bureau13

S3s are the best (my biased opinion of course). Welcome! Jealous of the color...

linderpat

Great story and sweet car. I think you will end up loving the car more so for what it is as opposed to what it represents - these sharks have a way of doing that to you.

turamusic7

Thank you all for the warm welcome and well wishes! The pics of it before and after a wash are a little over 3 years old so only the interior shot is 5-6 years old but it definitely hasn't changed much. The dash has pulled away from the vents but I don't believe it is cracked. I snapped a pic of this the other day but the lighting makes it tough to see so I will get some good interior shots posted when I get the car home. We have approved the work GB and team recommended and I am working on getting them a one-day moving permit for road testing and smog check. I am hoping to drive the car home from Anaheim to SD if all goes to plan. I already have a growing list of things to work on which includes a combination of items the car needs as well as upgrading my garage insulation and organization to ensure the car stays nice for years to come. Cheers!

polecat702

Wonderful story, and a beautiful car! You and the wife will have lots of great times in it, enjoy!!

beran earms

Came in and read this, perfect story and brought on a smile! Enjoy every bit of it, congratulations.

docmirror

I'm sure it doesn't need mentioning but I will.

Flex fuel lines, and power steering hoses. Way too many carbeques in our history. I just took my fuel lines off, and like others here - they were scary looking.

Do what you can, ask questions here, take jobs atomically and you'll have a great car to use for many years.

The Forgotten On

I highly doubt Greg would ever let a car leave his shop with questionable soft lines. Especially a car as special as this one.

turamusic7

I picked the car up a week and a half ago and had a nice uneventful drive home to San Diego. The next day, I came down with the flu and the car sat for 3 days, then I drove it around the neighborhood a bit. Then the holiday madness started and the car sat for a few more days. I finally had the chance yesterday to take it for a smog test. The smog shop was unable to open the hood as the plastic surround for the hood release lever had crumpled to bits. We eventually got it open with some pliers and lots of force (so add a new hood release cable and lever surround to the list of things I need to fix). Sadly, the car failed smog, by a lot. At 15 mph it measured 178 HC (PPM), Max is 128, and 1.26 CO% (max is 0.80) and at 25 mph: 123 HC (max 103). So, I have dumped (for me) a lot of money into a car that I still can't legally drive. I got the car nice and hot before taking it in, so that's not the issue. I spent all night reading threads on the topic and I honestly have no idea where to begin on my own. Either way, I have no more money to throw at it for now and the car will likely sit in my garage until I figure something out. To say my wife and I are bummed would be a massive understatement. I knew this car would be a bag of worms but I now feel like I am in WAY over my head technically and financially. I guess I should just be glad I didn't pay anything for the car to get started and I am in no real rush to get this sorted out.

Additional items that need fixing that I think I can handle on my own: Aftermarket Stereo (really old Alpine 7902) doesn't work (found a blown in-line fuse but I'm not measuring 12V anywhere behind the head unit, so replacing that fuse obviously didn't help, will continue troubleshooting this soon). The lights in the dash pod went out (was working when I picked it up, I think). One of the running lights is out. Hood insulation needs replacing, as previously mentioned. Seat back release lever handles broken/missing (new ones already on order). I fully expect this car to always need something, so none of this is a big deal but it will all have to wait until I can get the car to pass smog.

I realize this is a tough thing to troubleshoot without seeing the car but I am open to any and all suggestions. I have one additional free test within 30 days and I'm not opposed to using that after trying some basic things but I feel like there has to be something majorly wrong as the numbers indicate the car is spitting out unburnt fuel (according to the smog shop, I don't know anything about this stuff). Thanks for reading!

linderpat

Well one of the very first things you'll want to check are good connections at the vacuum lines. On an 85, this is daunting, since there is very little room to work. Pull the cross brace, remove the plastic venturi tubes, remove the two side plenums and the whole air box, and you'll be able to look at and touch everything under there on top of the motor. Make sure the vacuum lines are fairly supple and connected in all of the places where they should be (do a search, lots of info here on the 85/86 vac line routing). Also, pull the fender liner out of the front passenger wheel well, and look up in there for the charcoal canister. There is a "y" connector tube that is often broken. It is part of the air recirculation system/vapor control. If the "y" fitting is broke, get a new one and replace. Also, while you are in there, look at all of the lines and make sure they are all connected. Also, look at the air recirculation inside the engine bay - look for the little canister painted black in the front, right side of the engine bay. Open it up and look at the filter - if it is dirty, get a clean one. Again, check for fittings to make sure everything is connected.
These are the most easy, free things that you can do. They are a start. Report back on what you find.
Good luck, we are pulling for you!

turamusic7

Thanks Ed, I will research all of this and try to dig in this weekend. After spending double my original budget, I was really hoping to at least register the car before taking things apart, but it is what it is..

Captain_Slow

There are a whole bunch of reasons to hold on to THIS particular 928 - and the story is number one. I hope there are family photos documenting the first couple of years before your father-in-law passed. Make a photo album...a nice one that matches the paint or the interior.

Captain_Slow

Just saw your last post. Definitely a bummer, but way too soon to get discouraged. I think a lot of us have gone through the exact stage you are in right now (Oh no...what have I gotten myself into...it will never work...it's too expensive...money wasted.etc.). First of all - this car is a can't lose investment. The value of THIS car is going nowhere but up. Making it run well will be a value multiplier - in other words, don't even consider selling it yet. Just take a break and watch this thread grow with helpful posts. There are a lot of helpful people in your area. Ed's given you good low-hanging fruit to look for. You may still think it sounds daunting - at first glance, looking under the hood is quite intimidating, but over time with each task you take on yourself it does become much less so. Start slow and be patient. When frustrated...walk away...you'll be surprised how coming back fresh makes a difference, often after receiving a tip here. There is great satisfaction in keeping a 928 alive with your own efforts and help from this community, and doing so will add another great chapter to the family story of this 928.

When I think of a car that sits this long I think of varnish throughout the fuel system, and gummed up fuel injectors that spray like a squirt gun instead of mist. I'm optimistic you will get this sorted.

turamusic7

Jon, thank you for the words of encouragement. I have no intention of selling the car and I am genuinely excited to learn

polecat702

Kid, you already have the most important part to this story, which is the girl!!! The car is just frosting on the cake. You have all the time in the world to make the car perfect again. It all boils down to time and money. You're a young man, take your time and do it the right way. This forum is an invaluable resource. All the expertise is here and it's free.

I've been collecting since I was 15 years old, and that was 60 years ago. Still got my girl too! The money will come, trust me in this. If anyone had told me that I'd have all that I have today 60 years ago, I wouldn't have believed them.

Relax, you've got a great head start!

Mrmerlin

Thats a beautiful car