Engine help, 1981 928
09-24-2006, 01:59 AM
#1
Track Day
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Engine help, 1981 928
Hello all, I'm new to the site and was thankful to have found you. I am also a new 1981 928 owner. I read the 3 pages of threads and decided that I would proceed, so, go easy on me. I have wanted a 928 since I saw my dad's, when I was a little girl. I am not a mechanic, but am technically inclined (a little) and am more than willing to crawl around and get messy. I might need assistance with anything that requires lifting the engine out.
I bought a 1981 928 from a private owner in Portland, Oregon. The car had 2 previous owners and had 71k on it. It was garaged, so it only came out to play on the weekends. I know, bad. I called my Dad and spoke to him and then I called 3 different shops and basically interviewed mechanics to see how they felt about working on 928's (no, I'm not rich...). I found a place that had been in business for 30 years and seemed highly recommended. I took it in and got a full inspection and was told it was a clean car and needed a few things done to make it ship shape. So, I did it. Timing belt, tensioner, roller, water pump, replaced crankshaft seal, left & right bank valve cover gaskets, fuel/air filter, spark plugs, flush brakes/cooling, replaced fuel injector seals, oil pan gasket, the works. Oh, and it took a long time (3 weeks).......because, they couldn't locate the proper screw to attach the timing belt with, they ended up having one made to specs at a machine shop. Okay, so all this got done and I got the car back and it worked like I knew it could.
2 weeks later I'm headed off and out of nowhere it starts slowing down (I'm in 4th), I downshift to 3rd, and it eventually dies! I call the shop and have it towed there and later that day I get a call and they say they think the timing belt came off and went through the engine and basically screwed it all up! So, they decided to take responsibility and said they had another engine and would put it in. The engine was from a wrecked 1981 and had 5k more miles on it. Okay, what do you do? I had them put it in.
I just got it back yesterday and drove it up the street and it is a mess. I turned the lights on and the engine hesitated and dimmed the lights...(alternator?). Then as I shifted from reverse to 1st (on a downward slope), it sounded like a chain falling off a bike and then the noise stopped. The red exclamation point lights up about every 5 minutes, I'm at a loss but I'm not giving up on this car. It's going back to them on Monday to take a look. I just can't believe that they thought it was a completed job. I'm no mechanic but I can feel when a car is on and when it's not.
I would appreciate any help, assistance, or advice that you could give. Thanks again....
Tiffany
I bought a 1981 928 from a private owner in Portland, Oregon. The car had 2 previous owners and had 71k on it. It was garaged, so it only came out to play on the weekends. I know, bad. I called my Dad and spoke to him and then I called 3 different shops and basically interviewed mechanics to see how they felt about working on 928's (no, I'm not rich...). I found a place that had been in business for 30 years and seemed highly recommended. I took it in and got a full inspection and was told it was a clean car and needed a few things done to make it ship shape. So, I did it. Timing belt, tensioner, roller, water pump, replaced crankshaft seal, left & right bank valve cover gaskets, fuel/air filter, spark plugs, flush brakes/cooling, replaced fuel injector seals, oil pan gasket, the works. Oh, and it took a long time (3 weeks).......because, they couldn't locate the proper screw to attach the timing belt with, they ended up having one made to specs at a machine shop. Okay, so all this got done and I got the car back and it worked like I knew it could.
2 weeks later I'm headed off and out of nowhere it starts slowing down (I'm in 4th), I downshift to 3rd, and it eventually dies! I call the shop and have it towed there and later that day I get a call and they say they think the timing belt came off and went through the engine and basically screwed it all up! So, they decided to take responsibility and said they had another engine and would put it in. The engine was from a wrecked 1981 and had 5k more miles on it. Okay, what do you do? I had them put it in.
I just got it back yesterday and drove it up the street and it is a mess. I turned the lights on and the engine hesitated and dimmed the lights...(alternator?). Then as I shifted from reverse to 1st (on a downward slope), it sounded like a chain falling off a bike and then the noise stopped. The red exclamation point lights up about every 5 minutes, I'm at a loss but I'm not giving up on this car. It's going back to them on Monday to take a look. I just can't believe that they thought it was a completed job. I'm no mechanic but I can feel when a car is on and when it's not.
I would appreciate any help, assistance, or advice that you could give. Thanks again....
Tiffany
09-24-2006, 02:31 AM
#4
Official Rennlist
Borat Impersonator
Rennlist Member
Borat Impersonator
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by TBA
....they couldn't locate the proper screw to attach the timing belt with
welcome, you've come to the right place!
go to your usercp button and add your location so its easier to see where you are. got any pics of the 928?
09-24-2006, 02:47 AM
#5
Track Day
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, Thanks so much! I'm not certain on the engine. I believe it was bought originally in California and sold to the second owner in Portland, I don't know if that'll help. I do have pictures, I just need to upload them, as soon as I figure out how to use all the buttons in here. It actually looks a lot like your picture! Thanks for help and I'd appreciate another shop to take it to, I'm ready to go to the dealer.....(I know...). I'll try to find the usercp button......thanks, Tiffany
09-24-2006, 02:52 AM
#6
Official Rennlist
Borat Impersonator
Rennlist Member
Borat Impersonator
Rennlist Member
DO NOT GO TO THE DEALER!!!!!!
its not that the dealer will rip you off on price, most porsche dealer mechanics have never worked on a 928!!!! just wait until the pacNW guys see this.
its not that the dealer will rip you off on price, most porsche dealer mechanics have never worked on a 928!!!! just wait until the pacNW guys see this.
Trending Topics
09-24-2006, 08:37 AM
#9
Track Day
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The 81 is a non-interference engine. I have an 81. if you have any other questions please feel free to ask.
Leon
http://www.cntg.org/porsche
Leon
http://www.cntg.org/porsche
09-24-2006, 01:45 PM
#10
Inventor
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
What's up with that?!
Your US '81 should not have suffered any damage from the timing belt slipping. Ask them if they saved the old engine. (But they probably used it for a core.)
Email or PM me and I can take a look before you take the car in. I'm in SE Portland.
Originally Posted by TBA
...because, they couldn't locate the proper screw to attach the timing belt with, they ended up having one made to specs at a machine shop
Email or PM me and I can take a look before you take the car in. I'm in SE Portland.
09-24-2006, 01:52 PM
#11
Advanced
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Wetlamette Valley, OR
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TBA, I,m in Salem and also have an '81. DO NOT take car to dealership, only one is in Beaverton and really don't like 928s. When I've needed a shop I went to Marque Motors, they have good knowledge of the 928.
09-24-2006, 05:57 PM
#12
Track Day
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all the help, I'm not sure how to reply individually, so....
Leon, I've wrote fown your website, I'll probably have lots of questions. Thanks for offering your assistance, I'm sure I'll need yours and everyone else's to do this right.
Porken, I'll email you when I figure that one out, It would sure be nice to have someone around who knows alot about 928's. I know and understand somethings, but not all. My husband is actually the one taking it in on Monday and is going to have a lot of questions to be answered. We're fairly certain that the blame was put on the timing belt. I thought it was suspect and researched a bit more on my engine and found it curious with it being non-interference. My husband went down to the shop and took a look at the engine and said it was a mess? Anywho, more later...
Marque, thanks for the advice....Is Marque Motors in Portland?
Thanks for all your continued assistance!
Tiffany
Leon, I've wrote fown your website, I'll probably have lots of questions. Thanks for offering your assistance, I'm sure I'll need yours and everyone else's to do this right.
Porken, I'll email you when I figure that one out, It would sure be nice to have someone around who knows alot about 928's. I know and understand somethings, but not all. My husband is actually the one taking it in on Monday and is going to have a lot of questions to be answered. We're fairly certain that the blame was put on the timing belt. I thought it was suspect and researched a bit more on my engine and found it curious with it being non-interference. My husband went down to the shop and took a look at the engine and said it was a mess? Anywho, more later...
Marque, thanks for the advice....Is Marque Motors in Portland?
Thanks for all your continued assistance!
Tiffany
09-24-2006, 06:00 PM
#13
Track Day
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh, and Porken
They ordered another engine and threw that one in, from a wrecked 81......had 7k more miles on it. I've yet to seen any documentation on the whereabouts this motor came from or actual milage. I'm in the process, as we speak.....I'm going to pop the hood and locate the engine model number and run it........thanks
They ordered another engine and threw that one in, from a wrecked 81......had 7k more miles on it. I've yet to seen any documentation on the whereabouts this motor came from or actual milage. I'm in the process, as we speak.....I'm going to pop the hood and locate the engine model number and run it........thanks
09-24-2006, 06:38 PM
#14
Race Car
People, people....if its a an '81 Euro, then it may well be an interference motor, in my opinion.
Although I guess thats just an observation, because I don't imagine that the shop would/could do all the work necessary to fit a 81 US motor into a Euro car, or that they would have an '81 Euro motor laying around.
Although I guess thats just an observation, because I don't imagine that the shop would/could do all the work necessary to fit a 81 US motor into a Euro car, or that they would have an '81 Euro motor laying around.
