Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Need to start repairing this car. I have had the steering rod replaced and the tracking done so now the car is driveable. It doesn't look too bad from a distance.... of about a mile. I'm listing what I have found wrong, and am asking about certain parts, so any help is gratefully appreciated.

Windscreen washer bottle - somehow this was cracked at the top of the front side in the crash (assuming it's square for illustrative purposes). This was the water leak that I mentioned, I filled it up today and it peed out all over the garage carpet - that's how I found the crack. Is it the same bottle on both types of 944?

The plastic inner arch liners that protect the wings. The off-side one is seriously buckled and the near-side one is cracked. Are they the same on both types of 944? I can get a pair for £45 off Ebay.

The near-side fog light glass has broken, but the bulbs etc are fine.

The off-side indicator lens is broken.

The badge panel has a slight kink in it at the off-side end and the narrow bit bends upwards. Are the badge panels the same on both types of 944?

The off-side wing has had it, and it has also moved as the gap along the bonnet edge has widened so you can see the fixing bolt heads. I need a S2 / Turbo wing, and if it needs repairing at the bottom it doesn't matter.

The off-side headlight unit has moved outwards - there must be a way of moving it back.

The oil cooler is twisted and compressed a little, fortunately not damaged, but if anybody has one lying around. Again are these the same on both 944s?

I've still got the dent in the bonnet, so I need a bonnet.

And finally, the MOT is due 02 February and I need new front shocks, I believe they're inserts.

Where to buy shocks? (ECP don't list them)
Only the front ones are gone, but I will replace rear too, may as well.
What type - I'm not interested in performance parts, I'm happy with original everything (each to his own).
Are they easy to DIY fit?

The most annoying bit - the nice guy (he was a nice guy) who took the car away lost the plug that goes in the rear bumper to cover the towing eye hole - so if anybody has one of those.

That's all that I can think of at the moment, like I said, any advice and suggestions really appreciated.

Thank you.

John, badge panels & arch liners have to be S2 or Turbo, they are different. Fog light is available as just the front glass bit if the backing box is OK. The only inserts for the front are the Konis which are a fiddle to fit. Personally I'd go with Sachs or Boge which is OEM, I think when Paul bought his he used Berlyn although Jon Mitchell or Frazerpart might be worth a try. Strut swap is OK for DIY but you'll need spring compressors & some means of loosening the strut tops which on Paul's were FT. It'll also need aligning afterwards.

Bonnet & badge panel will beat out with a good body shop. Thats what they do. Only the bad ones replace everything! Panel beating is a real skill that still exists. Shop around your local body shops! Shocks yo either buy a complete kit from somewhere like JM garage or Promax. Or mine came from GSF with club discount. (Boge) Easy diy but you need spring clamps. I'd take the opportunity to get a complete kit. Other bits get a price from Porscheapart & buy on ebay if cheaper! Get a price from OPC also as can be cheaper.

Thanks Jim,

Slightly confusing in the middle bit. Do you refer to the rears when you say Sachs or Boge ? They seem reasonably priced in the USA on Ebay, although I will do my research on the sites mentioned (I'm really sad, I really enjoy research!) - and of course start off with OPC for a guideline.

Spring compressors are in the shed - when I bought them for a few pounds at a car boot sale twelve years ago I thought "one day I might need these.."

Aligning - it tells me about aligning on the Clarks Garage site - as long as that is S2 instructions. I may have some of the brightly coloured nail varnish he mentions lying around somewhere

The rears I can do myself, and the fronts actually, but it seems a bit more daunting - oh well, just get on with it I suppose and save myself a few bob.

John Sachs or Boge are OEM for front & back. Rears are a doddle but don't strip the bolt as it is a special thread! Fronts need a hollow socket & a Torx (from memory) key. Pauls were very tight & the second one we loosened on the car, the first we did in the vice with a lot of sweat & swear words. I'd suggest new eccentric bolts for the front as they are around £4 from an OPC. I have a set of guages to realign the front both toe & camber.

John, I just posted on your other thread. For the second hand parts I'd be going to Only9 or Porschapart, both are local and I always like to see the parts before I part with the cash. For the new stuff give Unit11 in Warrington a ring. Jonny has a good network of suppliers, OPC, ECP and others and is usually cheaper than most. Again with it being local you could save on the postage too.

Are you after orange front lndectour lenses? I have them, badge panel and headlights are different on s2/turbo front ends. 4 the light 2 off moved, I would expected 2 find it's slipped in the adjustments. There may be alot more damage hinding withing the suspension. When I had mine swaped over 2 gaz gold coilovers f/r. The car drove fine b4 hand but they found that the torssion bar mounts need replacing both sides, and lots off rusted on bolts.

An impact wrench is your friend for the front shocks.

Rich