Looking at a 928 this evening, some questions

[Hebrewhomeboy]

So on the way to the beach today I found a 1979 928 for sale. I called the owner and asked a few questions, and in a few hours I'm going to meet him for a more detailed look at it and hopefully a test drive. Here's what I know about the car:

1979 928, 5 speed, 176XXX miles
interior looks great, recently redone. No stereo. Black and red
Exterior is black with some rust. Roof has some surface rust where some paint has chipped off, easily fixable. Around the window on the back hatch there are a few small spots of more serious rust, that would require some minor welding to properly fix. Other than that the paint looks decent, like a good wash and wax would make it pretty shiny. Has phone dial wheels, tires look to be in good shape.

I called the owner and he said it had never let him down, that it ran great. "It's a Porsche you know, so it has it's days, but it's been a good car," he said. He's owned it for a year, selling it because he's leaving the island (Hawaii).

He said when he bought it he bought a new fuel pump, but apparently the problem was the fuel filter, so he replaced that and the car comes with a spare new fuel pump. He has also recently replaced the clutch. The price is $3,000. I'll post more tonight after I talk to him about it and get a better look and all, I was just wondering if I could get any tips, things to look for, etc.

[rhjames]

First---

the timing belt/h2o pump is something that you should find out the history on>>>>when was it last changed, when was it last adjusted (tension), etc...

if there is no history (documentation), you could be faced with a TB failure at any time. (this typically can cost around $700 just for the parts) On this model though, you do not need to worry about bent valves if the belt breaks--non interference.

second---

rust is a bad deal with these cars. I know well, because my Euro has it's share of it, in the same places you describe. To fully repair and restore the body, make take as much as $5 to $10 thousand bucks, depending upon how serious you get. And your car will never be "worth" that much, unless it's the first 928 produced or ........you get the idea.

third---

your car would have CIS fuel injection. this injection system has been around since the dark ages, but one thing to remember is that it's not a good idea to let it sit around for long periods of time without running the engine. The fuel distributor gets gummed up, the fuel pump (electric) gets gummed up, the injectors can't be rebuilt (they can be sonically cleaned), and the rubber fuel lines are subject to leak or burst.

fourth---

brakes and clutch hydraulics are on one system, using the brake master cylinder as the supply for both. if any of the parts (brake master cylinder, clutch master cylinder, clutch slave cylinder, wheel calipers, or any rubber brake line show signs of leakage or softness------you may as well replace the whole works at one time. Yes....this is very costly, but if one component is bad, the others are not far behind. They will fail eventually.

fifth---

the good thing is your engine is easily (so to speak) and cheaply replaceable. The 4.5L is the least expensive of the entire 928 engine line up, and they can be bought for a few hundred bucks should yours have a catastrophic problem.

sixth---

get a copy of the factory workshop manuals---either paper form (9 volumes, usually sold on eBay for $200 to $400) or on CD from Jim Morehouse for about $80.

other than that, pick up one with the understanding that this is the most complex model that Porsche built at the time, and it can get very, very expensive keeping one up......and these cars are nearly thirty years old.

enjoy!!!

--Russ

p.s. We're here to help. Don't hesitate to ask, even though some here may give you crap, the most of us are very willing to help......

[Hebrewhomeboy]

Well, our meeting time came around, and he never called. He just left me a message apoligizing, saying he was helping a neighbor out with some plumbing, but it gave me some good time to reconsider. I'd love to have the car, and I'm sure it would be a blast, but I'm passing this one up. I knew 928s were pricey, but I did some searching and found exactly how pricey they actually are. I wouldn't mind picking up the car, but I don't think I want to spend an additional few grand (possibly) to get it in tip top shape. So no shark for now, but hey, who knows what the future holds! Thanks for the reply, I do appreciate it.

[Hebrewhomeboy]

And hey, while reading up about 928s I learned a lot, and I always enjoy learning about Porsches, no matter what model.

[Danglerb]

I know a guy with a 928 in HI, and there really isn't anyplace to drive it fast, so that take a LOT of the fun out of it in my mind. $3k for a 79 in less than excellent condition is really too much, and your research is correct most cars want money on a regular basis.

928's are frequently quite cheap in HI, so just be patient and check craigslist etc. for a newer and nicer car.

[Hebrewhomeboy]

Thanks for the tip!