Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Just a quick post to say hi.

I've been lurking around for a while but now it is time to participate if I may.

I have owned my 1991 944 Turbo since 1995 and haven't been able to part with it since. Sadly she has been little used and not driven since 2009. Although stored under a cover outside I do make sure the interior gets a good airing in the summer and the engine started up from time to time.

however - I feel really guilty about the neglect and so this year when the weather improves I'm planning to recommission the car properly starting with a DIY cambelt change as this was last done in 2000 (!!) by JZM. Since the last change the car has covered only 6000 miles though.

I've not changed the belt myself before but have read quite a few tutorials and feel confident. How hard can it be? Any top tips appreciated - like the need for any special tools?

Apart from the belt change there will obviously be an oil change and coolant change to do as a matter of course.

Other things that need doing are rear exhaust box and brake and suspension overhaul plus the paint has faded where it is original so thinking of a complete respray. The only rust that I know of is the lower part of one front wheelarch so a local repair to stitch in some new metal looks the way to go.

As tradition demands there should be a picture so here goes if I can figure out how to add it:

Welcome to the forum

If you're happy to get stuck in on working on cars then the belts shouldn't be too difficult for you. I managed to do it with a basic amount of tools. It's not too complex just time consuming so set aside probably a day for your first one if you plan to take your time.

I know there is a tool for the tension of the belts which will stop them from whining. I've only ever tensioned mine by hand though and so far have been successful (runs to touch wood). Also remember to recheck the tension after 1000miles as they do slacken a little bit.

Hi and welcome.

It looks very nice in that picture, i'd allow for four new tyres as well though

Google Bruce Arnn - Arnnworx. You cant go wrong with his special tools and theyre extremely keenly priced.

I'm guessing the rise in value has prompted the overhaul...

Thanks for the replies.

Yes - should have mentioned that I'm planning on new tyres.

I sussed out the Arnnworx tools and thought might be a good idea to buy the flywheel locking tool but not the tension gauge since the consensus seems to be they are not necessary/useless.

Recommissioning prompted by rising prices? Well I'm not planning to sell if that's what you mean although increasing values means spending money on the car makes more sense now. Another incentive is that I've just completed a big overhaul on my 993 (suspension, brakes, exhaust, air con and bodywork) and learned a lot that I can apply to the 944. In many ways the 944 is a better car than the 993 anyway (especially the way the doors close with a thud like a bank vault - not the tinny clang of the 993!).

Looking forward to it.

You don't need the locking tool either, unless you intend changing the water pump.

Which might not be a bad idea...

May also need some rollers as well, also oil seals, but I guess things will be clearer when the belts are off.

you need the lock tool to undo the crank pulley, you cant get the belts off otherwise

and you need it to do it back up 150lbs/ft

I would replace the crank oil seal and the oil pump drive gear sealing ring while your there

Thank you for all the advice.

Certainly won't be rushing the job as I want to do some cleaning and replacement of parts as I go (the airbox for example has some broken tabs courtesy of past attention by so-called professionals). So it will be a few days probably and give me plenty of time to assess what needs changing).

Been confusing myself today looking up part numbers for the front wishbones and comparing to the numbers on mine. It seems my car being a late turbo has the same specification as the 'Turbo S' but it's not clear if that includes the sports suspension. There's no M030 code on my VIN sticker so I guess not?

Welcome KS to the Forum -

You will get a lot of useful and practical advice on here and all well meaning. Although our front-end Porsches are very DIY friendly, I have to draw the line at doing the belts/water pump changes myself. You do need to have some specific tools, not forgetting a torque wrench, and good access under the car and all the new belts/rollers/sprockets have to be pretty precise of tolerance spec.

A reasonable easy job would be changing the clutch and brake fluids and the trans oil.

We all like up dated posts, so please let us know the progress...

Dave
S2 CT

Hi & welcome I've done belts & water pumps. The minimum you'll need is a flywheel locking tool, there is a lot of it. Typically it is a hard day or day & a half. A selection of tools plus a good knuckle bar with a bit of pipe for loosening/tightening of the crank pulley unless you have arms like popeye. A torque wrench for the other bits & possibly a Kriket for adjusting belt tensions although some adjust by feel (I've done both).
Change interval is 3 years or 45K miles (according to Gates) & failure is damaging to the engines & can destroy the 16Valves. Waterpumps can be a fiddle as the bolts break but otherwise apart from paying for them (they're expensive) are OK.
Clutches are a lengthy job as although the clutch is at the front dismantling starts at the back working forward. Book time for a turbo where the exhaust has to come off is 10 hours.