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Another 928 finds its home in DFW. '86.5 AT. (long with pics)
Doing my part to solidify DFW as the 928 capital of the New World, I just brought home an ’86.5 Auto with 110k miles. Ebay car, with the most spartan description ever. Basically, a “it ran when I parked it” ad. It is no secret what I paid, so here is the listing:
About 3 days prior to auction end I was in text contact with the seller, who I will refer to as “Scott” because his name is Scott. I learned some details from Scott of the “life got in the way” and “need to sell quick”, but little else. Car was located at lake house near Coldspring, TX, about 1 hour north of Houston. Despite my best efforts, no ability to access the car worked out. I had a vague assurance from Scott that the new owner of the lake house would not shoot me.
As of morning of the last day of auction, bid was at $3,400. I packed up the Sequoia with the barn-find kit (hard tools, electronic tools, floor jack, 93 octane gas, battery, relays, come-along, fire extinguisher, coffee, sandwich, cigs, etc.) and arrived at the car by 8:30am.
Very good looking body and respray, great glass, Cup I wheels, trim, spoiler, etc. all very good and present--very, very dirty. Doors locked. No keys.
With enough intrigue that I did not just turn around, I did the best PPI I could under the circumstances. Jacked up looked underneath: newish SS X-pipe and RMB, newish CV and tie rods boots, sway bar bushings, MM’s and alternator. Very clean, no leaks of any kind, some moisture at tranny pan.
Checked linkages at tranny, visual inspection of flexplate/driveshaft clamp through hole (there was indication of previous TBF check --white paint mark). inspeced flywheel , and did MrMerlin oil-in-sunlight check.
Popped the hood from underneath (way too easy BTW). All fluids clean and at proper levels. All belts new, TB looked great (lettering still looked new.), newish plug wires and coils, minimal oil in the valley. Ran the fuel pump from my battery, checked pressure at fuel rail showing 2.2 bar, (fuel pump good, return line good, likely good FPR). After wiping off the windows, I made sure I could see it in Park and direct-connected starter and jumped at PIN 14—engine cranked fine. Didn’t mess with ignition, I’d seen, smelled, tasted and touched enough to make my bid.
Won the bid (after a last minute run-up by suspiciously-late first-time Ebay bidder). Met Scott who surprisingly provided maintenance records dating back to 2008 from himself and prior owner, a Porsche CofA, and a certificate from winning a PCA car show in Houston in 2014. He asked if I knew Roger and Sean and I told him that they were just myths. He also said Andy did a detail of the car prior to his car show. Scott also complained of lawyers and his ex-wife—the reason for the sale. (Sorry Scott.)
Now with keys and access to the inside to a car I now owned, I drove an hour back to the car, and put in the battery I brought. Visually inspected the CEP (looked unburned, I changed in a few new fuses), LH and EZK units had stickers on them from rebuilds in 2011. I jumpered the FP relay, ran out about 2 gallons through fuel rail, added back 5 gallons of 93 octane.
Moment of truth: turn key to “run” and radio and interior lights come on. Turn key to “start” and nothing but a wimpy buzzing noise from the CEP. Checked it out—the flasher relay! Of all things…a bad $5 relay shorting out and robbing voltage. Pulled the flasher relay, and after about 10 revolutions, car fired up and idled fine. Sounded great, smelled like burning dust. Most electronics worked….almost all did after fiddling with relays and replacing several fuses. A/C blew cold! Car shifted and moved along and backward fine. Even the rear hatch release worked. (Can’t say the same about my s4.)
It was late, so I spent the night in Conroe, next morning I hooked up the car to the tow dolly, stopped at the self-wash in New Waverly (with a guy in my ear the whole time about how it reminded him of the ’88 280z he had in high school) sprayed off two years of dirt, nests, and cobwebs. Mandatory stop at Bucee’s (lots of thumbs ups in the parking lot) and then home.
Cut to the end….now in Dallas and going through things, but low on time this weekend. Drives great, need brakes bled and SS lines. Needs full tune up and all grounds and contacts cleaned. Idles a bit high, but just looking at the intake runners I can tell there are vacuum issues. (The more I run it the more things come to life, like the sunroof and seat controls.) Smells like a car closed up for two years—musty.
Roger, I will see you soon with another list.
Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads and guys who take on the role of Dad!
Jason Some critters had been crawling on it Away we go. Bucees in Madisonville after a quick wash in New Waverly
trans may be toast after that tow on a dolly. 928 transmissions fluid pump is driven off the input shaft and will not turn when towed on a dolly, even when put in neutral. Hate to be bearer of bad news. Looks like a good find though.
and the only thing that other bidder bid on was stuff from your seller? looks like he drove the price up 2400.... still looks like a good buy. hopefully the title and paperwork line up.
trans may be toast after that tow on a dolly. 928 transmissions fluid pump is driven off the input shaft and will not turn when towed on a dolly, even when put in neutral. Hate to be bearer of bad news.
4-speed has a rear secondary pump for pull-starting? (Deleted on GTS, IIRC.) Still, not intended for extended driving.
trans may be toast after that tow on a dolly. 928 transmissions fluid pump is driven off the input shaft and will not turn when towed on a dolly, even when put in neutral. Hate to be bearer of bad news. Looks like a good find though.
and the only thing that other bidder bid on was stuff from your seller? looks like he drove the price up 2400.... still looks like a good buy. hopefully the title and paperwork line up.
Well, that would be a bummer. Didn't see that in the Owner's Manual.
I've driven it almost 100 miles since it was here, around town, testing all gears and on highway. Honestly, the tranny performs better than I expected. Shifts great up and down, through all gears, kickdown is where it should be everytime. Before driving it at all I had it on the lift and among other things did a proper check of ATF level, which needed 0.5 quart. (Shifting through all gears during the process seemed fine.) Re-checked it after about 50 miles and cold and hot levels were fine. Tranny filter change is on list next week so we'll see if there are any chunks.
Guess I will just hope I'm lucky, and in the meantime drive it like I stole it!
(I really do like driving it--different from pre or post models for sure. Gobs of torque. From the records I also found it has been chipped.)
Jason
trans may be toast after that tow on a dolly. 928 transmissions fluid pump is driven off the input shaft and will not turn when towed on a dolly, even when put in neutral. Hate to be bearer of bad news. Looks like a good find though.
and the only thing that other bidder bid on was stuff from your seller? looks like he drove the price up 2400.... still looks like a good buy. hopefully the title and paperwork line up.
That's what I was thinking when I saw the picture. Wouldn't have been much more for the U-Haul car trailer. I always wonder with the motor homes dragging a rear wheel drive car behind them what damage is being done.
Should have bought Shawns ‘85 turbo instead. Having worked on both I know what one I’d have chosen. Yea, real bad towing like that.
Sorry called him Scott..it is Shawn!
I didn't really look into the '85 turbo too much, I just had a weird feeling that the engine was rebuilt, the turbo put on (nice looking job), he did dyno testing and speed tests (I found them online) etc. and then all of sudden, boom, after 450 miles it was parked. When I pushed in on the clutch pedal it was very resistant at first, then went to floor and didn't return. Could just be a bad cylinder, but I didn't mess with that one anymore. He said he sold it to a guy in College Station who "works on putting turbos on Porsches."
Jason
That's what I was thinking when I saw the picture. Wouldn't have been much more for the U-Haul car trailer. I always wonder with the motor homes dragging a rear wheel drive car behind them what damage is being done.
Cost was not the issue. Trailer was not available, and obviously I didn't realize the dolly was in issue!
Jason
It is interesting to me how different the different models drive. Folks that have never driven all the models really have no idea what you are speaking of.
Since it runs, shifts and drives well, you probably have nothing to worry about regarding the transmission. They are robust units and you did not go that far!
As regards DFW as the center of the New World for 928's? Could be, although the California and Atlanta groups might give you a run for your money! We will know for sure by seeing what state brings the most cars to the PCNA Rendezvous in Atlanta soon (a bunch of us from Michigan are heading down). Are you attending?
Jason - leave some for the rest of us 8>)
You have it bad my friend.
__________________
Does it have the "Do It Yourself" manual transmission, or the superior "Fully Equipped by Porsche" Automatic Transmission? George Layton March 2014
928 Owners are ".....a secret sect of quietly assured Porsche pragmatists who in near anonymity appreciate the prodigious, easy going prowess of the 928."
Great story my friend!
Before you know it, you'll end up with ~10 in your driveway soon enough! Tell me how I know :-)
Congrats!-Hoi
I didn't even mention the Welding Shop/U-Haul rental place in Coldspring. Stopped by and asked "hey, is that dolly out front available tomorrow." As he his wiping off his hands from welding, the owner Brady says "that thing has been here for two months, you're good." Me: "Well, I'd really like to go ahead and reserve it just in case." Brady: "The crappy internet in this G**D*** town is down, so you can just go online later and order it." "Ok." and then asked "I noticed that you open at 8 a.m., any chance someone will be here earlier?" "Well, Stan is usually here by 7, but if you get here earlier, just hook it up yourself and take it, and you can work out everything in Dallas."
So, I took it at 6am.
Returning it in Dallas, Uhaul guy says "can I see your paperwork?" Told him the story, and his very disgruntled reply, looking down and shaking his head: "yeah...they are not supposed to do that. Come on inside."
I didn't even mention the Welding Shop/U-Haul rental place in Coldspring. Stopped by and asked "hey, is that dolly out front available tomorrow." As he his wiping off his hands from welding, the owner Brady says "that thing has been here for two months, you're good." Me: "Well, I'd really like to go ahead and reserve it just in case." Brady: "The crappy internet in this G**D*** town is down, so you can just go online later and order it." "Ok." and then asked "I noticed that you open at 8 a.m., any chance someone will be here earlier?" "Well, Stan is usually here by 7, but if you get here earlier, just hook it up yourself and take it, and you can work out everything in Dallas."
So, I took it at 6am.
Returning it in Dallas, Uhaul guy says "can I see your paperwork?" Told him the story, and his very disgruntled reply, looking down and shaking his head: "yeah...they are not supposed to do that. Come on inside."
Jason
In other words the guy at the welding shop wanted it gone... doesn't care how it goes where it goes as long as it was gone.
06-16-2019, 07:09 PM
Another 928 finds its home in DFW. '86.5 AT. (long with pics)
George Layton March 2014
