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My first Porsche, a 1981 Auto project.

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Old 05-20-2010, 03:08 AM
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Ihatecrashing
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Default My first Porsche, a 1981 Auto project.

Hello all,

Just wanted to say hi and how a couple pictures of my new project, a 1981 928 Auto. I picked it up cheap and can't wait to get it on the road! I'm sure, I'll be asking a lot of questions and doing a lot of searches on here so I wanted to say hi. Thunderhill is close enough that I may try to build it into a street legal track car, but I'm not sure yet.

It's missing the driver's side window and the interior is destroyed! The engine supposedly ran when it was parked for a "full restoration" but the radiator was removed to get at the timing belt. Goal 1 is to get it driving so the wife doesn't leave me.







Thanks for looking!

Last edited by Ihatecrashing; 05-20-2010 at 03:10 AM. Reason: Pictures were a little large!
Old 05-20-2010, 03:15 AM
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pcar928fan
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WOW...this is a REALLY BIG project you have here! Probably stripping it down to a bare bones but street legal car would be the easiest way to not completely lose everything you have in the car. Get some aftermarket street/race seats, take out all the interior as well as the A/C system... Literally this car is $15k away from being a $5k car! I love a good save, even a track car save! You go!
Old 05-20-2010, 03:39 AM
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cali4sun
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Congrats... Best of luck on your project...

'89 S4 GP White/Black
'76 912E Silver/Black
Old 05-20-2010, 05:46 AM
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Boganspeed
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Good luck with this one.
Looks like you have some work ahead of you.
Old 05-20-2010, 06:07 AM
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Nicole
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Welcome to rennlist!

Your wife is pretty lucky, I would say.

You sure won't have much time to spend in bars, watching football, or hanging out with your buddies while you restore this one... She'll always know where you are (in the garage).

Has the car been repainted already, or why was it stripped?

Either way: Best of luck with your project!
Old 05-20-2010, 09:15 AM
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F18Rep
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I can see you like a challenge. Let us knwo how it goes...;]
Old 05-20-2010, 10:11 AM
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blown 87
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Pretty sure I know how this is going to end, but good luck with your project.

Welcome
Old 05-20-2010, 10:22 AM
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Landseer
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I have one stripped runner. Its amazing how strong and quick it is. And reliable. Its a lot of fun to drive. I can assert myself in traffic with it, mildly at least, because its expendable.

In 2 1/2 years I've spent zero on cosmetics. But replaced all the typical wear-parts. Still cost a fortune, though. And seeded an obsession that I might never beat. (Its the additive cars that get you in real trouble)

If your engine and trans are workable, then you can achieve drivability. If not, don't linger too long, punt. Good luck with it!
Old 05-20-2010, 10:26 AM
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linderpat
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Wow - hat's off to you for taking on this one. I love red. Good luck with it and keep us posted.
Old 05-20-2010, 01:56 PM
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Ihatecrashing
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Originally Posted by pcar928fan
WOW...this is a REALLY BIG project you have here! Probably stripping it down to a bare bones but street legal car would be the easiest way to not completely lose everything you have in the car. Get some aftermarket street/race seats, take out all the interior as well as the A/C system... Literally this car is $15k away from being a $5k car! I love a good save, even a track car save! You go!
Luckily I picked it up for a song. I noticed that each interior piece that is destroyed will cost about what I paid for the car. At that moment I decided I will be taking some "creative liberties" with the interior and the exterior is probably not going to get much more than a wash and wax...

Originally Posted by Nicole
Welcome to rennlist!
[...]
Has the car been repainted already, or why was it stripped?

Either way: Best of luck with your project!
Thanks! It looks like a couple of owners ago stripped it for a re-paint. From some clues I have found, I think the original color was black.

I know I will be posting and reading a lot in this forum trying to figure this stuff out. There will be updates on progress, forward or backward!
Old 05-20-2010, 02:02 PM
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LUCKYJACKASS
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Good luck with your project. That looks like a pretty big undertaking, but I'm sure you will have no problems getting it to where you want it to be with all of the help, advice, and parts availability from Rennlisters. Welcome to the tank!
Old 05-20-2010, 06:17 PM
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pcar928fan
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This is going to be a HUGE undertaking, but, as noted, if it runs already then you can get to a fun place pretty easily... This might be a good car for a CRAZY wrap of some sort once it is stripped down and ready for the road! I'd love to see that!
Old 05-20-2010, 06:59 PM
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Mrmerlin
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good luck with your project .
My suggestion focus on one system at a time it wont be long before its running
Old 05-20-2010, 07:16 PM
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taffelman
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Except for a couple chips the paint doesn't look all that bad, in that pic. Show us some more closeup pics. It's amazing how you can buff up a faded red paint with some machine cutting and polishing.

I'm not sure what your plans are, but if you are looking get a cheap ride and the detached parts are missing, then I think it would be a better idea to buy a good one for the amount you are gonna spend on missing/bad parts... but if you bought it to have a hobby, have fun
Old 05-20-2010, 07:26 PM
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danglerb
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Don't let these guys discourage you, plenty of people have started with car like your's and $5k to $10k later are having fun driving a classic Porsche.


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