mnotz

Ok, does this ever end??? I have a feeling that Shark No.3 will be part of the collection soon...not that I have even one that is on the road at the moment, but...

So I get this phone call from a good friend of mine...says some guy needs to get rid of a 928 that sat in his used car lot/garage since 3 years and the customer never picked it up after a failed transmission was diag'd. Says the guy wants maybe a couple hundred bucks for it.

A little while ago I was able to swing by the car and take a peek...I only had about 5 minutes to look over the car, but here is what I found. It is an '86 Auto...and I am thinking it might be an 86.5, but I am not sure...it has the 32V engine in it, does that mean it is?

Interior is almost complete (missing one door panel) and is MINT, less the dust. It is a no rub strip but sun roof car, black, body in great shape. Did not get the mileage, was told engine ran fine when they diag'd the bad tranny.

As for the bad parts (if there even is any if that price holds, which I have some concerns about now, after showing some interest and the guy being one of those used car lot type of guys...):

No Transmission, no rear wheels, no rear discs...but big brakes all there. Besides that I have no idea about the condition of the engine, thats really about it!

So, what do you think to do with the car? I sure would love a track car...any chance of using the apparently newly rebuild automatic transmission from my '81 parts car in that? How about TTube?

I mean, the condition just the seats are in is worth a lot of money to me, so I dont even worry about spending a little more money on the car, as they are perfect and I would have to have either one of the 3 pairs I already have redone. But somehow it just does not seem right to part this car...or maybe transform my 81 5-Speed into a track car and restore the 86 as a driver...hmmmm...what are your thoughts???

soontobered84

Vin # > 1000 = 86.5 car

mnotz

That works...have to drive by there tomorrow again and check the VIN. Thanks again!

Jack Riffle

For a couple hundred bucks it's a no brainer. Grab it. Your 81 trans will fit it, but you are putting a 3-speed in a car that had a four-speed. You will need the 3-speed TT, shifter cable, and at least one of the ATF lines at the trans. Sorry Can't remember which one.

mnotz

Hmmm...so as I have the trans and TT from my '81 Auto, they should both fit? That would be good news and less of a chance for the car to be parted out...LOL!

Thanks!

Jack Riffle

Yep, they'll fit no problem.BUT, most people prefer to upgrade, not the other way around. Don't get me wrong, that 3-speed is a very good and very smoothe tranny, but the 4-speed has better gearing and more top end. Here's a thought.......buy the car and put the 32 valve engine in your 81. Now THERE'S a project I could sink my teethe into!

brutus

Just be sure you get a clean title for that puppy. Shop owner must do a lein sale or abandoned vehicle report to get legal documents to sell someone else's car. There may even be a bank loan against the car . Who knows.

mnotz

Yes, thats a good point, Brutus.
We have located the actual owner and have a phone number, we'll see where that gets us. My friend does a lot of repo's and abandoned car towing/salvage, so he told me about the process today and will get all of this rolling once we know more. From what he said he can run the VIN to find out about the status of the car pretty quick.

F451

Buy it and once you confirm its running ok, and is otherwise more or less sound, source a used '85+ tranny for it, or better yet, convert it to a 5 sp.

Jack Riffle

If I'm not mistaken, 84, 85, 86 and ,86.5 trannys are all the same. And yeah that's the way I'd go too.

mnotz

Hmmm....now that's really another thought...especially since the '81 is pretty much stripped down to the body at the moment and no engine in it right now...any big mod's required for that swap?

Imo000

Unless the PO upgraded the breaks with the 4 piston calipers then it is very likely an '86.5.

Jack Riffle

Have to swap computer and probably the C/E panel. It would definately be a PROJECT. But, it would give you:
more power
upgraded alternator
A LOT OF FUN!
And a knowledge of the 928 you never had before.

mnotz

I thought too that thats kind of a give away...by the way, are they stock black with silver / bare metal Porsche lettering? I always thought they were red...

brutus

Until you have one running on the road you do not have a collection of cars just a bunch of spare parts. How do you know you even like driving a 928 ? They are only cheap until you start fixing them. The 86 might be cheap until you pour lots of money into it. It is a parts car just accept that , get what you can use off of it and move on.