Checking the VIN would tell you the year, but given the Frankenstein's monster you're dealing with?
I'd go look at the transaxle to get the code off of it and also how they did the bolt pattern swap (mine was with adapters and it was terrible, but I digress).
Either way, its a non-turbo 924 2.0L SOHC with Bosch CIS. With 95bhp. It won't set the world on fire, but it is a robust design that will take nearly any abuse you throw at it.
BTW, Bosch CIS HATES to sit. Expect that it is all gummed up internally which will need to be pulled apart and cleaned.
Look up how to build a CIS fuel pressure test setup and how to make your own smoke test solution because CIS only works if there are no vaccum leaks and that the fuel pressure is correctly set.
ALL of the electrical connections will need to be pulled down, cleaned and lubricated as well because 70's German wire is ok, the connectors are E36 M3e.
Last night I had enough time to pull one of the wheels of and take a look at the back side. It's not Fuchs, but they are in nice shape other than needing a good cleaning. The size is a bit odd at 15x8.5. I didn't turn up any identical ones on the internet yet, but I found some very similar all black ones that were noted as made in Italy. I'm happy with the wheels, but of course genuine would have been better.
The VIN and title verified that it is a 1977 924 (VIN 9247206713) and I found a key. Someone really wanted a 944 instead of a 924. Personally, I like them both for what they are and a faux-944 really doesn't appeal to me.
I have no desire to keep this in my collection, but I am interested in exploring it for a while. After cleaning it out I plan to see if I can get it to run and drive. If I can, I'll throw some extra 986 wheels on it and sell it whole. Otherwise I'm cutting it up and parting it.
If you do part it out, I might be interested in buying that 944 rear reflector. I like goofy stuff like that and wouldn't mind having it as a wall hanger.
Too bad about the wheels. If you end up taking the tires off, hold one by the center and flick the inner edge with your finger. If it rings like a bell, then it's probably forged (and not cracked).
Those lug nuts are aluminum though, so save those.
Nice to know I played some small part in this thing being saved, or at least having it's parts go on. I'll always have a special place in my heart for 924s and 944s.
Other than taking one wheel off and pulling trash and turds out the back hatch, I have not had a spare moment to look over the car. I'm at work 'till 10 pm tonight, then I'm off for a week. The plan for tomorrow is to wander around aimlessly, unwind, and decompress. Aside from taking one of the motorcycles out for a long ride to nowhere, I think I'll play with the 924 (or Nine Faux Faux as I think of it). Get it off the trailer, shovel the turds out of the front and figure out if it has potential to be a car again. I expect that it will turn over. I don't expect much else.
If it runs, it could be a Gambler 500 car, HooptieX or Rallycross car -not that it would be competitive, but cheap fun is cheap and fun. The interior and body are not in good enough condition to inspire a restoration. I still think that the most likely direction I'll take is pulling off parts that are easy to sell and ship and scrap the rest. Maybe cut off the flares and keep them around for a Challenge car. Challenge cars need flares.
In reply to AAZCD (Forum Supporter) :
Honestly that shell might be the best way to get into the challenge with a motor swap. Wash it but otherwise leave the patina alone.
dps214
Dork
7/20/21 10:21 p.m.
Speaking from experience if you manage to get it running and driving well enough to rallycross it, make sure it has good shocks and bump stops on the rear at least. Not doing so is a recipe for smacking the trans into the ground constantly and eventually breaking the torque tube. The audi engine is a turd but with the 2.5 ours was actually was kind of almost fast once we ripped out 400lbs of interior weight, and it was a surprisingly decent rallycross car. Zero chance of keeping up with any of the mid engine cars but it was plenty capable against miatas and other similar things. But again that was a real 944 with a 2.5.
A funny thing happened. After unloading the nine faux faux from the trailer I took a break and looked at Facebook Market. 170k mile Honda Element just listed (for $2,500). Only problem with it is the cat was just cut off. Just drove cross country from California. "Hey honey, I know the last thing we need is another car, but..."
E36 M3. Now the trailer is full again and there's no good place to unload it.
I started cleaning out the interior of the 924 wearing 9 mil gloves.
After clearing the top layer I stepped back and changed to a shovel. At least there was nothing alive still.
Judging by the depth of debris, Mr Rat had been living quite comfortably in the car for a long time. I'm guessing that he met the Death of Rats at old age rather than due to violent circumstances.
Seeing the chewed up wiring under the dash and in the engine compartment, two thoughts came to mind; The cautious - 'If I put a battery in the car and turn the key, it might catch on fire!' and the hopeful - 'If I put a battery in the car and turn the key, it might catch on fire!' I decided against electricity for now. I still have two wheels to take off.
Inspecting the engine, I noticed that the spark plugs are removed. Seeing that, I was certain that the engine was seized and the car was 100% junk. I still took a wrench and put it on the crank bolt. The engine turned smooth and easily. I haven't figured out if I am pleased or disappointed by that yet.
The Element? It's AWESOME. It's not a project, it's going to be my new 'loaner car'. Pepper ('04 Cayenne) finally needs more suspension work than I care to do, so I'm taking it back from my daughter and selling it after a brake job. It's well over 180k miles now and served us well.
I slag-tacked a dead VW cat in where the thieves had cut the old one. Tomorrow or Friday I'll take it to a muffler shop and pay to have it fixed right.
I have no plans to tell stories of the Element, but it may turn up in the background when I take pics of other projects.
I have it listed for sale now. I cleaned it up with a pressure washer and spayed a lot of Lysol in the interior. If it doesn't sell quickly I will probably continue working on it and try to get it started.
Here's the back side of one of the wheels. It looks cast, but it should be fine on a 914.
They have all had a good rinse and there's just some minor scuffing, no sign of cracks or damage.
Those are some odd looking wheels. I don't think I've ever seen wheels like that. They look OK and I like the dish, but not sure they will fit a 914 unless you have the wide fender kit. Wheel choices for my narrow '71 914 are pretty limited.
Definitely has wide fenders installed, you can see the original fender on the picture of the right rear corner.
maj75 (Forum Supporter) said:
... Wheel choices for my narrow '71 914 are pretty limited. ...
Trying to keep it original and worrying about value, these would not be the wheels. My black one will stay mostly stock and wear original Mahle wheels. The yellow one that is placarded as Zambezi Green is an open palette to crop and paste to with no worries. I'm thinking 'Safari' will be fun and Hot Wheels made a template. Yes to wide fenders. Probably even wider spacers and some mud tires.
It was on Facebook Market for about a day at $900.
Seller's Description
1977 Porsche 924 ***Not a 968, but Facebook would not list a 924*** For project or parts. I have an old signed Arkansas title and a key. This is a 924 with a 944 body kit. The car has sat for years and is in rough condition, but solid and fairly complete. Some of the wiring has been chewed so I have not tried to start it, but the engine turns easily with a wrench on the crank. I don't know what I've got and low-ball offers welcome. I might put gas in it and hook up a battery to see if it runs. 1/2 off if it catches fire. If this ad is up, it is available.
I had quite a few "Will you take $500?", but none of them seemed capable of actually towing it away. This morning a guy in town offered to trade a '78 Chevy C10 Silverado that runs, so I traded my bag of magic beans for a larger bag of magic beans. My hope is that locally (rural Oklahoma) a running C10 will be a lot easier to get cash for than a non-running old German car that rats have been eating. My fear is that I will start to like the C10 and it will become a project.
I had the Nine Faux Faux on a trailer, so I took it to his place and tried to tell him (Levi) all the reasons that he should not want to own a non-running 1977 Porsche. He didn't care. He just wants a Porsche. Levi started the truck up to show me that it ran. Lots of smoke came from somewhere around the engine, but it ran pretty smooth at idle. After we did the deal I went to start it and found out that some of the smoke was from the battery cable to the starter melting on the open header. It was now shorted and welded to the header.
I went back home to get some tools, electrical tape and a big jack, returning in the new Element (now named Debbie from the previous owner's name being written on the key tag).
I fixed the battery cable and got the truck running. It was less that a mile home, so I decided to drive it. I think that it was quasi-legal to drive. I have a bill of sale and Oklahoma allows 30 days to get a tag and title. My insurance covers me for liability on an initial purchase. I was still relieved to hear police and fire sirens down the road and moving away as I was getting ready. Just after I started it a farm tractor came ambling down the road with a line of cars forming behind it. Perfect. I fell in at the back of the line and idled the truck back home. It almost stalled once, but some revving picked it back up. Brakes? Not much, but enough to stop it in a 15 mph tractor parade. I think they just need to be bled. Home and safe now, but still need to figure out how to have less cars.
He should have kept the C10 and used the entire drivetrain in the 924. Then part out the shell for project money.
Get that Chebby running good and you could sell it up here in the rust belt for 5X your money.
Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) said:
Get that Chebby running good and you could sell it up here in the rust belt for 5X your money.
That man right there knows what he's talking about. If I didn't hate trucks I'd grab it from you myself.
"If I didn't hate it I would love it" is a real AngryCorvair emotion. It sounds like he wants to buy it from you.
AAZCD (Forum Supporter) said:
still need to figure out how to have less cars.
If you ever figure this out, let me know. 
pres589 (djronnebaum) said:
"If I didn't hate it I would love it" is a real AngryCorvair emotion. It sounds like he wants to buy it from you.
There are two things that can be said about my emotions. One of them is that they are real.
Clearly you need to horse trade the C10 to someone in the rust belt for something that otherwise would never be remotely close to challenge legal.
If that C10 is a long bed I might be able to con(vice) Grandma Stampie that it's a perfect replacement for her Ford.
Stampie said:
If that C10 is a long bed I might be able to con(vice) Grandma Stampie that it's a perfect replacement for her Ford.
It is a long bed and a "Big 10" heavy half. You could trailer it back to Stampie-Land, but I don't think it will be driving that far any time soon unless someone wants a truly epic adventure.
I found myself browsing eBay last night looking at 1970s C10 parts. It looks like anything I'd want to get for this truck is available and affordable. A complete new main wiring harness goes for under $250 with fuses, relays, and switches. The harness in it now has seen plenty of modification over the years and much of the wiring goes nowhere or has bad insulation. *Still much better than the 924 wiring. I'd love to get the Eight track player working in this so I can find out what the tape is.
