Today Marks 3 Years of 924 Turbo Ownership (AMA)

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
05/05/2020 at 11:00 • Filed to: 924 turbo

Three years ago, my super depressed and questionably-intentioned arse traded what was until then, my dream classic “not a 911" Porsche that could be describe as “mint-condition” for a comparatively forlorn and abandoned-looking 924 that hadn’t run or been driven in over 10 years and with no solid diagnosis as to why.

Three years of hard work, guts, creativity, highs and lows, and pure bread stubbornness that crawled outta those lows, it’s my greatest triumph. If someone had told me I’d own a Porsche Turbo before 25, I’d have asked them “in what world, what 911, and how ”.

And yet, here I am, and I’m very happy. So, ask away if ya want!

DISCUSSION (14)

vondon302 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/05/2020 at 11:05

So how broke are you?

Jk Congrats and well done!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > vondon302
05/05/2020 at 11:12

Somehow, I’ve got more money saved up now than I did back then! Hooray for adulting a bit smarter, I guess?

Thanks!

vondon302 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/05/2020 at 11:26

Woo hoo for Adulting!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/05/2020 at 11:42

It looks fantastic, you have done a fine job bringing this old Porsche back to life.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/05/2020 at 12:18

Looks fantastic! Well done!

W hat was the hardest part of the project for you?

Also, I seem to recall you got it painted at Maaco and did your own prepwork and disassembly/reassembly. What was that experience like? Did you have previous bodywork experience?

Rex Sheldon > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/05/2020 at 12:43

What’s the story on the silver Magnum I see popping up in the background of your photos? I’m a Magnum owner myself, quite a happy one too. I’m just starting to dig through all your posts to read the history on this Porsche

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/05/2020 at 12:46

The hardest thing was probably reinst a lling the bellhousing while maintaining the position and alignment of the clutch fork. The locking pin for the fork can only be installed once the bellhousing is bolted onto the block, and you’re trying to hold it in place as you hold up and finangle the bellhousing into place underneath the car. I got the job done with help, but even four hands was a bit of a struggle. That said, it’s probably easier to do a clutch job with the engine out, and I didn’t.

I’d disassembled the car as far as possible, fenders, lights and trim, door handles, and anything I could remove was removed for the repaint. I didn’t do any wetsanding or filler-work. It was a very straightforward experience. I drove the car over initially, showed them the flaws and areas in need of repair, they gave me their opinion on what kinda paint would be best for my desired result (single stage), and I took it back home, tore it down, and towed it back. Turnaround time was maybe 3-4 weeks.

I’d never done bodywork of any kind before, but I did watch some videos and read a bit on it just in case I needed to.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Rex Sheldon
05/05/2020 at 12:53

It’s my dad’s ‘05 Magnum, and it’s honestly a PITA/POC nowadays. He got it new as a company car back in ‘05, they let him keep it when they laid him off in ‘08 because it had racked up so much use and miles that it wasn’t worth much anymore. It’s got the 2.7L V6 (sludge motor) and about 215k on the odometer. And every couple of months, something new starts to fail. It was the alternator/voltage regulator/who knows for the last few weeks....Not sure if it’s fixed now. One of the valve covers has been weeping oil for a few years now.

It’s an absolute beater nowadays that gets from A to B that has transcended it’s life expectancy and design flaws and refuses to die.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/05/2020 at 14:12

That clutch job sounds like a pain in the ass! I helped my buddy do a clutch job in his Pathfinder, engine in, but I imagine we had a bit more room to work under that.

The body on your 924 looks great, I think you did a great job . I’ve learned paint is all in the prep work, so you did a great job, and it looks like Maaco did a good job as well. I love that color, too.

I’m about to embark on fixing up a janky Volvo 240 that needs some moderate body work - no major bashed in fenders or anything thankfully. But I’m going to fab front and rear roll pans and eliminate the big plastic crash bumpers, and I’ve got some rust spots to tackle and filling in holes where trim has been removed. Then it will need paint. So I’m keeping my options open and looking for a solution that will balance cost with looks/finished product. I probably wouldn’t have considered Maaco before, but I might now.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/05/2020 at 19:38

Other than that bit, everything else is straightforward and d irect.

I was for sure fortunate that even though it sat outside for so long, Porsche was pretty great about rustproofing their cars by the start of the 80s. Both myself, and Maaco had a good canvas to work with.

I’m of the opinion that Maaco can shoot paint well if you give them a good base, but that some Maaco locations are better than others. The one I went to was recommended by the Euro shop I take our cars to. They shoot new and classic cars so I had faith in them, and still do.

Best of luck with that Volvo! Swedish tanks, those. Definitely ask and look around, see what work they’ve done, and if they know their stuff.

Rex Sheldon > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/05/2020 at 20:36

That’s a bummer. The 2.7 is the lowest of the low of the LX platform. Mine is a 2006 RT AWD with the 5.7 Hemi. Best vehicle I’ve ever driven in the winter and I’ve been running it strong for 4 1/2 years now.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Rex Sheldon
05/05/2020 at 22:08

If it was at least the 3.5, then I’d probably care for it much more than I do now. But even then, even though the 2.7 is the lowest of the LX and even Dodge V6 lows, the one in our Magnum has my respect for living longer than it should. Those 5.7 Magnums are nearly perfect.

AdverseMartyr > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
05/06/2020 at 08:15

Ok, so this is about your writing. I greatly enjoy this write up; and therefore, question your intention about bread stubbornness. At what point does bread become stubborn? Is it when it’s half-baked, doesn’t want to rise, or burns before it’s time?

Or do you think it’s a result of how you bred the sourdough?Perhaps it got some yeast in there and is no longer purebred. ;)

In all seriousness though - it’s a good read, and I love that car in that blue.

Kinja'd!!!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > AdverseMartyr
05/06/2020 at 11:08

That’s a great question!

Just when you think the loaf should collapse on itself, too much or too little yeast, the loaf falls a little, then it slowly rises and rises and doesn’t burn, even when it should. It’s a very slow and stubborn bake of uncertainty to that perfect golden loaf. Ths 924 has become a fine loaf of brot, and still has all the room to rise, so I’m gonna get that yeast!

Also, I’d always imagined a Purebread French Bulldog being a baguette.