pelaeon

Well, this is my first post on Rennlist, and as you will see, will not be my last.

I recently purchased a 1984 928S that had a dash fire due to a poorly installed aftermarket radio.

I'm new to interior restoration AND the Porsche 928.

I figured i'll jump straight into the fire.

I've owned a 1986 924S in the past, but let it go when i experienced a non-start issue.
The body panels were damaged, and the previous owner had done some
amazingly stupid things during repair. (while changing out the control arm bushings,
i noticed one oddball screw holding the control arm to the frame was actually a
LAG BOLT with some sort of sealer-glue on it. That was not going to cut it for me.)

Here's some pics for fun:

The Decent:
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And now for the bad:
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I bought it for 2500 here in Florida. It runs and drives strong, though i'm sure i need to check out the important stuff. (timing belt and flexplate)

Am i certifiable?

blown 87

Nothing money (lots of money) and hard work cant fix.

AO

Turn it into a track car. Seriously...

bronto

That'll be a nice car when it's done.

tailpipe

if it runs and drives then the rest is all cosmetic no worries just take your time and spend you money wisely there is a company in dearborn michigan that can refurbish old cracked dash parts if you can find used ones at a resonable price.

pelaeon

I'm not sure the dash is salvageable. The metal is fine, but the fire started from behind the radio, so it got the dash, center console and dash pod. I suppose if it was re-foamed and then stretched with vinyl or leather...

I'm not sure about the overlays, but they may work on some of the pieces... The Pod i may be able to clean, as the outside vinyl is alright, but the inside where the instrument cluster was has some smoke/bubbling damage.

What i'm really worried about is the mass of cut wires in the blurry photo that i'm assuming went to the instrument panel. (tach, speedo, etc.) How to track down what all of those are.

pcar928fan

Oh, yea...track car... You already have the dash out and w/ a track car only the minimum of wiring will be needed! That would sure be the easiest way to go FOR SURE! 928 interiors (and electrical systems btw) can be VERY expensive to fix correctly!

Good luck however you go. I'd say you are AT LEAST $10k away from a $5k (or less) car...

Landseer

I'll help you.

I've mapped almost all of them at the CE panel origin on an excel spreadsheet, using the factory diagrams as a guide.

My 84 USA suffered many burned wires due to electrical shorts and bridged fuses, so I've spend a lot of time sorting it out. I am driving one right now sans interior, but pretty much all fixed. And, I have another 84 with perfect electricals on jackstands getting a transmission refresh, so its a reference if we have a tiebreaker situation.

But get the CD manuals and spend time with them first (talk to Rog100) so you get yourself up to speed, it will be easier that way. The WSM's aren't near as useful as the auxillary technical publications within the CD set for a project like yours.

Also, look at this! This is the zen-master Dwayne's extreme review of the back of --- drum rolllllll --- an 84 instrument cluster!!!!

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...cs-part-i.html

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...s-part-ii.html

Have fun with it. It is doable, whether you track it or patch it to drive. It will never be concours, but who gives a ****. Buy that one next after you get experience with this one.

Landseer

And let me add this.

A few weeks ago I pulled the hatch of a badly wrecked 84.

But, I also was able to clip the wire ends (connectors) off of the harness as it enters the pod. You can have them if it helps, whether you can splice them on, or else if it just gives you peace of mind as-so which wire colors go where.

Lots of help on this list if you are serious about this.

James Bailey

James you are being too kind ! No way it will EVER be worth $5,000 ..... If you really want to try to save that car buy a wrecked 83-84 car and put the two together. Just getting the A/C working wil be a challenge and without that in Florida it is not a very fun ride much of the year. Looks like you just made your second Porsche mistake.... If a no start on a 924S was reason to punt you are in way over your head on this one !

pelaeon

THANK YOU. Those pictures may be my saving grace with getting the instrumentation hooked up.

Looking closer at the dash, and pod, i think i may be able to salvage those with just an overlay. (are the overlays just like hard vinyl/plastic form-fitting covers?)

Also, I've seen new engine electrical harnesses (complete) for sale online... does anyone know if there's interior ones?

pelaeon

No, that just made the decision easy. It was the lag-bolted to frame control arm and body damage that did that one in for me.

Being 21 and poor also contributed. :P

pelaeon

I need to inventory the connectors i have. I just picked up this car Friday, and haven't had a day to make a clear and complete game plan yet.

I have a bucket of melted wires and connectors that i have to go through yet, but i'm assuming some of the connectors were destroyed, so those may be useful. Thanks for the offer, i have a feeling i'll need all the help i can get.

karl ruiter

I hate to go on record disagreeing with Jim B. (which usually means you are wrong), but I think it looks like a fun project. To my mind, as long as the body and paint are in a condition that is acceptable to you, you are in pretty good shape. Good body and paint work can really set you back. I would just get good used wiring harnesses and replace them, rather than re-wiring it. I think you can probably get everything except the harness that physically resides on the motor for a song. Worry about the interior after you have everything else managed in working. The thing about the interior is that you can get really different results depending on what you want to spend. On one end, I have a used dash and console out of a '79 that you can have for free. It is a little ratty and it is in Los Angeles, but it is all there and not too bad. On the other end you can have Paul Champaine or Rob Budd make you something that is truly brilliant, but for a price that matches. In between you can buy nicer used parts, do overlays, etc. I once bought a complete and quite nice interior off ebay for $1500. After you have the rest of the car taken care of you will have a better idea what your budget is, and can decide how far you want to go with the interior.

Landseer

Nice add, Karl.

So, now we need a pod. My extra has seen some weather, and is cracked, and its switches are iffy, but its also available. I also have an 83 AC control head for the console. I don't mind checking its function on the 84 for driving the fan and heater. Also free.