine. He has a new engine for it but didn't have reason before now to get it working but he said the car is mine if I want it. My uncle will help me with anything major and will guide me, for free, through anything I need to do. My only fear is the cost, and more important, the availability of parts. I don't need a money pit. I do think it would be cool to own any Porsche, even if it isn't a 911.

Is this something I should avoid or can I get this and expect to have only the same kind of normal "old car" issues I would have with any car of this age?

Thanks for your input.
_________________
Drive Fast, but Stay Straight

[gohim]

There is nothing wrong with having an "old" car project to work on and dream about.

Just be informed that the Porsche 2.5L engine is unforgiving, and the rubber bits on the engine have a lifetime clock on them that's running whether the car is partially assembled or running. If you don't complete the project within a certain amount of time, you may be restoring your restoration before you even get it running.

Parts availability is not a problem, it's the availability of funds to source the parts that's difficult for me.

When it comes down to it, as soon as your son can drive, it's not going to make a bit of difference what it is, as long as it goes.

You might be better off working on a less expensive car for him when the time comes, and only buy the 924S, if you want it for yourself. MKIII Golfs and Jettas are fun cars to own. Cheap to run, cheap to own, easy to find parts for, and easy to work on. I've been driving a 95 Golf GL I originally bought running for $100. I got a 97 Jetta GT early this year in pieces for helping a younger guy fix his 98 Golf (replacing the transmission) by scavenging parts off the Jetta. I bought a rear-ended 96 Jetta for $200 for the transmission I needed for the 98, and sold alot of the leftover parts for over $1200 (so far), which has been enough money to buy all a new clutch, front and rear brakes, four new doorhandles, and a ton of little detail parts for under the hood, smog the car, transfer the title and pay for the first couple of months of insurance to get the 97 Jetta GT running.

Both VWs get close to 32mpg, and I have a blast everytime I get behind the wheel. The two VWs cost me a total of $100 a month for full coverage high limit insurance. And, I can drive them everyday, anywhere without worrying too much about them getting dented or stolen, what's not to love?

In the meantime, my youngest son has had two 95 VW Jettas, one 90 Honda Accord, one Toyota Echo, and a Dodge pickup. And, left them non-running or wrecked, all in a period of 2 1/2 years.

I may be years behind finishing my 87 924S Project, but I have less of my money in the two VWs, than it's cost me so far for engine parts for the 2.5L Porsche engine.

[Khal]

[ic932]

[finaltable]

I called my uncle and told him I am interested in the 924S. I asked him to think about it, in case he had any hesitation about it. I also told him that since an engine swap is going to happen that I want to be involved. What better time to learn about what it will take to work on the car than doing a swap? I'll be able to keep track of every tool we use from beginning to end and will have a pretty good idea of what I will need going forward if I don't already have them.

This ought to be fun. My daughter is still mad at me for selling my Supra. Maybe this will make her a little happier.
_________________
Drive Fast, but Stay Straight