So, I have a friend with a 1979 he brought over from Germany years and years ago. I will try to get pictures, but I understand it is beautiful and has a Pascha interior.
Appearantly, he lost 1st gear about 10 years ago and just parked it. It is sitting in his garage. He seems to have little motivation to fix it, but has no desire to sell it either.
Of course, it is driving me crazy. So I figured, if I can come up with some info on how to resurrect this car, perhaps I can inspire him to get it running again.
So RL, where do we begin?

Bob,
I appreciate your effort and will try to help.

How about we start with more info on the possible trans issue.

Also, info about how the car has been stored will help us develop a game plan for how to address the fuel system, and general fluids.

Since you will have to change the engine/trans oil, I'd suggest draining and inspecting the oils (and cut open engine oil filter).

Sound like a good start?

Yep, I will try to beat whatever info I can out of him and his son.

I believe the car has just been sitting in his attached garage for 10 years.

Plan would be fuel system and trans.
For the trans I would just get a used unit. Probably won't be perfect, but ok.
For the fuel system you are looking at removing and flushing the tank, replacing the in tank pump with a stainer, and replacing the pump and probably the filter. I am happy with my $120 Walbro off ebay. Then you are looking at probably having issues with the warm up regulator. Might want to go with a rebuilt unit (probably around $400-$500). The fuel distributor may well be gummed up as well but you may just be able to remove it, and use some carb cleaner to free up the plunger. There are only two short soft fuel lines in the engine compartement and they should be looked at if not replaced. All in you are probalby looking at $300 to $800 on the fuel system, depending on your luck and how hard you want to work digging up used parts and trying to fix them yourself.

My plan would be to start with the fuel system, and see where you are there. If you are looking more like $1000 for the fuel system you might not want to do the trans. First step would be to drain and flush the tank, put some fresh fuel in there, and borrow a CIS gauge. Maybe the pump is ok. Maybe the WUR is ok. Maybe the FD is ok.

Once is runs you could play with the trans to see what is up.

I would start by checking the coolant PH, if its gone acid from years of sitting, you could could waste a lot of time and money. I would also give the whole car a "real" hard look to see how time has treated it, and memory improved it.

Look for mice in air cleaner, in HVAC duct and behind fusebox. Pull the panel.

Best thing would be to take him for a nice ride and drive in YOUR 928. That might relight the desire to get his car running. Because with out the passion it just is not going to happen.

How do you check for this? Litmus paper? Is there some special automotive tool?


Easy enough, good thought too.
Makes tons of sense.
Can and will!

Thanks for the ideas guys!!! Will get in touch with him and report back.