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TJC · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 8:11 am Post subject: Big Brother (928) Question

Okay I've been on the prowl again for another Porsche since I sold the BMW 332ti and I happened upon an '80 928 that the owner has had for the last twelve years. She is fairly knowledgeable and her late husband (a restorer/builder in his own right, Pebble Beach, Street Rod, etc.) took care of it for her.

Now I've never owned a 928 but I know that a few of you are familiar with them so other than the standard stuff like the timing belt, grounds, and so on is there anything that I really need to be careful of?

TIA,
Tom
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'95 BMW 318i/5 ..."Pearl"
'87 Porsche 944 NA... "Liebchen"
'02 Porsche Boxster..."Sunbeam"
'04 BMW X3..."Xander"
Still on the Prowl!

www.ttrs1.com

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

I had an 80 euro spec. I did basic preventive maintenance, and it never gave me any trouble with respect to the driveline or running gear. Great car, and I will someday have another.

The electrics can be troublesome, as can the vacuum activated climate control system. I never did get the heat working, but wasn't motivated enough to go after it since I never drove it in winter anyway.
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

TJC · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:08 am Post subject:

Thanks Dan...anyone else?
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'95 BMW 318i/5 ..."Pearl"
'87 Porsche 944 NA... "Liebchen"
'02 Porsche Boxster..."Sunbeam"
'04 BMW X3..."Xander"
Still on the Prowl!

www.ttrs1.com

morghen · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 9095 Location: Romania

Manual transmisions dont last. I'd be surprized if you find any in good condition by now.
Never had a 928 but a friend did and i poked my nose here and there. Cool car, a confy grand tourer but only for the ones who can afford to keep it.

If tax and insurance would not be insanely high here i'd buy and use a LPG converted 928 as daily as its probably just as confy or more as my 2000 Passat.
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TJC · Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 12:28 am Post subject:

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

They have the same synchro design as the G31 and typically suffer from the same 1st and 2nd gear issues, although in my experience not as badly or as pervasively as the G31...maybe because their previous owners could afford to properly maintain them.
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

Grenadiers · Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 1:32 am Post subject:

Brealytrent has one here on the board, think it's an early one too.
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'83 944 Track car.
'88 924S Track car.
'89 944 Turbo
2004 Winnebago Vectra monster RV
2012 Jeep Wrangler
2014 Kia Soul
2001 Ford F350 powerstroke

morghen · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 9095 Location: Romania

TJC · Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 2:19 am Post subject:

So may I gather that if one has a properly functioning manual transmission and maintains it properly, uses the proper lubricant (I tend to favor Redline products) and drives sanely then he may expect decent service?

Understand that I am not looking for a daily driver for my next toy, but more of a cruiser to enjoy taking trips in or a bit of blasting through two lane mountain roads...my abusive racing days are far behind me, LOL!
_________________
'95 BMW 318i/5 ..."Pearl"
'87 Porsche 944 NA... "Liebchen"
'02 Porsche Boxster..."Sunbeam"
'04 BMW X3..."Xander"
Still on the Prowl!

www.ttrs1.com

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

My 928 had crunchy gears when downshifting too quickly into 1st or 2nd. But if you know how to be patient and time the shifts, you could do it without grinding, at least from 3rd to 2nd. If you know how to drive a G31, you can drive a 928 with little to no issue.

I wouldn't let that scare me off, and I certainly would not buy a 928 with an Automatic. I am waiting until I find a decently maintained early Euro spec with manual. The later cars are nice, but in my opinion, a little overwrought. I really like the clean elegance of the early cars, but that's just my opinion. I know others on the 928 forums will differ with me on those points!
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

morghen · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 9095 Location: Romania

I like the S4 very much but i love the GTS

On such a whale i would only get an automatic.
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Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

PorscheNut924 · Joined: 17 Apr 2013 Posts: 23 Location: Washougal, WA

Another perk of the early cars is that all of the 16v 928 engines (at least the US versions) are non-interference motors.

kuhdad17 · Joined: 19 Jun 2015 Posts: 83 Location: Montana, USA

Non-interference on the early ones is a nice plus. My coworker has an 84 and his is an automatic. Seems to shift a little sluggish at times but he floors it ~97% of the time. I don't like automatics, but honestly his car will burn rubber through 3rd gear with the automatic so I'm sure the standard would take some time to get accustomed to. Seems like a nice car so far, he's had a HVAC problem and some wiring gremlins but now he's going through transmission issues, looking at a couple grand for another with the freight and what not so his car is currently down.

Not a lot of room to work in the engine bay...
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'78 924 N/A

Horizonblue · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 5:54 am Post subject:

I have an early 928 engine (M28/02) in the workshop, which I will be working a little on now and then, converting it to a marine engine for my 18 footer. I don't know anything about the internals. But when I turn it with a wrench, something is actually interfering inside, but with a little ease, I can get over that point, but it comes again. Haven't counted the revolutions between the "hump" but I suspect a sticky valve. 1 rev = something inside the cyl, 2 rev = sticky valve. If the engine is shot, it can be used as a template for fabricating marine parts, until I find a better engine

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Euro 924, 1976

"If you can't fix it, don't break it"

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brealytrent · Joined: 28 Dec 2008 Posts: 414 Location: Goldsboro, NC