Rob Edwards

So Ron Perry PM's me with a Craigslist ad this AM:

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/930419099.html

Dad's looking for a 928, so what the hell, it's a small fire, I'll go look.

First, let's make a game of this- what's your parts list to get this engine running again?

Now- the body on this car is stunningly nice- the spoilers have been painted body color and are starting to peel but the body is gorgeous (except for 1 unfortunate cluster of gouges on the front fender) No overspray anywhere.

All I can say is that Porsche made some good paint in the '80's- the hood liner is badly scorched but the hood paint is freakin' perfect. Amazing. The car lit up in the owner's garage- the sprinklers went off and kept the apt complex from burning down. Probably saved the paint on the hood too....

However: The interior is just ok- pod and dash are cracked, the seat leather is intact but quite dry. CF shift ****, Momo wheel, aftermarket radio, rear A/C. There is fire retardant powder all over EVERYTHING, the engine, the interior, in and around the fuel filler- everywhere..... 224K miles on the odo.

The engine: it's bad- everything in the Vee is gone- intake, throttle body, MAF, air cleaner, tubes, throttle linkage, fuel injectors, fuel injection harness, and a bunch of ancillaries that I'm sure I'm forgetting- the pics tell the tale. Couldn't have been too hot for too long- the air pump hose to the diverter is still supple (enough), and the PS lines are ok.

I totally flaked and forgot to shoot pics of the VIN and door jamb tags. Tires look great, wheels look great (Cup II's), needs rotors and pads. Couldn't assess anything else, underside looks pretty good, tho the ride height must be at 120 mm in front. The front spoiler's intact. Registered through 1/09 - Getting it smogged would be a bit tough......

Bottom line, Exterior is indeed nearly perfect, the interior is ok- the PO's must have waxed the hell out of it and not worried about the interior. It'd be a great platform for a track car, but if I bought it I'd pull the motor and put a replacement in. Who knows what's fallen down the intakes?


Pics:

Ext:














Engine:












Interior:

PorKen

It's an early '86, not a '86.5.

I'd say it's a parts car, unfortunately.

Rob Edwards

Ken-

What's the tipoff on the early 86 vs 86.5 in these pics?

Tom. M

I would have to guess the "S" brakes up front...painted white... and the single exhaust vs. dual on 86.5..

Rob Edwards

Duh, I looked right at the front brakes and didn't even think about the calipers. The front rotors are/were slotted Zimmermans that are worn close to the bottom of the slot.

There was another guy calling the owner on the phone while I was looking, he kept asking technical questions that I got to answer. Not a bad way to spend/blow a Sunday AM.....

Imo000

You got to answer the other buyers asnwers??? That's not right! LOL

I agree, it has the '86-'86 exhaust (both pipes running on the driver side) BUT just to be sure (PO could have changed it), we need to see the VIN.

I think it's worth $1500 as a parts car, even if it's not an 86.5. HOWEVER, jsut to cover your butt, try to measure teh crank play for TBF. There was a local S4 owner that bought a early S4 with a fire like yours and upone repairing the damage, he found out that the engien also had a TBF.

Rob Edwards

Imre-

I'm staying far away from this one, I lack the time and space to store it. Figure $2500 for a replacement engine, plus the airbox, tubes, etc ($3500-4K total+ LOTS of labor) then you get to find out whether the car runs, shifts, turns, passes smog, etc.......

I asked the owner (Chris, nice guy) if it was ok to post these pics to give the car a little exposure. It was amusing running around the car answering questions for him. No biggie, I'd just like to see him find a buyer for it, even as a shell. I don't understand how a quarter million mile car with a sunbaked interior can look so good- if it has been re-sprayed, I want to find the painter who did it.

perrys4

Rob, ignore your PM, I just saw this thread. Thought we were onto a good one, oh well! Thats way worse than I imagined it based on the ad.

PorKen

Let me count the ways...

Single exhaust/heat shield
Single piston 'S' brake calipers
Rear tow arm mount is not a separate aluminum piece (like S4s)
Invisible rear jack pads (86.5 are square, and hang below the weld seam)
Hex head cam cover bolts (early 86.5 have these too, late have socket head)

It's a late 86.0, because the differential's drain plug is underneath, as opposed to the cover (necessitated on autos by the upcoming dual exhaust), and the metal vapor recovery valve is on the fender brace, over the engine, instead of at the fender.

leperboy

Rob, I'll be in OC for a week at Christmas. Let's take it apart.

Matt

Rob Edwards

Matt- as tempting as it is, it won't fit on my S4-style liftbars, so it's a no go. Yell when you're in town, this winter holiday it's time for wheel bearings/clutch hydraulics/brake lines & caliper rebuilding.

Jim bailey - 928 International

The "car" is toast !

Sailmed

As in "Burnt toast"?