78 Porsche 928. Should I buy?
Think 3 female passengers and yourself 
06-05-2009, 09:57 AM
#18
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what's the VIN? I don't think it's a 78. Or maybe lots of changes to it. No chrome rings on the door locks. Rear poiler, wheels, aircon elec fan looks newer, door panels/speakers.
not saying this is a problem, but inquiring minds want to know
not saying this is a problem, but inquiring minds want to know
06-05-2009, 11:13 AM
#19
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Note to self - Disable 17 y/o son's 928 OB for the summer
06-05-2009, 01:04 PM
#20
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Dan, he also posted pics of an 84. The avatar and first two pics do look like a 78.
06-05-2009, 02:28 PM
#21
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Don't be scared off by the transmission - yet. You should really let us know where you are so you can find someone to help you look at the '78. The shifter on these cars does not feel like what you are probably used to even when they are working correctly - they take more effort and a more deliberate hand when selecting gears than a modern car does - an early 928 is not a car you shift with your fingertips that pops itself into the next gear almost effortlessly.
Someone who knows what to expect can tell you pretty quickly if there is a real problem or not. If it doesn't grind going into any gear that is a good sign. There are also a couple inexpensive parts in the linkage that wear out over time and make a huge difference in how the shift lever feels. On a 150k mile car these are probably shot and that doesn't make shifting any easier.
You should find out if the engine that is in there has the updated fuel injection system or if it has the one that came with the car. They are different, and if it's been updated I would also want to be sure that this was done in a way that wasn't a hack (the wiring harnesses would not be the same as an '82 has an electronic FI system vs. the mechanical system in a '78).
Now, with all that said, any 928 from any year is going to be more expensive to properly maintain than something that is not a Porsche. Early cars are pretty simple and when sorted they are not super maintenance-intensive, but things you might expect to be inexpensive are not (spark plug wire sets run close to $200, for example). Just keep that in mind and be aware that you can easily spend several thousand dollars doing routine things that would cost a lot less for a more pedestrian car.
Someone who knows what to expect can tell you pretty quickly if there is a real problem or not. If it doesn't grind going into any gear that is a good sign. There are also a couple inexpensive parts in the linkage that wear out over time and make a huge difference in how the shift lever feels. On a 150k mile car these are probably shot and that doesn't make shifting any easier.
You should find out if the engine that is in there has the updated fuel injection system or if it has the one that came with the car. They are different, and if it's been updated I would also want to be sure that this was done in a way that wasn't a hack (the wiring harnesses would not be the same as an '82 has an electronic FI system vs. the mechanical system in a '78).
Now, with all that said, any 928 from any year is going to be more expensive to properly maintain than something that is not a Porsche. Early cars are pretty simple and when sorted they are not super maintenance-intensive, but things you might expect to be inexpensive are not (spark plug wire sets run close to $200, for example). Just keep that in mind and be aware that you can easily spend several thousand dollars doing routine things that would cost a lot less for a more pedestrian car.
06-05-2009, 03:28 PM
#22
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Alright now I'm starting to side with the manual. I live in the Orange County area so I would have to call around for a specialist. The seller lives in Upton for the 78.
He says he had a mechanic install the 82 engine and he has all the papers.
Would a car with 150,000+ miles on the body and 90,000 miles on the engine be too much of a project?
I am looking for a car to work on just not at too much of an extent for the first 15,000 miles or so.
At about then I would probably be able to nearly fully restore the performance of the car.
So it all comes down to this question. 78 5 Speed or 84 Auto?!?!
I prefer manual but the auto is in better shape.
He says he had a mechanic install the 82 engine and he has all the papers.
Would a car with 150,000+ miles on the body and 90,000 miles on the engine be too much of a project?
I am looking for a car to work on just not at too much of an extent for the first 15,000 miles or so.
At about then I would probably be able to nearly fully restore the performance of the car.
So it all comes down to this question. 78 5 Speed or 84 Auto?!?!
I prefer manual but the auto is in better shape.
06-05-2009, 03:36 PM
#24
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06-05-2009, 04:49 PM
#26
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You know if you can do all work yourself, be prepared to spend $1,000 here and a $1,000 there a couple times a year.
Maybe you won't need to, but best to be prepared.
When I got my '78 in '90, I had to spend money on muffler, tbelt, waterpump. But after I figured out a hot start problem and fixed it myself (after $1,000's at dealers and mechanics), it was unbelievably reliable for 15 years.
Maybe you won't need to, but best to be prepared.
When I got my '78 in '90, I had to spend money on muffler, tbelt, waterpump. But after I figured out a hot start problem and fixed it myself (after $1,000's at dealers and mechanics), it was unbelievably reliable for 15 years.
06-05-2009, 05:16 PM
#27
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Do you mean Upland? I don't know about Upton (NY?) but I could be talked in to driving to Upland to look at that car with you. You could check out my '79 for comparison - it is a very low mileage car and is pretty solid mechanically.
Keep in mind that there is not a lot you can do to increase the performance of a well-running 4.5l 928 without spending a lot of money and changing a lot of parts. You get reasonable bang for buck doing the exhaust (figure $600 for a y-pipe, another $500 for a cat-back, another $500 if you upgrade the manifolds or more if you do headers).
After that, you're looking at new heads/cams/intake/throttle body from a Euro car or a supercharger. These aren't cheap. I'm not trying to discourage you, just making sure you know what is realistic. If you buy a 16v 928 I think you should concentrate on making sure it runs reliably and maybe do the exhaust ('cause that's easy) but don't expect major gains in horsepower without significant $$$ in excess of that purchase price you quoted above.
06-05-2009, 08:17 PM
#29
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I'm in OC (Buena Park, right at the 5 and 91) and have a 5 speed 78. Let me know if you want to take a look at my car for comparison. Feel free to email me at devilinblack at hotmail dot com.
And as has been mentioned before you're in a fantastic area for 928 with 928Intl in Anaheim as well as Greg Brown and there's even a shop in Orange that's very experienced with 928's, but the owner has had some health problems lately so I don't know what the status of that place is.
And as has been mentioned before you're in a fantastic area for 928 with 928Intl in Anaheim as well as Greg Brown and there's even a shop in Orange that's very experienced with 928's, but the owner has had some health problems lately so I don't know what the status of that place is.
06-05-2009, 09:25 PM
#30
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There are going to be a lot of differences between a 78 and your L-jet under the hood. Everything above the heads is different, except the distributor cap and housing.