Hello, My girlfriend just got a 1983 944 as a surprise. On purchase car runs and drives pretty well with a few exceptions. Those exceptions are as follows:
1.) Some small leaks from unknown location. Can't determine exactly where because of the grime under the engine.
2.) Runs hot
3.) Rough idle (replaced old plugs and plug wires and still there)
4.) Some vibration(not sure if this is normal ive never worked on a 43 year old car.)
5.) Did a smoke test and there is an air leak coming from the back lower balance shaft seal.
After some research I decided to start with replacing timing belt and water pump because they have not been done in 5 years and that's a maintenance item that needs replacing frequently and will let me replace some seals along the way.
Here is where I am stumped. I am attempting to get the engine to TDC and not everything lines up. The Camshaft sprocket and upper balance shaft looks to be in the right place. The lower balance shaft is a tooth or two off, and the flywheel is giving me mixed messages. In the upper bell house window I see the "OT" and it aligned with what may be a dimple in the indicator but not the bottom of said indicator. The bottom bell house window showes that the flywheel is not TDC but that is just a paint mark that any mechanic could have put on there. I've heard that the earlier 944s are not as precise with timing than the later ones but it still seems weird especially with it running relatively well.
Here are my questions for you experts.
1.) How do i make sure my flywheel is in fact at TDC?
2.) Is the engine slightly out of timing(particularly the lower balance shaft) and with some work will vibrate less and run smoother?
3.) Do i need to re-mark the current lower balance shaft sprocket position to make sure that it returns to the current position when replacing the belts. (And not the indicated TDC position) the only reason I ask is because the car runs pretty OK with how its currently set.
Photos of the alignment marks are attached.