Pizza

I tried not to get too intrusive when I installed my twin screw. I also kept and labeled all of my original parts just in case I want to return it to stock form. If I had a pristine 78 model or a GTS I would have left it alone. My car was a stock 86.5 auto with 80,000 miles on it that needed a lot of maintanence before I modified it. Not what you call a Barret Jackson showpiece. I now have a real supercar that can smoke most cars in my area for a total of $15,000.00. Now that's a bargain.

RUSH64

I bought my 928 with updated wheels and an older respray. Since it was in need and void of original paint, I chose to give it a fresh coat. My decision may have been different if the paint was original.

Perhaps I am a hypocrite but I still like being able to say, "yes, this Porsche is 24 years old" and knowing that, outside of maintenance and mentioned items, the car is in it's original form.

I have no problem with those that modify their cars within reason. I find it entertaining to see what money and new technology can do for an older car.

Then, again, staying "original" and simply maintaining a 928 is all I can afford.

John Speake

I have often seen it bemoaned on this list that Porsche gave up advancing the development of the 928 from about 1988/9.

Look how the 911 has been upgraded over the years.

So for a "average" 928 I think engine/suspension etc upgrades are allowable/desirable but only if they are well designed/executed and proven. Nothing de-values a car faster than a messy "upgrade".

Daniel Dudley

Some 928s are destined to remain the great GTs they are. Others may become butt kicking Viper eaters. In the best of all worlds, there would be room for both at the inn, and I would get to see them all and hang out with their owners. Deja Vu all over again.

marton

About 928s; I put a GT gearbox in my 81s - I would never go back to the old one.

Now I only have to find a Timing belt & a water pump with life time guarantees

About pills; whatever

Marton

soontobered84

I don't believe that anybody on this forum would knowingly put aluminum ball joints back on a 1979-1980 pristine 928. So why would somebody have a problem putting another superceded/upgraded part on these cars? I think the problem comes when the upgrades are excessive or not done well at all. I complain because the federalization of the two 928's I own were not done consistently.

Charley B

Rush64 - Thanks for your service. I'm originally from Hamilton, Mt. How may 928's would you say there are in Bozeman.

Mike Frye

V-Fib

This thread has opened my eyes to a different point of view. Modifications, mild or wild are most probably inevitable on our beloved machines. Even though I thought stock or near stock was the best way to go, fan, engine and other upgrades, changes, are almost unavoidable. I do believe however, that the quality and professionalism of the upgrade installation is paramount to keeping a 928 beautiful.......as it deserves to be.





Chevy conversions on the other hand..........................................

SharkSkin

Agreed, changes are inevitable. But, just bringing these cars back to original spec gets you a damn fine machine. Usually. Using my example above, I could have been a guy who says "It's the original fan, works good, only overheats in traffic on hot days with AC on" but I'd rather be able to say, "What cooling problem?"

danglerb

I got a haircut the other day and found out my barber is big 928 fan. WOW did I get the riot act read to me when I said I was putting in a later year motor. Its a SPORTSCAR not a DRAGSTER, yada yada yada.

What is so easy to miss is that a 928 isn't a car to a lot of people, its a dream or something. It was just a couple weeks ago that it dawned on me why many here react so strongly to comments about the 928, its because they identify with the cars they own and take every comment about the cars personally.

928's are beautiful works of art and engineering, and as long as the changes are well done and respectful I have no trouble with them, and I understand the concern most have regarding the potential half assedness of any modifications.

OTOH from most of the comments it sounds like many on this list would have parted out my 83 instead of fixing it. Regardless of how I do it thats one more 928 on the road that wouldn't be.

zrated s4

Agreed. Some / most 928s are probably destined to be personalized go FAST machines. However, I would hope that there will be some preserved as rolling sculpture - a pure statement of the Parent company's vision.

In my opinion the car is just as worthy of being part of the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) permanent collection as the E-Type Jag, Ferrari GTO, F40, and Cisitalia are.

As I mentioned in my 1st response to this thread: If cost were no object I'd have both.

EspritS4s

It's interesting how differently we approach our 928s. I'm in the younger demographic here. I only remember seeing one 928 in my home town growing up and it was a gold OB that really didn't turn my head, so the 928 wasn't even on my radar until the late 90's. I had plans to buy a 951 eventually (my dad had two 944s in the late eighties), but the look of the post '86 928 really sucked me in. I saw a modern looking car (especially with a few minor exterior mods) and the performance potential to be a supercar even by today's standards. All that for less than $15K (including the SC). To that end, I'm constantly looking to modernize aspects of the car. I don't care about preserving its originality nor do I care about its resale value. I doubt that anyone else here who have heavily modified their cars care much about resale value; although, they could probably get a pretty good price because of their Rennlist fame. For those that want to preserve their cars in stock form, there are plenty of examples out there with a pretty good supply of replacement parts. Until that changes the 928 (with the exception of certain examples) will go the way of other underappreciated cars. The same is true of late 70's/early 80's Roll Royces or Bentleys. Go 15 years in either direction for those cars, and it's a different story.

Anyways, different strokes for different folks, but I don't think that the purists out there should worry about the rest of us perverting the remaining stock of 928s.

-Gary

RUSH64

Charley,

Thank you for the kind words. My year tour in Afghanistan is coming to a close shortly and I am looking forward to being back in Big Sky Country. I was born and raised in Kalispell. It's good to see a fellow Montanan in the forum so thank you for that!

I have no knowledge of any other 928s in Bozeman or Gallatin County for that matter. The closest 928s I am aware of are Casey's in Billings and an owner with three 928s in Great Falls as seen in this link:

http://bsk.pca.org/pages/members/visser.htm

Thanks, again.

Mike Frye

While we're wildly off topic anyway...

Is this the same Bozeman, Montana from 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance'? I loved that book.

And Dane, thanks for your service from me and mine.