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andymac1966

andymac1966

PCGB Member
Member
Morning Folks,
I'm needing a few things done to my 944 such as the belts and water pump (no evidence of these being done for some considerable time) and I wondered whether it would be a good idea to go to my local Porsche garage (Aberdeen) & get classic registered at the same time, or should I use an independent (in which case do any R1 members have a recommendation ?).

I'd like to think I'm competent enough in the garage, however looking at what's involved with the work above I think it better to leave to someone that knows what they are doing !

Andy

 
DIY Andy if you are competent in the garage as stated, no big shakes, buy Gates belts as fitted by your local Porsche centre at considerable mark up !
 
which Porsche center's personnel can service a 944 properly? I'd suggest perhaps only those who were involved with the recent transaxle restoration program and even then that may be a bit hit and miss. Do it yourself Andy, you'll learn more about the car and if you follow the Porsche manual's you'll do a far better job of it. Specialists are no better....been there, got the T-shirt.....never again

Pete
 
Thanks for the replies folks - looks like I'll give it a go then !

Dp you have any recommendations for oil and coolant for a 944 ? I was thinking about Castrol Magnatec (10/40 ?), not sure on coolant but guess not OAT ?

Andy
 
Andy...don't go near 'Magnatec' sir....it's very bad for the engine...I use Mobil 1 motorsport 10w60 myself.... JMG Porsche (Jon), some years ago wrote an article on why not to use Magnatec.

Pete
 
Any decent semi synth 10w40 is fine for an N/A 944. (I know this is contentious & I guess high ZDDP oils might be better, but these are old engines & pretty tough)
Mobil Super 2000 maybe?

Wasn't there a belt tensioning tool available to hire via PCGB? (also a flywheel locking tool maybe?)

Andy - If you're doing belts (and they haven't been done for ages), then also look at water pump, rollers and oil seals. You don't want to be revisiting this for a noisy bearing or minor oil leak later on.
 
For oil I'd use something that's got the amount of ZDDP that oils had when the 944 engine was designed. My belts are due again, last time I didn't follow the Porsche workshop manual, use a tensioning tool, or replace the water pump. I don't expect to replace the waterpump this time either. To my knowledge it will be at least the 3rd time the belts have been replaced with this water pump. There is a school of thought, that I subscribe to, that tensioning the cam belt when the engine is cold is a mistake that wears the water pump bearing prematurely. The cam belt is straight forward for anyone that's done timing belts before, the balancer belt is a fiddle. You have to recheck the belts after around 500 miles.
 
There's a lot of chat about doing belts on a 944. the truth of the matter is that if you've changed a belt before you can do a 944. You can borrow the tools to do it from the club or buy them yourself. I haven't got a belt tension gauge and don't feel the need for one, I do have the flat spanner and pulley tool though ( like a spanner with a round end and two pins on it ) however I don't think you even really need those. Watch some you tube videos to keep you right Van Svenson and Irina25661 are the best two to watch.
 
Agree -I made my own spanner from other -just cut a big slot in a plate spanner with my small grinder & modified a grinder pin wrench by cutting a slot in the bottom of the U -opened the pin pitch dimension to suit The pulleys , & welded up the slot.
Also made a flywheel lock from steel strip 20 x 3 mm.
 
vitesse said:
Agree -I made my own spanner from other -just cut a big slot in a plate spanner with my small grinder & modified a grinder pin wrench by cutting a slot in the bottom of the U -opened the pin pitch dimension to suit The pulleys , & welded up the slot.
Also made a flywheel lock from steel strip 20 x 3 mm.
Click to expand...


I did exactly the same about 17 years ago and there still going strong ????
 
I bought a flywheel lock tool from Porsche 30 odd quid, even the main dealers who have recently "restored" a transaxle car are not that good !
How do I know ?
A good mate bought one from auction which has had a full body shell strip restoration by a main dealer, bodywork is mint, the bodyshop had sealed the bulkhead drains, a gallon of water each side came out when he sussed it and unblocked them, loads of piddly bits of trim and fasteners missing, battery fitted with no clamp, headlamps not fastened in to the housing,passenger side door lock buggered, loads of seals and trims missing which were available to buy.
As Pete has said main dealers and specialists are not as good as most people think, I know of a couple of specialists down south in the London area who I would not let loose on a £500 banger from first hand experience.
Not my cars but friends, shocking work and top dollar !





 
Frenchy said:
As Pete has said main dealers and specialists are not as good as most people think, I know of a couple of specialists down south in the London area who I would not let loose on a £500 banger from first hand experience.
Not my cars but friends, shocking work and top dollar !
Click to expand...


nor north London Jim...bunch of cowboys...regarding changing belts...never needed a flywheel locking tool or belt tensioner...just check and double check that nothing moved as you fit the belt...1/4 twist tensions it(although to be fair my son does double check with a tensioner after fitting). Always crank the engine over (in the correct direction) by hand before starting...don't tighten the balance belt too tightly...if it whines when running it's too tight...main dealers and specialists have both been known to get this wrong
 
Thanks for all the feedback on this folks - so looks like I'll tackle the belts then !
I'll have a look at YouTube etc.

I see Frazerpart sell service and belt kits which look quite good value - would you agree or should I shop around.

I also agree that the water pump would be as well get done too - what sort of coolant should I go for ?

Had the car running this afternoon following replacement of the gear linkage and shifter - what a difference :)

Andy
 
Max at Frazerpart is an okay guy, read that reinforced belts are for sale now but unsure where, standard belts are fine though.
 
I use gates belts...I wouldn't use any other...you can get Kevlar but my son advised against....his reason at the time made complete sense but for the life of me, I can't remember it now.

Pete
 
Well I've certainly learned some more about motor oils now - never knew what ZDDP was all about until now !

I've looked at the different Mobil 1 options and the High Mileage 10W/40 looks good - is that what others use successfully ?

I also see that Duckhams are back and offer ZDDP in their oils. Has anyone used them (used that back in the day in my Mk1 Mini !).

Andy
 
+1 for Mobil 2000 X1.
Seems pretty good value for these sort of engines without the cost of Mobil 1.
 
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