Another New 928 Owner

[milkman383]

I was just old enough when the 928 was released to see the pictures and dream about how I would get one if I (a) won the lottery (b) had a long lost rich uncle pass away or (c) found a suitcase of cash. I never figured then the real answer would be (d) wait until the car is cheap enough to just write a check.

I did always love the looks of the 928, but it was Chevys/GM's that I owned and modified and later raced and then started a shop that modified and raced.

Now I have one!! It's a 1986.5, auto, repainted Guards Red, 125k miles, decent overall shape, most everything works, but not everything.

History of the car, PO of the PO was restoring the car in 2005-2006 just had it painted, timing belt done, lots of little parts ordered, and he lost interest and sold it cheap to the PO my friend, a professional circle track racer. He owned the car over 5 years and didn't put 1000 miles on it. It just sat in his shop and he ordered little things for it to make the AC work or send the brakes out when he was sending his race brakes out for a full re-build, etc. I always told him he didn't want that car, I wanted it. About 3 months ago I found out his wife HATED the car, it was in the way at the shop and I pushed harder for him to sell it to me. :-)

I picked the car up mid December, and on the hour drive to my house the "Belt Tension" light came on. WTF? Got it home, then started looking at places like this forum. Ok, probably backwards but what the heck.

Bought the Porktensioner and the required goodies, thought it was a little crazy that 1000 miles and 5 years equaled bad timing belt, and then talked to a few mechanic friends who said "I wouldn't do that job, you need to find a Porsche mechanic" I own a shop, we work on cars, but we also know when to sub stuff out to an expert. I found Ray Munsch, we had some friends and customers in common and now he's my Porsche mechanic and I'll do the easy stuff and let Ray expertly handle the stuff that needs real Porsche experience. Like Clint Eastwood said "A man's got to know his limitations."

So, car on the road, running great, brakes are better than any car I've ever owned, it handles very well especially for a 25 year old car on 16x8 wheels it's pretty slow, but I've got a Vette that makes 800 horse to the tires, it's not going to feel super quick, that's not why I bought it. I did put in a CD player with MP3 and I've loaded it up with 80's tunes. :-) It's a fun throwback to the 80's but a car way ahead of it's time.

I've been reading up on a lot different things, I was scared into doing fuel lines, so that's done, and I'm not going to try and make this car fast, unless something expensive happens to the motor, then I'm dropping in an LS2 I've got a few in stock.

It's cool having a car that don't already know everything about! There's mystery and discovery, I've got to find solutions to the little issues, figure out how things work all that fun stuff. This car is a guilty pleasure and a throwback to another time, one that I've wanted since I was in grade school.

Ok, this was a huge post, sorry. I hope anyone still reading got a couple chuckles and thought, yep, sounds familiar. I'm looking forward to leaning on everyone's 928 knowledge, and maybe I'll have some stuff to contribute as well.

Good to meet everyone, here's a pic!
thanks,
-Jeff

[milkman383]

Ok, here's a list of the things that don't work that I'll be either ignoring or trying to figure out. :-)

No cruise control.
Seats don't move, probably switches, right?
No power mirrors, also probably the switch?
Remote hatch release no workie.
Central locking, not so much.

AC blows cold, but.... setting the thermostat on anything other than cold seems to get me full on hot. Bad heater control valve? Don't say dashboard control, that sounds expensive.

Past that, everything mostly works!

And it's fun!

[Maleficio]

Gorgeous car! Congrats, and welcome to the club.

[Smokin' Joe]

I hate to tell you this but you still will need (c).

[Danglerb]

Welcome to the forum, wow, space I sure wish I had some like that.

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by milkman383

I did put in a CD player with MP3 and I've loaded it up with 80's tunes. :-) It's a fun throwback to the 80's but a car way ahead of it's time.

Love it!

[Alan in AZ]

Originally Posted by milkman383

AC blows cold, but.... setting the thermostat on anything other than cold seems to get me full on hot. Bad heater control valve? Don't say dashboard control, that sounds expensive

No it sounds like the temperature control loop has a problem and that usually is not the console head unit. Could be a break anywhere in the temp control sensor loop head unit (temp slider) -> internal temp sensor (hole in console top right) -> external temp sensor (most likely - under left front headlamp in end of alternator cooling hose feed) -> main HVAC mixing flap motor control.

Check the ext temp sensor - it may be unplugged or just gone...

You can get to it by removing headlamp pod cover and the headlamp (then rotate down) or take off the wheel and remove the splash shield

Alan

[harborman]

Very nice car! As normal in electrical issues, clean all fuses, holders, all ground points, 14 pin connector in front on right side. This is what we all seem to do first.

My advise, do not put in a Chevy motor, or any motor other than what it came with. The car will really become worthless. Keep it all Porsche as it was meant to be. The car was way ahead of it's time as true with German engineering.

[Stoolie]

Originally Posted by milkman383

I picked the car up mid December, and on the hour drive to my house the "Belt Tension" light came on. WTF? Got it home, then started looking at places like this forum. Ok, probably backwards but what the heck.

Almost exactly the same thing happened to me - PO did an engine swap out after the main bearing went, and had a similar age one with all new belts/pumps/ etc put in 6 months before I bought it. Two weeks after I got it, the Check Timing alert comes up. I think the brain is programmed to get it re-tensioned 1000km after they are swapped. I took it in to the local non-Porsche Porsche chaps and they spent a day with it doing the retension (only had to tweak it 1/2 a turn??).

I too have the CD stacker chock full of 80's music and a copy of a management magazine from the era that includes the prices of executive cars at the time - I remember pouring over these when I was a teenager (and wondering why my Dad's company only bought the execs Jags!)

[Danglerb]

Originally Posted by Stoolie

I remember pouring over these when I was a teenager (and wondering why my Dad's company only bought the execs Jags!)

The Jag of that time was a head to head competitor to the 928, V12 vs V8, not far off each other in price or performance. The Jag was never any temptation to me though vs the 928.

[Maleficio]

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by Maleficio

Holy Sheeit. I never seen a Jag like that. looks like a Delorean Design gone bad

[Stoolie]

Looks like James Bond's Lotus had a bit of a dalliance with a Citroen and that's the bastard love child...

[Maleficio]

I kind of wonder if that Jag inspired this Subaru?

[milkman383]

Originally Posted by Alan in AZ

No it sounds like the temperature control loop has a problem and that usually is not the console head unit. Could be a break anywhere in the temp control sensor loop head unit (temp slider) -> internal temp sensor (hole in console top right) -> external temp sensor (most likely - under left front headlamp in end of alternator cooling hose feed) -> main HVAC mixing flap motor control.

Check the ext temp sensor - it may be unplugged or just gone...

You can get to it by removing headlamp pod cover and the headlamp (then rotate down) or take off the wheel and remove the splash shield

Alan

Ahhh makes sense. Since the system is temp driven if I request 68* it's working like hell to get there and won't. I need to look at the schematics, I got the set on CD. :-)

Thanks!! That's the kind of help I need!
-jeff

[milkman383]

Originally Posted by harborman

Very nice car! As normal in electrical issues, clean all fuses, holders, all ground points, 14 pin connector in front on right side. This is what we all seem to do first.

My advise, do not put in a Chevy motor, or any motor other than what it came with. The car will really become worthless. Keep it all Porsche as it was meant to be. The car was way ahead of it's time as true with German engineering.

Very good points, I've read that in the "faq" and had done some of it, but not all. So many things do work well I didn't think I had any huge issues, but I need to start with basics for sure.

On the Chevy motor, I agree it "ruins" the car in some way, but in others it might keep a car out of the junkyard if the engine repair is too expensive. I'm not planning on it, but it could happen if I have a very expensive issue to deal with. Let's hope I don't have to choose.

[milkman383]

I should have brought the file home with me, but I dynoed the car today (I have a chassis dyno) and it made 254 rwhp and 255 rwtq, which for a stock car with 125k miles on it, rated at 286 hp, I think that's a pretty awesome number. I guess the cats aren't clogged up. :-)

But that will be the next change. :-)
-jeff

[Danglerb]

PorChev is a frequent topic, issue does have two sides, but the notion that it is cheaper is pure fantasy.

I think Porken has chips and minor mods to bump the rwhp over 300.

We used to have a local mechanic who's main plan for HP was to wreck the cats. I don't think the guy had a clue about HP, so that taints my opinion to anybody that shares his strategy.

[milkman383]

Originally Posted by Danglerb

PorChev is a frequent topic, issue does have two sides, but the notion that it is cheaper is pure fantasy.

I think Porken has chips and minor mods to bump the rwhp over 300.

We used to have a local mechanic who's main plan for HP was to wreck the cats. I don't think the guy had a clue about HP, so that taints my opinion to anybody that shares his strategy.

PorChev, that's funny. :-) And yeah, agreed it's not just price, it's that if something really expensive happened, for me swapping to LSx would be cheaper and "better" since I (a) own LS motors ready to drop in (b) I have infinitely more experience with LS engines, and (c) I could make 500 rwhp all motor very easily.

I had glanced at the Porken stuff, I need to check the graphs 300 rwhp with an auto would be an impressive gain for a few hundred bucks.

And I've been doing this long enough to know that removing a well working cat is only worth 2-3 on most vehicles, but there are a few that you'll make 10 more. Now, a poor working cat, I've seen gains of 400 rwhp, yes gains. But that's the exception and not the rule. :-)

The car isn't bad now, I wish the accelerator pedal didn't feel like it weighed 350 pounds. But it's fun. :-)
-jeff

[Danglerb]

Steering, brakes, accelerator are heavier than many cars, but its all about giving the driver more control that is progressive, not just impressive. Detroit mentality is to make them sensitive so people touch the brakes and wow these are great brakes, so easy to lock them up.