Have we discussed Porsche 928's ?

[rfuerst911sc]

Glen's recent post about 928 watches got me thinking about the cars . I know a little bit about them but could learn more from a good discussion .For those of you that currently own one or have in the past what's the scoop ? I have always had a soft spot for the 928 but have never owned one , heck I haven't even ridden in one .

I know they came in 16V and 32V , also auto and 5 speed manual . I know they have a lot of aluminum body panels and can be finicky with electronics . The little bit of internet research I have done it seems like a great GT . So let's hear what you have to say about the " shark " .

[Starless]

Always liked 'em, drove a 5 speed a short distance, never had the balls to buy one. So, I don't know any more than you do.

[Chocaholic]

Ditto...always seemed far too complex for a DIY’er of my (lack of) skill level.

[javadog]

Drove a five speed, 32 valve version for years. Great car, a lot faster than people give it credit for and vastly more capable and comfortable than a 911. Not as nimble as a 911 on a tight twisty road, absolutely obliterates a 911 on all other roads.

Reliable, including the electric’s, never mind the crap you hear people say about them. The engine bay is a little tight for certain repairs, otherwise it’s no big deal to work on.

[rfuerst911sc]

Java good to hear from a former owner . I have read they are a legitimate 170 mph car which is clicking along 😁 . Thanks for chiming in .

[dewolf]

Owned 9 of them. Current is a 79 manual. Easy cars to work on although most jobs protracted. Not the fastest car, but they'll sit at speed for hours on end. Love them.

Wife and I live in Adelaide. FIL lives in Sydney. Our go to drive car is the 928. It's around 1400km. We do it non stop.

Wife cruising along at 150kmh, just slowed down from 220kmh. This an S4. We always take the long route for lack of traffic, and lack of police. She always comments how rock solid they feel at speed.

[rfuerst911sc]

Hey dewolf did you notice the steering wheel is on the wrong side 😁 ? Just kidding that's a great pic thanks for sharing .

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Hey dewolf did you notice the steering wheel is on the wrong side 😁 ? Just kidding that's a great pic thanks for sharing .

Nooo....it's RIGHT hand drive..

[Starless]

Originally Posted by javadog

Drove a five speed, 32 valve version for years. Great car, a lot faster than people give it credit for and vastly more capable and comfortable than a 911. Not as nimble as a 911 on a tight twisty road, absolutely obliterates a 911 on all other roads.

Reliable, including the electric’s, never mind the crap you hear people say about them. The engine bay is a little tight for certain repairs, otherwise it’s no big deal to work on.

May I ask, which model/year you owned? With so many variants out there, I'm sure some were more reliable than others, as is with all cars.

[unclebilly]

I think the biggest question on everyone’s mind is, ‘Is the Porsche 928 an exotic car?’

[javadog]

1985.

I think the biggest factor in how reliable they are relates to the owner more than the car. A friend of mine owned a bunch of them, from the early cars, to the S4 cars after mine, including one euro 928S. All were equally reliable as mine.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

I think the biggest question on everyone’s mind is, ‘Is the Porsche 928 an exotic car?’

No, it’s a GT car. Two people, luggage for a week, long trip.

[GH85Carrera]

Richard's 928 GTS4 with the 5 speed was pretty fast. Considering the time frame it was built, it was a premier GT touring car. Richard did indeed autocross it and was very fast in it. I rode in it many times. I never felt comfortable wanting to drive it.

Ernst Furman wanted it to replace the 911 with the 928. Just imagine what a 928 would be today if it had the development done to it the 911 received. After Furman was fired and the American Peter Schutz took over at Porsche AG the 911 development began again, and new we have a 911 GT2RS that is faster than the 918 around the Nürburgring and the amazing 911 Turbo S with a zero to 60 time less than a heartbeat over 2 seconds. The 911 has come a long long way over the years.

[fastfredracing]

My first porsche was a basket case 78 with an auto trans. What a way to bust your cherry in the porsche world .
I rebuilt the auto trans ( mercedes unit ) sorted the cis, and got most of the electrics working .
There was no internet back then, it was difficult, and expensive to source parts.

[hbueno]

I own an 84 5 speed. It puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

What amazes me is it was designed in the mid 1970's. It feels relatively modern right now, it must have been a revelation back then. It's a different animal from my former 911SC and curremt 968 - not worse, not better, just different. Third gear pulls on the highway are always a thrill and the V8 burble on deceleration is acoustic joy.

[Arizona_928]

I have a ls swapped one. Would not go back to a 32 valve, or let alone buy one now with the increase in prices.

Would not get a 16 valve one. Well unless you get the 5.0l block and throw on some big 8 valve heads.... But at that price point you mind as well swap a valvetrain modified 6.0l cheb truck engine and make some good HP...

1985+ is the golden children for the models. Can use S4 parts on the 85/86 models.

[rfuerst911sc]

Arizona did you do the LS swap or buy it done ? Can you explain what engine you used/have and general performance ? I know LS engines have been done to 944's and 928's , lots of room in the 928 engine bay .

[KFC911]

A casual interest in purchasing a 928 led me to Rennlist, then Pelican years ago. Hey ... I can DIY on a 911 instead

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Arizona did you do the LS swap or buy it done ? Can you explain what engine you used/have and general performance ? I know LS engines have been done to 944's and 928's , lots of room in the 928 engine bay .

I was originally going to buy a kit from renegade in Las Vegas, but after calling him to talk about the package... Well he's an *******, and I went to piecing it togther myself. Mostly bolt on stuff that you can order from a parts store. Only 2 custom made parts. Bell housing adapter for the torque tube to corvette 2 piece bell housing, and motor mounts. Probably 40 dollars in metal if diy...

I have used a lot of different engines. 5.3 cheb truck engines with an early ls1 cam, and springs will get you around 350-380+ hp. Factory chevrolet low mount alternator bracket, a chinese/moroso oil pan and the engine fits nicely in the bay with no major working of the metal, welding, ect. Throw on a turbo, injectors, and tune can easily hit 600hp. I have destroyed a lot of cheb truck engines (4.8, 5.3, 6.0), and a lsx 376. Current motor is a 5.3l iron block cheb with a lot of the goodies. You can use the stock cheb engine harness, but you have to cull wires. It's very easy to diy the cheb harness, but after the second engine I threw into the car the connectors were beat up and i bought a PSI harness.

You can use the stock speedo by using a a 944 cam gear and machining the middle part to fit over the cv axle and add a pick up. Or you can run it without and with an aftermarket intrument panel... There's a lot more parts available aftermarket now since I did the conversion on my car....

[thor66]

Originally Posted by javadog

No, it’s a GT car. Two people, luggage for a week, long trip.

well said

Of course, when the 911 was new they said it was a GT car.

People trying to work on the engine may think it's an exotic due to all the stuff crammed in there...

I find them heavy but good at higher speeds.