87 944S with high pitched whirring sound

[00BoxsterS]

Went to look at a 1987 944S and the car was in excellent condition. Factory LSD, partial black leather, Guards Red, 964 Carrera wheels on the car and original phone dial wheels come with the car. Very clean, paint was nice and interior was well taken care of. The owner said the original engine was blown and replaced with a rebuilt unit with Nikasil coated cylinders and said the motor came from Roger Penske's racing team (?). Engine is basically new, rebuilt to factory specs. When I started the engine and was idling, I noticed a high pitched "whirring" sound which originally I thought was a bad fuel pump but after I depressed the clutch the sound went away. Releasing the clutch the sound came back. Same thing after we went for a 15 minute drive, clutch out the sound is there and clutch in the sound disappears. He said the clutch is new and replaced with a spring centered Sachs unit. I'm tempted to get this car but the sound worries me. I noticed a similar sound on another 944 I drove earlier that day but didn't make the connection with the clutch on that one. Another thing is I was expecting alittle more oomph from this engine. Coming from a 986S, the 944S felt gutless. The power came on a little more after getting above 4500 rpm though. Is this normal for 944Ss? I know they only make about 189hp but maybe I was just spoiled by the more modern M96 engine.

Pretty much everything works on the car and the body is in great shape with no rust at all. 85000 miles or so on the car. This will be my first 944, but owned a 928, three 914s and just recently a 2000 Boxster S which got totaled. How are the maintenance costs on 944s? I read that it can be pretty high, and I plan on using this as a daily driver. For under $8k, I think it is a good deal but that sound is really bugging me. I didn't have anything to record the sound with at the time.

[wvicary]

The sound might be normal but it's difficult to say without hearing it first hand. The torque tube or transaxle input shaft brngs could be at fault.

[00BoxsterS]

The sound might be normal but it's difficult to say without hearing it first hand. The torque tube or transaxle input shaft brngs could be at fault.

I searched and found this thread: http://www.fixya.com/cars/t595768-rattle_vibration_noises_possibly

They talk about what you mention here and one post describes exactly what happens with the car I'm looking at. Says the idler gear makes noise through the bell housing and the torque tube and is amplified by the absence of the rubber center on the clutch if a spring centered clutch is used.

I think I'm going to get this car after having it looked over by a mechanic. Aside from this noise, the car looks to be in great shape.