80/83 5-spd $2012 project

[ckn028]

Hello all, I've been staring at the black shark in backyard for 6 years thinking "I'll get to it one day". Well, that day will come soon as my buddies and I have decided to enter it in the $2012 (or $2013) Grassroots Motorsports Challenge down in Gainsville. A couple of 944s have run in the past but AFAIK never a 928. It's all for fun and we don't really expect to be competitive but will have a blast trying.

Weve got an 83s 5speed that almost runs (electrical problem), and a 1980 parts car that I bought for the wheels and tires. the 80 also is a factory non-sunroof car, so the tinking was to strip down the 80 and build it up with the running gear from the 83 as a track car (autocross and drag) while staying within the $2012 budget.

I'm starting the budget at $1k FMV for the 83 and $300 FMV for the parts car.

We've been talking Megasquirt (fuel and spark) and a RMT or possibly twin turbos (budget allowing but probably not).

What do you guys think a stripped down and gutted 5speed will run 1/4 mile? Faster than 11.5s and I need a roll bar or cage (Ahaha!)

I'll try to upload some pics later, but during this process both cars will be gutted and any parts not needed can be sold to recoup budget (up to $1000) so we'll have $2k to spend on the car with a good base to start. Obviously the first step is to strip the 80 down to the tub and blast it to see how worthy it is. I honestly have no idea since the sole reason i bought the 80 was for the wheels and tires (turns out they were from a 944 but I put 20k miles on them before the 83 developed the electrical problem).

Is $1k a reasonable FMV for a nonrunning 83 5spd, 125k miles, rust spots on roof, interior in shambles and who knows where the keys are? I bought the car in 99 and put 25k miles on it between 99 and 03. It has sat outside in the weather since then.

[Landseer]

83 injection system is pretty much bulletproof, so I wouldn't waste time and money with a replacement if it will be naturally aspirated.

Having grown up in Tennessee, I have to say, it seems like an unnecessary redneck destruction of a very good road car, quite frankly.

You boys should find an old 68 catalina 400, swiss cheese it and run it for the win.

[ckn028]

Wait till you see the pics

Honestly, it would take 10k plus to put it back on the road in presentable condition. My plans were always to make it a track car. And we will be running a turbo or two (hopefully), so the MS part is pretty much a necessity.

Oh and the first gear synchro is gone

[Landseer]

sounds like mine.

Anyway, that might require a megasquirt system. It should be a riot.

Some of our brothers have run the 928 in LeMons races, especially out in California as reported by jalopnik. Chump car is an other option, again, trying to use the potential of this crazy car for power cornering.

[Danglerb]

928 sucks in 1/4, totally wrong suspension, and even with turbos it won't have that much power or traction.

OTOH even the early cars when setup for road racing are extremely competitive even against cars with a fair amount more HP. The trouble most of the lemons guys have had is too much success and worry over being sent to the crusher, plus the judges aren't very willing to accept low price estimates.

Guys who figure its going to be cheaper to put a Porsche on the track than it is to put it on the road put a real BIG smile on my face, thanks for the humor. Take plenty of picts and report back with more.

[Landseer]

That's a good point. The parts needed to put it on the road are also needed to put it on the track --- timing belt, wp, brakes all around, tie rods, axle and steering boots, fuel lines ( be sure to change these). Then, for track, you add a fortune of extras.

Still sounds like an excuse for rednecks to cut up a car they don't understand, now that I think further about it.

Find another car to kill.

[MPDano]

No 928 Kill Stories Allowed here!

[ckn028]

I guess I should have asked permission before I decided what to do with my car. My bad, wont happen again.

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by ckn028

I guess I should have asked permission before I decided what to do with my car. My bad, wont happen again.

Of course you can do what you want. We're just messing with you. Still, no 928 Kill Stories allowed

[Pete R]

I'm looking for a lemons car myself. The judges will bounce almost all Porsches for being worth more than $500 and secondly they are too impractical. You need something with cheap mass produced easy to find parts. The point is to stay running for 24 hours.
I'm not familar with the grassroots challange, if it's a drag race or circle track I wouldn't bother with the 928, If it's a roadcourse you may have something there.
I love 928's but not all are worth saving. Some just should be put down, so he may as well have fun while he does it....

[924CarreraGTP]

Build an exhaust with small mufflers out of the side of the car and a balance tube between them. Some day I'm going to build a 928 like Porsche built the 924 Carrera race cars with an exhaust that just dumps out. Also go for cheap super charging or go buy german turbos out of a junk yard and intercool them. Post photos of whatever you do.

[ckn028]

$20xx GMS challenge rules are simple. Any car, any mods, any conditions as long as its safe. Budget is $2012 and that includes the price of the car plus any parts you add. You are allowed to sell parts off the car and recoup budget dollars up to the price of the car or $1006 Max.

There are 3 parts to the challenge: 1/4 mile, Autocross and concourse. Track times are added together and points awarded for the concourse judging.

We wont be trying to win anything. I know we'll get our rmb pipes handed to us in the quarter mile, but would like to run mid 13s. Autocross we just want to be mid pack. This is for fun, and the low budget keeps it affordable and keeps the wife happy. A lot of junkyard parts will be used but thankfully our time doesn't count towards the budget.

I prefer to look at it as reviving a dead car instead of killing one

[MPDano]

What happens with it at the end of the race? I was talking about the Lemons Rules where they hack it up when done.

[ckn028]

They don't do that, you get to take your car home. Severally teams have run the same car multiple years. Or sell it, or whatever. GMS is a magazine and they do an article on it of course

[Danglerb]

Lemons is similar, except $500 net for the car (after selling bits, and not including safety gear like a full roll cage), and its a 24 hour race. 928's have done VERY well, and I think one car out of the 50 to 100 starting gets crushed (peoples choice?).

Search on 928 estate for more. Trouble they ran into was the judges and placing a value on the car. After the first few events I think they lost either an engine or transmission, and the rules don't cover fixing a car that survives the race. Its nonsense to expect people to find another chassis and put in all the safety gear, instead of swapping in a same class engine.

There are more and more other racing alternatives showing up with different silly association rules, so look for one you like and do it.