blue928

I bought a 1979 928 a no rust car in great shape but it wasn't running passed owner said it needed fuel pump. bought new pumps installed them didn't run, so i towed it to riegel tuning. they had a look at it, broken belt about $4200 to fix can't tell if there is engine damage until belt is replaced or pull the heads and check at the same time. There is antifreeze sitting on top of the block what could that mean? I payed $3300 for the car it has 118000 km 73000 miles 16 telephone dial rims tan pascha interior 304 minerva blue paint in great shape 5spd transmission. First time in the porsche car market don't much about them I have the 7 binder 2000 page manual. I knew it was a risk going in with a none running car but it wasn't a lot of money but it could turn into 10,000+ fast. Any advice out there? Thanks! By the way I'm in Canada, cold up here.

Bill Ball

Engine damage from a broken belt is very unlikely with a 79. The motor is non-interference. Changing the timing belt is not a $4200 job.

The antifreeze may be a trivial leak, such as one of the block off plates on the heads near the back of the motor or the waterbridge at the front. Sure, it could be a head gasket, but you should look for other leaks before going there.

Have a new belt installed and take it from there.

You have the books. There are numerous guides available here regarding the timing belt job. See how much the shop wants. Figure $1-2K at most depending on how much WYAIT stuff the shop wants to do. You can do it yourself if you installed fuel pump.

EspritS4s

What's included in that $4200. That is way too high for just a timing belt replacement. On your year of 928, a broken belt isn't usually a big deal. Put on a new belt (and replace the water pump and rollers) and you're good to go. Don't worry about water on the block till you get past the timing belt issue.

Where are you in Canada? Quite a few guys here from north of the border who could probably steer you in the right direction with regards to repair shops if your current shop isn't familiar with 928s.

magcuda

I confirm what Bill says. 928 2 valve motors are not interference motors

blue928

rennlist rules thanks a lot for the advice. I am in Calgary, Alberta. I was quoted 1500 parts about 3000 labour. I know I could do the belt, I already down loaded the do it yourself manual one of the rennlist member post it's almost 200 pages and every detailed. I don't the space right now and the garage isn't heated -15 right now and going down.

terry gt

member up ! lots of guys in the Calgary area . 4500.. no way!

dcrasta

Dude save yourself 3500 and do it yourself.
Even if you have to replace the cam / crankshaft/ oil pump gears you can do it for less than 1500

hinchcliffe

Dump that V8 and drop in a chev 350.... Wait, wrong forum......

I believe there are a few of us in Alberta or near that may even know the car?

Andre Hedrick

Wait early EURO's w/ the M28/11 can be an issue right?

Hilton

Only if they have really excessive carbon buildup.

The only 16V interference motors are the LH2.2-based 84-86 Euro's (M28/21 and 22), and even then, early MY84 ones still used the older M28/11 pistons and are non-interference (cutoff VIN in the WSM for the change during '84).

And OP - the cheapest thing you can do right now is get the car towed back out of Riegel Tuning - sounds like they don't know 928's, and thus you'll be paying them insane rates to learn as they go, as well as make mistakes.

You seem to not be afraid of wrenching - put the car under a cover, read Rennlist for the winter, and buy the bits you need so that as soon as its warm enough outside (April?) you can tackle the job yourself. It can easily be knocked off in a weekend. Plus you can read about other things like rebuilding fuel distributors, using CIS gauge sets, adjusting WUR's and more.. most of which you'll likely need, and which you don't want to be paying a workshop to learn too!

As to the engine damage - one of the better known 79's on this list is the "very brown" car - its owner Jim tracks it, and he just waits until the belt breaks before changing it (he's not careless - he knows 928's very well)

Lizard928

get the car back from them, and you can do it yourself!!!

all 1979 are Non interference from the factory.

Doug_B_928

$4500 for the TB/WP is insanity. The guide that you're referring to is probably the one that I wrote for the 16V. Order the parts yourself and do it yourself. If you don't want to wait for spring to do it outside, being in Calgary, inevitably you'll have several Chinooks between now and then where you can work away at it.

Randy V

Get the car the fvck outta that shop ASAP

If you can't do the job yourself find another shop.

This is a $1500 job - tops.

Don't be a chump.

Bill Ball

$1500 for parts is 3x what I would figure. They might be using a new Porsche water pump, etc. - that bumps the price a lot and is not necessarily a good idea.

$3000 for labor! They must be very, very slow or have a very, very high hourly rate or be figuring that in yen. It's a 8-10 hour job; 5-6 if you have some experienced help.

Calgary area has several other 928 owners who hang out here and know these cars very, very well. They can steer you to a better shop if you don't want to tackle this yourself.

I know what you mean about cold. I traveled there in mid-April a while back. I thought I had arrived at the North Pole by mistake. Close enough for me. The rest of the World was enjoying Spring while Calgary was still frozen solid.

the flyin' scotsman

This isnt cold, only -17c; wait a month or 2.

Theres many folks in the Calgary area can help much with labour and parts; some of us have done the project once or twice