Notices
928 Forum 1978-1995
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: 928 Specialists

928 writeup on Petrolicious

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 11:58 AM
  #1  
Flint Ironstag's Avatar
Flint Ironstag
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default 928 writeup on Petrolicious

Not much that hasn't already been covered, but a nice way to kick the day off

http://www.petrolicious.com/928-ways-to-kill-the-911
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 12:10 PM
  #2  
Alan's Avatar
Alan
Electron Wrangler
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 13,657
Likes: 616
From: Phoenix AZ
Default

Wow - with all these "spectacular reliability failures" its amazing how many are left... especially the ones with hunderds of thousands of miles - how did they ever make it?

This unreliability myth just keeps growing - how many 20+ year old cars don't have reliability issue examples primarily due to (previous?) owner neglect. Seems like the lazy press syndrome to me - they all read (and one up) each other...

Are catastrophic engine failures exactly rampant? - not significantly more than for other brands as far as I can see on properly maintained stock models...

Alan
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 12:13 PM
  #3  
davek9's Avatar
davek9
Rennlist Member
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,421
Likes: 627
From: Bloomfield, MI
Default

The gold car pictured belongs to Dennis here in MI, its from a photo shoot that was done.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 03:16 PM
  #4  
dr bob's Avatar
dr bob
Chronic Tool Dropper
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 20,506
Likes: 564
From: Bend, Oregon
Default

How myths are propogated...

The comparison is more appropriate with other super-cars of the time. The 911 has been refined so that Ivan Inertia doesn't ride behind the back seats any more, but that's been done more to mask the symptoms than to solve the basic problems. Porsche still considers the 911 family as their bread and butter, else they wouldn't refuse to put the more powerful 911 engines in the Cayman or Boxter cars where they would quickly show tail to their back-motored brethren.

Most look-backs at 928 history compare the 928 that was 35 years ago with what they sell today in the 991. No mention is made in these comparisons of the 924 and subsequent 944 cars that saved the company from bankruptcy. Not so much mention now that the moneymakers for the company are SUV's, and that the flagship car these days is a logical extrapolation of the 928 design philosophy, albeit with four doors. Car design and buyer habits have changed a lot in the 40 years since the 928 concept was formed. That 40 years is one third of the total time that automobiles have existed, and progress is generally exponential in technology. With the youngest 928 pushing twenty years old now, retro look-backs need to include the perspective of what the market included at that time.

I have very first-hand knowledge of how mid-70's 911 cars performed, and I know that they required much more intensive care than the 928 to keep them in top running condition. The idea that the 928 motor was somehow a grenade next to the 911 is very selective wishful thinking. Think "head studs" on 911's of that timeslice, and you'll see that there's nothing comparable in the 928's history. Cam chain tensioner issues trumped long timing belt issues; the only thing folks didn't like about the belt was that it was so long? So what?


Now back to your previously-scheduled browsing....
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 04:01 PM
  #5  
ALKada's Avatar
ALKada
Race Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 166
Default

Dr. Bob & Alan, can I repost your discussion posts to the Petrolicious website with credit to you?
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 04:08 PM
  #6  
James Bailey's Avatar
James Bailey
Addict
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 18,061
Likes: 10
Default

Interesting that the "writer" never says if he EVER drove a 928 !! Just regurgitating what he READ, but it got printed. And Dr. Bob is so right about the 911s of the Era....the magnesium engine cases were a disaster. Right up there with IMS bearing failure of the more recent model years.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 04:58 PM
  #7  
Alan's Avatar
Alan
Electron Wrangler
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 13,657
Likes: 616
From: Phoenix AZ
Default

For my part: yes - sure!

Consider - does the current 991 have more in common (looks/features) with a 993 or a 928 GTS (each from 1994)... if you did this same comparison in 1978 - the differences would be much more evident... 928 - ahead of its time..

I'd post pctures - but thats not possible right now...

Alan
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 05:03 PM
  #8  
Bill51sdr's Avatar
Bill51sdr
Fleet of Foot
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 10,780
Likes: 51
From: We are there!(San Diego)
Default

Is the green OB "Kermit" by any chance?
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 05:05 PM
  #9  
UncleMaz's Avatar
UncleMaz
Nordschleife Master
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,004
Likes: 20
From: So Cal
Default

Originally Posted by dr bob
How myths are propogated...

The comparison is more appropriate with other super-cars of the time. The 911 has been refined so that Ivan Inertia doesn't ride behind the back seats any more, but that's been done more to mask the symptoms than to solve the basic problems. Porsche still considers the 911 family as their bread and butter, else they wouldn't refuse to put the more powerful 911 engines in the Cayman or Boxter cars where they would quickly show tail to their back-motored brethren.

Most look-backs at 928 history compare the 928 that was 35 years ago with what they sell today in the 991. No mention is made in these comparisons of the 924 and subsequent 944 cars that saved the company from bankruptcy. Not so much mention now that the moneymakers for the company are SUV's, and that the flagship car these days is a logical extrapolation of the 928 design philosophy, albeit with four doors. Car design and buyer habits have changed a lot in the 40 years since the 928 concept was formed. That 40 years is one third of the total time that automobiles have existed, and progress is generally exponential in technology. With the youngest 928 pushing twenty years old now, retro look-backs need to include the perspective of what the market included at that time.

I have very first-hand knowledge of how mid-70's 911 cars performed, and I know that they required much more intensive care than the 928 to keep them in top running condition. The idea that the 928 motor was somehow a grenade next to the 911 is very selective wishful thinking. Think "head studs" on 911's of that timeslice, and you'll see that there's nothing comparable in the 928's history. Cam chain tensioner issues trumped long timing belt issues; the only thing folks didn't like about the belt was that it was so long? So what?


Now back to your previously-scheduled browsing....
Nicely done.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 05:38 PM
  #10  
ALKada's Avatar
ALKada
Race Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 166
Default

Originally Posted by Alan
For my part: yes - sure!

Consider - does the current 991 have more in common (looks/features) with a 993 or a 928 GTS (each from 1994)... if you did this same comparison in 1978 - the differences would be much more evident... 928 - ahead of its time..

I'd post pctures - but thats not possible right now...

Alan
Thanks- Reposted.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 05:49 PM
  #11  
Bertrand Daoust's Avatar
Bertrand Daoust
Rennlist Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,244
Likes: 1,466
From: Gatineau, Québec, Canada
Default

Originally Posted by Alan
Consider - does the current 991 have more in common (looks/features) with a 993 or a 928 GTS (each from 1994)... if you did this same comparison in 1978 - the differences would be much more evident... 928 - ahead of its time..

I'd post pctures - but thats not possible right now...

Alan
I totaly agree.
I think the new 991 is way closer to any 928 than any 911.
Even recent ones.
Inside and out.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 06:56 PM
  #12  
jpitman2's Avatar
jpitman2
Rennlist Member
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,283
Likes: 52
From: Australia
Default

FWIW - visited my local wrench the other day. Had a boxster in the workshop . Was in a for a major service 3-4 months ago, and knowing about the IMS issue, wrench offered to upgrade it for $1k ($600 in parts $400 in labour). No, leave it, says the owner.
Guess what - its back for a rebuild, $10k without looking at the heads at all.
jp 83 Euro S AT 55k
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2013 | 10:22 PM
  #13  
17prospective buyer's Avatar
17prospective buyer
Three Wheelin'
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,778
Likes: 1
From: Singhampton, Ontario/London, Ontario
Default

The way i see it... you should all go look up TSB's for certain makes and compare to the 928. VERY FEW 928 TSB's that actually matter.
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2013 | 12:07 AM
  #14  
Alan's Avatar
Alan
Electron Wrangler
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 13,657
Likes: 616
From: Phoenix AZ
Default

What family characteristics are most in evidence here...

Alan
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
94TurboSBlackBlack8K2a.jpg (174.6 KB, 1628 views)
File Type: jpg
991.jpg (569.1 KB, 1485 views)
File Type: jpg
DSC00232.JPG (144.6 KB, 440 views)
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2013 | 12:37 AM
  #15  
Alan's Avatar
Alan
Electron Wrangler
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 13,657
Likes: 616
From: Phoenix AZ
Default

How about here - winding back to 1977
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
Carrara 1977.jpg (112.7 KB, 389 views)
File Type: jpg
991.jpg (569.1 KB, 2016 views)
File Type: jpg
1977.jpg (93.8 KB, 406 views)
Reply



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 01:43 PM.