Newbie Questions-Build options

ChuckD · ChuckD's Garage

Hi all: Just bought a 1982 928 yesterday. Always loved the look of the car and now I have one. I will be asking lots of dumb questions and appreciate your patience. I have never owned a Porsche but have plenty of experience with Ford and Chevy engines. Anyway...my car has 16 inch wheels (teledials), threaded collars on the rear coil overs, and slotted front rotors. Couldn't see front struts. Question: Is this standard or some type of handling package. I also don't know how to find the option codes for when the car was built. Where do I find those? Not in any of the paperwork and don't have the window sticker (if there was one). Is there a build sheet buried in the car somewhere or a list of build options?

DougM · 08-30-2012, 08:00 AM

Under the rear trunk mat on the passenger side there should be a white sticker with the vin on it. At the bottom there would be the option codes. A group of 3 digit numbers like 650, 220 ...... Once you get the codes, there are plenty of option decoders out there.

ChuckD · ChuckD's Garage

Awesome. Just what I needed. Thanks!

stepson · 08-30-2012, 12:09 PM

I forget if '82 model year had those stickers. If they do, great! If not, post your vin# and somebody with the newest version of PET (7.01 or whatever) should be able to give you a complete rundown on your car.

Danglerb · 08-30-2012, 04:43 PM

This type of question its really good to post some pictures to see what you have on the car now. Lacking picts a part number, most bits of a 928 have them, but some only have a casting number (often with a number and the letter R at the end) which don't tell us much.

82 offered the competition package in the USA, with brakes and stuff US S would have except for the larger engine. Slotted discs sound aftermarket, threaded height adjust on the shocks were offered on a couple types.

It helps a bunch if you put location and model year info in your .sig file (part of the forum profile), teledial is making me think not USA? Early non USA models vary a lot from the US version.

ChuckD · ChuckD's Garage

Thanks guys. Brand new to these cars. It's being delivered this weekend. I have the VIN. WPOJAO922CS821194. I did some research on it and it seems to be a US car. Can someone verify? I Haven't had a chance to crawl under it yet. The larger wheels were making me think it might have some handling package. Or maybe someone just upgraded in the period correct manner. Feel free to chime in anyone. Thanks!

Dean_Fuller · 08-31-2012, 09:13 AM

That is a US car IIRC . Other than US would be ZZZ in the VIN. Post up some pics when you get a chance.

Danglerb · 08-31-2012, 02:07 PM

The letter o is not used in a vin, its a 0 (zero). VIN. WP0JA0922CS821194

From 80 on the 16" wheel is standard, going wider in the rear in 87+, so likely stock, maybe sport, but ready for replacement.

The ebay listing isn't a lot of info, but I would save it and the associated carfax as well as all the pictures the seller links to.

Others will differ, but it looks too much of a project for my tastes. I would only consider it as a base for a fun car, not something to fix and make nice. Paint is not original, and interior needs lots of work, plus the base line of a 4.5L (lowest HP) automatic with lots of deferred work will translate into lots of $$$ compared to starting with a nicer car.

Main point with all 928 purchases, is it close to what you want?

ChuckD · ChuckD's Garage

I picked it up really cheap. Runs quite well. Odo quit at 77K. Excellent documentation up through mid-2000s and the mileage isn't much higher. No accidents. One skid pad on frame in front is scuffed and the tow hook is bent a bit. A few rust spots in the usual places. Yes...been painted a toyota white color (good documentation). Lots of service history. For the price, I can do whatever I want and never feel bad about it. You guys are gonna hate me, but I wanted one that I could strip the interior out of and build my own race car interior. Very basic and lots of aluminum panels. Maybe a roll bar. Aftermarket seats, aluminum dash, etc. I have not done much bodywork either, so this will be a learning experience. I know it's not fast. I'm not going to race it. Mechanically, it is very sound. That's worth a ton. I will start my own build thread when I get it home and get pics and link them to photobucket or whatever will work on this forum. I was just starting on my knowledge acquisition quest and I appreciate you folks chiming in. But don't come down on me for rescuing a 928. If you want to chime in and assist me with my learning curve on stuff, I greatly appreciate it and will return the favor. Just know that I am like you and want to keep the car in one piece and drive it. Thanks.