Rebel_CafeRacer

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/2908215567.html

I'd like to check this car out... What should I look for visually that will tell me if its a Euro car like it says?

DougM

Side markers in front of doors. Rear fog light on driver side of bumper cover. WP0ZZZ.... vin. However, the easiest giveaway for this example is the dual dizzy motor. It is legit.

brutus

Add states " has been rebuilt since 1996 shows on car fax." I assume that means it is a SALVAGE title car that was put back on the road in 1996 after some incident which caused the insutance company to total the car and pay off the owner. Car was sold at insurance salvage auction and some one decided that they could "save it ". Chassis stamped vin # as well as winshield tag needs to be checked to be sure that the paperwork matches the car.

Jadz928

Twin distributor only tells you it may be an 84-86 (LH jet). Other Euros were CIS K-jet. Tell is the VIN and matching engine #.

brutus

Alway good to check engine block numbers as there are Euro S cars running around with low power USA engines after they blew up the euro motor.

Hilton

"Euro" cars don't have the windshield tag.

The VIN should be on the driver's side fender up near the coolant reservoir, and on the riveted VIN tag up front by the hood latch.

On a "Euro" both VIN locations will show a VIN starting "WP0ZZZ..."

The car in the ad looks ok - it has a correct Euro intake spider, and the dual-dizzy, so chances are its the correct 310hp high compression motor (the interference 16V engine). Salvage title is a minor concern, but getting the chassis measured should tell you whether the frame is straight (specs are in the WSM).

Its a 5-speed Euro S2 - in parts its worth the asking price.

Andre Hedrick

Side lights and the twin dizzy gives it away as a euro

danglerb

What to check would be everything and in careful detail, rebuilt from salvage and seller doesn't seem to know much that is correct, so likely a flipper.

Every number on this car should be checked, engine ID, heads, intake, transmission, everything. Its been pieced together out of several cars, interior is pre 84 without speaker grilles, seats are from a newer model, intake doesn't look quite right to me, and I don't see the orange of a factory air filter which an 85 as a MAF car should have.

My guess is that the wheels are too narrow in front for a 928, and it appears the PO (current seller likely a flipper bought it cheap) has been modifying bits here and there like HID, again likely instead of changing the timing belt etc.

I don't agree with the notion that its worth "that much in parts", maybe half that much in parts, but much would depend on the real condition of those parts.

Andre Hedrick

Look at the picture folks.

Hilton

The speaker grilles aren't an indication - many Euro cars came with the 4-speaker system behind perforated panels as the 8-speaker system was an option. I have an '87 S4 from Europe with only the 4 speaker system

The seats are correct for '85 model year - 85-95 all had the same Comfort style.

The intake looks correct to me - it has the slight bulge on the #6 cylinder runner which identifies Euro intakes.

Having said which - your point about checking the numbers on the heads is important - a Euro which suffered bent valves would likely be given US heads/cams.

danglerb

Number 5 runner doesn't seem quite right to me, in the past I run across motors with one or two miss matched runners (S and non S), so I like to check the numbers on all of them.

Thanks for the speaker info, I haven't seen a 84+ without the grilles.

Even with 348 heads, the swapped cams seems pretty common.

Rebel_CafeRacer

First of all, I appreciate everyone's input.
What I am reading here is that its most likely a salvage and I need to check the "runners" - sorry I'm not very familiar with these motors yet - please explain.. I think you mean the intake pipes or 'spider legs?' And dual dizzy I am taking to mean dual distributors, one on each cam? Ask me anything about a d-series honda or a V-twin, but I've never worked on a car like this... never even owned a V-8. Just one flat six...
Its alot of information, but seems like too much to put on my brother to drive 2 1/2 hours to look at... I'll have to wait till I'm back stateside. I'm still waiting on more pics and info from the seller. Thanks again for all the information.

Vilhuer

Most LHD ROW had old style speaker setup. Round speakers were fairly rare option. '85-86 S should all have new style seats.

DougM

Dual Euro dizzy is a one piece unit on the driver side with 2 distributors and 2 caps.

dwc928s4

"Euro" cars don't have the windshield tag.

I have an 84 Euro, all the numbers match, and it has a tag in the windshield.