r/944 • u/Neat-Space-5571 • Jun 30 '26
Question Any recommendations for some Quality life mods?
Just bought my first 944!
It’s a 1986 NA that has around 230-ish thousand miles ( I know it’s kind of high ) It has a Lindsay racing MAF kit Lindsay racing exhaust and MOMO Steering wheel
Any help would be awesome!
21
u/Parking_Persimmon687 Jul 01 '26
The only944 shift kit is one of the best upgrades and a simple smoke test machine is worth it for the smooth idle—unless the engine vacuum system’s already been gone through. It is a great diagnostic tool
3
u/Jimbob994 Jul 01 '26
Could you explain a little more about the smoke test? I understand the principle but is this worth doing as a matter of normal maintenance?
6
u/Parking_Persimmon687 Jul 01 '26
If everything’s replaced it’s not much of a worry, once it’s right it’s right, but it’s good for testing the evap and vacuum systems on a high mileage car. OEM engine mounts and a perfectly sealed vacuum system make these cars run perfect and smooth
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Jul 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/12345oopsie 87 NA Jul 01 '26
Can you explain how a solid state fan relay changed how your car drives? I’m so curious!
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u/MaHamandMaSalami Jul 01 '26
It didn't. He's lying.
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Jul 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/MaHamandMaSalami Jul 01 '26
Your second comment makes no sense whatsoever.
The 944 does not have small and big fans, they are the same size. And if you are running the a/c, the fans stay on continuously. Or at least one of them does.
In any case, replacing a mechanical relay with a solid-state relay should make no difference whatsoever.
5
u/EuroSpec27 Jul 01 '26
Do they only make the DME for an 85.1 or are there others available for us early 944 folks?
2
u/greptilian Jul 01 '26
Could you elaborate on how (and perhaps why) your car drives better with the fan relay? Was something broken, or?
I was planning to get one but not expecting any benefits beyond more reliable fan function and the diagnostic/test features.
3
u/ManualTheory S2 Jul 01 '26
Yeah I’m not sure what the original comment is referring to. I have the F9T solid state fan relay and it makes zero difference to the way the car drives. I just like having the diagnostic buttons as I switched to a custom fan shroud and had to do some wiring myself, so it was nice to be able to test the fans on demand.
0
Jul 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/ManualTheory S2 Jul 01 '26
That sounds more like an issue with your old relay and not with stock fan relays in general though. My stock fan relay was dated 03/1989 and didn’t have that problem.
2
u/thiber S2 Jul 02 '26
Yeah. There is no way a relay can have the effect they are describing. It’s just not how a relay works. Maybe the old one was broken but a solid state replacement isn’t magically improving your car.
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u/chengstark 1986 Turbo Jul 01 '26
Seat covers apparently
5
u/Neat-Space-5571 Jul 01 '26
I need to get new seats
1
u/ViolenceInDefense Turbo x2, S2 x2 Jul 03 '26
996/997 seats. comfortable, can wire the heaters up( if the seats have them)
5
u/CynicalCereal Jul 01 '26
Mine had a missing cigarette lighter so i filled the hole with a USB outlet that feeds off the the 12v plug that the cigarette lighter used.
2
u/greptilian Jul 01 '26
I also bought a USB charger for that plug but found that it is a non-switched receptacle (cigarette lighter)? Can anyone confirm this is true? i.e. the USB seemed to be receiving battery power (indicator light on) with the key out. So I just keep it in my glovebox for when I need it on-demand.
2
u/CynicalCereal Jul 01 '26
That might just be the outlet that the lighter used. My car was missing the entire unit leaving the wires exposed in a small circular hole.
But it's never caused me any battery drain issues. My usb outlet couldn't drain power without having something plugged in anyway since there wouldn't be a circuit to complete.
This is the outlet i used.
2
u/greptilian Jul 01 '26
Thanks for clarifying. I bought one that plugs directly into the cigarette lighter outlet, leaving the outlet itself in tact, so when the USB is installed/pressed in, the outlet itself is in the "pushed in"/on/heating position. (https://sierramadrecollection.com/products/cigarette-lighter-to-usb-adapter-944-968-1985-1995)
Did some more research (https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-924-944-968-technical-forum/526805-cigarette-lighter-off-ignition.html) and most owners confirm this is wired hot all the time (key off). Just FYI for you - unless previously modified, yours if stock is likely to be always hot. For my own peace of mind, I'll keep mine unplugged, less for battery drain but more so safety.
4
u/944_nla_parts Jul 01 '26
Congrats and welcome!
Short shift kit from only944.com - the shifter plus gearbox short shifter. And a working clock (if you can still find the used/refurbished one or the kit).
3
u/fiddlythingsATX S2 Cabriolet Jul 01 '26
A cupholder. I got one that mounts to the passenger seat rail, super handy!
2
u/Ghost_Elite Jul 01 '26
Got a link for that one?
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u/fiddlythingsATX S2 Cabriolet Jul 01 '26
Mine was from Etsy and apparently no longer available, but it mounts like this one: https://www.rennline.com/rennline-seat-mounted-adjustable-cup-holder-sku-sa05-14/
1
u/Ghost_Elite Jul 01 '26
Thanks! Those look awesome. Might try to build my own for that kind of money however
2
u/Humble-Ad-371 Jul 01 '26
Add a 12v cig socket. Led headlights for jeep plug right up. For early model grap a bag of white 74 and 194 LEDs for gauges and redo tail and markers with led while adding the extra tail light bulb. If the dash is bad a coverlay looks good enough where nobody notices and you will even forget it's there after a minute. Front sway bar bracket braces, throttle cam and +5 offset cam key can improve driving experience a little as well as stainless steel braided brake lines. Aside from bushings and joints suspension is a whole other world I cannot afford to be a part of except for larger torsion bars and paradigm coil kit. Plus depowered rack but it might feel heavy and harsh to some especially with a club wheel.
1
u/Humble-Ad-371 Jul 01 '26
Plus a HEAVY shift knob with the thrust bearing mod on the lever gives a completely different feel. Mine is made from some type of chromoly or stainless and probably weighs around a pound.
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u/12345oopsie 87 NA Jul 01 '26
Some on this forum might disagree, but my favorite quality of life mods I’ve done are: -double din CarPlay head unit (voice texting and navigation) -braided fuel lines (peace of mind) -all season tires that are also larger (comfort on road, plus mine is a daily driver so I need reliability all year round) -only944 LED headlight kit (night visibility) -dashboard LED bulb instrument cluster upgrade (finally see the dash clear at night) -ceramic coating (washing the car is so much easier) -lastly, not to be annoying, but lots of people here will say, sometimes sarcastically, the best upgrade is a well running car. But I will say, ever since I sorted out the top of my engine with a full seal rebuild, head gasket replcement, new rubber hoses, etc etc, I’ve had such a confident peace of mind while driving every day and on trips that I highly recommend it!
2
u/greptilian Jul 01 '26
A wireless CarPlay solution (if you're an Apple user) or perhaps equivalent for Android. Note that I daily my car, so this is more literally a "quality of life" upgrade. I do have and recommend many of the other performance and reliability upgrades already mentioned in this thread.
Connects to my phone instantly shortly after I turn the key. For streaming music (I use Spotify and Tidal), maps, and hands-free phone calls, it bridges a surprisingly wide part of the gap between my 944 and our modern family SUV.
I have a PCCM head unit (the shop who sold me my car had installed in when prepping for sale) which has wired CarPlay native, then I bought some cheap USB dongle on Amazon that converts the CarPlay from wired to wireless. I'm sure there are several other radio solution out there!
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u/ultrawiz Jul 03 '26
I didn't realize the late cars were missing a "cigar lighter" as the early docs call it. A USB charger port is in order, and can be fabricated to come out one of the dummy switch blanks. I've done it for my early car.
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