I only see two issues, taking a 30 year old car and avoiding interstates.

If your serious, take your 928 to somebody like Greg Brown and say, I want to reliably drive this car one lap around the USA, make it so.

Avoiding the interstates I can see lasting about a day. Make sure you have a LOT of good maps.

 

The burnt wire was the only thing I have ignored. I have been carefully going thru the car piece by piece. I agree I was at fault desregarding the wire.
I bought the car off of EBay last summer, supposedly an estate sale. It was a California
car with no records past 1992. It had 85k on the clock. Had it checked out (Bauer Porsche Oakland - Chris Bauer raced an 80 928 and loves them),and it appears to have strong bones and most of the upgrades such as the ball joints
have been changed and the car seemed to be unmolested.
Iam going to take that door panel off today!
I have 4 months to go thru everything and hopefully end up with a well sorted car.

Vanster
80 5sp

 

Did Chris Bauer personally check out the car at the dealer?

 

I took it to Chris AFTER I bought it. ( post purchase inspection) Like Chris I raced sports cars for 20 + years
so we have a semi common thread. He has been very helpful.
If he had told be to off it at that time I would have done so. But he drove it
made a number of recommendations, he corrected some and I have been working on the rest. I just installed new springs and Bilsteins, wheels and tires , now I will have him do the alignment.
Van
80 5sp

 

Thats better than saying "I bought my car from an former NFL Quarterbacks Car Store..but my son still cant play football.."



At least there was a 928 connection, not just the normal dealer brushoff.

 

Read 'Blue Highways' by William Least Heat-Moon. He did 13,000 miles in a ford Econoline van with no A/C. If you come to Mid-coast Maine stop in! Brian.

 

I am going totry and put it together and do it and since I do print books, many on cars and my wife is a graphic designer, we could do a book on the trip and interview as many 928 owners as we can along the way with lots of pictures. I will bring tools and an on board fire system.
Just think, maybe we could sell at least a dozen books.
"Long Way Around in a 928"

Van
80 5sp

 

Well..if you start at the end of the road where the crazy people live (because you cant push em any farther West) in Santa Cruz...a # of us will send ya off.

 

Being an 80 which is non-interference and CIS I would say in addition to what you have done like jim C said new fuel filter and a new fuel pump, clean the engine bay spotless and make sure all those fuel lines are snug, AND GO FOR IT.

Plan every mile of the trip before you leave -- every major attraction, every road, multiple hotels/motels for every night. Hit the major National Parks - yellowstone, grand canyon, yosemite, badlands, monument valley, mt. rushmore/crazy horse, etc. . Historic sites, cambridge, newport, williamsburg, philly, dc, ......................

Take the best camera you can get your hands on and a laptop and take hundreds of shots. As a little kid my father took us on this exact trip in 1969 and we went west across the top using I-90 then down the west coast hitting everything and back across the south using I-40 as a base. Awesome experience.


Take good health and some money, those always help.

 

I think you nailed it. Regarding cleaning the car, being an ex racer, the idea of dirt anywhere on the car was not acceptable. The way I see it if the engine bay and under side are clean I can easily spot issues before they happen. I have spent the last week cleaning the front suspension while installing new springs and Bilstiens. Road cars are hard to keep clean but not that hard.

" the older I get the faster I was"
Van
80 5sp

 

My comment might have been a bit harsh....I was thinking of my old very brown 1980 5 speed that I bought nearly ten years ago for less than $2,000. Do get AAA long distance towing option the premium one. The 100 mile works for 100 miles THEN they charge $4.00 per mile after that so get the premium one. The fact that you do work on your car and have car experience plus intend to prep the car over the next few months it should be just fine. Do get the cruise control fixed if you wish to be comfortable on any long hauls. Also would be good if you are flexible about how long you are gone. If you MUST be home on a certain date it can limit your options. Keep 928 International's phone 714-632-9288 on your cell phone as they can overnight parts after other vendors have closed their doors for the night plus stock most parts. Some places you might not wish to spend too many days waiting for parts. And if a Rennlister pays for a none smoking hotel room for you please do not smoke

 

Van, we can assume the fuel lines have all been replaced, right?

 

I am planning on going right down the list
Fuel pump/new fuel lines/ belts hoses/ tires/ brakes etc
Good tool kit. I do have the 100 mile tow with AAA and FYI USAA will tow for free to the nearest Porsche dealer which could be interesting in some parts of the country.
Also I think a few trial " tuner" trips would be helpful.
I think we have to treat it like prepping a race car for the weekend. I prided myself of spending a race weekend racing not doing "fixes". Sure we can't predict everything but we can try.

 

24 hours of Daytona 2010 about 2,400 miles just under 1/2 of the GT class cars DNF .....so much for race prep that said you are going to have a wonderful trip putt -putting along the backroads enjoying the ride.

 

I would still have the car thoroughly gone over by somebody that works on 928's all the time, and make it clear you are planning a LONG trip, not a weekend car.

How well it goes I suspect will have more to do with you and your wife than the car. Long trips have a lot of opportunities for "adventure", if your prepared to experience them with a smile, and have the money and time to work out problems, the more adventure maybe the better.