HELP! Is there anyone who knows 924's better than I do?, 924 Martini Edition + complete project $1,500 Options

[Ace Le Count]

What are some of the most crucial things to look out for on 2.0 924s? Would it be a bad idea to bring a battery and attempt to start it after it's been sitting for 17 years? If so, why? I would just like to get an idea of where it's at... Would it harm anything?

[DblDog]

There’s a Brumos 924S for sale over at the Pelican. Down to $8,800. In the long run this could be much cheaper and it drivable!

[Front yard mechanic]

Buy them you can always stuff in a nice LS (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

[Johny Blackstain]

I don't like that's it's a Martini edition. Being an original owner of an 914LE I've had to battle both internal & external voices about modifying a limited edition for years, & how they should be left as OEM as possible for both historical & monetary reasons. This is why I bought my six- was already a hot rod when I bought it so no one can blame me for any mods on a genuine six (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Martini's are limited editions and you really have to consider putting her back to factory specs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Tdskip]

What are some of the most crucial things to look out for on 2.0 924s? Would it be a bad idea to bring a battery and attempt to start it after it's been sitting for 17 years? If so, why? I would just like to get an idea of where it's at... Would it harm anything?

May / will kill it for good - don’t try to start it.

At most see if the electrical system (lights and gauges etc) come up.

[Ace Le Count]

I got some more photos... Any advice?

[Ace Le Count]

[Ace Le Count]

[Ace Le Count]

[mepstein]

I got some more photos... Any advice?

Run away.

[Tdskip]

As Keith Martin is fond of saying rare doesn’t always mean valuable.

That car would be a labor of love, not sense.

Ask yourself this - if you had $7,000 in your pocket right now would you still even be looking at it?

[garrettlee2]

It has the seats but no plaque? It’s a non interference motor so no harm in trying to start it. Try quick start all the injection will need to be gone though good luck

[Ace Le Count]

What should I haggle him down to? What is the most you would pay for them? And yes, they're still there.

[ClayPerrine]

I want to chime in on this thread.

I would not buy the 924 if I were you. My first Porsche was a 79 924. It was a money pit, and was off the road more than it was on the road. And that was when it 6 years old. The engine is from an Audi Fox, and was the worst engine Audi ever built, the torque tube ate pilot bearings like candy, the brakes were $hit, the handling sucked... it was just a cheap pos. Porsche fixed almost all of the issues with the 944. About 10 years ago, I got offered a 924 Turbo for free. I passed on it without a second thought.


If I were in your situation, I would find a first generation Boxster (or better yet, a Boxster S) with a blown motor due to the IMS bearing issue. I have seen them going for $1500.00, complete with the blown motor because it is too expensive to fix them.

Scrap the motor, and replace it with a Subaru 6 cylinder. It would probably be as much work as the 924 to do the engine conversion, but you end up with a much better car when you are done.

Just my $.02.

Clay

[73-914]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

[horizontally-opposed]

I want to chime in on this thread.

I would not buy the 924 if I were you. My first Porsche was a 79 924. It was a money pit, and was off the road more than it was on the road. And that was when it 6 years old. The engine is from an Audi Fox, and was the worst engine Audi ever built, the torque tube ate pilot bearings like candy, the brakes were $hit, the handling sucked... it was just a cheap pos. Porsche fixed almost all of the issues with the 944. About 10 years ago, I got offered a 924 Turbo for free. I passed on it without a second thought.


If I were in your situation, I would find a first generation Boxster (or better yet, a Boxster S) with a blown motor due to the IMS bearing issue. I have seen them going for $1500.00, complete with the blown motor because it is too expensive to fix them.

Scrap the motor, and replace it with a Subaru 6 cylinder. It would probably be as much work as the 924 to do the engine conversion, but you end up with a much better car when you are done.

Just my $.02.

Clay

This, all day long.

I like 924s, 944s, and 968s, but none of them have what I would call a charismatic engine, or particularly "Porsche" handling. I'd much rather have a great E30 with in inline six than any of the above save a select few models that are well out of reach (924 GTS/CS, 968 Turbo RS, etc).

Whereas I have not met a 986 manual that wasn't a blast to drive. 986 with a replacement engine or some sort of conversion is a great idea—far better than trying to resurrect a 924 that needs everything—including paint and an interior too. And a 986 with Euro M030 suspension, which is not expensive (particularly if you have to refresh the suspension anyway) is a pretty good approximation of the 987.2 Boxster Spyder—one of the best-handling analog road cars Porsche ever made. My old 986 was reliable from 60,000 to 100,000 miles, and now has 230,000 miles on its original 2.5. They're good cars, imo, with known flaws—but those flaws are better than dealing with rust, paint, etc. in my view.

[mepstein]

Or buy the 924, put it in your garage and you can say you have a Porsche. Then get a Honda or Subaru as a daily driver and call it a day.

[Ace Le Count]

Are 986s difficult for the home mechanic to work on? Could I replace the IMS at home?

[mb911]

Are 986s difficult for the home mechanic to work on? Could I replace the IMS at home?

Yes no problem at home if you can do basic wrenching

[Mueller]

Are 986s difficult for the home mechanic to work on? Could I replace the IMS at home?

Youtube is your best bet here, I'd spend an hour or so watching a few videos.

I did a search for "diy 986 repair"

Plenty of helpful videos (and watching a 996 IMS video wouldn't hurt )
Some show what special tools needed and alternative tools/hacks.


Figure minimum $500 for each basic repair, and that is parts only.