6mil928

Ron great story. You should write a book

Mike Frye

+1 to all of this. I wouldn't change a word.

Before I got this car I hadn't been deeper into the engine bay than an oil change or occasional Alternator swap out. Belts and hoses, brakes and steering for me since I was about 21 (which was a few presidential administrations ago). Life got in the way and I just didn't have a car that seemed worth working on. (I also couldn't afford to have any of my cars off the road for any extended period of time, so we had to have 'dependable' cars)

When I bought this car it was for the express purpose of doing a project, but I've learned so much more from this group and had such a blast doing it that I'm pretty sure I'm hooked.

M. Requin

Ron- that's a classic. It goes in my all-time keepers file. BTDT, except with bikes (cheaper, and when the motor falls on your foot it's not quite so heavy) - which should explain my "clown with a shark" avatar...

backnblack

M.Requin nothing can explain your avatar except creepy

largecar379

This is just great.......

now that I've taken on doing the body work/paint prep on my Euro, and my local body/repair shop is looking for a body tech......Deb says to me, "Well, you could just quit trucking and go to work at Jason's...."

Great.....just great. I should never had let her see me doing something that would employ me locally.

I'll never get out of town now-----Then again, I might get this thing done sooner.

--Russ

JKelly

I enjoy working on my shark when I have correct and easy to follow instructions/diagrams handy. Any other situation is pure frustration to me. Hence, the reason I wrote my own timing belt manual.

The workshop manuals absolutely SUCK, and if it wasn't for the collective effort of everyone here on Rennlist to make things clear, I couldn't own a 928.

Thanks everyone!

Ron_H

Someone said once that the workshop manuals were written to be used by those already trained to service P cars, and who needed a 'refresher" in outline form to remind them of correct procedure.

chewy8000

I really liked working on my 81 OB until I did a head gasket job with the motor still in it.

JKelly

If they need to be reminded of the correct procedure, then what is used to remind them of the gaZillion important details of the procedure they undoubtedly forgotten?

PandaNin

I used to work on cars with my dad and we rebuilt quite a few interesting vehicles, among them: 77 Jeep 304 V8, 73 Ford Ranchero 351C, 65.5 Ford Mustang 289, 69 AMC Javelin 290, to name a few.

After I grew up and left home I didn't have the time, money, tools, space to work on cars anymore so I had to buy the "dependable" stuff. Things I didn't have to work on cept for oil.

Well, I'm grown up now and when my daughter moved out I decided it was time to go back to something I enjoyed and felt was missing in my life; working on a project car.

I bought an 84 928S US AT with 189,000miles for $2,600 and was able to drive it home. The engine had over $3K receipted work done on it. Good start. I've been concentrating on everything else (interior sux) and thanks to Rennlist and sponsors (and yes, even ebay on occasion) I'm getting what I need.

It seems like I've invested more in new tools than I have in the car itself.

So far the rear hatch opens again, the passenger rear suspension has been replaced (did I mention that driving home in the rain the tire blew out and put me into a spin and I contacted the bridge curbing? I guess I didn't), all center console switches are replaced and the sunroof works again. I picked up a complete set of original chrome wheels for $50 so those will look nice. A new headliner is sitting there just waiting to be installed.

The latest fixed item is the shifter cable. That lovely little $251 item is only 3 feet long but precision engineered. It should last another 200,000 miles. After all interior/engine/transmission/suspension work is complete, then I'll start on prepping for a nice paint job.

My wife thinks I'm nuts. I'm already into this car for more than I could sell it for tomorrow but I don't care. It's not about money, I can make more of that. It's about how this car let's me work on it and tells me when it's not right and rewards me when it is. Not to mention, I just LOVE this car. Those lines are timeless and that exhaust note is heavenly.

6mil928

After looking at these engines I agree with you I would hate to do that job I would have just pulled the motor. I think it would have been quicker in the long run.

marton

Sounds great - then you can go into shark painting at deep discount prices.

Now who can we persuade to join an auto-haul company?

Marton

LT Texan

I can quite completely enjoy a drive when I know I have mechanicals not up to snuff. Although I have been doing that off and on for decades.

With that said, I have jumped in and gone cross country or on road trips that have been lots of fun. I think when I'm on the road, I get my confidence. When I'm around town in traffic, I get anxious. So those are some of the reasons why the engine is out and all major systems will get a good going over now.

I do love wrenching. Got in my blood when I was in High School starting with my first car, 69 Camaro - 6 banger. Well, the six didn't last long. And to echo an earlier comment, "at least you're not drunk." That's what my mother told my dad about my expenditures on that Camaro, "at least it's not spent on beer."

I find the weekend wrenching a calming escape to my work week suit wearing life.

Bill Ball

Panda: I see you are local. Let me know if you need any help with your project. Hope to meet you and your car at one of our area events.

6mil928

Russ is a great guy but even he has his limits. All I could offer him would be some magic beans for the work