NEW PROJECT: I lifted my Porsche 944

[@kraabol.mp4]

Yes! Finally a lifted a 944, I definitely want to see a 928

[@tfrasca]

That would be bad ass. Maybe if I LS swap my 944 it'll seem more like a lifted 928.

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

🤮

[@944cruze]

I need a lifted 944 in my life

[@kevinkyser1274]

I always liked the 944…great looking car….the safari build is a great, unique idea….can’t wait to see more!

[@drunvert]

That was funny AF. Especially you doing donuts. My 944 is way too nice to do stuff like this, but if I had a beater this looks like a blast

[@tfrasca]

Yeah, the longer I have this thing, the more I notice it’s not nearly as clean as I thought it was when I bought it. So naturally, let’s give it a slow death by gravel.

[@rustyintheoutdoors]

“…make it handle and look worse” 😂 Top notch video man, been secretly hoping you’d make more 944 content! 🤌

[@tfrasca]

Thanks! I'm pretty excited about this. Can't wait to make some videos actually driving it.

[@alorrick7546]

BRO you made me so happy today! like im mid build AGAIN on my sick obsission the 944 since highschool and its become a safari build issue! 944 fest 2023 i blew the motor and been working on that and rebuilding the bushings and everything else for RALLY!

[@tfrasca]

Sounds like a fun project!

[@RedRoofGarage]

Good call on leaving the torsion bars in. I've seen guys with catastrophic suspension failure converting to coilovers and removing their TB. I also kept my TB when converting to YellowSpeed Gravel Coilovers. At least you can "limp" home if the bottom shock mount snaps bc the TB will still hold the weight of the vehicle. Enjoy your newly lifted 944!

[@tfrasca]

Ah, that’s good (not for those people) to hear that my concern is valid. And yeah, even if it’s not taking all the weight, a lower bolt failure with the TB in can still be driven.

[@RedRoofGarage]

@tfrasca142 definitely can, my buddy broke his at the Rallycross event at 944fest last year and he has the same setup as me. He was able to drive his car 9hrs back home with only 3 coilovers 😳

[@CarlAshfield]

Amazing video. I’ve been wanting a Porsche 944 for awhile now and wanted to lift it. I’ve never done any mechanical work though, but I’ll give it a go 👀

[@tfrasca]

If I can inspire only one person to take on a dumb project, I’ve done my job.

[@jasonwishart6800]

Love it. If you haven’t re indexed the rear torsion bars for the new ride height the cantilever bolt will be taking the majority of the bump before the torsion bar engages. Keep an eye on the bolts bending. Also, unless you have set those coil over spring rates appropriately you might have a lot more rear wheel spring rate than front. This could make it oversteer.

[@tfrasca]

I thought about that bolt still taking more than it would at stock ride height, but figured it’s still better than no torsion bar. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on the bolt. Also, you’d think the rear spring+torsion bar would be much stiffer than the front, but it doesn’t feel that way. Again, I haven’t been able to put many miles on it as it’s not aligned yet. But I do think I’ll end up with softer springs all around, eventually.

[@Neosho1337]

@@tfrasca You can help the bolt resist bending by putting a larger outer diameter spacer in the position between the shock and suspension - the spacer will provide additional support when the bolt starts to flex. As it is, I don't think that spacer is too thin to resist shock loading from big hits very well, as the mating surface on the torsion bar is much larger and it looks like just a thin aluminum assembly. The ideal setup would be a shoulder bolt with the minimum amount of threaded length in the spacer itself - I'd start with an outer diameter matching the clean area on the suspension assembly and step it down to mating side of the shock at the end. Then the majority of the loading under hard hits would transfer into the spacer and then the suspension assembly, as opposed to relying mostly on the bolt.

[@tfrasca]

Yup, I agree with everything you've said here. Maybe it's a good excuse to get that lathe I've been wanting...@@Neosho1337

[@blakecable7088]

The overextended the stock suspension height the torsion bars will be doing a little or no holding upwards of the car

[@tfrasca]

I figure they’re still doing a little, and as the car sags further into the travel, they’ll be doing more to help take at least some of the load off the lower shock bolt. I’m thinking of it as almost a progressive bump stop, if you will.

[@JT-or6sg]

You have those front jack stand on the rails they use to hold the car on the factory floor assembly line not for jack stands they are further in and closer to the engine. The back ones are fine but apparently the other points have been know to some what fail/collapse. Just don't want a fellow 944 drive to get hurt or have to do a bunch of unnecessary body work

[@tfrasca]

Good call, thanks for the heads up. I'll start using those inner frame rails. On my car, the frame rails are a little deformed, presumably from someone using them incorrectly, which is why I didn't want to use them again. But I just looked on Clark's Garage, and you're right.

[@Whallis]

Wonderful video! I have intended to do exactly the same updates on my 944 in the future. But I have to take the opportunity to ask one thing, did you not reindex the torsion bars at all? Did it go well though? They didn't oppose each other? I also like your other builds very much so I hope for more films in the future.

[@tfrasca]

Hey, thanks! I didn't touch the torsion bars at all. It seemed ok, but to be honest, I have sold the 944 and never really got to beat on it off road. If anything, the rear total spring rate was a bit stiff. I was going to mess with lighter springs, but never got around to it before it sold.

[@Whallis]

@@tfrasca Awesome! Then I will start by not touching it at all and I will have to test my way later. Many thanks for your reply and good luck with your other builds. As a Swede, you like to see Volvos and Saabs, of course. :-)

[@ryanreinhart1834]

I love your music selection here! Any link for this tune?

[@tfrasca]

Thanks! The first song? It's Night Stalker by Wave Saver.

[@ryanreinhart1834]

More those jazz tunes you post. You should leave song titles in your summary cause your music is very well selected

[@TheNorthernExplorer]

That’s a very nice Porsche!

[@tfrasca]

Thanks!

[@spedasaurusrex]

holy crap I hope you blow up, subbed this is awesome

[@tfrasca]

Thanks!

[@ansonm17]

I'm building a 924S for a rally around Montana and am looking at using the Ceika's, you mentioned yours were too stiff, which setup did you get?

[@tfrasca]

I got the Ceika lift coilovers, with what they called "comfort" spring rates and damping range. And to be fair, they want you to remove the torsion bar, which would have made the spring rate pretty much perfect, I think. Also, I sold this car to a guy who's doing rally cross, and he said it's been good.

[@ansonm17]

@tfrasca142 good to know. I was thinking about keeping the torsion bar as well as I really don't want a snapped bolt in the mountains somewhere

[@tfrasca]

@@ansonm17 Yeah, that was my logic too.

[@STEFFENISDAMAN]

With the lift and the new tires did you have any problems with rubbing?

[@tfrasca]

@@STEFFENISDAMAN none that I ever noticed.

[@agrameroldoctane_66]

Great video. Can you post link to coil-overs you used? Thx.

[@tfrasca]

Thanks! Here’s that link: ceika-store.com/collections/custom-coilovers/products/ceika_custom_coilovers_for_porsche_944_na_-86-91

[@agrameroldoctane_66]

@@tfrasca 👍

[@florider_hd]

Ok it's a nice looking car but never in my entire life of thinking would I come to the conclusion that it looks better than a 911 😂❤

[@tfrasca]

I can’t believe you’re the first person to challenge me on that.

[@rbarnard264]

Awesome build love it

[@tfrasca]

Thanks!

[@chappardababbar]

Great video. Question - if you raise the ride height (I assume by using longer shocks and longer springs) don't you end up changing the geometry of the suspension?

[@tfrasca]

Definitely. As the ride height goes up, the camber goes more positive, and the toe goes in. Castor will also be affected, but the hope is that it can all be corrected with an alignment. Once I get the tie rods in and get it aligned, I'll make an update on the ride height and what (if anything) I had to change.

[@chappardababbar]

@@tfrasca I suppose worst case it's a matter of custom making shorter and/or longer suspension arms.

[@tfrasca]

Yeah, longer front control arms would help with camber, but I won't be doing that on this car. Playing around with the camber plates on the front, I was able to get visually more negative camber than needed, so I think it'll work out. I don't know about the rear, though. Will have to wait to see what the alignment tech says. @@chappardababbar

[@eddysgarage851]

Looks really good! I’m about to do that to my ‘88 944. You mind posting a link to the coil overs you used?

[@tfrasca]

Thanks! Here’s that link: ceika-store.com/collections/custom-coilovers/products/ceika_custom_coilovers_for_porsche_944_na_-86-91

[@jaydrathsinhpuwar]

I guess I will be one of the OG's when you get famous .

[@C.C.Sinclaire]

i like builds that are just "what if i went thru with this dumb idea". love offroad cars that shouldnt be offroad cars, love the 944 so this is real good

[@tfrasca]

Thanks. I've been trying to just go through with dumb ideas more often. Turns out, it's pretty fun.

[@DAMDIndustries]

This is rad

[@koeda7240]

Fog lights on the bottom make it look all 🤓

[@tfrasca]

100% agree. Little buck toothed Porsche.

[@tomthompson7400]

we only got the nine four four here ,,, whats a nine forty four , is it different ,, ??

[@tfrasca]

Did you also get the nine one one, or do you call it a nine eleven?

[@chromaventure]

Its a Nine Hundred and eleven@@tfrasca

[@tomthompson7400]

@@tfrasca good point ... are they made from aloominum ,, we got the aluminium ones too

[@tfrasca]

Yeah, that's a key difference between the 944 and the 944. We got them aloominumb trailing arms. @@tomthompson7400

[@tomthompson7400]

@@tfrasca it looks great with a lift all the same ,,, way better than all this lowering carry on ,,,, a big wippy Ariel would finish it well ,,,

[@chromaventure]

What jack stands are those 2:14 ?

[@tfrasca]

The best Harbor Freight had 10+ years ago.

[@smaxap]

nice car

[@bp9749]

Love it!!!

[@chromaventure]

Awesome! Does that phone still work?

[@tfrasca]

Not currently, but I did recently see a video where a guy got his working with modern bluetooth, so maybe if I get bored enough...

[@agulhasmedia]

as someone who is restoring their 944, and loves safari builds and is so tempted to do a 'safari build' on my 944 one day... i enjoyed this.

[@tfrasca]

Glad to hear it!

[@nobodyshero200]

Cool

[@fixyourautomobile]

Doing the same thing with one I just picked up for $1k.

[@tfrasca]

$1k is a smoking deal. I paid 4 for mine and still feel pretty good about it.

[@jeorgelowpez2069]

Who in the fk actually thinks this is objectively better looking than the 911? 😂

[@tfrasca]

Haha, I reply thought more people would take that bait.

[@jeorgelowpez2069]

@@tfrasca looking forward to seeing more of your “safari build” You could describe it as Aussie build too 🤔

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

And now its ruined.🤣🤣🤣

[@tfrasca]

By many metrics, it’s absolutely ruined.

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

@@tfrasca Germans believe in purity, Ferdinand Porche engendered that car to road race not to go mudding its ruined. Ach du bist ja nicht mehr so viel Spaß gemacht und Schlaf schön meine süße Träume und Schlaf.

[@tfrasca]

@@Workerbee-zy5nx that’s the cool thing about owning a vehicle. You can do whatever you want with it. How is your 944 set up? Also “Germans believed in purity” isn’t the best hill to die on…

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

@@tfrasca would you 4x4 a classic jag and Ferrari? If so then you should settle on a jeep..🤔

[@tfrasca]

@@Workerbee-zy5nx first of all, a non-turbo 944 base model isn’t a rare or particularly sought after car. And secondly, I already have a 4x4 Land Rover. The fact that you’re equating a sports car with mild all terrain tires to a purpose built off-road 4x4 tells me you don’t know much about off-road vehicles. Enjoy keeping your 944 stock, like Ferdinand intended.