83 944 Track/Road car £2,250 ono updated

[CV35Ian]

Update on this, I've not really gelled with this car and have my eye on something else with a V8 in it (in fact i've committed to buy it!!). I suspect it will be a great car/rolling project for someone but in reality, not me. If it doesn't sell i'll squirrel it away for a rainy day/regained enthusiasm.

As you will already know from reading this thread:
Bought as a runner with suspected HG failure and part prepped for respray last year. After lots of faffing we got car running beautifully, couple of long runs etc only for the newly rebuilt head to have a sticky valve- somewhat miffed!

Well I've had it fixed now, few quid on parts and labour, plus my boss (builds racing engines as a hobby) came over and helped reassemble and check the oily bits, I've just got to refit the rad etc and we should be up and running.

However as the car has already cost me lots more than hoped (hence my Stag still has saggy seats!). Its still probably time to call it a day for me..............

So what do you get if you are to take this one on (and give me with some pennies first!)

83 944 8v reg A44 VOM (not transferable), MOT to May 2018, mileage showing as 50K, suspect its 150K
Solid shell part prepped for respray, cills all done, sunroof - only found out how to take this out recently! Both bonnet and rear hatch struts must have been replaced as both items open smoothly and stay in place (no bumps on head).
Interior stripped out, no rear seats, two reclining bucket seats fitted with new Safety Devices half cage bolted in and new 4 point harnesses (not race spec), momo flat bottom wheel, and yes the dash is cracked!
Engine - standard bar K&N filter (have original box) valve cover off at moment, the head was refurbished in April so all's well there. It was fully serviced with new W Pump, belts/tensioners etc in April and new battery in July, new oil, fuel and oil filters and coolant.
Gears/brakes etc all spot on - think suspension is not standard as seems slightly lower and firmer than one I went in recently
4 cookie cutters with decent tyres - rims dull but will polish up ok

Electrics all work (bar interior light!) inc
aerial - love it!
rear hatch release working
all lights function as they should
interior fan works on all speeds
rad fan cuts in as it should, also has manual override wired in

The cage, seats and wheel were £600 plus fitting costs, I've got a file of receipts going back to 2000 ish plus a few MOTs so I'm certainly not going to give it away...................so if anyone is interested, let me know.

Car is inside and available for viewing/collection from just off J12/13/14 M40 (near Kineton/Wellesbourne) - I'll need a day or so's notice re test drives as i;ll need to tax and insure it.
Message me your phone number/email address for photos.

Might accept cheaper PX (Bike or Car) - but must be vaguely interesting/quirky.............

Thanks

Ian

[Sean Smallman]

I feel for you

[CV35Ian]

I feel for you

Blimey I thought you were Chakka Khan until you didnt continue with 'I love you'

Thanks, for the Imojie.

I've learned a few things re problem solving and the Blast to Bristol and Back via Birmingham was a hoot - worth a few quid in itself. Seriously I know when to admit defeat, and need to keep mechanic friend onside re my other vehicles' requirements!!

Ian

[CV35Ian]

Well all quiet on the ebay and other fronts, however Ive basically been offered £1,500 against another 80s car (but a much less complex one!!), so I suppose that cant be far off mark as a px.

So if anyone wants to offer me £1,500 (or more if they are feeling philanthropic!), I'd probably say yes and put the loss down to experience (or lack of!) or just bad luck.

Ian

[CV35Ian]

May as well start trying to sort it, car jacked up safely, so i'll be crawling about ready to remove engine over next couple of weeks.

It could yet be saved!

Ian

[Sean Smallman]

Brilliant, thats the spirit

[CV35Ian]

Brilliant, thats the spirit

Brave, inspired, stupid? Who knows - i'll keep you posted...................might try and get Alternator and starter off tonight, plus disconnect PAS pump - then its disconnecting and labelling the loom, undo exhaust etc etc etc

[woolie]

It can be saved....

[CV35Ian]

Slow progress as Goodwood got in way!!
Another hour on it tomorrow night

[CV35Ian]

Slow progress as Goodwood got in way!!
Another hour on it tomorrow night

And that hour got eaten up with refitting the main alternator mounting bolt on the Stag that mysteriously disappeared on way home from Goodwood.............how do you lose a 5 inch bolt that is difficult enough to fit in the first place! Still we now have a properly tensioned belt and 14 volts instead of 10 with all electrics on!

[CV35Ian]

So - we are getting there slowly:
starter motor off;
inlet manifold off;
injectors etc off;
can't free alternator top mounting bolt at moment but i think I can move it enough to get engine out cleanly when time comes.

Have a very nice chap interested in it to drop his newly rebuilt Turbo engine in, depends really on his offer, I have also considered breaking it but that would be a real shame and I think it would take time to shift all the bits.

Bizarrely, just after I bought the car there was a rebuilt 944 8v engine for sale in Warwick, just down the road - didnt buy it as at the time, I thought I wouldn't need it.............another case of hindsight!

Ian

[CV35Ian]

So this weekend.....
Gave up on alternator bolt, took alternator off complete with bracket!
all flywheel (is that what they call them) hex bolts off with relative ease so engine and final drive now separated;
cooling system drained;
radiator off - actually came out by mistake but who cares!
4 of 8 exhaust to head bolts removed - ran out of time!
Almost got PAS pump off;

Now, odd one here, the bolts holding the exhaust pipe to the top pipes that go to the head are imperial - 13mm too big, 12mm too small, 1/2 inch perfect - is that simply down to a PO replacing the bolts with what he had in the tool box!

As long as I can get engine mounts undone, I think lump can come out next weekend - at last.

Ian

[Prophead]

So this weekend.....
Gave up on alternator bolt, took alternator off complete with bracket!
all flywheel (is that what they call them) hex bolts off with relative ease so engine and final drive now separated;
cooling system drained;
radiator off - actually came out by mistake but who cares!
4 of 8 exhaust to head bolts removed - ran out of time!
Almost got PAS pump off;

Now, odd one here, the bolts holding the exhaust pipe to the top pipes that go to the head are imperial - 13mm too big, 12mm too small, 1/2 inch perfect - is that simply down to a PO replacing the bolts with what he had in the tool box!

As long as I can get engine mounts undone, I think lump can come out next weekend - at last.

Ian

Good effort.
There should not be any imperial bolts so they have been changed or corrosion has affected the size.

[CV35Ian]

Update:

After much head scratching with a friend who always carries his overalls in the car, we removed the 'refurbished head' on Saturday only to find a damaged/bent valve.............mixed feelings, happy its not rings/bores but very annoyed that a part I paid to have rebuilt professionally has apparently failed.

Not going to go overboard with vindictiveness, so garage has asked the firm to redo the head (or supply a replacement) and pay for labour to put top end back together........I did the taking apart so thats free and I've learned quite a lot!

Updates at some stage once I know whats happening - hoping to limit my costs to a new gasket set!

Ian

[CV35Ian]

It can be saved....

Depending on outcome of talks with head rebuild firm, it should be - if head not salvageable i'll be in touch as I see you have one listed on fleabay.

Met your dad at last month's Kineton gathering (apparently)..............I'll be there Thursday in the Stag for the 'Sunset Meet'.

Ian