Snowglobe

Thanks for the welcomes and replies, and sorry for not picking up sooner, time has flown by. Couldn't make it to the Sharks meetup.

I still haven't taken it to a shop. It's funny, but bad reviews on yelp made me paranoid about trying the two shops in Campbell, even though most people in the country would probably be lucky to have one 928 shop within a hundred miles. Does Bill Ball have a shop? I didn't see evidence of that on norcal928.org or his personal site.

Until today, I hadn't driven the 928 after picking it up. The user's manual mentioned needing to use the accelerator to start a warm car, and that did prove necessary as it stalled on me twice after I started it warm and just let it idle.

I've looked under the hood with the engine running. Starting cold, the fan in front was not turning, which had me concerned (the main fan was turning). After some driving, at parking I noticed the engine was rather loud, which had me concerned - at this point the front fan was turning. The engine temp gauge in the dash was in the middle.

Over the course of today's two drives, I noticed the battery voltage gauge twitch a few times, once went down to 12V on idle; after some juice it went to 13V and stayed there for the most part.

A/C seems to work, at least the fan blows, but I drove with the windows down. The FM and AM radios work. The tape player works (used for ipod) but the sound dropped out when going over some bumps, which seems like a short happening/waiting to happen. The automatic telescoping antenna works but does not close down the last few inches by itself. The sunroof works and includes the manual tool (for opening a stuck sunroof?), but I don't plan to use that.

The interior definitely does not say "new car", but it's in OK condition.

I went to the DMV this morning to complete registration: $540 tax!; $740 total registration fee. Had an early morning appointment and was surprised to find a very long line inside for those with appointments, never encountered that before.

Here's what was stated in the ebay listing:
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1984 Porsche 928 S EURO
310 HP EURO 928S GORGEOUS ORIGINAL UNMOLESTED CALIFORNIA CAR NO RESERVE AUCTION!

* NO RESERVE AUCTION - THE HIGHEST BIDDER WINS THIS RARE PORSCHE!

* CLEAR TITLE - REGISTERED - RUNS AND DRIVES AS PORSCHE SHOULD - EXCEPTIONAL!

* PASSED CALIFORNIA SMOG 40 DAYS A GO WITH FLYING COLORS

* VERY RARE EURO 928S MODEL WITHOUT SPOILERS! ORDERED FROM FACTORY WITH SPOILERS DELETE - FACTORY OPTION

* IMPORTED FROM EUROPE, FEDERALIZED AND REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA SINCE 1984 THREE PORSCHE ENTHUSIASTS OWNERS.

* EXCELLENT ORIGINAL "PLATINUM METALLIC" PAINT, WHOLE LEATHER BLUE INTERIOR

* ORIGINAL EUROPEAN (GERMAN VERSION) UNMOLESTED MODEL WITH HIGH COMPRESSION 4.7 LITER V8 WITH 310 HP ENGINE!

* BRAND NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE ALL SEASON "CONTINENTAL" TIRES

* EVERYTHING IS ORIGINAL INCLUDING WORKING ORIGINAL "BLAUPUNKT " STEREO WITH WORKING AUTOMATIC ANTENNA, WHOLE TOOL SET...ETC.

*AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, CENTRAL LOCKING, FRONT FOG LIGHTS AND REAR EURO FOG LIGHT, SUNROOF, FULL POWER DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT, HEADLIGHT WASHER, A/C...ETC.

* ORIGINAL OWNER'S MANUAL IN GERMAN AND EXTRA IN ENGLISH

* VERY WELL MAINTAINED CAR WITH MANY RECEIPTS AND ORIGINAL 115800 MILES

* ALL FLUIDS CHANGED INCLUDING BRAKE FLUID

* NEW BELTS INCLUDING TIMING BELT, BRAKE PADS, AND HOSSS, ENGINE LID INSULATION... NEW BATTERY, WIPERS, FILTERS, ETC. FULLY SERVICED. CAN BE DRIVEN TO ANY DISTANCE.

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I looked today through the folder of receipts provided with the car. It was nice that the documentation was provided, but I realized this morning that they are all from the 80s and 90s, with the only recent one being the smog check (well, plus a recent receipt for a minor part). This made me wonder when the "NEW BELTS INCLUDING ..." claim of work was actually done - why not include the recent receipts of that? I emailed the seller and will see what the post inspection report says.

I think the engine is noisy in general, beyond the expected "growl", but the oil level is fine. Still not very comfortable with driving it as is.

Snowglobe

Thanks. I like the minimalism. Also, today I parked near a curb and would have accidentally destroyed the front spoiler if I'd had one.

I think the interior is livable, though certainly not to be confused with like new. I've driven an old Volvo with a trashed interior as my DD for many years (no need to impress anyone with it), so I'm not hard to please for the DD vehicle's interior. First order of business is getting the engine and electronics sorted out. It is nice, though, that "Paul" is available for making interior upgrades.

Snowglobe

In today's run I took it closer to 3000. Felt a bit more torque there, but still have to hold back from jamming the pedal to the metal. It just seems strangely labored and anemic around 2000.

Snowglobe

Was this only for the Euro autos? I've read about a mod to put a button in the footwell to trigger the kickdown button without having to fully depress the gas.

Is it "legal" to roll your own ECU, replacing the whole box with a different CPU? I know some people flash their ECU with a different program, but that doesnt seem to be an option for an 84. That would be an ambitious project, but would be an interesting option if the kickdown mod doesnt satisfy.

Snowglobe

Thanks, I would have liked to go but was busy with other plans.

Snowglobe

Yes, I noticed that from the report but the seller had claimed this was fully serviced recently, with receipts .... Now I'm not so sure after actually looking at the receipts provided (they're from the 80s and 90s). Only driven it once (today) since getting it home and it's back into storage until this weekend's inspection.

The seller said he had purchased this for his father and had gotten it ready for him, but then his father passed away. This was told after the sale.

Landseer

Car looks fantastic.
You are right to apply patience.
84 Euro is a special beast.

I have an 85 USA Platinum with spoiler delete and love the look. Nowhere near yours in looks though.
And, am custodian of an 84 Euro warbird that, if I treat it right, will last forever.

Nice car, sounds to be in very good hands.

SMTCapeCod

My 86.5 came with many assurances regarding timing belt service within the last 1,000 miles/2 years.

On delivery of car and records found that to be true...but the water pump and tensioner were another matter entirely (OEM).

That is now rectified thanks to exceptional assistance/participation/shoulder to grindstone support from members of VA 928, in VA, esp Killav.

Landseer

Ahhh, I heard about this.

Glad it went down cleanly, but there really wasn't any other way! Those guys know their stuff. Some have even been graced by the 928 gods by having been in the presence of #1.

SMTCapeCod

yes, and my task now is to see whether there is anything in my parts bin worthy of #11/1, or failing that one of the less auspicious OBs!

Snowglobe

Thanks. I thought all the sharktuner stuff was 85+ (true? http://www.jdsporsche.com/NEW%20Mk%2...harktuner.html), but missed that John Speake also worked the 84's EZ-F. Cool.
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...rformance.html

docmirror

I hate to write this, but I suggest you get the code off the engine on a flat block just under the water bridge and tell us what it says. More than one 'euro' has turned out to have the wrong engine in it. Also, since you don't know the belt situation, I suggest a TB/WP party. The only way to maintain these cars without going broke has become DIY. Many owners don't heed that, and try to have them serviced by a shop, but that just ends up in deferred mx, and eventually a junker.

danglerb

84 Euro brain has the chips soldered in, and has no circuit for an O2 sensor. You can get by with that, but for a Calif car my own preference is to switch over to a US 85/86 brain and have it sharktuned to set up the fuel maps for the Euro motor. Its not a trivial switch over, you need to add an O2 sensor and idle valve, but do it once and it should run well for a long time.

Keeping it under 3000 does not keep you safe I watched one of my timing belts go bad with the engine at an idle. I would not be driving it without having a good set of 928 experienced eyes look it over.

Bill Ball doesn't have a shop, he just likes to help fellow owners.

Don't let Yelp influence you too much, Porsche owners are the worst customers on earth.

Snowglobe

I plan to DIY everything I can handle, which would be electronics and whatever can be wrenched, greased or drained, but I want to have it inspected by a 928 expert or two first. Part of the reason I purchased the 928 is because the 928 rennlist forum exists. There's a similar forum for land cruisers, ih8mud. At this point I'm looking to take it to CT Automotive, which is 10 miles away. BTM Motorwerks is 9 miles away, and Fremont Foreign Auto is 24 miles away. If someone would like to stop by my home in Cupertino this weekend before, after, or instead of a trip to the mechanic, let me know.

I have the import papers for this Euro, but yes the engine could have been replaced. Project 1: find the engine numbers.

Snowglobe

I couldnt find the M28 number in the dark with a flashlight, but found this number on the head: 928-104-348-3R.
According to this thread, it's the head for the M28/11&12 for a Euro S.