took the plunge

[tgsstewart]

just bought my first 928 and it's definately a project. previous owner said it sat for the last 2 years but i'm thinking it has been sitting since '98 (found the registration in the glove box). i plan on doing a total rebuild and was looking for opinions on where i should start. the car is an '82 Weissach with 64,XXX miles, interior is shot, rear hatch glass is missing, automatic. previous owner said it need a new "brain" so he bought one but never installed it? i have two of the Bosch JETRONIC 928.618.106.03 brains, where can i send them to be tested? any suggestions on where to start...engine...transmission...brakes....suspensi on??

[m21sniper]

Start by selling it and buying a model with some horsepower. Honestly, you could spend $20,000 fixing that one (easily), and be stuck with a 3 speed, 219hp dog. A Nissan Altima SE will crush an '82 928 Automatic in acceleration.

You shoulda got an 84-86 Euro (310hp, 4 speed auto) or an 85+ US (288hp 4 speed auto).

Whoops.

So my advice: Don't spend one dime on it, sell it as-is, and buy a model 928 that has some actual performance potential.

Sorry for the bluntness of my post, but it's the truth.

[rhjames]

assuming (dangerous thing to do) the car has good bodywork/paint and everything is in place as it should be, the Wiessach is a model that might be worth saving.

start in this order:

1. remove spark plugs and put oil in the cylinders--let soak for a few days
2. check timing belt--look thru holes in the belt covers for condition inspection--it will need replacement anyway, but not immediately if it's not broken
3. if timing belt is not broken, turn over engine by hand (27mm socket and bar on the crank shaft bolt)
4. electrical--fresh battery and clean all wiring grounds front to back
5. fuel system--drain/clean tank, fuel pump will be most likely be shot--replace it--replace all filters
6. replace all fluids and filters
7. attempt to start engine


if the engine will not turn over by hand, you may have serious trouble internally. could be anything from corrosion to busted head gaskets to worse.

if the timing belt is broken, don't sweat it--you have a non-interference engine. it will require a timing belt and related parts replacement soon--about $700 in parts including the H2O pump--but you can run it until it breaks without destroying valves and such. Just remember, if you do this, you are living on borrowed time. the belt will break, especially one that's been sitting for many years. When it will break, is anybody's guess.....

car was parked because of bad brains? if it starts and runs, no bad brains. if no spark, then put in the new brains, try again.

rear hatch glass--I have an extra one.

interior--renew at your local upholstery shop. carpet available from various suppliers, starting at about $300 and goes up in cost. (I just completed renewal of my interior---all leather and new carpet set---for less than $2K)

brakes--the minimum you should do is a complete brake system flush.

trans--get the engine running first, then service the trans (unless the car was parked because of transmission failure (?)

this is enough to get you started--

good luck and keep us updated.

--Russ

[bedinator]

I wonder if you might have a 300HP 4.7L Euro version. Assuming you choose to keep this 928, I'd suggest pulling the engine first. That will make things easier to work on. Pull the heads and have them worked on as needed. Get the whole engine gasket set so you can replace the oil pan gasket, etc. Leave the block intact if the bores seem to look okay, it sounds like its low miles. Sitting that long you'll want to get a new timing belt. If the rubber cap on the tensioner is dried or in bad shape, get a new one of those.

Drain the AT fluid and remove the radiator. Take it someplace and have it cleaned and pressure checked. If you can get it back together with a working engine and transmission, it sure makes it easier to move the car around the property while you get to the rest of the work. Start looking for that back glass at a salvage yard ASAP.

[tgsstewart]

thanks russ, the body is in pretty good shape with one small rust spot below the passenger rear 1/4 window. what do you want for the rear hatch glass?

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by tgsstewart

just bought my first 928 and it's definately a project. previous owner said it sat for the last 2 years but i'm thinking it has been sitting since '98 (found the registration in the glove box). i plan on doing a total rebuild and was looking for opinions on where i should start. the car is an '82 Weissach with 64,XXX miles, interior is shot, rear hatch glass is missing, automatic. previous owner said it need a new "brain" so he bought one but never installed it? i have two of the Bosch JETRONIC 928.618.106.03 brains, where can i send them to be tested? any suggestions on where to start...engine...transmission...brakes....suspensi on??

Congrats!!! In California, you can log into the BAR Association website and punch in the VIN. This give info on Smog History, which give you an idea of when it last was on the road legally. Mine had a couple failed Smog Attempts in 2002, so I know it most likely sat for 5 years since I bought it in 2007.

[rhjames]

glass is $100 plus shipping plus insurance---no guarantees it will get there in 1 piece, but it will be packed in a crate professionally (my wife's crating service at her office).

get the engine going first, then let me know if you need the glass--until then, use a tarp to keep the weather out (?)

this car will not have the M28/12 (Euro 300hp version)----I don't remember any
Euro/ROW Weissachs in this country....maybe someone else could confirm this?


--Russ

[m21sniper]

The 4.7liter Euro motor was not avail unti 1983. The 1982 version is much less powerful.

IMO this car is not worth spending any money on at all, as any late model passenger box will easily out-accelerate it.

Do you really want to dump $5k or more restoring a "sports car" that cannot out accelerate a late model Nissan Altima?

[lfausty]

post a pic of your new to you, PRECIOUS

(m21sniper) you mean, no BEER funds, wheres the love!!

[Arizona_928]

I can see where Snipe is coming from. Because in the long run you could spend as much as what a decent 32V would cost you. If you bought on the cheap i would go for it. But as they say, Nothing is more expensive then a cheap Porsche.


Plus we all like pics.

[Danglerb]

Congrats on the car, and where I would start is a careful inspection. You need to go over it with a dispassionate eye and decide if its fix, part, or sell.

Weissach is a US only model 4.5L standard motor with special gold paint and two tone interior, and a matching set of 3 pieces of luggage, plus a dash plaque.

Jubilee is the Euro only model 4.7 300 hp S motor, kind of purple with a matching cloth interior.

300 hp S models were offered outside the US (ROW rest of world) starting in 1980, the US S model started in 1983, but its just a 4.7L with 220 hp.

Brains almost never go wrong, so I would find someone local willing to do a quick brain swap to test your.

Odometer mileage means nothing in a 928 without substantial documentation. They have two or three areas that frequently fail, so almost none have remotely correct mileage. My 145k 83 shows about 14k on the odometer.

Post your location and model year in both your profile and sig. Local support is what you will need most, so we need to know where local is.

[pcar928fan]

Snipe, you might want to buy the DVD that I am selling so you can get up to speed. The 4.7L Euro cars started in 1980 and made 300HP. The 84-86 4.7L Euro cars were rated at 310 but speculation was that they were closer to 330...

There are MANY 80-84 Euro S 4.7L 300+HP cars in the US... 5spds AND autos. I could be wrong on this one (Roger at 928sRus could tell us for sure) but my impression was that the Weissach cars were only for the US markets and that the Jubilee cars were the special cars for the ROW market... Thus a Jubilee car will be a gray market car if it is in the US the Weissach cars will be full US spec 4.5L 219HP cars...

I hope they GAVE you that car because it is really worth about $0 not running and with a RUINED interior. It was in fact the interior that was the ONLY thing (other than the luggage) that made a Weissach car special and as noted to fix that and make it RIGHT would probably be $10k on the interior ALONE... Paint to do it RIGHT (though you are already missing the rear hatch glass...BONUS there) would be another $6k without even blinking... Then you still don't have a running car...

That car running, driving and in good presentable condition but FAR from show quality is a $9k car AT MOST and probably A LOT LESS. With the luggage in good condition and if the car itself was fully functional and close to excellent condition might be a $12k car to the right person who is looking for that specific thing.

This is a project for someone who can do all the paint, interior and mechanical work themselves and LOVES 928's and has nothing better to do.

You are AT LEAST $25k away from having a $10k car...

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Danglerb

Jubilee is the Euro only model 4.7 300 hp S motor, kind of purple with a matching cloth interior.

300 hp S models were offered outside the US (ROW rest of world) starting in 1980, the US S model started in 1983, but its just a 4.7L with 220 hp.

The 1983 US S model is 234hp. the 82 non S is 219hp IIRC. The difference in performance is actually quite huge between these cars though, as the 1983 model has a 4 speed auto, the 1982 only has a 3 speed auto.

At any rate, a US 1982 Porsche 928 automatic would get absolutely crushed in a drag race with almost any newer V-6 car on the road today. Total dog.

[JK McDonald]

Many of us have started off with a project car of unknown status and condition. Run some tests, price out some parts and ask lots of questions before making your final decision. I found this site as an excellent and invaluable help on Miss Purdy....

Michael

Hey Sniper what does your logo say ? Something like - High Flying well hung extraordinaire !

[928SROCK]

hey mpdano whats this BAR Association website you speak of? whats the address?

[928SROCK]

hey tgsstewart
if you wouldn't mind revealing what it set u back i be interested to know but u dont have to.

[rhjames]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

a US 1982 Porsche 928 automatic would get absolutely crushed in a drag race with almost any newer V-6 car on the road today. Total dog.

if this was the criteria for purchasing a 928----I'd never bother with ANY of them.


some of us just like the cars as they are-

--Russ

[pcar928fan]

Good point Russ... You could get a Vette for less that would wipe the floor with any stock 928 from a standstill. Now, 928's ARE pretty good for roll on races, but not so much from a stand still.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by rhjames

if this was the criteria for purchasing a 928----I'd never bother with ANY of them.


some of us just like the cars as they are-

--Russ

I'm sorry, my sports car better be able to out accelerate a newer Nissan Altima.

My 928 can....big time. Many 928s cannot.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by JK McDonald

Hey Sniper what does your logo say ? Something like - High Flying well hung extraordinaire !

High Speed Low Drag.

It's an Army saying.

Originally Posted by pcar928fan

Good point Russ... You could get a Vette for less that would wipe the floor with any stock 928 from a standstill.

In point of fact, NO, you cannot.

A 928 of any year will beat the same year Vette in the quarter mile. Most years, it will do so convincingly. Some years, it's not even close. And year for year a Vette is typically a more valuable car than a 928 on the used car market.

Originally Posted by pcar928fan

Now, 928's ARE pretty good for roll on races, but not so much from a stand still.

Not correct. The A/T 928s with LSD are absolute launching beasts. The 5 speeds are not good out of the hole however, and have a huge problem with wheel hop.