robot808

Well, my thought would be, spend a little time and get it running the best you can. Drive the snot out of it. You might fall in love with it. If not, it will still be a lot easier to sell if you have it reasonably sorted.

heinrich

Buy a newer 928, easiest bang for buck. Or instal a supercharger.

Hilton

S4 and 32V aren't the only improvement options.

He could also keep an eye out for an 80-83 Euro S model - 300hp stock, and K-jet (CIS) mechanical injection. They put out a good 60-70hp more as stock than a US '82, and respond well to further modifying (e.g. 85/86 exhaust manifold upgrade, and potentially a 5.0L hybrid build using an 85/86 short block, should put out around 330rwhp).

He already has a 928 - so there's no pressure to buy the first one that comes along. Euro S for-sale finds are posted here regularly.

vanster

My '80 5sp has MSDS headers, Y pipe, no cat, K&N air filter. It runs great and, yes the more explosive power like a late model 911s would be fun at times but a good running 928 that sounds good is just as pleasing in my opinion. How fast is my car?.....no idea! I have never driven another 928. It's a lot faster than my Series V Sunbeam Alpine. It's really relative. Having owned and race a number of fast big horsepower cars they all seem to become slow after your first date. I raced a number of twincam cars
and my Alfa at full chat was not that fast but worth the price of admission.
I use my car mostly for commuting to LA from the Bay Area. It's perfect!
One thing for sure...it's not going to depreciate! Now that's horsepower!

vanster
'80 5sp

hacker-pschorr

Since when?

Every other 16V has seen real gains with manifold back exhaust work, even more so with 85/86 manifolds and even more with headers.

Twice my 79 put down 40rwhp less than stock S4's on the same day / same dyno.

Considering stock a 79 should have 98hp deficient to a stock S4 I would call that a real gain.

My 79 is bone stock except for MSDS headers and a single 3" exhaust.

This is assuming everything else on the car is working as intended, which is usually not the case with most 16V 928's........


I think I'm going to start banning everyone who responds to these threads with "Buy a newer 928". Seriously, if that is your only advice just save it. Some of us actually prefer the older cars, their simplicity, lighter weight etc...

mark kibort

of course, ive dynoed several with exhaust mods made in succession.

headers gained 10hp
3.5" pipes gained another 10hp
intake, cams and throttle body, 40hp

James Bailey

The 78-79 CIS cars have much more camshaft than the 80-82 cars, 83-84 got closer to the 78-79. Plus the car in question is an automatic. It is a very poor choice to start making modifications. And note that headers,x-pipe and some sharktuning bumps up the "stock" S-4 as well.
The old cars can be quite fun even with the limited power. I have many, many miles on the old very brown 1980 untold number on the track....odometer has been broken for all the time I have owned it
When someone asks how to make more HORSEPOWER are they not really saying "I want a faster quicker 928"? And we all know that once you have more you quickly want MORE....The 5 liter cars simply have far more potential and most come with better brakes as well.

robot808

Erik,
Although I agree the 16V haters should be banned, please let James stay. He is still a valuable resource.

hpracing

get you an 80 model euro 300hp 5speed,that car was realy fast when i owned one,now my 89s4 5speed will do,autos are cruisers,just my 2cents and change.......

michael j wright

I love my old 82 auto, It drives well and goes plenty fast. It may take it a bit to get up to full speed, but I'am not out drag racing anyway. It has plenty of power to get around anything on the hwy and still great for cruising. Mind you, I have never driven one of the 32v cars, and I am shure that they would be quicker in all respects, but hey I can work on this one! and if the T-belt turns loose- so what! As far as growel factor that the OP satated, it has got plenty of that. Cat has been gutted and the only muffler it has is the original rear pumkin. I have thought about and may still go with is flowmaster to 3" duels, but it still sounds just fine the way it is.

hpracing

my car just a cruiser ,i do all the maintanance,but i have another vehicle that i drag race witch runs 8.50@173.0mph, now thats hauling the mail.....

Iwanna928

My last post wS. Little sarcastic. Sure you can buy a 32v and there is no doubt its ultimate potential is higher. That's not a tough one to figure out.
16v are Awesome and unless you are looking for 500rwhp your 16v will take you as fast as you need and then some.
My 79 with headers and euro cams will outrun a auto hysterical from 60 to 130 and I haven't put on euro heads or intake yet. Add boost or nos and watch out. Add a hybrid, add anything.
Picture what you want your 928 to be and start the journey. Is it cost effective,please. Is it a lot of fun and smiles, now we are talking. The real problem lies in the combo you use to make what you want is the real problem, na,boost,hybrid,turbo,cs,roots,turbo,strokes,etc,etc.
It's just waiting for you to have the ***** to do something different. A 3spd terror would be a monster to drive.p

Barry Chan

yes the 84 is not that fast off the line but not bad after 3000 rpm.
If i want it fast off the line i would shift down to 2 with left foot on brake, rev to 1000 rpm and let go the brake and floor it, shift up and back down to 2 you will be at 100 km in no time.

Landseer

Best upgrade I've ever made --- 89 automatic trans with 2.54 gear ratio into 1984 car.

Second best --- eliminating MSDS headers --- what a PITA those were. Threw them in the trash can, substituted 85/6 stock pipes.

James Bailey

Yes about 8 seconds..." you will be at 100 km in no time "
In comparison....Panamera is 6 seconds, Panamera turbo 4 seconds, Hundai Genisis 6.9 seconds the early 928 is just a bit slower than a 1999 Honda Civic Sedan @ 7.5 seconds.....
The acceleration is about the same as an 87 924S, the early 924 body with the 944 driveline. Not exactly Supercar performance.

The 928 was designed to have an engine from 4.5 liters to 5.4 from the beginning....5 liter prototypes were tested. At the last minute it was decided to fit the little 4.5 due to the "oil chrisis" of the time. The modest performance was adequate but not awe inspiring partly due to how civilized, quiet, comfortable and easy to drive at speed that these cars are.

The 4.7 Euro S was introduced in late 1979 as a 1980 model and with all the perfomance enhancements was a true 300 HP car. But these were not available in the USA (unless grey market imported) so the 928 became the Grand Touring , the Dentists wife's car, The Porsche for those who wanted an automatic but learned that the 911, 911 Turbo did not offer one.

In hindsight, much of the reason why the 928 was not very succesful in terms of sales might be that early decision to downsize the engine and the need to meet USA emissions standards. Porsche could have easily had better than S-4 / GTS performance from the very first 928 they ever built !! They could have done the Bonneville record run in 1977 ! Blasted around Nardo @ 180 MPH (if Nardo existed then )

And why did they fit block squirters into the first few 1987 cars ???? Most likely they were considering turbo charging and would have needed the extra cooling.......