robot808

Whenever you keep hearing stuff like that, and you are not sure what everyone else already seems to know, plug in some search terms. It is probably a topic that has been discussed here before, Aluminum ball joints certainly have, and the pictures are not pretty.

tmpusfugit

I greatly appreciate the input. It looks like my only major faux paz is I did order a rebuilt water pump....
Anyhow, I know you are very correct Landseer. Unfortunately I posted too late to gain your input.

I just put an expensive brand new GM pump in my old Vette then sold it within a few months, and I can't see the pump paid its way.

So, on this 928 I understand the "never never buy a rebuilt water pump" but on the other hand I would like to know if this engine is worth saving, hence I went with cheap over new. If the car / engine returns to life the rebuilt pump will most likely be a bad decision. If it leaks/fails on startup it will certainly have been a bad decision. If the engine has major issues then I will have wasted less $$$$$. The replacement/rebuilt is due in tomorrow. I will look it over closely and if there are any questions I will send it back and do the new pump anyhow.....

Regards the 13 bolts, I removed them all without any real issues, so lucky on that point. I have the tensioner gasket and full rebuild parts on order....

I guess this is some major thread drift, but I do thank you all for the advice. I will be asking for more.

Since I have not introduced myself, you can see more than you want regarding some of my other bad habits at http://www.pbase.com/tmpusfugit/root

Yeah, one of the 928's will be there soon....and the 550 and the Speedster are both replica's...but 220 hp in a 1400 pound car can be a lot of fun......

Landseer

No, you don't understand.

Half the stator is the block.

The pumps are failing from bad tolerancing and multiple rebuilds, hence machining the block.

Not self contained like a GM pump. Different animal.

tmpusfugit

Well, here are the details on the $800 car. The good news it is certainly worth the purchase price. But, that said, this is no great buy. It is a shame to see how badly neglected this car has been in the last years of it's life. It started life as a very ugly tan car with blue carpet and evidently brown leather thoughout. It had an extensive repaint that required a lot of disassembly, but that was many years ago.The good news is there is a lot of car that does work and appears to be of use. IMO this car is either a parts car or a track car after a lot of work....for my purposes I think it will be a parts car, thinking on that point.

the bad:

water in the oil as sugested by the sugestion of "bad head gasket", may be a bad gasket, may be a cracked block, may be oil water cooler interchanger leak. Engine may well be toast, I need to dump the oil, flush out the oil galleries as best I can, put in some fresh oil and do some compression tests. Right now my assumption the engine is DOA, what can be salvaged remains to be seen. Missing the belly pan

The interior is about 75% junk, the climate controls and radio are both missing. The carpets are wasted, as are all the seats. The steering wheel, shifter, and some number of panels are "ok" for some uses. The paint on the car is all very bad, the drivers front fender has been hit and poorly repaired. The front bumper is also a throwaway. The paint is falling off the bottom of the doors leaving the zinc plate showing. The brakes are non existant, but the emergencies work well. About 1/2 the electric controls work, headlights work, drivers seat has 2 axis of motion, missing one. Windows go up and down, with some encouragement on the switches. All the rubber trim and seals are bad.

Mechanically, the transmission seems good, clutch holds, has 3 nearly new tires, one is Michelin, one is Bridgestone, and one is Yokohomo, and the 4th one is bad. Makes one wonder what the owner was thinking...by the way, this car was on the road until mid last year. I have not yet looked at brakes and rotors, i don't expect to find them "good". All 4 rims are decent but need refinished.

All the glass is good, as are the driver and passenger visors and the like. The seller seems to think getting a title is no big deal, I suspect the car came from a police impound sale of unclaimed vehicles, but I need to do some research on that point. Speedo says 80K, and if the speedo does work, I could believe that milage from what I have looked at so far.

And interestingly enough, there was a printout in the glove box off this website showing the relay and fuse layout, so this car has been in the hands previously of at least one of the "true believers"!

Anyhow, please excuse the length of the update. I am generally pleased with the car in that I will not have any real reluctance to pull the driveline, a few other bits I can use, and part out the rest, if I decide to convert my automatic 84 to 5 speed, which is what I had in mind for this beast. By the way, I did pass a 928 here in Houston a while back that was worse than this one, but this one qualifies as the 2nd worst I have ever seen unless we consider salvage yards...such a shame to see what was once a fine car in this condition

danglerb

I'd run the vin in carfax and/or autocheck. How old are the tires, look at the DOT date code on the sidewall.

I should have taken picts of an "85" I found out in the boonies. I show up and the car had a torch used on it in anger for an hour or so, then a sledge hammer, AND it was an 80 or so. At best $100 in parts left on it.

jwillman

Well as it turns out I found another today and am the proud owner of a my first porsche and shark, a1979 928 for $1000 with a second engine on a pallet, complete spare set of tires and wheels and a bunch of spare parts. Guy took the car for money he was owed and just had too many projects.

will post pics in new thread.

Dan87951

LOL, I just bought two sets of spark plug wire sets (the nice factory sets) and spent more. If it isn't already sold I would jump on it now!

Shark Attack

It all depends what you want to do.. I made a vow I will NOT buy another molested 928 at any price and plan to drive it. I was lucky and my last one was, for the most part, untouhed. That car was Sooooooo much easier to work on becasue all the CORRECT nuts and bolts were in the right places, all the wire ties were still there where they were to be.

I would rather have one in "bad shape" that has not had anyone already tinker with it for 2000.00 than someone elses 1/2 assed project for 800.

Its not that he doesnt have the time... its that he doesnt have the money. He leared he didnt get the bargain porsche he thought he was getting. He found out that WOW, this 60K porsche I just paid 2500 for, still has repair and parts costs of a 60K sports car. When he learned this, he then gave up and now wants to hand his mistake to you. After he butchered it all up.

Any 928 is a 5K car needing 20K worth of work. It is a love for the car project. Not a bargain porsche.

So if you keep in mind you are going to sink dollar after dollar into the car and never have a car worth more than 5K (for that year and the fact it is already beat) you are in good shape. If you think you are stealing it for 800.00 you better go find another one.... Not trying to be mean. Just want you to know where you are going.

pcar928fan

Had a guy (actually two) stop by to talk about 928's yesterday...they saw one of the bays in my garage open. One guy wanted to know if any of mine were for sale, I said maybe and that I would send him some pics and info. He said he could get an '85 "with a blown head gasket" cheap...I said, yea, I bet you can! I tried to tell him that cheap 928's RARELY ARE! Not sure he was listening... We will see if I ever hear from him again. I told him to come to the GTG not far from my house next weekend and he could talk to people who have BTDT!

tmpusfugit

Pcarfan and Shark attack have some excellent points....I have commenced tearing out the interior of the $800 beast. To suggest it is molested would be kind. Virtually every panel has been damaged from at least 2 or 3 stereo installers, over the years, not to mention damages from a very complete repaint done many many years ago when the interior was nearly completly removed. Things were pried apart and glued back in rather than unbolting or properly removing clips...etc... I found several ground wires floating loose in the relay / fuse area. I have gutted the interior, and have actually saved very little, most all interior parts are too far gone. The good news is the only rust any place is around the window on the rear hatch, and that appears correctable.

Where I may have some degree of tolerance for this project is I have no aspirations concerning returning it to its former glory. It will either be a stack of loose parts or a gutted "cafe" (faux) racer when it leaves here. In the meantime I am learning a great deal about 928's and not risking much of any real value.

My intention in buying this car was to take the transmission, TT, clutch and the like, and put in my '84 auto. Now that I am digging in I am begining to understand the complexity of such an undertaking, so to your points, I may well learn enough from this car to make the transition to one in far better shape, later. By then I will better understand what is really required to change motor mounts, or overhaul the rack, or to change out the timing belt, water pump etc etc....I am still awaiting the flywheel lock to complete a timing belt change, water pump replacement (et 'al) in the '84.

And yes I have the manuals, tools, time, and incentive to do most of this stuff. And we will see how long that incentive lasts....and how long the check book will support it too....sounds like an $800 car needing $20k worth of parts and work may well be an understatement.... I have seen that need up close and personal more than once....a buddy recently found a 48 Chevy 4 door sedan...he did a decent frame off "restoration" using a NOS engine, NOS transmission, flawless paint job, outstanding interior, etc....in short he spent $60k on it. I asked what can you sell it for? He says, "realistically, about $7000". None of us need go there....but some do, and more besides.