It’s great that you caught the tensioner failure early before the plastic roller completely crumbled. I’ve seen that type of failure result in all 8 valves being bent and destroyed as the timing belt slips out of time but the engine keeps running. Most people expect to hear excessive bearing noise to indicate a failure of the tensioner roller, but with 30-year old plastic and the high tension of the belt, they can crack before the bearing wears out. How’s the car been holding up these past months?
Here's an interesting question: Did you call it before I even found it? (...I don't know how clear the audio is though, so it might have been a bit of a toughie?) You're much more experienced than I am which means many of these noises sound so similar to each other to me?! 😅 And the car has been going well - with the exception of some of the issues I need to deal with - but that has been delayed as I have been in talks with a sponsor and they'd like to be a part of that journey. How is yours doing? How often is she on the road? ...oh, and you've really set the bar high for the rest of us, which I'm very grateful for!
@@GTArmstrong Haha! No, I hadn’t pin-pointed the issue that specifically from the audio. With all the pulleys and rollers on the front end, there’s quite a bit that can go wrong. My first guess would have been collapsed engine mounts though, as that’s very common on these cars and creates quite a clatter. Having a sponsor would be pretty cool, as long as you can maintain creative control. And it would make for fewer costs to explain to the wife. 😂 I try to take mine out as much as possible, which never ends up being as often as I’d like. The car is doing well, steady progress, discovered a couple new fluid leaks this month - lower balance shaft housing seal and power steering rack. So I’ll be sourcing a new rack shortly to refresh the power steering system.
@@NC944er - Engine mount issue noted! Thanks! Yes, exactly, the sponsorship is all about cost reduction and familial peace and contentment 😁 ...and yes, creative control is a must and they have acknowledged this. Yeah - that front end damage was a painful thing to see and must have been a but more painful to experience - but an interesting experience nonetheless as the rebuild was underway? Haha - and thank goodness for power steering in these cars - they are tough to turn without it...which I've experienced a couple of times at startup after not driving it for a few days...so a great reason to get that rack sorted! Where did your 944 interest originate and how long have you been an owner? (I know this one is in year four now.)
@@GTArmstrong Yeah, despite the initial accident damage, the front end rebuild ended up being pretty fun. 😂 I wasn’t terribly concerned going into it, outside of the welding work since I don’t have equipment for that. And now it has a bunch of new parts that I otherwise wouldn’t have thought about replacing beforehand. My brother and I owned quite a few 1980s “wedge cars” growing up 25 years ago - various Mazda RX-7s, the Toyota MR2, Nissan 240sx, and the like - and the 944 was one that we always envied while it being just out of reach at the time financially. This is my first ownership experience, but I studied the market and common issues religiously for 2 years prior to making the purchase. As you know, it’s a challenging, yet rewarding hobby.
Like you, I love my 944 but am not brave enough to pull it apart like you do. I did want a leave a note to tell you how impressed I am with the quality of your videos. Are you shooting by yourself?
Thank you! ...as for bravery - it's because I've already resigned myself to the fact that I'm very likely to do something that is going to destroy this engine at one point or another 😅 Yes, for the most part, I'm shooting this by myself - but I do occasionally ask a friend or my wife to come and help point the camera if needs be. Thanks again!
Don't be put off by the complexity of the car (it really isn't). Start with small repairs and expand that slowly, once you've done small repairs it doesn't mean anything afterwards. Always think carefully and double check what you have done. There is also a lot of information on the internet and like @Gareth's videos are really helpful. I started almost 10 years ago in exactly the same way (as a freshmen), my first car was a Porsche 944, I still have it. I do about 99% of all the maintenance myself, because of all the knowledge I have gained I now also do the maintenance of my daily car and the cars of others (parents and friends) as a hobby (and it also saves a lot of money). (Bigger) Repairs I did so far: distribution, waterpump, head gasket, total brake+lines rebuild, total fuel system rebuild (pump and lines). Up next winter doing a total front and rear suspension rebuild. Good luck!
@@GTArmstrong if you are a car guy the 944 is a great unit !!! Had plenty of practice keeping this alive and on track for 10 years!!😀😀😀📸🚘🚘🚘🏁 ua-cam.com/video/oaIYffwo1DI/v-deo.html
It’s great that you caught the tensioner failure early before the plastic roller completely crumbled. I’ve seen that type of failure result in all 8 valves being bent and destroyed as the timing belt slips out of time but the engine keeps running. Most people expect to hear excessive bearing noise to indicate a failure of the tensioner roller, but with 30-year old plastic and the high tension of the belt, they can crack before the bearing wears out. How’s the car been holding up these past months?
Here's an interesting question: Did you call it before I even found it? (...I don't know how clear the audio is though, so it might have been a bit of a toughie?)
You're much more experienced than I am which means many of these noises sound so similar to each other to me?! 😅
And the car has been going well - with the exception of some of the issues I need to deal with - but that has been delayed as I have been in talks with a sponsor and they'd like to be a part of that journey.
How is yours doing? How often is she on the road? ...oh, and you've really set the bar high for the rest of us, which I'm very grateful for!
@@GTArmstrong Haha! No, I hadn’t pin-pointed the issue that specifically from the audio. With all the pulleys and rollers on the front end, there’s quite a bit that can go wrong. My first guess would have been collapsed engine mounts though, as that’s very common on these cars and creates quite a clatter.
Having a sponsor would be pretty cool, as long as you can maintain creative control. And it would make for fewer costs to explain to the wife. 😂
I try to take mine out as much as possible, which never ends up being as often as I’d like. The car is doing well, steady progress, discovered a couple new fluid leaks this month - lower balance shaft housing seal and power steering rack. So I’ll be sourcing a new rack shortly to refresh the power steering system.
@@NC944er - Engine mount issue noted! Thanks! Yes, exactly, the sponsorship is all about cost reduction and familial peace and contentment 😁 ...and yes, creative control is a must and they have acknowledged this.
Yeah - that front end damage was a painful thing to see and must have been a but more painful to experience - but an interesting experience nonetheless as the rebuild was underway? Haha - and thank goodness for power steering in these cars - they are tough to turn without it...which I've experienced a couple of times at startup after not driving it for a few days...so a great reason to get that rack sorted!
Where did your 944 interest originate and how long have you been an owner? (I know this one is in year four now.)
@@GTArmstrong Yeah, despite the initial accident damage, the front end rebuild ended up being pretty fun. 😂 I wasn’t terribly concerned going into it, outside of the welding work since I don’t have equipment for that. And now it has a bunch of new parts that I otherwise wouldn’t have thought about replacing beforehand.
My brother and I owned quite a few 1980s “wedge cars” growing up 25 years ago - various Mazda RX-7s, the Toyota MR2, Nissan 240sx, and the like - and the 944 was one that we always envied while it being just out of reach at the time financially. This is my first ownership experience, but I studied the market and common issues religiously for 2 years prior to making the purchase. As you know, it’s a challenging, yet rewarding hobby.
Like you, I love my 944 but am not brave enough to pull it apart like you do. I did want a leave a note to tell you how impressed I am with the quality of your videos. Are you shooting by yourself?
Thank you! ...as for bravery - it's because I've already resigned myself to the fact that I'm very likely to do something that is going to destroy this engine at one point or another 😅
Yes, for the most part, I'm shooting this by myself - but I do occasionally ask a friend or my wife to come and help point the camera if needs be. Thanks again!
Don't be put off by the complexity of the car (it really isn't). Start with small repairs and expand that slowly, once you've done small repairs it doesn't mean anything afterwards. Always think carefully and double check what you have done. There is also a lot of information on the internet and like @Gareth's videos are really helpful. I started almost 10 years ago in exactly the same way (as a freshmen), my first car was a Porsche 944, I still have it. I do about 99% of all the maintenance myself, because of all the knowledge I have gained I now also do the maintenance of my daily car and the cars of others (parents and friends) as a hobby (and it also saves a lot of money). (Bigger) Repairs I did so far: distribution, waterpump, head gasket, total brake+lines rebuild, total fuel system rebuild (pump and lines). Up next winter doing a total front and rear suspension rebuild.
Good luck!
Well done !!! Your friend from Pennsylvania!!-😁😁😁🚘🚘🚘🍺🍺🍺
Thank you 😁 …it’s been and interesting learning journey so far but really great!
@@GTArmstrong if you are a car guy the 944 is a great unit !!! Had plenty of practice keeping this alive and on track for 10 years!!😀😀😀📸🚘🚘🚘🏁 ua-cam.com/video/oaIYffwo1DI/v-deo.html