Now that the off season is upon us, several of the Midwest guys have teamed up to build a new 944 racecar. We're not quite sure what we're going to do with it yet - might be a rental, could be FS, or could be a backup. It is definitely something to do in the long, cold winter.
Here's the "bones" of the project:
This is an 85.5 944 with 109K that was bought complete, with an LSD, extra short block and cam tower, + 16" "trash can" alloys for $1,600. It ran, but not well. The previous owner gave up on the "restoration", and left us with many new parts from a complete new wiring harness & fuel lines, to a stainless steel Borla exhaust, to rear stainless brake lines. Rust free, no accident car.
Our goal is to build a competitve, winning car for the minimum cost, with fresh mechanicals for cost-efficient long term running. We are going to have the local mechanic Jim Hartman (who has built us 3 trouble free cost-effective motors) do the motor, and go through the trans. We will get a Hanksville weld-in cage for the car.
http://www.hanksvillehotrods.com/gui/content.asp?w=pages&r=220&pid=221 We will also be working with new Midwest 944 Spec Sponsor MotoDelta on a Spec Suspension Package, and motor reseal kit.
http://www.Motodelta.com
Should be fun!
Here's the budget so far:
Expenses:
Car= $1,600
Fire system, & window net w/ mounting kit = $415 (minus $300 paid for by CDOC contingency money) Thanks CDOC!
http://www.CDOC.com
Steering wheel: Used 350mm Momo found on Rennlist = $60
AC Delete bracket found used on Rennlist = $60
Steel A-arms (free from other parts car, market value maybe $30)
Mesh Window net kit - $100
Turbo front antiswaybar - $60 (to be resold now that we have weltmeister bars F&R - deleted from budget)
350 lb front springs $50 (used) (To be resold since we got springs with our used Konis & coilover - deleted from budget)
Aluminum to form into Dash & brackets $50
951 Oil cooler housing/adapter, not including cooler itself (salvaged from other project) market value - $100
Used set of front Koni inserts with Ground Control over kit, and 350 lb springs (used <10 races, bought from 944 Cup racer upgrading to high-end suspension) - $450
Misc. gaskets, seals, and rollers (most of a front end reseal & roller kit). Bought from a Pelican Parts forums post (never installed!) - $200
Bearings (rod, & main balance shaft), clutch throw out bearing & guide, a few other seals, fuel filter) - $400
Machine Shop bill for rebuilt head (shaved) - $312
Machine Shop bill for Polishing & cross-drilling crank, reconditioning rods, ARP rod bolts $415
Torsion bars $260 (new)
Weltmeister front a-arm bushings $152
Camber Plates $450
Weld-in Roll Cage from hanksvillehotrods.com:
Base cage, regular price: $1,274.93
Introductory pricing discount: -$318.73
Base cage, discounted price: $956.20
Additional bars as discussed (NASCAR-style door bars, both sides; dash bar, footwell connectors, both sides; rear brace diagonal): $276
Shipping, introductory half-price: $81.19
Roll Cage Total: $1,313.39
The following was purchased at an estate sale for $1650 total
-Welmeister antisway bars front & rear - new in box! (missing front droplinks, though)
-Several sets of Cookie Cutter wheels ( car came with late offset 16's, that we sold)
-Setrab oil cooler
-Longacre switch panels
-Multiple ancillary gauges
-Weltmeister front A-arm busings
- Rear Torsion tube - assembled with Delrin bushings, and powdercoated black - a little undercar bling! I don't yet know what size torsion bar is in there yet, though - I'll have to pull it out & see.
-Used straight-through stainless steel muffler
-New clutch friction disk
-Quick Release steering wheel hub
-Spare fuel ralis
-Front of Motor reseal Kit
-Head gasket kit
So we have $
8,097 into the car so far, with $7,767 out of pocket (as of 01/11/09).
Income:
Carpet (was new), sold for $330 - $56 shipping = $274
Ratty sport seat, sold for $200 - 100 shipping = $100
Airbag Steering Wheel (installed by p.o. for reasons unknown) sold for $119- 20 shipping = $99
Blue power coated Intake manifold (replaced by regular one included with short block) - sold for $35- $15 shipping = $20
Instrument cluster - Sold for $100
Heater controls - sold for $75 - $10 shipping = $65
Stainless steel Borla exhaust - sold to myself for the street 944S - market value $300 (conservatively)
Center console - sold to myself for $20 (I got a bargian!)
16" Wheels - sold to Ray for his street car for $300 market value (conservatively)
Crank from extra short block traded to Ray to replace his "cheater" knife edged crank, which sold for $500 on Rennlist (market value of crank $100, at least)
Window motors, hatch release parts - $100
Porsche Center Caps - $50
Misc. switches, turn signal stalk, hatch release motor (separate from the hatch release arm above), etc. $150 (sold in bulk).
So we have $1,678 recouped so far, with stuff still up FS. This is not as good as the $2,400 we made out of our last parts car (bought with snapped timing belt for $900), but that car had a full leather dash and mint interior. This car is a good racecar base with the LSD & complete drivetrain.
If you guys have or find extra race parts - let us know. Our goal is to build the most cost-effective car possible, not a beater.
The wish list (updated 12/17/08 - getting pretty short!):
Weltmeister antiswaybar drop links for front bar
??? Spec legal 944 race parts.
We'll keep you posted!