PPI in Huntington Beach - CA?

[Fischer_76_911S]

Anyone out in this area? The sickness returns! After selling my '81 for funds (see Project #928 officially starts" thread - I have missed owning a 928.

I have worked out a deal and made a deposit on an '87 automatic. Wondering if there was someone out there that could do a drive-by. Much appreciated

Bob F. (706) 463-0494

[Danglerb]

Place for a PPI is Greg Brown at Precision Motorworks, but somebody might live down in that part of OC. Maybe post on Rennlist as well.

What I kind of don't get is the assumption that people on the opposite coast aren't avidly looking for good cars, combined with the cost of shipping. How do you end up with even a good deal vs a local car?

[Fischer_76_911S]

"What I kind of don't get is the assumption that people on the opposite coast aren't avidly looking for good cars, combined with the cost of shipping. How do you end up with even a good deal vs a local car?"

Most of the cars I look at on this side of the country have somewhere, somehow, at sometime been driven up north or in salt. There is rust and corrosion. The cars on your side of the country are usually, but not always, been in a nice dry climate and solid cars. Until you've seen the ravages of a car that was driven just one day on a salted road you'll never understand.

For example - I had a blazer that was a southern truck and I took it up north for one week. I got caught in a rainy (near freezing) salted road on the way up. It was too dang cold (5 degrees) to even consider washing at my destination. As soon as I got home, I washed the underside and all. I already had rust on my hitch and then later on brake components, etc. YUCK!

The last 928 I bought was non-running and cost me $880 to ship to Georgia. It was worth every penny. There are clean cars over here, but not at my price point.

I have closed the deal and will hopefully have my car by the first of the year. I'll post pics then

My opinion - your mileage may vary...
Bob

[MPDano]

So did you gt a PPI? If you didn't, probably a real bad idea being a 32 valver and hidden crank end play issues. Was it bought from a trusted source? Not trying to be negative, just looking out for you

[Danglerb]

Worst corrosion I've seen on a 928 was a GT where the guy lived at the beach. For about 5 miles inland in Calif we get a salt mist that condenses on cars over night and starts to eat all over.

I took a rental car on a big loop one winter through PA, OH, and VA, and would never willingly subject one of my cars to the same, so I get what you are saying.

OTOH seems like a lot of 928 in FL and other less salty locations, plus the number of cars garaged all winter.

$880 is dirt cheap for long haul of a non runner.

My point on the coast thing though is more about how many of us check over all the local cars so if something on this coast hasn't sold it may be for a good reason locals have noticed.

[gshiwota]

Hi Bob - I live in Huntington Beach and can do a drive by on the car. I'm not a 928 expert but have restored several aircooled cars. PM me if you're interested.

Thanks!

Gabe

[Linderpat]

[QUOTE=Fischer_76_911S;8919904...
For example - I had a blazer that was a southern truck and I took it up north for one week. I got caught in a rainy (near freezing) salted road on the way up. It was too dang cold (5 degrees) to even consider washing at my destination. As soon as I got home, I washed the underside and all. I already had rust on my hitch and then later on brake components, etc. YUCK!

.....
Bob[/QUOTE]

Sorry Bob, but that is nonsense. No way does one week with a little bit of salt cause what you describe. There had to be existing but undetected issues. I have lived my entire life in the NE (except for 4 years in Montana) and have never once witnessed what you described.

[Fischer_76_911S]

MPDano - Good to hear from you again. Long time huh! Maybe it's my lack of time, complete lack of any brain matter, or just my trusting nature, but I've bought several cars and two planes sight unseen. Maybe just lucky so far. For the most part, I like to think us Porsche owners and aviation owners are a more trusting pedigree. I talk to them, have a good conversation, and if it feels right I complete the transaction. Time will tell. Life is short, and I generally trust people and my gut. The ones that have done me wrong have karma and their maker to deal with.

Excited to get behind the wheel of an S4. Don't know how long I'll keep her, but even thinking my dad may want it down the line. We'll see where life takes me.

Gabe - I will definitely PM you. Would love to "see" what I bought - HA!

Linderpat - I grew up in Chicago and went to college in Wisconsin before I was smart enough to realize I didn't have to live where I hated life. I'm glad some people love cold weather, it will keep housing prices lower down south. I loved Wisconsin, just not the winter. Chicago can stick it! I get cold in Georgia. I'm a winter wuss. You'll find me retired in Florida or on an island somewhere closer to the equator. You're 100% right, I imagined it all. Thanks for chiming in there buddy.

[Fischer_76_911S]

Get this- turns out Gabe (gshiwota) lives about next door. He can walk there. Any way, I will throw pics up when all is said and done. Car still in Cali but that will change after this Christmas week. I didn't want to bother any shippers or the seller during this time....
Bob

[Fischer_76_911S]

Well, my car arrived the other day. Trying to figure out how to include a video.

https://youtu.be/muJMxT7MsXM

Hopefully this works. The car was on fumes and I was scared I wouldn't make it the 1.5 miles home from the local K-Mart parking lot. I later went and dumped 5 gallons of fresh premium in it from a gas can. I think the car has been sitting for quite a while. I've had some issues with the car dying in my driveway and then in the street. I finally got it back up my driveway and into my garage. I poured a bottle of injector cleaner in it. I took it out today and it stayed running and I took for a short 10 mile drive of my neighborhood, some back roads, and 5 miles of interstate while I assessed her condition. There are some non-functioning items that were supposed to be working that need to be addressed. Hopefully, the seller will be honest and make concessions. If not, I will blast him on here and pay someone to egg his house!!! When it died in my driveway and would not restart (crank, but not fire) I was ready to throw in the towel.

So here I am, once again, going down the 928 road of repairs and maintenance.

[Danglerb]

928 does not respond well to running out of gas, can be a can of worms.

I had old gas in my 85 Euro last smog check, so I got the bright idea to put a couple gallons in a gas can and drive it until it was on fumes. Cruised around some to get the cats nice and hot for the smog test, pulled into the place and they had a run of cars ahead of me from the Mechum auction, fancy stuff, then my turn came and it would not start, crank well, no fire.

I put in a couple gallons more gas, tried several times and nothing. Smog guy is an old time 928 mechanic and he says lets try some starting fluid. Those who know me, know I HATE using starting fluid, but I popped the hood and he sprayed while I tried to start it. Caught and died, spayed more and it caught and ran rough a bit, then smoothed out. Passed smog a few minutes later.

[Fischer_76_911S]

What is the chance of having an ex-928 mechanic on the smog line!? Did you buy a lottery ticket that day?

Shipping the car ran me exactly $750. I washed it today and it cleaned up real nice. I still need to get with the seller to address several issues, but he is out of town for 2 weeks. I will keep him updated too.

Bob

[Fischer_76_911S]

So, the seller lied on a few things and will have to deal with the incoming Karma. You try and trust people and think that Porsche people are on your same page until you meet the opposite. His name is Neil (I will leave the rest out as I have integrity, unlike the seller). I'm tempted to sue him as I have a copy of his driver's license, a signed contract, and obvious faults he lied about. Probably not worth my time or money as the lawyer would be the winner. I will play the cards I have been dealt. I've only had about three bad dealings with people in my life and two have ended up dead, and one in jail. So, listen up Neil, Karma is REAL. You can try and ignore it all you want, but your time is coming.

On a lighter note, I juggled a few things around today and changed the oil in my wife's car and rotated tires to free up my lift. Now, my 928 can hog the lift for a few weeks. I have all the fluids I need, but now that it is up in the air, I found two things leaking...the engine and transmission - HA! Actually, it is a valve cover gasket, an oil pan gasket, and the rear diff cover gasket. All things about to be drained and fresh fluids refilled. So, not a big deal, I just have to wait for the parts to come in. A lot easier to change when they're empty.

Looking at the last registration, I think the car has been sitting since 2010. That would explain a lot of running issues. Will start right up one time, then die and refuse to start for 20 minutes. Then fire right up and be fine. The tank has a bit of varnish smell, so I'm getting some crap in the gas whenever I refill. This will either take a few full tanks of premium to flush out or I'll have to drop the tank and flush. Something I've done before, but will put off unless dire. I'm hoping for a few fresh tanks of gas route.

I have absolutely NO paperwork or receipts so I have to assume the car needs everything. Once all the fluids and leaks or taken care of, it will be off to my mechanic for the timing belt and related parts. Then, I will feel better driving the car. I feel like it is a time bomb waiting to go boom until the timing belt is done.

I'll keep you all posted and may start a new thread on the car.

Bob

[MPDano]

I would drop the tank and stop adding gas to it. Flush it out and get it clean and put a new filter on it. I sure wish I had a lift like that.