Reassembling My $500 Porsche 944 REVEALED Even More PROBLEMS

[@starry_knite]

As a fellow owner, it's not always fun working on them, but once it's back together, it's a dream. Started with an 83, then 84 and now 86 951. Loved each one.

[@michaeltutty1540]

Getting so close now. Keep in mind that the electrical system is Robert Bosch. Things are multiplexed, so everything has to have the right feedback. It is the biggest nightmare of all in any of the cars with Bosch electrics. Lucas may have invented darkness, but Bosch refined it.

[@TakeFlightGarage]

I haven’t read any of the comments yet but just in case anyone hasn’t mentioned it yet, even if it was full with oil and coolant 944s will not run without that airflow meter! You need that airflow meter connected, coolant temp sensor on the block plugged in, and speed and reference sensors both need to be plugged in. The only sensor you can start the car without is the O2 sensor. It’ll just run pig rich 😂. Just a word to the wise incase anyone is diaging something. Way to go on all the work man love seeing these cars be brought back to life!

[@Hanky_Bannist8r]

This confirms that the only thing I like about the Porsche 944 is looking at them.

[@JonMichaelDeShazer]

One of my best friends has an 1989 944 in his garage that hasn't moved in years for this very reason.

[@loloberry5932]

Would be cool to have as house art lol

[@samuelfoote9135]

Y'all must not know they sell a conversopn adapter that bolts an corvette motor( same weight,double the power, more wiggle room aswell)directly to the porche trans

[@hestickney]

Well, I wouldn’t mind driving one. I just don’t want to maintain that garbage.

[@tempest411]

@@hestickney Geeze you guys are weak. I've got an '84 and an '87. They're not hard to work on.

[@trainmanbob]

The 944 is a wonderful machine if looked after properly. My friend is an ex UK racing driver and I went in his years ago when they first came out. It was sensational then and as a classic it sure is now. I know cash is king, but if you ever sell this please try and sell it to a collector or enthusiast....the car deserves it!!!! Cheers, Bob ib the UK

[@StarEquipment1]

I really enjoy 80s euro cars. I have learned through experience if you take on a project you don't really want to do, you will start to dislike the car. There will always be something to fix on these. When something breaks, if I don't feel like fixing it, I load it up and haul it to the mechanic.

[@mikeluscher159]

Why not send the injectors out to Witchunter or Injector Medic? $30 or so each is much better than $300+ each

[@SixWheelsDown]

in chicago we ahve Midwest Injector Cleaning.....been there done that!

[@johngulbunny7456]

I lucked out on injectors for my Subaru on eBay. I really don’t trust eBay though so it’s added stress

[@pospc2]

I agree with sending them to be Cleaned/rebuilt. I have a couple sets of injectors that I have had that done to even got the flow test results.

[@Flies2FLL]

I sent the ones from my '85 928S2 to a guy in Michigan to have them cleaned and flow-matched. I think it was like $15 apiece to do this. I had two that were unrepairable and they were $120 each, but I wound up with a car that ran perfect.

[@ProjectRescues]

Why not just buy all 4 new on ebay for $40? Thats where I got mine.

[@jerryking7502]

Hey, JR, cork gaskets are very good. The problem is sometimes the are TOO THIN! If you suspect that, get thicker ones. Keep your oil changed regularly and they will be fine. And of course, do not over torque....Check this out..."Cork has a closed-cell structure that gives it excellent resilience. A layer can be compressed to around half its thickness and still recover when the load is removed. It’s also lightweight, flexible, and resists attack by water, many oils and even ozone. At around 275°F (135C) its upper temperature limit is lower than some elastomers, but that’s not its biggest weakness. Those are a vulnerability to mold, fungi and acid attack, and as an entirely natural material, its properties are somewhat unpredictable."

[@NoChrome]

Been there, done all of that plus more. I pick up a pristine 86 944 Turbo in Guards Red and black interior as my quarantine project. I know my way around cars as I have street racing background but this little Porsche has been quite the challenge. After 6 months I'm already down about $4500 just in parts alone and a lot of long days working on it. But let me tell you it's all worth it when I take it out for a drive, damn little car is a rocket under boost and gets all the attention from car guys and girls. They are beautiful cars no doubt.

[@jimschafer9196]

WOW reminds me of my turbo 84 Ford EXP, and some of my repairs, tight space, odd parts, but it was a very fun driver. I have thought about picking up one of these, but I think not after watching your experience and my age it would not be fun.

[@jimschafer9196]

@@kruleworld yes I have.

[@generatorjohn4537]

I rented a Ford EXP back in 1981. I really liked it. Wish Ford never discontinued Focus and Fiesta cars in the states. I have a 2011 Fiesta hatchback. Drives like a go-kart.

[@beandrive]

I used to have a 86' escort gt, loved it but the chassis cracked. You can not find these type of cars anymore, rust or crashed I guess.

[@steveluken3180]

I think its funny that you read off part numbers and give instruction style commentary on your repairs for a Porsche 944 as if we're all in our garages repairing 944s...no one else is doing this repair JR, just you lol. Love the channel!

[@jeffzekas]

My buddy warned me: “There’s no such thing as a cheap Porsche” bought his for $25K then found out it needed a motor for $12K- so, I’m no longer in love with Porsche

[@davidpick1076]

Rule of all once expensive now inexpensive luxury cars. What you initially pay is not for a reliable daily driving car. It's your entry fee than thousands in repairs to get it running right.

[@mmonkeyman1403]

Well if it's the famous IMS bearing failures that have plagued many porsche models that are now relatively affordable, I'd say its his own fault. Thankfully, a large percentage of those cars that are still roadworthy have had the modification done so the bearing isn't a problem anymore. After that's done, it will be more expensive to maintain than a regular car, but not obscenely expensive.

[@tempest411]

Yeah, if you pay someone else to do the work! I bet you it would cost 1/3 that if he did his own wrenching. Never mind that 37k is still an awful cheap Porsche.

[@zestydude87]

Just have to take your time and find the right one. Ive had my 86 turbo for 10 years now and the only thing ive had to buy for it since was a alternator and a battery. Still runs like a champ.

[@warringtonfaust1088]

@@kruleworld When I was a kid, college age, I bought a new Porsche. What can I say, shoddy materials, jute carpet lasted 6 months, I bought window crank mechanisms by the 1/2 dozen, etc.,etc. My friends all bought Stingrays, always started, always ran, never left them stranded. Never even thought of another Porsche.

[@gordythecreator]

Thanks Jr for saying the names of the parts as you install them

[@bw227]

I'm starting to think VW Porsche and Audi go out of their way to complicate minute things...

[@kevinbarry71]

I believe that is called, German engineering.

[@jamesjames3525]

@@kevinbarry71 U GOTTA LOVE IT!!!

[@jamesjames3525]

They have built a whole industry based on overcomplication. Don't ask me I simply don't get it.

[@dannyoaks85]

That's exactly what they do. Where have you been?

[@blackcountryme]

@@kevinbarry71 engineering. Lol

[@alain99v6]

I want that torque wrench for christmas so bad ...

[@martinwright9238]

i want that 944 for christmas so bad and the wrench lol

[@torquemada6781]

@@martinwright9238 if I had to guess, the worth of the wrench is almost double the Porsche´s worth?

[@martinwright9238]

@@torquemada6781 Yea but its nice to say i have a porsche rather than a torque wrench right lol

[@tempest411]

I have one of those. I actually prefer the feel of a standard torque wrench. It's subjective I guess.

[@dragonstorm8171]

All the videos i've watched of yours, all the work you do, all the expensive tools you have and i have 1 question: Why don't you have a table to work on in your garage? I see you sitting on the floor alot doing stuff and it makes me think that it almost seems like it makes things harder to do when your sitting on the floor as opposed to a work table, or atleast something thats close to stomach high so your not on the floor the entire time lol

[@chrisgonzalez1597]

I also wonder why JR doesn’t have a shop table

[@pedro1229]

John thrust me when everything is back together and done it will be worth it ! Please don’t sell the car ! Love 944s 😃

[@21Piloteer]

At the end of the day it's still a 33/34 year old car. Things will need to be replaced. Being a Porsche just makes it more "fun".

[@hippycow1006]

i mean he must've expected it at the price point

[@floodx4947]

Never realized how isolated Wichita was until I had to go to Belpre KS last weekend to pick up an engine. Not to mention ... WINDY AS HELL! .

[@tempest411]

For the NA there's a Volvo injector that's supposed to work pretty well. You can get sets of them rebuilt on E-Bay. Check the forums. They may even be the same Volvo pt# I installed in my Jeep last year...gas mileage went up 1.5-2mpg.

[@generatorjohn4537]

I'm watching Ken Burns series "The War" this week. After seeing our boys trying to reach Rome Italy against those Germans in the spring of 1944 I don't want to have anything to do with them! Buy a used Jaguar XJ6 to tinker with if you need to buy imported. Thanks, like your work ethic.

[@wingedhorsegarage473]

I recently heard Junkyard Diggs say “It’s like they started with one bolt and designed the whole engine around it.” That’s got to be the design criteria on the 944. John Ross, you’re the man ! 👍

[@ralphralphin]

Keep on pushin man. I love your positive attitude no matter what. At the end of the video you go to turn on the car but thers no oil in it and you didn't miss a beet and were like ya, well well get it going tomorrow. :)

[@carterkelso8268]

dude, you need to get a Volvo 240 wagon next. I'm tellin ya. a Swedish brick is right up your alley. make sure you don't get the year with the disintegrating wiring harnesses. i have a 93 and its been very reliable and fun to drive. make sure to get a manual tho. the automatics are boring. love the video!

[@michaeltutty1540]

I have a 1990 240 DL wagon. Unfortunately it is an auto. Ma bought Arthur as her 60th birthday present to herself. She put the first 300,000 or so kilometers on him. In the last 5½ years, I've added another 300,000. Would not hesitate to take the old boy anywhere. Has not even had any rust repair done, and this will be his 31st Ontario, Canada winter.

[@hestickney]

I used to think that I wanted a 944. Thanks JR! You cured me of that.

[@stefanmannn]

Love these projects!!! Best corner of the internet.

[@inquisitive980]

The power of editing. Allows us all to “watch JR Go”

[@wormod]

I love the rainbow rabbit. I don't take drugs or anything like that, did you notice the rabbit above the locker?

[@boss123400]

It's been a nonstop project...AKA Money pit...lol

[@davidpick1076]

Not criticizing Jr's work on his 944. But at what point does a Porsche enter endless money pit territory?

[@larrybe2900]

@@davidpick1076 Hobby

[@davidpick1076]

@mrlpn2 Supposed to be worth it if they make you happy. If not,¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

[@joannaatkins822]

This is going to be a sweet running car after all this work! If it had been presented like the geo tracker I think this would have been extremely satisfying, but that would have required Porsche doing things like everybody else when designing cars ;)

[@samaravadi3]

I was literally binging on your 944 videos and finished yesterday's one a couple minutes before you uploaded this video

[@tempest411]

You can get a silicone rubber gasket for the rear cam housing cap...Or just seal it up with Permatex anaerobic sealant (NOT RTV).

[@ajw828]

Great progress! Miss these kind of instructional videos. Definitely going to save someone a lot of time someday when they need this video!

[@mikeheintz6861]

at 6:28 You should try out a carbide scraper for hardened gaskets. Eric from SMA recommended the Super Scraper I got it and it worked like a champ for my timing cover job I believe Lisle also makes them

[@vikingman4614]

100% percent Jake's BMW and Miata at the track videos were very good to watch

[@The_regular]

that balance shaft belt may be a tad too tight. Your car is going to have a whining noise like a vacuum cleaner when you get it running.

[@artmchugh5644]

You saw that too !!! 😄😄😄😄😄😎😎😎😎😎🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🍺🍺

[@ct9208]

Was just about to say that. It's going to whine like a stuck pig

[@artmchugh5644]

Matt , sounds like you have a 944 yes ? Work on it yourself? 😎😎😎😎😄😄😄😄🍺🍺

[@The_regular]

@@artmchugh5644 I’ve had a few 🤘🏻

[@vaalrus]

Welcome to Porsche. :) If you’re really a glutton for punishment, I’ve got a 1977 924 you can have cheap. But hands off my silver Rampage, that’s one’s a keeper. Bonus Bently shop manual...

[@JVR_Funwithdesign]

I hope you plan on replacing those two fuel hoses over the manifold unless you like burned cars...looks like your jumper hose is fairly new.

[@MrBilldo426]

Man you always seem happy working on all these cars. But I’m always cussing and throwing parts. I can’t put that on YT HAHAHA. And I can’t let my kids hear it 😂😂😂

[@69Dartman]

It's getting there dude, what a battle. Seriously if it craps out again drop a LS in it and have a cheap 928. At least You Tube will pay you for the views and you'll have a really fun car when it's done and we'll enjoy following along.

[@jim_bocho]

Injectors should get an ultrasonic bath (not sure if that's the right translation), would be as good as new.

[@WatchJRGo]

Did that the day I bought the car 🍻

[@jim_bocho]

@@WatchJRGo Ah, didn’t know. Odd that one still didn’t do its job, then.

[@absolutemadlad2671]

Get one of those rubber wheeles that are made to take gaskets off

[@MickE98]

Where did you get those cabinets?

[@WatchJRGo]

Sams Club 🍻

[@MickE98]

@@WatchJRGo Thanks

[@TheSandMan9991]

since I aint seen her for along time I asume his chic left him cause of his obsession with cars... Keeping it together well. What a trooper. Wishing you well bro

[@James-sir]

I think this is my favorite car you own including the Camaro and that Audi thing

[@ElliottAlvis]

That google fiber bunny really ties the garage together.

[@Mike-C219]

Don’t you have a certain Maserati to be working on? ;)

[@ElliottAlvis]

@@Mike-C219 shhhh 😉

[@vikingman4614]

I Dont even like Maseratis but Ive been watching all your Maserati videos.

[@ElliottAlvis]

@@vikingman4614 well thanks man!

[@martykath4427]

Aren't you scared of dropping nuts washers etc into those open inlet ports. I'd have a rag in each hole.

[@froggymicb]

Those balance and running belts are WAY too tight! Don't run it like that!

[@zestydude87]

I was thinking the same thing lol

[@billcooper2584]

Finally, a Video without any drama!

[@alansmith4734]

Pour a bottle of Techron Fuel Injector Cleaner in a full tank of gas. It should clean the injectors and sticking valves.

[@matthewcasey5059]

Why not just buy a sheet of gasket material of the appropriate thickness and using the cork one trace out a new one?

[@houseofno]

"Porsche Police! Come out with your hands up! Keep that overpriced shift knob where we can see it! Put the oil filter on the ground slowly! Watch him, boys. If he throws a rod, open fire..."

[@toolzshed]

Get the 80ties music ready for tomorrow!!!!!

[@dajiban]

The counter balance shaft belt tension appears too tight. When it's properly adjusted it looks dangerously loose; that's when it's just right. Too tight and it will whine like a bitch. Unless you've done a bunch of these you really need the special Porsche tensioning tool to get it right.

[@Flies2FLL]

This engine has a rear cam cover because it is based upon the 928's V8 engine. On the 928, you could swap the heads from bank to bank because of this cam cover. Since these are SOHC engines with a timing belt, the camshaft needs to protrude from the head in order to mount the timing belt gear. If you move the head from one bank the other, the cam now protrudes from the other end. Remove this cover from one end and put it at the other end of the head and you are in business. Porsche later tried this swap-ability on the M96 engine in the first Boxster and water cooled 911, only they used a shaft under the engine to transmit torque to another timing chain at the BACK of the engine. The bearing for this shaft at the back was a ball bearing, and it is NOTORIOUS for failure, which in turn destroys the whole engine! Look up IMS failure some time.

[@eastoneller7438]

that balance shaft belt is way too tight and will be loud. The balance belt should actually be pretty loose. about half as tight as the timing belt.

[@DiaryofaGrimReaper]

So when is Vice Grip Garage coming over? =)

[@phyrexiancoffee6324]

Next time he gets an old Ford. VGG can smell those ol' lightning hoses and spark-a-lators from thousands of miles away.

[@DiaryofaGrimReaper]

@@phyrexiancoffee6324 He's getting around. McCool, Graveyard Digs, Cars and Cameras, then tonight was Restored... I'm sure I've missed some. He's busy, but I'm sure he is diggin this "special guest" thing.

[@kevinkyser1274]

That car is a automotive work of art....I would work that hard to make it run great!

[@kimoandrews5802]

Scotty and JR are doing their part to put Porsche in the dustbin of history alongside Pontiac, AMC, Oldsmobile, etc.

[@joespittle1]

KZbins notif was super late today

[@philipr7686]

I was looking for the reversing truck during the torque sequence.

[@alexandermckay8594]

I think it's clear that Porsche expects the engine to be out of the car for you to do damn near anything on it! Brutal. Make sure you double your hourly rate when working on these things!

[@punkinsgarageandpaint8299]

I'd like to see you do injector and throttle body cleaning service and testing on a mid 90's chevy lt1

[@DjBud_VinD]

Keeping it original might be good if you plan on resell it, but i cant keep thinking man that car would be so great with 2jz in it. Big up!

[@uraniumcranium]

Considering the issues you are having, have you ever thought of re-enacting that scene from "Risky Business" where the emergency brake is off and the Porsche rolls off the pier into the lake and sinks?

[@terrylessmann2274]

Pretty ballsy leaving those intake ports open and uncovered during your adventure. Tempting Murphy's Law?

[@zigzagrz]

at the beginning of the video, can you do that sound that the belt did to make sure it was tensioned?

[@SwanseaTitanFan]

Where is Josh when you need him.

[@darrencoyle3290]

I was just about to write this in the comments...it's been a while since we have seen him..

[@gordythecreator]

Wtf's dis? Jr's droppin great vidz before I get to sleep! Time zone stuff is wild

[@darincarlin]

When do we get the ASMR video of bolts being torqued? I just want an hour of bolts being torqued to spec. I could fall asleep to that.

[@jackb9199]

Oof I hate the electric torque wrench lol. I get it’s more precise but I like the click of a regular one.

[@williamsinger4124]

Cold snacks 🍺🍺🍺

[@michaelhuey4187]

JR, you SERIOUSLY need to wear a shirt that says: “ Cool Shirt, Not Like This!” 😊🤦‍♂️

[@1Haloninja]

I would genuinely buy that shirt

[@donaldclary846]

Keep up with the 944 videos!

[@CliffjumperCars]

Curious if you have already done this, or if you're going to fix the exhaust leak? It should purr when it runs. Makes the driving experience more Porsche and less hooptie (no offense to Tyler)

[@JonBlondell]

This ought to be a valuable car, after all you've done! I'm sure you'll drive it a day or two, but it hopefully can bring you a good price, so as to move on to the next treasure!!

[@loloberry5932]

Agree that repairs add value to a used car. Just needs to go thru what was done to the car in the ad when selling the car as the major known problems are fixed. When selling cars I’ve had good luck going through all the work done to show the car is not just been run until the wheels fell off.

[@vikingman4614]

If he gets its sorted they only sell for usually around $5000 Maybe more for this one since he recently did a belt.

[@andrewthomason3857]

It’s an automatic . . .

[@warringtonfaust1088]

@@andrewthomason3857 Yeah, not a lot of demand.

[@jimcolangelo7003]

These are ripe for LS swaps - If you go to sell it I would recommend the next buyer do it. Needs a manual, and these engines are anemic. Good content though, congrats on getting it screwed back together JR.

[@thahitman2]

Anytime you encounter a cork gasket, clean the mating surfaces as best as humanly possible, dry them good then use the correct corresponding RTV instead of those garbage ass cork gaskets.

[@LouisWritingSomethingCrazy]

These cars are made to be looked at, occasionally driven, and for "other people" to fix them. Why I'm not a fan of these design styles.

[@IanHobday]

Made to be LS-swapped. Adds power, reliability, ease of service, and cheap parts. Probably wouldn't've cost much more than JR has already dumped into this car and certainly less than he will dump into it if he keeps it!

[@LouisWritingSomethingCrazy]

@@IanHobday Good point.

[@IanHobday]

@@LouisWritingSomethingCrazy Plus LS swaps make great KZbin content! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXWwo32epcqMn6c

[@danielpenna488]

Can't wait for next video I love this car I watched this video at work today lol

[@dave11686]

Just got home from work squad

[@A-ph7hf]

12:30 JR grows a third arm.

[@johnds6621]

I saw one of these in the parking lot the other day and thought oh brother get rid of it before you have a lot of work ahead of you. You need to invest in a gasket scraper that razor blade it going to get your fingers!

[@auskip07]

balance shaft belt looks too tight

[@bloodcarver913]

Oooo...the rust on the brake cylinder makes my OCD tingle... :D

[@rexlawrence4367]

I like when 100 o/o Jake shows up.

[@jamesmyers3773]

I was thinking that this would be a good test of a mechanic. If he personally owned and drove a 944, he should be able to work on my simple vehicles.

[@scottlambeth5478]

When you put "Revealed even more problems" in the video title I figured the timing was screwed up or something major that would cause you to tear back into it again.

[@loloberry5932]

Since these cars have known expensive issues to repair maybe it’ll be worth more in 10 or 20 years as many get junked and they get rare. Kind of like the 57’ Chevy cars that were rust buckets and would rust through on fenders in 3 years but now are valuable because few survived. Same with the square body Chevy trucks that are bringing good money now as most rusted into the ground. This porshe wont be as desirable as a 57 Chevy but maybe the price will make these repairs worthwhile.

[@Bumblebee4788]

Should of V8 swapped when you bought it, less headaches!

[@Digital-Dan]

Is using "ran" where it orta be "run" a Kansas thing?

[@ProjectRescues]

I'm calling BS on the price of the injectors. I got all new ones for mine for $32 a piece on ebay. So like around $130 shipped for all 4 new ones.

[@aceadman]

All this to drive around in a old klunker and break down on the side of every other highway. 😊👍👍

[@12yearssober]

More content though

[@doublejake.4846]

Can’t wait to see her run.

[@batterymakermarkii2654]

Nickel, nickel, nickel...trickle, trickle, trickle...

[@MrMerc300se]

This balance shaft belt is too tight

[@supersim81]

Way too tight indeed. It should be surprisingly loose.

[@WatchJRGo]

I backed it way off, in today's video 💯

[@andrewhirsch1650]

I enjoy JR's videos. But I question their name; not a lot of Going. How about WatchJRFix? Much more Fixing than Going. Still fun to watch thanks.

[@bikeman1x11]

but driving a well sorted porsche even a 4 cylinder is an experience worth some strugggle- a friend had an 83 944 back in 87-8 or so it was as quick as the 5.0 mustangs and was a fun car-

[@gregory891]

There is a term that is relavent here, as with many cars regardless of brand or model: deferred maintenance.

[@astrobinge]

JR, did I miss what you did to your audi r8?