I Have a New Project - Porsche 944

"Joe6pack" (joe6pack) 01/17/2016 at 15:10 • Filed to: None

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Well gang, I really did it this time. I recently acquired a new project. Attached are pictures of the 1987 Porsche 944 that I recently purchased off of Craigslist for the “get it the hell out of my driveway” price of $600. In all honesty, the purchase actually took place last April. Please, hold your applause while I give you the details. You see, this gem had been sitting in the same spot, uncovered for - get this - 12 years . It seems that the previous owner parked it in 2003 due to a leaking water pump and it hadn’t moved since. Now you’re thinking, “you should’ve paid him $600 to keep it”.

My first experience with the 944 was that a kid from a relatively well to do family in my hometown got one as his first car. I don’t think he got it new, but being this was the late 80’s, it couldn’t have been more than a few years old. I remember asking him once how he like the Porsche. He replied that it was a piece of crap. It seems it spent more time in the shop than it did being useful transportation. It also seems that his had recently managed to snap the timing belt and had to be shipped off to Jacksonville as no local wrench could or would touch it. Thus, my first impression of 944s is that they were crap even when relatively new.

This is an impression that I kept over the years and the Internet has certainly done nothing to dispel the 944's reputation for unreliability. On Craigslist, they can be found in all states of (dis)repair with the most expensive non-turbo examples rarely cracking the $10k mark. I don’t know how many 944s Porsche actually produced, but based strictly on local Atlanta Craigslist ads, it must be somewhere around 4 million. It’s funny how some cars seem to survive like cockroaches and some just disappear even though they were made in substantial numbers. Try finding a decent 70’s Ford Capri for instance.

My initial impressions of the car are that it is relatively well built – the doors close with a nice thunk even after sitting 12 years. It is larger than expected – makes the 911 look small (see pic) and holy hell is it complicated. A front crankshaft reseal requires two seals, the balance shafts require three seals each and the camshaft has four - sheesh. And, that’s just to reseal the front. Given frequent service intervals, the expense of parts and the complexity of the all-important water pump/timing belt change, no wonder these things languish in driveways for decades. Honestly, based on the complexity and the sheer number of parts, I don’t see how Porsche managed to produce the 944 for less than the 911. The 911 is a much simpler, less needy machine.

I had originally intended to let you follow along with me on my adventure with this car, but I spent so much time on the car that I couldn’t be bothered to post anything. Thus, what I will be doing is more of a retrospective of the last 10 months.

See you soon.

Tekamul > Joe6pack 01/17/2016 at 15:17

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this gem had been sitting in the same spot, uncovered for - get this - 12 years

Brave. Maybe stupid, but definitely brave. I’m interested to see how it went.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Joe6pack 01/17/2016 at 15:22

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There’s been a red one sitting in a parking lot I can see from my apartment hallway since I moved there over a year ago, I’m curious to know how long it’s actually been there for but I can’t imagine it won’t be long.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Joe6pack 01/17/2016 at 15:26

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Well it looks like I’m no longer the only 911/944 Oppo here anymore. I’ve got to share the dubious honor with you.

Hello, new friend and counterpart.

Nick Has an Exocet > Joe6pack 01/17/2016 at 15:29

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You know, if ever there was a chassis that begged for a reliable LS swap, it’s the 944. It might be easier to do an LS swap than maintain that i4.

shop-teacher > Joe6pack 01/17/2016 at 15:38

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I look forward to the retrospective. You're a braver man than I.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/17/2016 at 15:40

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It’s funny, the way your cars are positioned in this pic, makes it look like the 911 is huge in comparison.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Joe6pack 01/17/2016 at 15:41

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Two old Porsches... You are very brave.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/17/2016 at 15:45

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Because the 944 is further in the garage compared to the 911.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/17/2016 at 15:47

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Oh I know, I just thought it was funny that your picture is like the opposite of OP's.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/17/2016 at 16:00

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I noticed that myself

Chasaboo > Joe6pack 01/17/2016 at 16:22

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What you’re doing is so cool. Wish I had the opportunity.

Joe6pack > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/17/2016 at 16:32

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I actually thought about you. Also note that you have two red and I have two blue.

Joe6pack > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/17/2016 at 16:34

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I think that K-Roll will back me up that the 944 is the larger car. It wins hands down in the ability to carry passengers/cargo.

Joe6pack > Nick Has an Exocet 01/17/2016 at 16:39

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That’s not the route I took though I would love to take a ride in an LS powered 944.

Porsche was my first word > Joe6pack 01/17/2016 at 16:40

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... I don’t know how many 944s Porsche actually produced, but based strictly on local Atlanta Craigslist ads, it must be somewhere around 4 million. ...

According to Wikipedia Porsche produced aroung 165,000 944s.

Looking forward to your retrosperspective.

Joe6pack > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 01/17/2016 at 16:54

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A 911 Carrera really is easy for the diy type with Beetle-esque simplicity. Brakes, gas, oil and the occasional valve adjustment and that’s about it. I’ve spent more time on the bloomin’ power convertible top than anything else.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Joe6pack 01/17/2016 at 17:02

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There are Capris out there. You gotta dig hard, but they’re out there. The problem was, they basically disolved if you were anywhere north of California. There at least 2 or 3 MK I’s for sale down there usually.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Joe6pack 01/17/2016 at 17:04

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I have no doubt, I was just making a casual observation.