vanster

Ok this is the goal!
I want to drive to Maine to see relatives and back late spring.
Drive across the top of the country and come back along the southern route and stay off the interstates as much as possible.

What are the 10 most important issues look at to insure
a reliable 928? I have driven to San Diego and back (Bay Area)
Everything went fine except for the fire....( it went out on its own). Jumping out the car before it comes to a complete stop on Hwy 5 can add drama but life is short and everything seems to be Ok.
I think it was a mirror wire inside the drivers door panel.

At the moment everything works except for the cruise control.

Vanster
80- 5 sp Y pipe, Bilsteins

linderpat

let me see if I understand this - you had a fire in your shark, you "think" it was a wire in the door but it went out all by itself, and apparantly you are satisfied with that, and your post suggests you've looked no farther. Now you are going to drive it on a 7500 mile road trip.:rof lmao:

Good luck with that







I'd fly if I were you.....just sayin.

nowlings

This is an awesome ideas and I praise your commitment go adventure! I would start with the basics; fluids, tires, brakes, h20 pump integrity, belts including t belt and hoses. Get together a strategic spare parts kit and some tools, coordinate a friends list to offer back up garage space and a hand in case you break down and go for it. I'll sign up as a assistaance stop for the sacreamento area leg if you need it. I also have a 1980

fraggle

Mobile internet and a credit card. You're going to need us if it breaks!!!

linderpat

Well, if you head over the northern route, through Montana on I-90 (gorgeous drive by the way), you can swing by here for a pit stop and car check.

nowlings

There you go vanster; based on the replies so far, this is like a 928 rennlist version of route 66! You could take a photo for each leg you complete with a fellow 'lister and their 928 or other pcar collection!

Speedtoys

vanster

The fire on I-5....Ok, this is what happened, just before Harris Ranch, for those who know the area at about 85 mph, life was good. Suddenly the car filed full of smoke
and I noticed it appeared to be coming out of the drivers door panel or somewhere nearby.
Hard to poke around while moving at 85. I tossed out the anchor, came to a stop ( more or less) popped the hood as I got out, all along thinking ( will this is it, she gonna burn). then suddenly like it started it went out. No smoke in the engine bay, or under the car, I poked around and drove to the next gas station (bit safer) No more smoke, so I ventured on after very close inspection ( didn't have the tools to take off the door panel) As I drove along I carefully and thoughtfully started to use the radio, then the AC and everything seemed to work Ok.
Yes it is on my short list to take off the door panel and look for tell tail signs.
This all happened 2,000 miles ago.
Since then, new tires, D 90 wheels, new seats, Bilsteins, springs, clutch cylinder rebuild, dash lights, new belts, brake sensors and a dozen other projects.

I like the idea of documenting the trip. I print books for a living, and I print a lot of car books, good idea to take photo's along the way of other 928'rs. My wife is a graphic designer (cook books etc) Hummmmm, have to think about this one.

vanster

Regarding flying.....anyone can do that. Not everyone will drive a 928 8000 miles
Isn't this what we are all about?

Speedtoys

No..anyone can be a passenger in an airplane..pilots..we're a lot harder to come by.

James Bailey

While the odds are your car will survive the trip take your title with you just in case because it may cost more to get it home than it is worth.

nowlings

There's a dose of reality james! I was getting warm and fuzzy abot a cool retro style pbs documentary on 928 comraderie across the U.S. then WHAM! "Junk it when it breaks!" This whole idea vanster must be a california thing

jcorenman

Vanster,

How far north are you going before heading east? I-90 through Montana really is pretty, and you can pick it up in Seattle and have a nice drive over the mountains. Or, head another hour north and take the North Cascades Highway (SR-20) over the mountains, one of the best driving roads anywhere-- we'll join you for that leg-- then join I-90 in Spokane and east through Montana.

The car's history is probably more important than anything else. If it has been well maintained over its life, then you are probably in good shape. If it has been neglected and then brought back, or indifferently maintained, then you will want to go everything very carefully.

Top on my list would be fuel hoses, ignition wires, change the fuel filter if date is unknown, make sure steering rack is tight and aluminum balljoints are long gone, no funny bearing noises, wheel alignment is properly done. Cruise-control is good, as is a good radar detector.
And find those burned wires! Whenever you think that something fixed itself, it didn't...

fbarnhill

Vanster,
I have a well sorted 79 Euro and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it accross country. In fact, I hope to make a similiar trip to yours but going the other way. I want to time it to be in Montana for the Over the Road race. The 88 s4 has one hell of a lot of sorting before I would even drive it to the next state.

Best of luck, Why don't you take your laptop with you and document the trip in a new thread here?

robot808

Vanster,
I would feel very comfortable about driving my car around the country although there are a few things I would address before leaving.
I would not feel comfortable about driving your car around the country however. The fact that you had a scary incident like you did, having thought that you had lost the car to a fire, and still, 2000 miles later have not pulled the door panel scares the hell out of me. That alone would be enough to not take the car, but the bigger question to me is, what else have you been ignoring?
Sorry if this sounds like I am trying to come down on you. I am not at all, not my place. I do hope you really take the time to really check out your car before you start the trip. Stuff can definitely happen along the way, so please give yourself a chance of making it by having sorted before you leave.
I do hope you make the trip, I also hope you are really prepared for it.