Missing a/f box lid should have little or no effect on how the car runs...

 

I think I want another one

Gotta catch up to James

 

Interesting, so it is probably something else that is causing it to run bad. There are hoses that connect to the piping going to the air box that I thought may be a fuel pressure regulator or something, but I'm not familiar enough yet to know.

 

Would there be any other signs of the TBF? Is it really that common?

 

Again, the simplest most obvious sign would be to check the oil and look for silver metallic particles as Mr.Merlin described.

 

could be as simple as bad gas not burning clean, choking fuel system clogging injectors... drain and flush tank with some clean gas, put enough in to get you to the pumps then add a container or two of Chevron fuel injection cleaner (not another cheap brand, the Chevron really works) and run that through your system. Check the fuel injection wires as mentioned above.

Change the plugs (to Bosch Copper; search forum for part #) and double check the plug wires to make sure theyre snug and fire order is correct. They likely need replacing anyway due to age causing dry-rot and arcing.

Make sure all (as many as you can get to initially) the vacuum lines are connected right. Check for vacuum leaks.

Thats a start. There are plenty of more knowledgeable 928 guru's on here that can guide you through the rest.

 

You may just have to take a leap of faith...

You could find that you get her running great for a couple grand (plus LOTS of your own labor)...

OR

Upon buying it for $4k - you might be only $10k away from a $7500 car!

Only thing, other then the leap of faith...
Get a PPI from (as many have said here) a 928-KNOWLEDGEABLE mechanic...or at minimum - get one of the 928ers near you to check the car out.

 

Andrew is more right than you can believe. MY '91 $$$$4 sat for nearly 4 years because some Yahoo in a jacked-up pickup backed into my rear quarter and I didnt have the spare change to mess with it when I was building a new restaurant. It ran fine but not pertfect but it sat and sat and sat. So.............I can't wrench! No time, no know-how, no how. I knew it was time to r&r the basics when my freind davek9 started working on it part time some 5 months ago, but I was in for a big suprise.

When it's done (next week?) The following NEEDED replacing or it made NO SENSE TO NOT replace: timing belt, water pump, tensioner (went Porken), cam gears, crank gear, oil pump gear, crank position sensor, throttle position sensor, 2 knock sensors, injectors, plugs, all fuel lines, fuel pump, battery, vacumm lines, all water hoses, radiator, thermostat, motor mounts, oil pan gasket, AT flush, filter & gasket, Flex plate and TT checked, wheel bearings, tie rods & boots, and of course the relays, requisite belts (all), oil & air filters, fluids (all), plus gaskets, nuts, bolts, 1,2,3,5, & 7-way connectors ,switches, straps and covers that go along with all this work. Think Thousands $$$$$$.

To add to that I also purchased new shocks, eibach springs, drilled rotors (bling), pads and stainless brake lines, an x-pipe (BWAAA), GT mirrors, GT rear bumper cover and some new (to me) front & rear seats, and misc. interior bling. Think a few more thousand $$$! But wait.......Thats not all! I still have to get some substantial (but not serious) body work and a full repaint done and then new carpets and new wheels and tires and a current technology sound system installed before I will be (reasonably) pleased. Think mucho more thousands $$$$$$.

The point of this long reply is that Andrew is right. I'm sticking AT LEAST 15 grand into a 130K mile automobile that will be worth, AT BEST 15 grand when its done. However, for me I just plain loved the car, it was paid for, and I would have spent at least half that keeping it running over the four years it sat any how; plus gas, insurance and bling, so I'm probably close to even.

You still have to BUY the car and once you start, it never ends. You could also really end up a REALLY crazy **** like Andrew and drop another 10K in a supercharger and all the problems that come with that too......right Andrew? So tread carefully young grasshopper.......listen to the wise elders on this board. Buy the best that you can, unless you have deep pockets and a lot of time to work on it yourself.

Paul Barrera '91 $$$$4

 

Is there anyone on the board near lake Geneva Milwaukee area that could take a look at it for me. You guys are making me nervous.

 

I'm sure that there are several RENNLIST MEMBERS in the area. Perhaps you should spend 30 bucks to join the cult, drink the koolaid and THEN ask for more help. There is more information and good souls on this forum than you could ever believe.

Paul Barrera '91 $$$$4

 

i would do a compression check before you chase any fuel or electrical problems

 

actually a missing aircleaner lid can cause the engine to run with a loping idle as once the heat from the manifolds gets sucked into the maf it changes the density readings, so the engine will seemingly run normal for a bit then speed up then down in a cycle as warm air then cooler air gets sucked past the MAF. Try it if you dont believe it.

 

^^^^^
I would call that a rough idle...not RUNNING rough... I think that is how it was put in the initial post, or at least how it ended up translated along the way.

 

Yea this car was running rough. I'm sure it was not running on all cylinders and shook on take off until it was up to speed. And it didn't feel very powerful. But there was no knocking or smoking and it idled ok.
Could be hundreds of reasons I guess.

The problem with these cars as you guys know is if I take to long someone will buy it before I do. It's not really possible to take it anywhere for a PPI. I just have to use my own judgment and buy it or walk away.
It would be great if someone else could look at it though so if anyone is near by it's always fun to look at an old P car.

 

If you supply enough beer - Andrew's ALWAYS up for a road trip...but then, it may be cheaper to fly in a mechanic and pay for a PPI!

Seriously - start another post with a Topic like "Need Milwaukee area 928er to look at a shark for me"...