Hi guys:

New guy here. I live in Mexico and own a few collector cars, mainly from the 1930's-60's, including two 1967 Porsches, a 912 (great daily driver) and a 911S (restoration project), but I also have a few newer ones. Latest addition is a 1981 Porsche 928. Funny how times change your way of seeing things... I did not like 928 when new, and now I adore them. I looked for a while to find a 5 speed car, and I am happy I got it. It is a European version, Pasha interior. But I do have some doubts I hope somebody can help me with:

1. I was told it was an S version... but checking on the engine markings, it is a normal engine. Could it be that the car was an S originally and the engine was later changed for a normal one? Or was it a normal 928 from the start? Here is the data:

1981 Porsche 928

VIN: WP0ZZZ92ZBS800384

Engine no.: 8010213

Engine type: M28 / 09

2. The car does have all the S appearance stuff: side moulding, side marker light, front and rear spoilers, wheels, which all adds to the S mistery. I understand there was a version for the US, don't recall the name, which included all of the S (available in Europe but not in the US for 1981), so, all of that, to give the S appearance, but with the regular engine... but this is a European car, and I don't know if you could get that S lookalike version in Europe. I don't know the car's history but it was federalized in the US and has a plate on the door from the guy who did it.

3. The car had it's steering wheel changed at some point, and I was given a correct four spoke one with the car. Question here is: Should it have the S and 928 stylized emblem? Right now it says Porsche only.

4. Seats... they are clearly original, as they show the Pasha upholstery in the same rather "delicate" condition, but they are clearly different than what I see in pictures in other 928s. This seats are simpler, completely manual, no electrical controls, and a push up lever at mid sides to flip the back and allow the passengers into the rear area. Were those seats available for european 928? Were the electrical ones an option?

I have a few other questions, but for starters, I am sending these, hoping to get some help and orientation... and I am adding some pictures. Keep in mind they were taken just as I got the car, without any real cleanup, after years or being abandoned under a tarp by the prior owner. So far I have cleaned the car a lot and starting to work on getting the engine started, fuel tank cleaned, oil changed, etc.

Thanks! I am happy to have found the forum!
Victor

 

It´s not a S but has high compression

 

I'm confused - wouldn't the high compression make it an S engine in a Euro spec car?

 

It has the low displacement and the high compression. Torque is higher and it has 240hp. M28.09, 95 mm bore.

Second engine M28.13 is for the states, lower compession for low quality fuel.

Third engine M28.11 is the S. 97 mm bore and high compression. New camshaft, new geometry of the heads, bigger valves

 

It's the 4.5L Euro version with the lower HP but higher compression.

 

Welcome. You've found the best place for these cars. Lots of really friendly people with a collectively complete knowledge of the cars.

Your questions in order, to the best of my knowledge (I could be wrong on some of this):

1 - That's a 'Non-S' Euro. You can put the VIN in the "Official VIN Check" 'sticky' thread at the top of the forum. There are folks who have access to the manufacturing data and they will tell you what options it came with (and that it's not an "S").
The M28/09 is the engine it's supposed to have. In addition to the engine, there are a couple of other 'tells'.

2 - I'm going to guess that the spoilers were added later. It was a very common thing to do back then. One good give away for that is the front bumper. There's no brake cooling duct in it. You can see where the spoiler has it, but it doesn't extend up into the bumper cover.
Wheels are easy to swap. The side moldings and fender turn signal repeaters are not 'S' or "non-S" things.
The US version was the "Competition Package", which was an option package that gave the appearance of the S. That came out in late 81 as a Model Year 82.

3 - Not sure about the horn button. I know that there are two different ones ("Porsche" and "928" with the "S" wrapped around it). I haven't seen a definitive answer as to what cars got which.

4 - Seats: Not sure. There were both manual & power seats available back then. I don't know which were standard and which were optional. Post a pic or two of the seats and you'll get better answers.

For a 'just arrived' car, that looks pretty nice. It should clean up well and the dash looks intact. That by itself is a very nice thing.

 

Thank you very much, guys! It clearly shows it is a great forum!

Wisconsin Joe's numbered responses cleared a lot of doubts, except perhaps the steering wheel horn pad... but now that I know for sure the car is not an S, I will settle with the Porsche horn pad it has now.

I forgot to add the pic of the seats... here it is:

Again... that is as I got it, before cleaning, and also before the steering wheel was changed for a correct type (in the process, and don't ask me why, they damaged the yoke at the bottom of the steering wheel, so I need to source a good one).

Also, per your comment on the front spoiler and bumper, here is a closer look. I do have the grill, black slats, in perfect condition, but it was not installed in the car when I got it. It is now.


Thanks for your help!
Victor

 

The front of a Euro S 81 would look like this with respect to the front bumper that has the brake cooling ducts on the sides.

 

If you haven't already, get a jump post cover, unless I'm not seeing the photo correctly. You also want to put some sort of temporary cover over the washer tank.

 

For reference I believe in 81 your car would have had the 3 spoke steering wheel. The 4 spoke wheel was introduced in 83 if I remember correctly.

 

Very clear now, thanks!!

 

I already bought the cover for the washer tank... and I am getting new timing belt, belts, filters and everything to start it properly. I don't know what a jump post cover is. Can you be more specific?

My engine bay is rather tidy and complete, other than what you mention and that I also need the A/C condensor and compressor, which were removed, don't know why.

My main concern now is that I need to source the steering yoke I mentioned... you will see the almost hairline crack it has now...

 

Thanks! Somehow I had the wrong idea that the S used the 4 spoke wheel since 1981... but since my car is not an S, it is obvious the wheel is a later addition... in fact, it was installed on the car just before it was sent to me... and they broke the steering column yoke in the process... no idea why! #$%"!!!

 

A great source for good preowned pieces is 928 International:

http://www.928intl.com

714-632-9288

The jump Post is to your immediate left if you are standing at the front of the car with the hood open. It’s at the very front right at / under the fender, near the radiator sort of. It’s “hot” with battery power so you want a cover with a plastic cap to cover it, and also to keep water and dirt out of the wires there. The part is still available new from Porsche for IIRC about $12-$15, part # 928-612-871-02.

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Very Nice. I love the Euro seats. Quite different than US. With the higher compression I don't know if you could upgrade to Euro heads and get a good effect or not. I have a Euro S top end on a 4.5l US low compression block and the results are a little underwhelming.