I think I've got a good/stupid solution for driving a 944 in winter..

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
07/21/2014 at 11:04 • Filed to: Winter

To drive it! Stef is going to kill me for this...

I'll explain why. I reckon with enough preventative maintenance and some extreme modifications, it could survive one Michigan winter without a single issue, then I can save up more cash and get myself more than a $3k beater; something better.

Logically, my first concern is the underbody. What you see above is the belly of the car; I wasn't kidding when I said it's gone 118k miles and 30 years without seeing a winter. So I'm thinking of coating that belly with a LOT of rust protection(Rustoleum, POR-15, Hammerite, or whatever's best) to keep protect what's already clean underneath. I'd probably spend a day or two doing that work.

Up next would be body panels. Keeping that sexy red body clean. I don't how if wax would help in this situation, but seeing as it helps with rain and snow, I'm gonna put A LOT of wax coatings on the car before winter; and that should help some I think?

And then of course a set of cheap winter wheels and a good set of tires and I should be all set for one season. What do you guys think? Any recommendations for the rust protection or things I should add?

Once again, this isn't official, but just an idea.

DISCUSSION (50)

BenHowell > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 11:10

Cars like these are great fun in the snow, and they're pretty grippy with the right winter tires. Definitely undercoat the car, I can see that the stock coating is fading which could cause rust in the future even if you don't drive in the snow. I don't have any specific undercoat to recommend, but to prevent rust you can go to a car wash and use their power washer to blow all the salt off the car and out of the wheel wells.

Mattbob > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 11:11

I had a friend in college who drove a 968 in the winter. He put a good set of winter tires on it, and it handled great. As long as it wasn't super deep, I don't think he ever got stuck. As as rust, I don't know how it fared with all the salt. Didn't Porsche do a pretty good job with their rust proofing practices on most of those cars?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > BenHowell
07/21/2014 at 11:11

I heard that while a power wash is good, it can also push salt into places you can't see..

Brian Silvestro > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 11:12

OOOOOOHH, so NOW you're gonna drive it in the winter?!?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Mattbob
07/21/2014 at 11:15

I sure Porsche did an excellent job with rust-proofing, but it's 30 years old; I reckon adding to what's there couldn't possibly hurt it at all, and maybe even protect the original protection.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Brian Silvestro
07/21/2014 at 11:15

I'm not doing it because I want to... :(

Brian Silvestro > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 11:17

No one *wants* to drive their car in the winter, it's just necessary.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Brian Silvestro
07/21/2014 at 11:20

I could go find some $500-1000 POS, and I'd want to drive that in the winter, but I don't want to drive a $500 POS. I could save up and get something nicer I reckon if I wait a year. I'll just have to see how this goes.

Flavien Vidal > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 11:21

It depends where you live... I've never had rust on any of my cars. I just clean the whole chassis once a month. If you deal with a city that puts A LOT of salt, it might be good to do it, but I don't think it's necessary...

Brian Silvestro > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 11:23

Or you can just move to the south. No winter, and they won't be able to comprehend what kind of fancy foreign car your driving.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Flavien Vidal
07/21/2014 at 11:30

Michigan, they use more salt than necessary. TOO MUCH SALT

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Brian Silvestro
07/21/2014 at 11:31

But School bruh...

Brian Silvestro > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 11:33

Yeah, you're right. Where I live is so cool. I'd never want to move.

GhostZ > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 11:35

Undercoat, salt bags in the trunk, winter tires. Done.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Brian Silvestro
07/21/2014 at 11:42

I have the Dream Cruise here. Not moving for anything! :)

miadaman? yes please > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 11:42

Coming from the great white north with 90s honda, I've found out that you can delay the rust but you can never escape it (unless you do what your buddy did and just not drive it). Definitely spray oil and wax, pay special attention to fuel lines, wheel well, door cracks and hinges. Wash regularly - especially if you park indoor and have heated garage.

Also if you notice any surface rust forming, try to take care of them before winter. Rock salt compounds the problem and sooner or later you'll wind up with chewed through panels and thousands of $$$ of bodywork.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > GhostZ
07/21/2014 at 11:42

What kind of undercoat?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > miadaman? yes please
07/21/2014 at 11:44

Rust sucks...I guess I should still try to find some winter car then...

GhostZ > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 11:44

Some kind of anti-rust coating. Of course, you'd have to make sure there wasn't already underbody rust. I'm not sure about specific brands and styles though, I've never done it myself.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > GhostZ
07/21/2014 at 11:52

There's no rust under the car right now. It's never seen salt in it's life.

miadaman? yes please > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 11:55

I think it's definitely doable if you have it professionally sprayed and diligent with the cleaning. Even better if you have an extra set of wheels for those stretch of extra salty weeks at your disposal - there's a reason why big portion of the winter cars on the road are either SUV or rust buckets (not the good kind either).

Then again, think of all the Jalop points!!

Manuél Ferrari > Brian Silvestro
07/21/2014 at 11:57

What is this "winter" you people speak of?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > miadaman? yes please
07/21/2014 at 12:01

Soo much Jalop points! Getting wheels would be no problem. It's dealing with rust that's the main issue.

Brian Silvestro > Manuél Ferrari
07/21/2014 at 12:05

Rusto stahp

Manuél Ferrari > Brian Silvestro
07/21/2014 at 12:08

Me later in the year: "oh yeah winter is coming"

You and K Roll:

Brian Silvestro > Manuél Ferrari
07/21/2014 at 12:08

*cries*

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 13:47

The underbody of a 944 should be coated from the factory, yours kinda looks like it's been stripped. Also, all Porsche's from I think sometime in the mid 70's on, the metal was all galvanized, so you've got a good amount of protection, but either way I would probably hit it up with some rustoleum, especially the control arms, oil pan, and exhaust system. It doesn't look like you have the belly pan on there either, 944online sells them, I would definitely pick them up.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Manuél Ferrari
07/21/2014 at 13:47

(-_-)

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Brian Silvestro
07/21/2014 at 13:48

It's okay:

Kinja'd!!!

We'll get through this shit!!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
07/21/2014 at 13:49

Belly pan? What's it look like and where does it go?

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 13:50

Kinja'd!!!

What are these 2 wires?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
07/21/2014 at 13:53

No idea. Guessing a jumper wire deal for the fuel tank or rear lights.I'll prolly insulate or wrap them up before winter.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 13:55

Belly pan, skid plate, tray cover, lots of different names but all the same thing, it's pretty much just a cover for the underside of your engine, to help protect that area and keep it clean, here is the link for the belly pan from 944online.

Also, I don't want to insult your intelligence if you are already aware, but if you are not, there is this site, clarks-garage, the guy has a write up for pretty much every single thing that has to do with a 944.

http://clarks-garage.com/

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 13:57

If it goes to the fuel pump, it's probably a jumper to bypass the DME relay, those are notorious for going bad, and if it goes bad while you are driving then you are stuck. I would recommend you always have a spare dme fuel pump relay in your car

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

But that looks like a questionable mod has been done, I would definitely see what it's hooked up too. These cars have a reputation for having dumbass previous owners that like to mess with the wiring harness. It happened to mine.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
07/21/2014 at 14:01

No worries, I've heard of both. I was a member on 944online before Rennlist and Pelican Parts when I was getting my uncle's 85.5

Forgot the password to 944online so I'm gonna do that again!

What do you think of Rustoleum?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
07/21/2014 at 14:02

Oh yeah! That was the first thing they recommended from 944online, that and stainless steel fuel lines. Mine are in pretty good shape and moved away from the hot intake manifolds and such.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
07/21/2014 at 14:04

Ahh alright, so you are a very well informed 944 owner then, my mistake.

I personally haven't used it, but rustoleum is always at the top of the list when it comes to rust proofing that I've seen, also, if you are very concerned about rust, you should look at painting every paintable surface underneath the car as well, good way to seal it.

Like that rear suspension looks like it could use some cleaning up and a reseal, don't let it get so bad you have to take it out. I've done it, I've got about 10 man hours in my rear suspension, and it almost cost me my hand, a weekend, and a few brain cells.

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 14:06

Speaking of the fuel lines, Porsche actually issued a recall about those fuel lines, so you may be able to have a Porsche mechanic fix it for you for free.

Don't forget stainless steel brake lines!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
07/21/2014 at 14:24

Forgot about the brake lines as well! Anything else I should do before winter?

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 14:41

Hmm, let me think. I would completely paint the entire exhaust system, a quick go over with some VHT should do it, I don't see it taking more then 2 or 3 cans. Take care of rust proofing your undercarriage, get a belly pan. I would rust proof the transmission too, it's pretty exposed out back, the last thing you need is for the metal strength to degrade so badly it punches a hole in itself.

I recently took apart my entire brake system, calipers were completely toast, if you haven't gone through them in a while I would recommend going through them and cleaning them up, rebuild kits are 20 for the front, 10 for the back. If you got the patience I would say paint them as well.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
07/21/2014 at 14:52

I will try to do all that if I can!

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/21/2014 at 14:59

Good luck man. The brakes are actually pretty easy, just make sure if you take the pot out, it HAS to the back in the exact way it came out.