Wisconsin Joe

In addition to all the other reasons mentioned, it's a big hole in the roof that will let water in if the drains aren't kept clear. I have drain issues with my 944. If it rains hard, I get an inch of water in the back seat footwells. It sucks.

Cayenne motor (or a Panamera motor) won't fit. Too tall. You could live with the hole in the hood (or a nice hood scoop) but the real issue would be that the oil pan would drag on the ground.

Beyond that, getting the ECU to work outside the car is very difficult. All the ECUs (7 in a Cayenne IIRC) work together. Getting the motor to run properly without it communicating with all the other computers is not an easy task. The same issue is what prevents anyone doing a "Frankenstein Swap" (LS, Coyote, ect) into a Cayenne. There's a dude in Russia that claims to have put a Toyota motor in one, but the videos aren't really revealing. Does the trans shift correctly? Does the electrical? The car is too integrated for this to be feasible without a LOT of computer recoding.

ptuomov

I’ve heard (hearsay) that cayenne oil pan can be made real shallow with a full dry sump... but I know nothing about those engines.

If one is going to cut the hood, the only valid reason for that is 4x Webers!

GT6ixer

Found this thead. Good stuff.

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...nd-shocks.html

Bigfoot928

what would be cool would be one of Greg's 5.7 liter engines with hot cams a replica OB intake that has stupid high flow. Ben has already created one........ Then a mellow exhaust to mask the hot cams. make it a 5 speed with one of Greg's new clutches.... widened phone dials, front and rear with S4 brakes...

Dmckenzie

I'll chime in since I worked through a similar decision, so maybe my decision process will be of some use (sorry in advance for the long post).

Quick backstory - my father-in-law passed a couple of years ago leaving his originally-owned '80 (sorry, Greg, not an '81), manual, sunroof, and in rough shape. Trying to figure if there was anything to do with it lead me to this forum where I grew to love the 928 and decided I wanted one. But do I try and do something with the '80 or just get a different one in better shape? My priorities were like yours, reliability, perhaps more oomph than a stock '80, good (if not great) cosmetics... But mostly reliability - I want to drive up Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur without a worry. As much as I want to be able to wrench myself someday, I have no experience and my work will not allow me to start trying for at least a few years. I hope to some day, especially after lurking here and trying to absorb as much as I can from all of the members, but it's not happening anytime soon. [By the way, thanks to everyone on this forum, I know there are many people like me who can't contribute anything substantive but who read and learn from all of you - though losing hours researching what a green wire is and why I need to know has my wife wondering about my sanity... but I digress.]

There was a sentimental attachment to the car, and it was pretty much what I wanted. I love the Hellblau color, manual, no rubbies, take or leave the sunroof. But it needed EVERYTHING - paint, interior redo, complete mechanical overhaul. My choice was to go spend good money on a different car or spend more redoing the '80. Ultimately, I realized that rebuilding the '80 was my best choice. I get the exact car I want and the reliability. Even if I had bought a different car, the reality is they are older cars, and a lot of those older parts just wear (40 year older rubber pieces pretty much all need to be replaced, etc.). And again, I don't have the skill or time now to do it myself.

It was also critical that I am in LA, so Greg, Kyle and Precision Motorwerks is next door to me. I wouldn't even consider the '80 project if I hadn't been able to reach out to Greg and put it in his hands. I know there are some other folks out there, but I think only a few for a complete top to bottom rebuild. So we're on that path. And although it will cost more than buying another car in really good shape, we're basically rebuilding the '80 into a new car, which I think will be more reliable than the alternative. Meanwhile, we can make some tweaks along the way. It was all black interior before, and I (like you) love the pascha. And although original is cool, 40 year old fabric is, well, 40 years old. And I think the above post shows that new pascha fabric looks pretty damn good. We'll also have some fun with he mechanicals along the way. With all of that in mind, it was good that the '80 needed everything. If the interior or paint had been ok, I would hesitate to redo it, and I would have been compromising on my ideal spec or on condition in one or more areas. So if you're thinking about a complete rebuild, there's logic to starting with something that needs everything (I've seen that Minerva at Precision and it's a candidate for similar treatment).

It's relevant to note that I intend to keep the car, so the market value of the cars is not a consideration for me. So when it comes to the cost, my outlook is that it's not really different from buying a new car. I respect that may not be how others would approach it, but there's very few current cars that I would be passionate about like I am this 928, so why not pay for a "new" 928? If I ever had any doubts, they went away when I was able to sneak down to Sharktoberfest and see what others (like Rob and Ladybug) have done with their cars. Sign me up!

Whichever way you go, you'll have fun following this forum, even if you're like me and hang back sponging up the knowledge. Meeting some of the folks on here at Sharktoberfest was awesome (they didn't even mind that I know nothing). All around, just good people. Good luck with your 928 adventure!

Bowball

I want to thank everyone for their constructive input which I read eagerly.

Greg and I spoke at length a few days ago and answered all my questions. I like his build philosophy. I told him about my preference for the 915 transmission versus a g50 in Carreras for the feel. I’m not looking for something stupid fast but rather highly reliable and quite fast. I also want it to have period looks and don’t need massive wheels and rubber. I’m a reasonably well accomplished vintage racer, racing small displacement cars including 356’s, so I appreciate being able to throttle steer. I’m not hard on cars and racing off the line and dumping my clutch isn’t my thing either. The use is an updated vintage feel for long high speed runs on back country roads. with some annoying freeways too. A/C will be appreciated.

Im sensitive to the cars performance being balanced. I don’t want the chassis or brakes to be overpowered by the engine.

so I will fly down and check out Greg’s work and we the suitable donor.

Having thought more about this, I am also keen to buy an all original early car which I will keep all original. I am looking for that pascha or striped interior early car original paint original interior. Both are necessary! I can see how this gets addictive. Especially those preservation ultra low mileage jewels.

Also, what’s the favorite early colors? Minerva? That green that Kermit has? .

Landseer

Well, now I see your criteria.
Cant help with 928.
Do have a 1,900 mile 944S2 5spd coupe though in coastal blue here on east coast that greg could blow the dust off for you though.

abrescia

there’s a cool early car in Monterey I think- really nice car- it’s on Cargurus- and there’s another car in Florida black/black and blue pasha - no spoilers, no rubs

ptuomov

Have you considered taking a well running ‘87 S4 and converting the external look closer to an early 928? That kind of reverse restomod might in fact give you a very drivable car.

GregBBRD

Tell more about how that 5.4 liter "Euro" engine that I built for your car, runs and performs....I'm thinking that this would be the perfect engine for this project and meet all of the client's desires.