So I'm considering buying this 944 Porsche I found.

The perks: clean car, with only minor cosmetic damage to the H in the name "Porsche" on the rear end and a cracked dash on initial inspection. Garaged for 12 years giving it an odometer reading of 81,500 miles.

the drawbacks: It needs a new clutch and the engine mounts are bad. and the initial investment comes in at the tune of $4000

I've had a project car before (a 1967 Baja VW Bug - a completely different animal!), but tried to use it as my daily driver. I figured out that that was a bad idea, so now I do have a daily driver.

What I'd like to know is: can a modest backyard mechanic with an engine hoist expect to change the engine mounts and put in a new clutch on this type of porsche. I'd probably pull the engine and send it to the shop for the actual reapplication of the rear main seal, but otherwise, I'd do all the work myself. I was also thinking I may call one of those mobile mechanic guys to check my work from time to time.

Thoughts? tips? How much would you think the car is actually worth as it is?

The major holdup right now is the initial investment and the above question about repair. Also, the car does run currently, but it has the original clutch in it and there is considerable popping (when I test drove it) between 1st and 3rd gears as one shifts.

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There is absolutely no reason to pull the engine to do the clutch or RMS. Book time on an NA is about 12 hours, so expect that the first time around. I do them now on my lift now if just under 4 hours. You drop the transaxle out of the rear, shove the torque tube back, and then you have access to the clutch. Clutch kit (pressure plate, disc, throw out bearing, RMS, 9 flywheel bolts, 9 pressure plate bolts, clutch fork bearings, pilot bearing, and guide tube) will run you about $500-700 depending. If the clutch fork is worn, that will need to be replaced and is about $200. On a low mileage motor like yours, I would imagine it is ok though.

Motor mounts on an NA car are also easy. Again, no need to remove the engine, just put a support on it so you can lift it up a couple of inches. Motor mounts are typically about $120-150 for the set

For a shadetree mechanic, the garage shop manual at www.clarks-garage.com will be a lifesaver. His clutch procedure will literally walk you through every nut and bolt of doing a clutch job, among many other items, such as motor mounts.

 

Not to get sidetracked, but the motormounts are that easy? other than loosening the bolts, lifting the engine out will give you enough clearance? or is it necessary to loosen the crossmember, as per Clarks?

 

There are a few more steps, but they are not hard on an NA car.....on a turbo they are a pain. Loosening the crossmember is all of 4 bolts...that will take you about 30 seconds.

 

If its been in a garage for 12 years and just started and ran you may be looking at belts and hoses seals, if this is the case you would be better off to pull the engine and just go through it, do the clutch rear seal front seals and belts. The engine comes out the bottom best so like porschedoc said look at clarks to see what youll need to do. None of it is to hard.