msteiner805

Hi All,

I think my ability to search through is poor as I couldn't find any posts on this particular car:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst...416440114.html

Anyone know anything about this one? Seems like a decent project, and, I'm moderately interested. I'd rather not waste my time (2 hour drive for me) if anyone here has any useful info to share.

Thanks,
Mike

James Bailey

no interior shots but looks like the instrument cluster is removed....so more than just the engine is un-installed....I love how it says the engine ran great before it was removed....

Chalkboss

And who removes an engine for a simple oil pan leak? I would be very cautious.

linderpat

it's a roller and should be priced as such, paint job notwithstanding. Make it run or sell it for parts price.

James Bailey

Correct. ..no way to check out A/C , clutch, transmission shifting, or anything else really. If you can not drive it it is NOT a car !!

Speedtoys

Figure a good chassis would pull 2500 at pick n pull...fresh paint and all. No more.

But hey, you're still 8k from running even then.

msteiner805

Thanks Guys,

I like the idea of putting everything together correctly myself - but that doesn't speak towards any of the parts actually working.

Maybe the guy removed the engine for a good paint job - engine bay and all... got to give him the benefit of the doubt somewhere LOL!

Assuming the paint job is truly nice- $2500 sounds like too good of a deal. I *think* I could inspect the engine and determine if its worth putting back in - it is out of the car. The major question then would be the trans, which isn't too hard to find second hand.

What would a perfect paint/body running 1979 go for these days?

Mike

James Bailey

Actually nearly impossible to find a good used early 5speed that will downshift into 2nd gear or even up shift all that well. And if the interior is sketchy as I believe it is, figure maximum around $5,000 if it drove reasonably well. The rear wing is a deduction and missing front spoilers are not available used...
Not long abo my much abused 1980 sucked up $8,500 in repairs and is possibly only a $2,500 car if I were lucky. And that was ALL mechanical work but NOT including an engine rebuild. Plus no A/C or suspension work.
Restoring a 928 is a nearly bottomless pit.....taking on one which you have no emotional attachment to is not a very prudent move.

GregBBRD

That's the rub, with this one. Without another perfect '79 sitting right beside you, or a huge amount of experience with early 928s, the odds of putting this this back together correctly and making a running car out of this, are essentially zero.

To put it into perspectuve, while I could do this in my sleep, but not a single one of my three mechanics could do it, on their own.

msteiner805

I hear you. It depends on how "apart" this car really is. If its just the engine and interior that's out... and assuming the engine is disconnected but with all important bits attached ...well, that may not be so daunting.

Keep in mind that you, like an emergency room trauma doctor, see the patients in poor shape, and needing help. Having grown up with a Dr. for a parent I can say that it shapes their general outlook on life (towards the side of pessimism). To an experienced Dr., everyone becomes a potential patient with life threatening conditions...

I guess my point is that we all tend to live in our own bubbles shaped by beliefs that support our own biases. There's nothing wrong with that and I'm not trying to an ***.

All that's a long winded way of saying that I take issue with you stating I have a zero chance of getting this one running... Sounds like a generalization. Not saying I'm going to buy the project, but I kinda want to just to prove that I could.

Mike

bronto

I recently met a guy at the local cars & coffee who bought an S4 non-running "project" car. It's fantastic. He had zero experience with 928's, it took him a long time and he really enjoyed the process and challenge of learning how these cars were engineered. A mutual friend says he started as a 928 skeptic and is now a gushing enthusiast. The mutual friend now wants one.

But he is an engineer of some sort by trade (might he be you?)

bronto

Said S4:

karl ruiter

ON the other hand....If you want to get into a 928 for $2500 or less, and you like puzzles, this might be a good way to go. By far the most expensive thing on an early 928 is the paint, so you might be better off going this way rather than starting with a runner that needs paint. Keep in mind that, like many here I have done this a couple of times and could do it again without worry, so I might be biased. But you would have rennlist, which I did not the first time.
A couple of points though: 1) Black is not a very good color for a 928 in LA. These cars are warm inside by nature, and the AC is not that awesome, and having a black on black does NOT help. 2) There is going to be a very limited market for this car so you can probably beat him further on price if you are interested. 3) Look at the receipts for the paint job and look it over carefully. Keep in mind that you are basically buying a paint job.

msteiner805

Hey - Yes that's me (the guy who bought the project car). Its the 1991 S4 you posted.

I'm an Electrical Engineer by trade, I help design medical imaging devices (endoscopic cameras) so complex projects do appeal to me. The project has to make financial sense though . I'm not going to spend $5k and 500 hours of my time to have a $5 car when it s all done.

linderpat

About $50K plus. But you said "perfect". This one is probably $70K from that level. Ask Jim at 928 Classics.
You can likely make it a very high quality runner doing the work yourself over a period of time for much less. Would be fun to follow.