Doug K

Ok here is the vin # wjp0zzz92zjs849595 I know the engine is CS, I will get the gear box # next time the car is in the air and the truck sticker is missing
Thanks for the help
Doug

Garth S

It appears that our cars were two apart on the assembly line, assuming that numerical order of VIN was followed: ...9595 for yours, and ... 9598 for mine. The first 'j' is likely a typo, a VIN normally reading 'WP0xxx, not 'wjp0xxx' - a small point of coincidence for two Japanese market units.
When you eventually look underneath, just for fun, check the tail end of the cat: there should be two thermal sensors screwed in - and they warn of excess temp due to raw fuel (ever) reaching the cats. Their alert is the red 'EX" in the upper left of the pod display.

Doug K

Hey Garth,
You are right I put the j in by mistake. Does you car have the CS motor in it?
Doug

Garth S

I wish , mine is an auto/no sunroof/ reg. Boge Gas shocks/etc. However, I must check the engine code - in case a 'good' mistake was made ....

Vilhuer

First 0001 -> 0050 for each sequence were reserved for development cars. 0051 -> 0060 for special cars. First normal production model was 0061.

Japanese cars have their own sequence for some model years. In '88 it was 49501 onwards and 49561 being first normal production model. AFAIK it's not known how many of the 49501 -> 49560 cars were made and it's impossible to count with known data as '88 production numbers are only know as USA+Japan total, not Japan by itself. My quess is that there weren't more than handful of development cars made. This would mean yours and Garth's were made around 09/87-10/87 timeframe if total production is divided evenly along 09/87-08/88 model year production. Engine and gearbox numbers should be in the 'zone' for them to be original.

Too bad about sticker, it would have told if drivetrain is original type. Unfortunately sticker doesn't normally say complete engine and gearbox numbers, only their types and model years. I'm not sure if there should be SP in sticker or is option code 637 only indication of CS model. Still sticker would tell if gearbox is correct type G28.55. Have you checked service book? There's place for sticker there also. If service books VIN match cars VIN, I'd say it's safe to say gearbox type and option codes should match also.

UKKid35

Japanese drive on the left and generally have RHD cars, however there is extra kudos given in Japan for having a prestige LHD car IF the car was manufactured in a LHD market (such as Germany). This is probably less relevant in a 928 as the driving position is not offset, however there are issues with RHD cars such as the routing of the hood cable and more importantly the throttle cable.

PorKen

This reminds me of the '<- ->' symbol above the 'TAIL LAMP' warning in the gas/water temp display on my '81 (not the separate turn signal light).

It's the 'Trailer turn signal indicator light'!

For real!

Vilhuer

Extra light for trailer indicators was possibly required by law in some countries back then. Especially if it's circuitry used different relay and thus when trailer lamp was out it would not show on dash as faster flashing regular indicator. Many times silly laws are real reason for such odd features.

Doug K

Thanks for all the info. but I still don't understand why it would have a CS engine in it. Doe you think their is something special about this car? I can tell you after driving it for the first time yesterday it is really fast. 0 to 160 km by the time I hit the freeway and that was just shifting into 4th
Doug

Garth S

Hardly any of them are slow - but a CS might be a little " more equal" .
Do not know where you are located - but did you import directly? That is how I did The S4 - from Tokyo to Canada: the procedure was quite straight forward, and no 'federalization' style mods required.

Vilhuer

If engine is original my bet is that it's SE, not CS. Especially if it has rear window visors. Since VIN is obviously not in '88 CS sequence and within normal Japanise set this would be somewhat logical option. Does it have cloth interior with sport seats? This is one signal for SE but obviously not conclusive. What color is it? In UK SE was available in few colors only.

Now if it's SE it's even better than it being CS as it would be AFAIK only known LHD SE. Need to know gearbox number to know if it's possible or not. Even if it has G28.55 both engine and gearbox could be from European CS or SE. Without option sticker or other proof of original equipment list it's IMHO all quesswork.

ColinB

Erkka
An SE would probably have an MPH or dual-reading speedo. Unlikely kph. Never heard of a LHD one.

Doug, I can't help with the component numbers where I am right now . However engine/trans aside and you've had all this already I think but here's a summary of CS spec. . Remember though that any option could be ordered.

CS is basically a stripped-for-trackdays car with emphasis on light weight. Unless especially ordered it has:


Manual seats and window winders. Possibly no rear seats though this is unlikely.
No cruise control, aircon, tyre pressure warning system (89) radio, rear window wiper, side mouldings, sunroof, passengers door mirror, intensive screenwash system, headlight washers.
No leather thickness sound deadening material.
It has LS diff, CS wheels with 15mm rear spacers, sport suspension option 474. Tach redline probably 6600 (v 6400 for S4)

If you have all or most of these you probably have a CS or something very close to it.

Colin 89GT

Vilhuer

Neither have I but this could be first one. SE is basically CS with certain options added back. Fact that they were labeled SE in UK is no more different than 310 hp S being S2 only in UK. In my opinion both CS and SE could be called SP or motorsport edition based on their engine stamping. Any other name is just marketing.

Electric windows on all but few factory demonstrators.

All have rear seats except maybe one '87 factory prototype.

Both CS and SE have aircon but different lighter unit I believe. Sunroof on some CS's but not on any/most SE's. Passanger mirror on all but maybe two factory CS demos and '87 proto.

Redline is good catch. 6775 for both CS and SE.

Since there's no option sticker I would try to find original options etc. directly from factory. If it's original CS/SE this would definitely increase it's value. If engine is original stamped as SP I'm fairly certain it should also have stronger type 55 gearbox.

VIN JS849595 is so early that it's unlikely this is '89 GT. Unless Japanise model production started much later/was really small for early part of model year production. Then it could be GT. Either way, option list would tell this also. 637 for CS/SE or 639 for GT.

Doug K

THANKS EVERYONE FOR ALL THE HELP IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE TO CHECK THE GEAR BOX NEXT. IT MAYBE JUST A FREEK 928. IT HAS ALL NORMAL OPTIONS AS AN SE BUT 6400 RED LINE. EITHER WAY IT IS PRETTY COOL SINCE I ONLY PAID $1000 FOR IT WITH ONLY 62000 KM. and a 8 OUT OF 10 INTERIOR PLUS Aa 7.5 OUT OF 10 BODY. I DO HAVE TO FIX A BUNCH OF STUFF THOUGH. STEERING RACK, CV BOOTS, CLUTCH (ALREADY DONE) TIMING BELT BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE IF IT HAS EVER BEEN DONE, SEAT MOTOR ( THE BACK COMES UP BUT WON'T GO DOWN) FUEL PUMPS (DONE) I'M GOING TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES AND VACCUM HOSES, TIE RODS, AND RADIATOR.
Doug K.
83 928 5spd with NOS sold
88 S4 5spd SE maybe silver & black

ColinB

Erkka
You shot me down in flames! Your info must be better than mine, but regarding the tach redline although the book says peak revs are 6800RPM (or 6775) the GT tach redlines at 6600 and the S4 at 6400. I have one of each type at home.

Doug
Whatever it is you got for your thousand bucks sounds like a lot of fun anyway. Enjoy it.

Colin 89 GT