Dear 14'er friends -

I have not been intentionally absent, and have lurked here from time-to-time, but for the last year I've been thoroughly occupied restoring the '80 924 Turbo I announced here a year ago. I'd post on that thread - but I can't find it. You all were very kind to receive my announcement about finding & working on the 931 (as Porscheophiles know the 924 Turbo) and graciously received it.

That thread has since disappeared - somewhere. So I'm starting over - with a new Porsche!

I bought the 931 as a fun project and challenge as I'd never worked on CIS, but got the car running like new in 2 months. What a hoot to drive! LOVE a transaxle car as much as my mid-engine 914.

When I got the 931 mostly restored & running like new, my 914 friend Rick (Rickb45 here I think) would take his '85 944 out with me in my 931 and we'd thrash them together on super-twisty country roads - then swap cars. What a hoot!

But guess what happened along the way? I fell in love with his 944 - the neutral handling & balance is amazing. I'd take Rick's 944 in the straights - but his 944 would shame me in the corners. So I found myself changing my original plan - I decided to sell the 931 and find a 951 - 944 Turbo.

After months of searching I found the one I wanted in Albany, NY and was about to buy plane tickets to go get it when Rick - in vacation in Italy - sends me an ad for a mint unrestored, all-original 944 S in Columbus, OH. He noted how I'd really be better of with an NA engine and all the nice features of the DOHC 16valve 2.5L engine in the S.

I contacted the seller who had had the car for 19 years - first call - and finding it needed almost nothing & had all maintenance records back to 1993 & some since new - I had a deal.

I flew to Columbus (studied a short time at OSU in '70) and when the owner drove up at the airport my jaw dropped.

The car looked brand new! Far better than I was expecting. And the paint is original! Waxed & buffed to a high gloss! I got in it - the interior looks like a new car. WHERE is the 35 years wear and aging? Not to be seen.

Riding with owner to the bank, the car rides like a new car! How is this possible! The car has OVER 150,000 MILES ON IT!

On the 500 mile drive home I almost broke my mouth with a frozen ear-to-ear grin. This car is a miracle. It drives, runs, handles, shifts, rides like new, and is a quiet as a new car. In my 77 years I've never known a car like this even 20 years old, let alone 35.

For 35 years every owner has done every proper maintenance & repair. Almost everything is new...brakes, tires, timing belt, water pump, clutch (racing). & all the documentation came with the car.

Always garaged, the PO wouldn't even take it out in the winter. He told me it didn't use oil, or leak. It's true. I've put 2500 miles on the car and oil has not dropped at all.

I have been too busy thoroughly enjoying this car to be on this great site.

The original "Phone Dial" 15 x 7 wheels are on the car. But tomorrow 225/45R17's go on the front and 255/40R17's go on the rear on chromed 993 Cup II wheels - 7" front, 9" rear. Rick found the wheels for me for $100 each!

Highway or twisties, the 944 S handles like a dream and will do so even better after tomorrow.

I don't think one could find a car like this looking for years - I consider it a gift and a miracle. And want to share my joy with all of you.

And I'll keep y'all posted on my engine and tranny rebuild and the new paint on the 914.

GN

PS: To add to all this, I paid $1,500 more for the 944 S than I sold the 924 Turbo for.........and am sure I could sell it for 6k more than I paid - but I'm keeping this car as long as I live!

It does need a better looking set of wheels.

Sweet looking ride.

Chris -

My thoughts exactly. NOT a fan of phone dials. Just the opposite.

My first mod was to install a shock tower strut brace - but they sent me the wrong one.

My 2nd mod is wider tires, 17", and some nice looking wheels - but staying with original Porsche. The Cup II's are original, but the chrome is not. As I'm over 50 - I love chrome. I can't believe Rick found these for me. I was thinking I'd be paying over $500/wheel to get something nice. Rick found them.

He can find anything. He found my 924 Turbo, which we picked up in Cleveland on same road trip he got his daily driver 944 in Detroit - and drove it home. Calling me every 15 min. yelling, "THIS CAR'S LIKE NEW!". Turns out 2 PO's of his 944 were Porsche mechanics and car was like new, but with 123k on it.

We and our 914's met at C & C about 5 years ago. His yellow '72 914 is close to Concours with new engine.


His '79 911 SC, also new engine:



His '85 944 -

Agree Mark. She drives & handles, performs even better than she looks. 16v engine is as smooth as silk, dialed in perfectly. All new externals like timing belt, plugs, wires, dist. cap, etc.

Just need to powder-coat the cam cover.

GN

ONLY disappointment -

Stock 2.5 16v engine is 190hp. Turbo is 220.

I was hoping to boost hp with a Cat delete and new chip for Motronics/DME.

Bad news is the stock exhaust is so efficient that a Cat delete does almost nothing.

And due to 1 major flaw in Motronics design, best chip for about $270 only will get me 5 hp. yup. 5 hp. That's not happening.

Air flow is severely restricted by air flow meter between air filter and throttle body - only about 2" x 2" opening.

Solution is to put in a Megasquirt plug in computer using a MAS and rewiring the injectors. This opens the intake air flow to the full over 2" diameter intake tube.

Plan on it - someday. Having too much fun driving it as is now.

My daily driver so my sweet Cayman S can take a break - after 9 years, I just passed 100k miles and she needs a break. Not a thing wrong tho.

GN

My family’s 944s are great cars. We have an 85.5 and an 88. The 85.5 was purchased from the original owner’s nephew and had all the paperwork since new. The only bad thing was the tranny got stuck in 3rd gear this summer so a new used trans went in.


Ps replace those fuel lines. That is an absolute must regardless of what say.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=356359

GN - Well bought and thanks for all the support in my own 944 journey. I’m so glad the world is back up and running!

Ben -

Thanks! Fuel lined new!

GN

Thank you Andy! I searched but failed.....bookmarked now.....will complete its story now....

My fav website........many thanks...

GN

You and me both! And hundreds of other members.

I'd truly be lost without this place. Heck - I couldn't think of maintaining my 914 without The WORLD! I'd have to park it or sell it!

GN

All 3 of them?

For future reference, clicking on any members name will take you to their profile page where you can look up all their previous threads and posts.
This works for yourself too.

Click on your name and on your profile page click on the "Profile Options" button on the right.
Select "Find Member's Topics" and you get a list of all the threads you started.

I've had two 951's and love em. GREAT cars. Favorite wheels: cups. Hands down.
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Good score,very tidy car,the 16V is a real good motor, not a lot of power options with your motor as it was a short production run before the S2 came out.
Lindsey racing max chip should give you more than 5hp but your torque will be the best gain.
Good move on the wheels as they are just plain ugly IMO,cheers.

nice find @Gatornapper

international porsche slang/lingo always interesting.
a lot of folks down here call those wheels egg poachers.
some do call them phone dials but suspect thats americanism creeping in.

i don't mind them. period pieces.
probably looked best on a 928 thinking about it.

THANK YOU Andy!

You mean all 5 of them? The two under the car should be replaced as well.

The rear ones by the fuel pump yea should be replaced but not near as fire prone as the 3 front ones but yes should be done.

Nice score! I've had a low-level hankering for a transaxle car for a really long time - a (new) 944 was the first Porsche I ever drove, as a teenager. Love the styling and the handling is tops. If I weren't in Calif I very likely would've bought a 951 years ago. I do kinda like the phone dials on the early 928s.

Last week friend Rick found me incredible 17" 993 Cup II wheels in 7" & 9" that had been nicely chromed (I love chrome inspite of what Porscheophiles think) and last night had Riken Raptors put on in 225/45R17 front and 255/40R17 rear (just 10mm less than my Cayman S wide).

Noticeable improvement in handling from wider grip and lower aspect ratio tires AND at the same time a great improvement in looks (sorry, not a phone dial fan).

This car just moved from being great to being incredible.....and now it is ME and not the PO!











Could not be a happier 44'er.........

GN
_________

I've had an '84 944, a '88 951 with a LS Motor and my current '89 S2

with 914s going Up & Up in price, a 944 is a Great alternative

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Best of both worlds is a 914 AND a 944!

And I love your wheels on each of the cars above. My friend Rick's has the ones on the white one on top and I wanted those first. But the offset changed big time between the 944.1 and 944.2. I could get the wheels but at about $750 each and the look is completely different as deep dish cannot be had with new offset.

I also loved your gold ones but heard too many Porscheophiles would complain.

Would have liked an S2 but golly! Outa my budget.....nice one you have. No question the ultimate 944. NICE!

GN

Here is my oldest son’s with turbo twists that I got free off of the bird board. I like your cup wheels as well.Click to view attachment

SWEET Ben! Brown interior? Mine is tan. Love it but would have liked darker leather a bit more.

BTW, re my 914 being restored in original paint Malaga Red as we speak - friend found me an original brown 914 interior in very good condition that I'm putting in after paint - even door cards - wanted to wait on posting that until I got it in - will be in spring most likely.

GN