85.5 944, Revival

[cek347]

November 2018, Craigslist, non running 85.5 944 sitting in the mud, $1200. I showed up that day and it just got done raining for 2 days. I didn't expect much and it wasn't. I opened the doors and it was dry inside, even after all the rain. Rear hatch wouldn't open, no battery to even turn it over. I figured I'd offer $500, get it trailered home, and worst case part it or clean it up a little and sell it for a bit more. A bit of back and forth and we settled close to my offer.

Got it home, picked up a battery, and thought I would diagnose why it hasn't run in 7 years. Drained the fuel tank, put a new fuel filter and pump in....it started right up! Edredas videos were my main learning tool. I was into the car for a couple hundred over the buy in price and it was running. Ok, now we have a starting point. Well with family, other project cars ('86 Vanagon Weekender, Jeep Wranglers, Land Cruisers), job change, grad school, and plenty of other excuses, I have been on and off with it over the past 5 years.

But...I'm very close to getting it state inspected and on the road legally. I've driven in the neighborhood and it feels good. I'll list everything I've done to get it to this point when I get some more time. I am a garage novice but learned a lot! The belts and water pump were a major mechanical step for me.

[WillyDaP]

Great story and you have a slug of 944 members on this Forum , so don't be shy to ask questions. We will all look forward to Chapter 2 on your 944 that cost only a bit more than 944!

[blueline]

Welcome to Carpokes! You've come to Porsche Transaxle Heaven! Amazing folks here with whom to share questions, experiences, guidance and stories. Glad you found the site.

[Tom]

November 2018, Craigslist, non running 85.5 944 sitting in the mud, $1200. I showed up that day and it just got done raining for 2 days. I didn't expect much and it wasn't. I opened the doors and it was dry inside, even after all the rain. Rear hatch wouldn't open, no battery to even turn it over. I figured I'd offer $500, get it trailered home, and worst case part it or clean it up a little and sell it for a bit more. A bit of back and forth and we settled close to my offer.

Got it home, picked up a battery, and thought I would diagnose why it hasn't run in 7 years. Drained the fuel tank, put a new fuel filter and pump in....it started right up! Edredas videos were my main learning tool. I was into the car for a couple hundred over the buy in price and it was running. Ok, now we have a starting point. Well with family, other project cars ('86 Vanagon Weekender, Jeep Wranglers, Land Cruisers), job change, grad school, and plenty of other excuses, I have been on and off with it over the past 5 years.

But...I'm very close to getting it state inspected and on the road legally. I've driven in the neighborhood and it feels good. I'll list everything I've done to get it to this point when I get some more time. I am a garage novice but learned a lot! The belts and water pump were a major mechanical step for me.

When I got my first grown-up job in 1986, I test drove an 85.5 944 n/a in (I think) that same color. I couldn't quite make the payments so ended up buying an rx7, but the 944 was burned in my brain forever as an out-of-reach European exotic. As the survivors dwindle over time, I still think the day will come when people smack their forehead when they hear about the days of $500 944s. Either way, that's a great buy and a ton of sports car for the money. Keep us posted on your progress and post-away if you need any help/parts, etc.

You've come to the right place.

[stoneguy]

Congrats!
You're in for a lot of fun and aggravation. LOL
I caught the fever back in 1988. I bought an 85.5 NA black on black from a bank in Boston. It was a lease turn in.
It had 20k miles on it.
I still own that car. Would never give it up. It sits proudly in my garage and only goes for an occasional drive when the weather is nice. Over the years I have done over almost every system on it and kept almost everything true to factory.
It's been my life therapy over the years.
I think you will enjoy being an owner/operator/mechanic/enthusiast. You will learn a lot. Swear a lot and probably spend a lot but coming from a 944-o-phile,... You're gonna love it!
Welcome to the team.
Good luck

[blueline]

Congrats!
You're in for a lot of fun and aggravation. LOL
I caught the fever back in 1988. I bought an 85.5 NA black on black from a bank in Boston. It was a lease turn in.
It had 20k miles on it.
I still own that car. Would never give it up. It sits proudly in my garage and only goes for an occasional drive when the weather is nice. Over the years I have done over almost every system on it and kept almost everything true to factory.
It's been my life therapy over the years.
I think you will enjoy being an owner/operator/mechanic/enthusiast. You will learn a lot. Swear a lot and probably spend a lot but coming from a 944-o-phile,... You're gonna love it!
Welcome to the team.
Good luck

Good story, good advice and a gorgeous car!

[cek347]

Thanks for the replies!

After getting it running in 2018, it sat for a while in the garage. I knew belts and water pump were on the agenda but I wanted to figure out if this car was worth putting any more money into. I pressure tested the cooling system and it quickly lost pressure....hmmm....then came the puddle from the back of the engine. Turned out there is a coolant hose on the back of the block area that sprung a leak. Better then a head gasket.

Replaced that, learning no job is an easy job with such tight quarters. Ok, it runs and the cooling system holds. How about clutch and brakes....nope. Clutch pedal went right to the floor. Ok, new Slave and Master cylinder with new hoses. Once again, no easy job. Got it done though with help from a friend. This takes me to about winter 2019.

Once again, it sat for a while as I took on my Vanagon Project in 2020. 2021 I decided I was ready for belts and waterpump. Lots of videos, reading, patience, and I got it done. It runs again with new belts. Major milestone for me as a novice. Did some new hoses and flushed the radiator. Was running but had some hesitation. Sent the injectors out to be cleaned and tested, also diagnosed a bad fuel damper. Seemed to run well. Next up I did all new rotors and pads. Added some tires spring of '22. Was ready do some neighborhood drives. My first drives in a 944! Man, I was nervous. It shifts, it stops, it doesn't stall, cooling fans would come on and off. I was getting close.

In between these bigger projects, there are many smaller projects. Hatch latches, passenger door window motor and door handle, shifter leather and knob, shifter rebuild, used airbox, windshield washer motor, and plenty of things I'm forgetting. This was a $675 basketcase so there are plenty of jobs.

My advice, if you just want to drive and you have the money, buy one with all this stuff done. Then you can pick and choose the jobs you want to do. But......if you want to learn as you go and you have time on your side and some patience it's ok to chip away at a project. These forums, vendors like Pelican, FCP, 944online, only944, YouTube like Edredas, nc944er. And Clark's. Can't say enough about the information held there.

At this point I need to reattach the rearview mirror, adjust the parking brake, and fix the reverse light switch. Then ready for PA auto inspection.

Goal: make it to a 944fest.

[rabbithasthegun]

Beautiful!!

[cek347]

It's at the shop for PA inspection. It will be totally legal for the roads this afternoon. Off the road since 2011!

Latest thoughts:

I think I may be headed back into the timing belt again. I remember thinking one of the seals behind the rear timing belt cover didn't quite sit well. I'm pretty sure that is the one that is leaking. In my excitement of getting it back together I took a chance. A learning experience for sure.....

Rear hatch needs to be adjusted, popped open on its own as I pulled into the garage's parking lot. Embarrassing. I replaced one of the hatch receivers before but I think the other one is too weak to hold. Grabs most of the time but it seemed like it wasn't grabbing all the way.

Clutch has no history of replacement, the car has no history at all for that matter. That is on my list of to do's. Another learning experience.

Could use a warm day and I'll actually wash it and see if a polish will bring back the cheap repaint to some sort of shine.

Anyway, I hope to get a few miles on it and see what other issues it has!

[P_Coastal]

@cek347 , good luck with the Goal