Randy V

That's how we SD guys roll - always willing to help!



Hey, you got a first name? Perhaps put it in your sig section.

You can lead a newbie to water but...

CZande

I'm honestly just pricing for months down the road. The extra 1500-2000 is going into a timing belt and new water pump, as I'm not sure either have been replaced recently and that seems to be the message echoed by the general forum populous.

jbrob007

If your set on getting this car, then get your parts from Roger at 928sRus or one of the other parts suppliers on here - dont go to a dealer. Hopefully your mechanic buddy can replace the TB & Waterpump - there are TONS of instructions on this list - just do a search and you should be able to find a detailed description for each job. There are one or two specialty tools you'll need to do the TB - ask the people your getting your parts from what they are. That should save you some cash & some headache... Not to beat a dead horse, but if I were gonna buy a car with 180K miles I'd have the most knowledgable guy I can find look it over FIRST... Warning flag # 1: Most Porsche owners are sticklers for documentation and record all maintenance, upgrades, etc, to the extreme - if the previous owner doesnt have a TON of reciepts for this car I'd be worried... thats a lot of miles for a car with not much history. Warning flag # 2: If he's only owned it for a very short while then thats a HUGE red flag... The guys on here can sound a bit "down" at times but its because they've "been there / done that" and are pushing you to be VERY careful. Good luck whatever you decide & welcome to the List...

James Bailey

Actually the t-belt water pump is NOT critical for the early pre 1985 928s all it will do is stop running...no other damage at all. Far more important to put on some miles to determine what else it NEEDS.. One you start "fixing" you get pot committed and no longer feel like you can step away and cut your losses.

James Bailey

Can someone link "BigCavolo" threads here please...........it might make for a good read for CZ..

Hilton

This one about his back-story:

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...28-pickle.html

And this one with his 86.5 for sale:

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...7-86-5-fs.html

CZande - read the back-story, its not actually that uncommon a situation.. I spoke to a new owner locally recently who bought one on impulse and was already very upside down in it. He was on the lookout for replacement heads because the car made some ticking noise after sitting for 3 months while it had major electrical work done at a workshop. (it was probably just noisy lifters and would go away once warmed up)

You really need to research the heck out of these cars before buying.. your thread title should read "about to walk away from an '83.. questions" - its a safer mindset

rexpontius

I would worry about those ugly rims first, before thinking about the speaker set-up :-)

Just kidding off course (well I do think those are not the prettiest rims though), but the mechanical health of your car should be first priority, not the sound system.

I agree with all other previous posters in this thread, do your homework and make sure A) You have sufficient resources to keep it running or B) you are very mechanically inclined and you are really sure you can do 95% of all maintenance yourself.


Cheers
Michel

CZande

I spent some time on the phone with the seller, he has -zero- maintenance records, after that I walked away. Thanks for the help everyone! Although I may seem quite ignorant for looking at sound vs. mechanical, I was lead to believe this car had had many things recently replaced, which obviously wasn't the case if there were no records.

pcar928fan

I read that too and nearly fell out of my wheelchair! Of course I had a Triumph Spitfire in HS and college, so I guess he will be in about the same boat, but with a much more technically advanced (and probably more expensive to fix) car than I had.

You better have a rich daddy or get REALLY good with your own wrenches...that is all I can say! I had a friend with an MGB and another with a TR7 when I was in college and I learned MUCH from them... I good adjust the valve lash in 20 min, I replaced starters, fuel pumps, alternators and batteries with my eyes closed and could even R&R the diff in a few hours!

I love my 928's but I can't imagine dealing with one in college, but if you learn to work on them and get a good one out of the gate, you will not only be the envy of most of your fellow students but your professors as well!

James Bailey

Yes James that was part of the reason I was so negative. Trying to live in a dorm room and keep a 928 running is not a good idea.... And the electrical bits and wiring on a 928 weigh about as much as the engine in the Spitfire

Randy V

Well done. You'll find the right one. Hang around here.

danglerb

The beauty of the 83 is that pretty much NOTHING fits where factory speakers go, in the doors at least, the rest is fairly normal. What "sort" of fits is a regular topic, and should turn up with a little searching.

One old thread, even if its kind of moot for now.
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...oor-panel.html

911tracker85

I would not advise a 928 as your only/dd/college car. but a GREAT car and I love my shark.

I had researched 928s a lot before I got my shark, with the intent to be a semi-DD as my 911 DE/track car was becoming quite harsh due to upgrades. I wanted an auto, so the 83-84 became my target. 4 sp auto and last of the 16v engines. less complex to work on as I planned to do as much of my own wrenching as possible.

got my '84 about 3 yrs ago. PO had just done the TB/WP and new tires., PPO had done brakes.

after almost 3 yrs of full intake refresh, hoses, fuel lines, reseal AC, repl PS hoses/resevoir, exhaust work, etc. etc. etc, finally got the mechanical issues mostly covered. so as the need for new tires arrived, felt I could splurge for new wheels.

full disclosure - replaced the flaky old radio with a plug compatible. being in the 'old fart' category, no interest in big stereo system. in further full disclosure, on the verge of needing hearing aids, probably due to listening to too much loud rock and roll in my youth. be warned loud stereo? start saving for hearing aids.

now that I got my exhaust rebuilt, sounds great. only listen to radio when cruising along with the windows up and AC on. otherwise, I find myself manually shifting the auto just to hear that motor/exhaust soundtrack.

all maintenace was catchup and premptive to keep the shark to a point of expected reliability for a semi DD. has become my primary driver as long as no snow. F150 4X4 when needed and to pull 911 track car.

pending work: MM, a set of shocks, fuel filter/pump/hose/tank strainer on the workbench for this winter.

bought for <$4,000, but w/tires/wheels and all parts (incl on the shelf) the total now about $8,000. but who's counting. a LOT of sweat equity, but that is part of the fun for me and many on this forum.

the car was basically in good shape when I got it, but as noted often in these posts, 25+ yrs old with I got it. so far have been able to do all my own work, with big help from this forum, WSM, and +1 for Roger Tyson / 928sRus for parts/advice.