So, where do I begin...?

Since I got my GT in '17, I have complained of a sight "rough" running... similar to a hot rod shake that we could not put our fingers on. Needless to say after a tune up including new plugs, wires, coils, rotors, rebuild LH, new ISV, new sensors etc (except Hall Sender), Motor Mounts, etc etc, and the list grows from there, I was not satisfied as my GT did not run like it should. Just was not the GT I remember in 1990. I decided to send the car with even a new in box clutch and flywheel to @GregBBRD to chase the shake and while at it do a Super Stock (I wanted to keep the car as stock as possible as the GT is a unicorn from my perspective - with all its imperfection).

Greg and Kyle took their time chasing everything external... and were even surprised how nice it "looked" from the tune up.... but after many rounds gave up on the surface check and we decided to take the engine apart and chase inside and whatever it was, it was from inside.

SURPRISES SURPRISES

Belt tension was way off... but the kicker... timing was so out of spec it was on the RETARDED scale (where is was so far out, it would not register on the measuring tools)!!!! Apparently sometimes in its earlier life someone decided to change the cam gears while not being an expert. Missing a crucial step, it seems the gears were not in the correct position and hence timing was so far out that the car ran wrong and worse when a new belt was installed and tensioned in the supposedly correct position, it was not a correct position. Greg estimates the miss to be more than one tooth or two! There was no way to know as setting the tension based on TDC was not TDC! so combo disaster. Luckily no bent valves or broken drivetrain!

Next... Powder Coating error which should be a warning to all. I did a local powder coating job and the colors and feel came out great. Unfortunately, we did not clean the intake enough... and again unfortunately there was some residue from the blasting that was hidden deep in a crevice (that Greg is now painstakingly cleaning) that with air vortices started to move causing some silicon debris flying around into the combustion chambers and beyond. This is something that can easily happen to anyone even after cleaning post PC.... so warning to anyone doing this is to THOROUGHLY clean the intake and pieces multiple times and conduct detailed check to make sure there are no pockets hidden by PC that will come off. Can happen to anyone!

Anyways, not posting any pictures for now - I leave that to Greg... but we are in the process of a full rebuild with many new parts to bring the car back to where it should be. Luckily the damage is not AS bad as it could have been... but a warning that timing is something better left to people with experience to work on - and maybe a more comprehensive PPI should be conducted beyond what meets the eye - this would have been missed by any PPI.

Thanks @GregBBRD for your diligent explanation and pics shared and time taken to find the issue(s). Now we just have to bring back the unicorn with Greg's touch to where he will make it better than new.

@GregBBRD you have my permission to share pics and feedback on what you have seen .

 

Wow, what a bummer. Hopefully you caught it soon enough and don't have serious consequences. Greg hasn't been around lately and told me via email that for some unknown reason he can't post.

 

Khaled,
nice that all goes now the right way!
Working with professionals is the cheapest way of doing it right.

It's a little bit boring here the last few weeks without Gregs little inputs about this and that in his daily workshop findings.

On the personal side I had enough engine damaged the last few weeks so I can feel the pain.
On the second christmas day I had a broken camshaft in my biogas facility engine with three weeks of repair following.

My tractor is receiving after 4 month it's free exchange engine.








New engine

Real pistons

Broken camshaft cup

26 l displacement

 

Karsten,

After working on that monster tractor, 928 maintenance must be a walk in the park! A year or so ago I was amazed my the scuba diver being lowered by a crane into one of your other pieces of equipment. You do things on a scale that I have great respect for!

Last I heard, gb was upset with some people here on the board, another dustup... Not what this community needed (we have already lost too many valuable posters due to politics). I think (hope) most of the posts have been removed. Hopefully, he can get caught up in his shop and share valuable tidbits with us again once the dust settles.

We also do not hear much from Worf, Shaun, Roger and a few others that have sooooooo much to offer. I personally wish there were a way to get everyone back on the board and sharing their incredible knowledge with grace and civility.

I post less as well - I've turned down some ultra cool (and rare) 928's recently and may send a few of my collection of 928's to new owners. A hard thing to do given how much time and effort has gone into finding, acquiring and maintaining them. My situation is more related to health and time available to play with all of the toys...

"Life's too short to sweat the petty things - - - I'd rather pet the sweaty things"

Enjoy!

 

It is sad that some of our most senior experts are not posting as frequently as usual… and like was said, this forum should remain a technical space to help one another and socialize without any bitterness. As well said before, speak only if you have something good to say, otherwise better to stay silent :-)

On the car front, Greg has done the full tear down and is already in the process of prep for reassembly after inspecting all the components and making his recommendations are invaluable with his experience and diligence. We are working closely together to maintain the GT in original GT form, which will come down to a Super Stock motor with enhancements. Detailed analysis showed some wear including the head gasket which needed replacement. Block walls have some minor blemishes that Greg will address but nothing serious. The PC dust did do around and hence new tappets (DLC) will go in along with a new Oil cooler and Oil pump and a thorough cleaning of the entire block and components. The GT cams showed pitting (as expected). I will post some pictures soon.

As with the rest of the crew, life and family do take more time as life moves on, so my contributions have dwindled over the years - though my passion and love for the 928 remains strong. At this point I have managed to augment my collection from an 87 S4 to add a 91 GT and 95 GTS (5speed) which should cover the whole gamut

 

Any corrosion on the heads adjacent to damage on the gaskets?

 

I’m “around” but I post technical content on the other member-lead member-financed forum not for reasons of “politics” but because “member-lead member-financed” and the implications thereof.

 

may I ask the name of said forum ?

 

Posting error, deleted

 

Fred,

Greg mentioned some pitting corrosion. He will send pics soon and I will share. Heads at the machine shop now for repairs…

 

Dave,
Ìm a farmer, we have so much different tasks in our job so the job description should be universal Dilettant!

Ìm curious what a car will emerge in your man cave, you should buy something you can regularly use, live is to short to cover 928 in dust!