Greenpointer928

Hello everyone!

I am the owner of a 1985 Porsche 928 S (U.S market) with automatic transmission. I have been lurking through these forums for quite some time, and I figured it would be good to introduce myself and my car! It is a silbermetallic shark, one which unfortunately had its aluminum bits stolen in 2014 I believe, leading to the issuance of a rebuilt title. It is sporting the doors, fenders, and hood off of a 1984 donor car. I have another set of doors in Guards red with no rub strips off an 86, which I hope to have painted one day. The car has been repainted at some point, not particularly well but well enough for now, in what looks like a Mercedes silver. I had a chance to see a 78 in what was certainly the original silver metallic, and it is much lighter and does justice to the body lines. The paint on mine just looks a bit “heavy.” On to more important things... I am about half way through the timing belt job, having replaced the water pump with a genuine Laso unit (the plastic impeller on the old one had cracked and was in pieces when I removed the water pump and the pulley itself was wobbling quite a bit, thankfully it was all caught in time), rebuilt the oil pump, replaced the cam gears, the oil pump gear, crank seal, cam seals, “hockey puck” seals. The old timing belt has surface friction markings, as though it were hitting the belt cover, or tracking incorrectly. I am searching for a photo of the old belt to no avail, hopefully I can add it in later. I have kept it, so if anything I can add pictures in a few days. Perhaps it was only the wobbling water pump pulley causing this issue, but I am not sure. I have purchased the Gates “Long Life“ belt, which will be fitted when my Porken tensioner arrives. Yes, I should have ordered earlier, but I was unsure until I saw the original system for myself. I have Ken’s cam timing tool and bump stick as well, what a brilliant bit given the normal procedure! While I have waited, I have had the chance to familiarize myself with this massive engine, cleaning and painting the timing belt covers. The intake refresh will be coming up next, likely over the winter. I have a complete set of Greg Brown’s fuel lines waiting on a shelf for me, as well as some other new bits. I will be checking on the flex plate and crankshaft end play soon, although from what I have read it is an issue that plagues S4+ mostly, right? Not saying I won’t be doing it, just trying to ease my mind a bit! The last major thing (I think!) that I will checking and replacing likely over the winter is the plastic guides for the cam chains? I need to familiarize myself with all of the associated information on that. Other things... I have done up all the ground points with Deoxit gold, and have torn out the old interior, and installed sound deadening. The sunroof is also leaking quite a bit, I have cleaned out the drain tubes, but unfortunately I think I knocked one of the drain tube lines off, so the sunroof will be coming out. I have the two sunroof seals to replace, and it gives me a chance to clean off the grease the previous owner supposedly applied to it. The passenger mirror needs to be replaced, I have an S4 mirror, just need to figure out the connector issue (my car has the 6 point connector, and the S4 mirror has only 5 wires, in any case I have the diagram of this barrel plug connector someone posted here once, just need to find it. The steering rack needs to be rebuilt I think although I haven’t had a chance to flush and bleed the system, fluid is leaking out of the rubber boots and there’s quite a bit of moaning cold start. The bumper shocks front and back need to be pulled back out, I dont want to spend what’s being asked for them. There is no other damage under at least the front bumper, as I had a chance to check it out when the front bumper was replaced.

On to my question, I am prepping and painting the intake myself, rather than having it powder coated. I just don’t want to risk telling someone how to do something, only for them to stubbornly think they know better, strip the inside, and ruin my intake. There is no flaking on the inside, I have used a mini camera to check, and it will be staying that way. So, does anyone know where I can buy an acid chromate treatment? Magnadyne e2390 brush on seems the best choice, but only aircraft part supplierS seem to have it, and I can’t buy in small quantities.

So, 10k away from being a 5 k car, or whatever the saying is, indeed. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. It will be my car at the end. I am 23, and sincerely, I will never sell it! So this one will have a caretaker for the next 60 years, if only I make sure to take as good care of myself as I will this car!

I seem to be having trouble attaching pictures, any suggestions? Should I just add an imgur link?

linderpat

Welcome to the shark tank! Looking forward to seeing pictures of your car and following your progress. From your post, it looks like the car is in pretty good hands - you sound like you know how to turn a wrench and aren't afraid to dive in!

ow that I see you are a paid member, you should be able to post pictures, but maybe one of the mods (Dr Bob) can better answer that question. As to your question, I don't know the answer, but others will hopefully soon chime in.

Greenpointer928

Thank you! It was slow going for me at first with this car, and I beat myself up for not being a proper caretaker for the first year or so. The dive into the tank is quite daunting! I felt quite overwhelmed processing the sheer amount that is required to do the work yourself, properly. It was stored away as I had no knowledge of its past history, and I was working on something more important (school). But now I feel I know enough to work in earnest, and ask questions here. Everyday, I’m learning, learning, learning, mostly from here! No more slow going from here, unless it is to sort something out properly. Perhaps I’m trying to add too many pictures at once. I’ll add three in another reply, then reply again with more pictures. If that doesn’t work I’ll add the imgur link. Not the best at this kind of thing.

Greenpointer928

https://imgur.com/gallery/rAsKrQn

Alan

You jumped in the deep end! well done so far!

Alan

linderpat

Nice looking starting point! You are all in

Mrmerlin

that picture of the belt appears to indicate the water pump had seized ,
and the engine was still running for a short while ,
lucky it was shut off.
Looks like a nice car to start with,
now that the interior is out you can make it any color you want.
Someone was selling a complete CanCan red interior that would look good with the silver

Greenpointer928

I searched in the marketplace and eBay for the red interior, but I couldn’t find it. Maybe it has already been bought. I think my dream color would be blue like I saw in a GTS, although it looks like it might be a bit too light for me, especially in the pictures with natural light. SEM seems to have a “Blue Dust” color, or something like that. I’ve looked into the fiberglass bondo repair of the dash and pod, and I think I’d like to do that, use the texture spray, and paint with SEM color coat. Leather dashes I have seen look amazing, but not in my price range right now, and honestly no stitching accentuates space age shape and continuity of lines of interior for me.

Also, I happened upon another thread that mentioned zinc chromate primer. Also it comes in a rattle can. I’ll be using that. I’m not the best at learning how to use this forums features, but hopefully I’ll improve. For the color, I was thinking something a bit unusual but still subtle. Dupli color’s Pontiac light blue metallic interests me, as does Vht’s burnt copper (less subtle!) but I have red magnecor wires, so I’m not sure. Not really that important, but fun to think about!

John Speake

Welcome to the list ! An '85 can suffer from flex plate problems, so I suggest you check that ASAP. Also Mr Merlin has suggested the marks on the timing belt could be due to the water pump seizing, so I would suggest a compression test to check for any bent valves.

Greenpointer928

I will definitely make sure to do that, thank you all!!! I’ve got a bit more done than in the pictures now, maybe once I figure out how to post pictures directly I will update. Having to pull the engine now would hurt, but I guess sooner or later, right? One question about water pump seizure... I checked the belt tension and cam timing before removing the belt, and both were within spec. Also the pulley spun freely? I should have mentioned this before. Obviously, my knowledge is very limited but I am moving very carefully, wnd thankfully I have my father as a guide.

Dr. Gonzo

Hi
I like the license plate - 9 zwei (german for two) 8 -> 928

Cheers.

Wisconsin Joe

If the belt was intact, tensioned properly and the WP pulley spun freely, I would think (hope?) you should be ok.

I'd guess that it was as close to failing as possible without actually doing so.

It sounds/looks like the bearing was failing, in addition to the impeller disintegrating. That will mess with the belt tracking.

Greenpointer928

Thanks!!