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Rattlinbone · Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 265 Location: Seattle, WA

So I finally have my toofah sorted and it's settling into being a happy daily driver. I still have much to do yet, suspension, interior, body... but at least now it is a working example of the breed. And now that I am driving it, I am noticing things that I think may be problems with the car, or may be problems with how I am handling it, or both.

For example, sometimes, when I am starting from a dead stop, as I ease up on the clutch, I feel the car shudder, sometimes worse than others. I think this phenomena may have something to do with how fast I am revving the engine as I am releasing the clutch. It seems to happen less when I release the clutch at 2000 rpm than when I release the clutch at 1200 or so rpm. does it matter? Is what I am feeling a sign of something mechanically amis or am I just driving it wrong?

I spent the better part of a half hour in bumper to bumper stop and go traffic today, and I think I noticed a sound coming from under the car. Like it was the sound of tin cans rattling against each other. Thing is, I couldn't really hear it from inside the car, I heard it in echo off of the sides of other cars. I think it happened more when starting from a stop, or when going really slow.

Some of that may be real mechanical problems, or it may be something I am doing wrong. I've never driven a car quite like this, and I can imagine that I'm just not used to driving these cars and could use some pointers. So, while I am going to investigate the mechanics, I'm also interested in seeking out people who are familiar with how to operate these cars. Big reason i want to attend the Portland Historics it to get a ride in a well-sorted 924 to compare mine against, and to take a coach, if any are willing and present, out to see how I drive and to suggest ways of improving my driving technique. Will any of YOU be willing to take my car for a spin?

Anyway, it's a fun car.
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Fred- 1979 924

Drizz · Joined: 10 Nov 2010 Posts: 93 Location: Dekalb, Illinois

Ian89C4 · Joined: 01 Apr 2011 Posts: 561 Location: North Carolina

The rattling could also be a loose fastener on one of the exhaust heat shields. When the the car is cool just jack it up (and place jack stands), hop underneath and see what is what.

Granted, my 24 is not running, nor have I ever driven her, but most fuel pumps make a whining sound, not a rattling, but I could be wrong.

Cheers
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Ian Edgerly
North Carolina

Current:
1981 924 SCCA/ChampCar Weissach Race Car ("Serenity")
1987 924S ChampCar Endurance Car ("Der Weg")
1980 924 Euro ("Wahala")

joejax · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 12:57 pm Post subject:

Drive it like you stole it

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I got nothin'
Uhhh...you got any pics?

the_mad_electrician · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1073 Location: Central Georgia

Being a hobby car I drive mine hard every single time I take it out. But I only drive it about 3-5 days a month usually.
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81 924 N/A

2004 Ranger "Edge"

2005 Mazda 6

joecitizennn · Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 2096 Location: no mans land

Clutch shudder can be caused by a shiny flywheel/pressure plate surface as well as slop in the drive line. It can usually be cured by a new disc and a resurfaced flywheel. If you replace the disc and not the flywheel or pp you should at the very least scuff the flywheel surface in circular motions with coarse sandpaper or the shudder will still be there after you get everything put back together.

The rattle at idle can be a number of things, but I have found driveline rattles to be very common, either torque tube related or transmission related. If the noise slows to a stop when the clutch is depressed then you can bet its driveline. My 924s has a rattle that appears only at idle when the car is very hot. I was sure that it was the torque tube and replaced the entire assembly when I did the clutch job. However the noise continued. By disconnecting the transmission coupler when everything was hot and running the car I discovered that the transmission was the culprit. When the oil gets hot and thin, the input shaft rattles. The noise has remained for 65k miles and 5 years and not gotten any worse or caused any problems.
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87 924s
88 924SE gone
447 hp cgt clone
87 924S gone
84 944 sold
83 944 sold
89 turbo S LSD, ABS etc
86 951 white rocket
85 944 sport everything.
84 944 sold.
87 944 sold

brealytrent · Joined: 28 Dec 2008 Posts: 414 Location: Goldsboro, NC

Rattlinbone · Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 265 Location: Seattle, WA

I think I'm going to first pursue the theory that it's a loose heat shield or something like that. Only thing to do is lift it up high enough that I can climb under it while it's idling and start poking at it with a broom stick until I find or don't find the culprit. There's my Saturday, y'all!
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Fred- 1979 924

SlayerSST · Joined: 21 Sep 2010 Posts: 212

Rattlinbone · Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 265 Location: Seattle, WA

I'd be pissed if it were my muffler. It's brand new, put it on there just, like, 4 months ago. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

By the way, if you're in Seattle, I gotta tell you that driving on Airport Way alongside Boeing Field from Georgetown to Marginal Way is a pretty awesome bit of tarmac. Long, straight, no cross-traffic, hardly any traffic most times. Sweet acceleration!
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Fred- 1979 924

Rattlinbone · Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 265 Location: Seattle, WA

It was the heat shield above the catalytic converter. For some reason, it had come loose and was just lying loose on top of the cat. I don't have welding equipment, so I puzzled over it. My pal, Anton, came up with a pretty nifty solution. Pinch it on there with some bulldog clips. Seems to be doing the trick. No more rattle. Anton seems to think I can rely on the clips for a good, long time, but I think I may just have it tacked into place properly next time I take it to a shop. The important thing is, we found the rattle and made it go away. Thank you, Anton!

Also took off the bumper for the first time to take a look at the bumper shocks. I believe that this car got a good smack on the nose at some time or another, because one of the bumper shocks is compressed. I actually want my shocks to be fully extended and in good working order. So my question is this, can the shocks be re-extended or are they, like, one use only?

If I have to replace the shock (I kinda think I will have to) then can I pull the bumper shock off of a 82 944?
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Fred- 1979 924

MRPETE · Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 67 Location: CALGARY AB CANADA

Give it a good yank and it will come out Pete
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'77 924
"81 924
Lots o' Corvairs

joecitizennn · Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 2096 Location: no mans land

MRPETE · Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 67 Location: CALGARY AB CANADA

Did it work?
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'77 924
"81 924
Lots o' Corvairs

Rattlinbone · Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 265 Location: Seattle, WA

If he means yank on the bumper shock and pull it out, I tried to do that but the piston wouldn't budge. It appears to be pushed in pretty darn good. Other people have been able to pull them back out after compression, but then some say they push back in pretty easy from then on. So they won't give the same protection to the car as ones in good shape would. Pelican says that these bumpers are "one time use." http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/944M/POR_944M_BDYchs_pg2.htm#item6 Seems like they are charging a lot for a part that can be found for a LOT cheaper elsewhere.

PM to Grenadiers!
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Fred- 1979 924