Man it's been awhile

wills928 · wills928's Garage

Since selling my 928 I thought I was"cured". Yep I only admired them from a distance!!!! Well the other day while traversing through the wood of Pennsylvania I came across a familiar car cover shape!!!! Left a note, got a call back, 70 plus year old widow, it was a 87 928 that was last driven and titled by her deceased husband in 2000!!!! The body is mint!!!!!! But the interior is mush, mold, rotted and rusty, I asked her was it under water at any time she affirmed no!!! He parked it there at garage edge all the time and kept it covered! So my question is" would 10/12 years of hot/cold, rain/snow etc tear up interior like that!

stepson · 10-16-2012, 07:51 AM

Yes. Dampness and numerous heat/cold cycles do not agree with the 928 interior.

Cautionary Note: do not try to start this car or even turn over the engine before at least checking the timing belt.

Also, if you are thinking about purchasing this car, it should be probably priced as a non-running car since there are at least 12 years of deferred maintenance.

wills928 · wills928's Garage

Thanks for the reply, I know electricals and all would have to be sorted out, I'm just shocked at what's left of interior, really a mess!!! Did not try to start it but she had the keys, told me it hasn't been uncovered until I saw it and we covered it back up, she has daughters and they don't want it not their husbands, as far as price I think I will get it because she only wants pennies literally!

MPDano · MPDano's Garage

?? No Pics?

stepson · 10-16-2012, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wills928

Thanks for the reply, I know electricals and all would have to be sorted out, I'm just shocked at what's left of interior, really a mess!!! Did not try to start it but she had the keys, told me it hasn't been uncovered until I saw it and we covered it back up, she has daughters and they don't want it not their husbands, as far as price I think I will get it because she only wants pennies literally!

You might explain to her why you don't want to try to start it in case one of the son-in-laws get a bonehead idea.

Agreeing with Leo: It didn't happen if you got no pics for us.

AirtekHVAC · AirtekHVAC's Garage

Yea....

wills928 · wills928's Garage

Mpdano,
Always good to see ya chime in!! Well as you know I have been down the " it don't exist without pics" hint my red one is posted somewhere on here, but I have not purchased it yet, will probably grab it this weekend with tow truck, as far as son in laws they are out of town somewhere , and I'm the first person she said to have ever ask about it!!! It just sat there for memory sake I guess!

SanDiego928 · 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wills928

I will get it because she only wants pennies literally!

Pennies are cheap. Buy it. Unless they are prior to 1982 then they are worth 2.5 cents each. Still cheap.

mikeesik · 10-16-2012, 09:50 PM

Wow. How exciting for you.

wills928 · wills928's Garage

Now , here is my question, I'm going to get it this weekend, so,,,,, drain oil and filter, new spark plugs, check timing chain( I don't know how or what to look for) drop tank and clean it, new battery, what else before I hit the ignition, help me out on this , mpdano, lee , you guys. Ps going out today to get new mouthpiece and headgear for the 12 rounds I'm going to go thru with the wife!!!! Lol

MPDano · MPDano's Garage

In my opinion, I think your way past just checking a timing belt on your 32V. Age deteriorates rubber, it's done and don't trust it. "Especially" on a 32valve engine. Now, while your already in there, replace the Water Pump as well. Since I never worked on an S4, it would be more of advice that I know on the 16V's.

Pics pics pics

stepson · 10-17-2012, 07:55 AM

I think you are going to need a set of WSMs or at least the Morehouse CD set. The 32 valve does have timing chains (inside the cam covers) but we are talking about the 7 foot timing belt that you are going to have problems with. Age/heat and cold cycles/ozone all work together to age the timing belt.

IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS, IT CAN BE CATASTROPHIC for a 32 valve engine.

The timing belt is located at the front of the engine. If you pull the air intake tubes, there is a small hole on top of both sides of the cam belt covers. You can glimpse sight of the timing belt there, but I would not attempt to start or even turn the engine over without replacing this timing belt. The water pump should be replaced at the same time since if the old and dry seals start leaking anytime down the road, you are going to the complete job I just wrote about all over again. Also, you will need to either rebuild the tensioner or replace it WYAIT. It just makes good sense.

I'm looking forward to seeing pictures soon.

A supercar for pennies: Who'd a thunk it?

turborat · turborat's Garage

You have more of a project than you might think. And a pissed spouse too? You really need to go through the entire fuel system before trying to start the car. Bad gas, will potentially clog injectors and other critical components. Since the car was in the elements, its safe to assume that the t-belt is shot. If the belt slips, add another $5K to your project for head work to replace bent valves.

Suggest you take the car home, replace the t-belt and components, ignition cap and rotors, spark plugs and possibly wires, flush the entire fuel system, replace oil........then try to start the car. I am sure that the belt tensioner seals have gone bad and there could be a fair amount of slack in the belt. If you manage to get it started and the engine is miss-firing for any number of reason, this will raise the probability of the t-belt slipping and bending valves.

Personally, I would pass on this project. Buy it and part it out. The work above is going to cost $2k or more if you do the work yourself. And then the interior needs sorting. Rusted and moldy you say? That could cost thousands to sort. What's a decent early S4 cost? Less than what this one will cost the get back to a number 3 car.

Spin-Master · Spin-Master's Garage

I would also check all the fuel lines and vac lines. If there is rust inside then there will probably be an enormous amount of electrical gremlins all over including the fuse/relay panel. Having sat outside for 12 years the rodents may have had their way under the hood also.

SanDiego928 · 10-17-2012, 04:19 PM

Are we talking 50,000 pennies or 500,000 pennies. It will cost 200,000 pennies to find out if it runs. Good points everyone made.

wills928 · wills928's Garage

YOU GUYS ARE KILLING ME.!!!!! lol, my wife is already saying the same thing, but yes pennies, she said a couple hundred dollars should be fair, i said yes maam !, u guys brought out more issues than i thought, but if i give up on it , i can pawn the pieces out on you guys here!!!! i see ya mouths watering!!! lol

Pete R · Pete R's Garage

This will be a very expensive $200 Porsche to make right. But the brakes alone are sellable and worth more than that so I'd buy it.

stepson · 10-17-2012, 07:57 PM

For a couple hundred bucks, you'd have to crazy NOT to at least drag it home.

WTH, it's a S4!!! And for a couple of $100???

You absolutely have to go for it!!

SanDiego928 · 10-17-2012, 08:18 PM

You must continue it seems. These days a few hundred isn't what it use to be....it costs 13,000 pennies just to fill up my truck to go work for a week here.

Danglerb · 10-17-2012, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SanDiego928

You must continue it seems. These days a few hundred isn't what it use to be....it costs 13,000 pennies just to fill up my truck to go work for a week here.

Wow, that sure brought up a nightmare memory. I used to have an old Ford van with dual tanks, I can't imagine what it would feel like to fill those 40+ gallons now.

Back on topic, tow that baby home and start taking pictures and we will start handing out the sage advice, or request for parts as is appropriate.