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Upgrades early 944
https://forums.tipec.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=9236		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Nobby369 [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 6:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Upgrades early 944
1982 944. Just a few general questions to help guide me in the direction I need to go.
1. Can an early model dash be replaced by the oval dash?
2. What is the function of the torque tube?
3. Are carpets, seats (manual), door cards interchangable across all 944's?
4. Does an '82 model exhaust legally require a cat?
5. Is there a carb conversion manifold and can it be done? (Twin 45's)
6. How low (suspension) can I go sensibly?

If any one out there is really good on electrical diagnosis I am offering a free weekend in our B&B in exchange for some help, now there's an offer you can't refuse :D
That's all for now but more to come as I get stuck in to this project. Happy Porking!
Author:  Lee 944 [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Upgrades early 944
I'm not one of the experts here, but here is my understanding of the issues you have asked about.

1. Yes, but things like the ignition switch don't line up exactly right so some more work needed.
2. It is the drive from the engine in the front to the gearbox in the rear.
3. Yes, but some runners required? Door handles? I think?
4. No.
5. ???? I've never tried.
6. A question of a, taste. b, road conditions. c, your spine. d, your capabilities as a mechanic. e, how deep is your wallet. and so on..........

Electrics, you would need Zola1, or an equivilant technician. However I feel it is more than a weekends work so you'll have to up the offer of a free holiday. :lol: Have you downloaded the manuals with the wiring diagrams?
Author:  J.J. [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 7:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Upgrades early 944
5. Seriously. When good S2's can be had for as little as 2.5K it just isn't worth it. Everything is possible but you have to weigh up the cost. Ninemiester spent thousands on fitting throttle bodies to the 944 & they didn't get a single HP out of it. Emarald is the way to go but your looking at 2K for the conversion. Pointless in the current market. A good tuned head & computer designed cam will give serious extra umph. But any weakness in your stock engine & you will just kill it sooner. The clutch will be the first to suffer. Then the cv's. Just buy Pauls S2 & save yourself the trouble! If I was starting now thats what I'd do. Just gone too far with mine to give up now. :roll:

Whos the chick draped on your bonnet??? :wink:

Edit 2 Bogg Brother's at Malton will make you a one off manifold for 3 to 500. It will both fit & work. You have to decide if it's worth it.
Author:  944BLOKE [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 8:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Upgrades early 944
Hi Nobby,in answer to your questions;
1 Well yes but it would be a hell of a job! :roll:
2 Wot Lee said!
3 They should all be interchangeable even 968 seats cos if they hadnt called it the 968 it would have been the 944 s3.
4 As Lee said.
5 Eh? Why?
6 Well that depends whether the car is going to be used mainly on the road or on the track.If the track then sure ,lower it but for road use you have to think about speed humps ,getting up over pavements into drives etc.
Great to see youve got a car in the fastest colour! :wink:
As for electronics I am the last person to ask but if you post your specific problems on here maybe someone has had the same in the past. Good luck Regards John :)
Author:  madrob6 [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 9:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Upgrades early 944
I'm sure I read a Porsche document somewhere regarding lowering early 944s put too much stress on the lower ball joints in the race cars so to enter they needed to be upgraded to the newer aluminium type.

Although seeing as the lower suspension arm is basically a Golf part and the VW lot seem to run with the car dragging itself across the tarmac it could just be a precaution and nothing to worry about on a road car.
Author:  944 Man [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 8:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Upgrades early 944
Nobby369 wrote:
1982 944. Just a few general questions to help guide me in the direction I need to go.
1. Can an early model dash be replaced by the oval dash?
2. What is the function of the torque tube?
3. Are carpets, seats (manual), door cards interchangable across all 944's?
4. Does an '82 model exhaust legally require a cat?
5. Is there a carb conversion manifold and can it be done? (Twin 45's)
6. How low (suspension) can I go sensibly?

If any one out there is really good on electrical diagnosis I am offering a free weekend in our B&B in exchange for some help, now there's an offer you can't refuse :D
That's all for now but more to come as I get stuck in to this project. Happy Porking!


1] Yes but its a massive job and beyond the scope of anyone who has to ask.
2] The torque tube ties the transmission and the engine together, put practically it carries the engine speed driveshaft to the transaxle
3] Seats and carpets are, but the door cards are tied to the dashboard - new will fit old, but not match.
4] No, not for more than a decade.
5] There isnt, but anything can be done if youre prepared to spend enough.
6] The suspension belongs where it is. It can be altered, but dont touch it until you understand what youre doing.
Author:  lindsayhbrown [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 8:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Upgrades early 944
Hello and welcome, in no particular order,
door cards aren't interchangable between oval and square dash (unless you change the dash),
carbs wouldn't be viable over the injection system,
lowering too far would as mentioned above put a lot of stress on the already probably worn ball joints,
torque tube is an enclosed prop shaft which forms an integral part of the chassis
Author:  Nobby369 [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Upgrades early 944
Thanks to lindsayhbrown, 944 man, mad rob6, 944 bloke, J.J. and lee 944 for their comments. I have decided to keep the car standard. Any ideas on how to repair the cracked dash? I know it will cost me an arm and a leg to get her up to scratch but I would rather breath life back into an old car than use the money to buy a nicer, newer model. Happy Porking guys! :D
Author:  David924S [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 12:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Upgrades early 944
Cracked Dashboards ar a problem particularly with early cars something to do with heat/cold shrinkage and the way the dash is fixed in the car.

There are companies that supply a dash cover, I think around £80-90 and these fix on top of the original dash, you can get paint on material to fill the cracks and then sand down and paint, or you could remove the dash and have it re-covered at an upholsterers.

When I had my 924S with a badly cracked dash I just lived with it as the dash covers (in my opinion) don't look good, I did not want to remove it for re-covering and I couldn't stand the mess of repairing it myself, but it's up to you how much else needs sorting to make the car useable before spending money on tidying it up cosmetically.
Author:  944 Man [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Upgrades early 944
Good dashboards are available from time to time, but youll have to be patient. Very early shiny black ones seem to have lasted better, so a 1977 or 1978 breaker might come up trumps.
Author:  lindsayhbrown [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Upgrades early 944
Have a look half way down here http://www.porscheshop.co.uk/acatalog/p ... decor.html
Author:  RH944 [ Tue Aug 17, 2010 11:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Upgrades early 944
There was an article on the cover dashboards in 911 & Porsche World a few months ago. I'll see if I can find it and PDF a copy for you
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