Hello All,
My name is Sam and I am picking up an 85 928S, automatic, next week, locally (Southern New Jersey), for peanuts really. The owner is selling the 928S and throwing in a 944 free, with the deal.

The owner had this car sitting for almost 5 years, and mentioned something about the bearings. I know nothing about 928s, but i love these cars. Ive been around 912's for years, owned many and own one now, so ive worked on the 912s extensively, never rebuilt an engine though, just dropped one and did an upper rebuild job...

I've been doing a lot of reading on this site and read the entire thread about Thrust Bearing Failure (which i suspect is the case in my vehicle) written by Don Carter in Houston, TX, so im kinda ready for whats coming. I guess TBF are typical in automatic cars...Im just clueless as to where to start.

About the car: its an 85 928, black, with tools in the trunk, and books with maintenance stamps. The interior is complete, front seats are cracked, no cracks on the dash, rear seats are fresh...

I Have not attempted to start the engine or crank it. The owner said it will crank but will not fire up. I know from restoring 912's and being around classic cars, that the fuel is probably old, as are the fuel lines, etc... The owner stated when the car was running that the engine would almost seize as soon as he would turn the car off, and added that it would crank over slowly and hard. he said something was not right, and the car was not running properly...He said the engine has to come off...

So i will take off the oil pan once i get it over my house early next week and check for little metal shavings in the oil. I also read about cutting the oil filter and opening it, to check for shavings as well in there.

I called a couple of Porsche shops in Bear DE and Bordentown, NJ, who said they would not touch it... i guess they are afraid of 928's.

Anyway, im excited to join this forum and i look forward to meeting some of you soon. i also trek up to Hershey every year.

Any 928 owners in South Jersey or greater Philadelphia/

Thanks again for having me!

Sam from South Jersey. Attached Images

 

Dont drop the pan, just check the oil filter media for metal.

Dropping the pan is...not hard, but it's not something I would do, that I can do better another way.

 

will do, thank you Speedtoys for the advice.

 

No one threw in a free 944 when I bought my shark...I'm jealous!

 

Jeff,

Lol, We're not talking about a 944 Turbo S or S2, its just a beat up 944, mid 80s, sitting for years outdoors, banged up, and starts on Dimethyl ether fuel. But hey, ill take it, make it a driver and save another Porsche!

Take care,

Sam

 

You need to measure the end play of the crankshaft to see if the thrust bearing is worn....search for thrust bearing failure ....TBF much written here..

 

thanks James. i also read that yesterday, in the above mentioned thread about TBF, by Don Carter. The end play i think is supposed to be around 0.07inches if im not mistaken.
Will do once it hits my driveway next week.

Thank you Sir.

Sam

 

Once you get it in the air, you need to remove the bottom half of the bell housing. Mine was relatively easy, all the bolts came out without having to remove the exhaust or cut any of them, then you can get a good look at the clamp and inspect the flex plate for cracks or if it's bowed from pressure of the shaft, you can peak in the tube to see if the fron bearing has moved rearward, if you can't see it, stick a tape measure in there, it should bottom out at about 4 inches, if 14 it has moved.
Take lots of pics at every step of the way.
Good luck!

 

Otis.
thank you for the heads up.
Will post pics as well.

Sam

 

Welcome and 928's can be addicting! I just bought my first one

 

Sorry my welcome messgae got cut off. Anyway, your avatar looks good from a distance, but you need to post some pics soon... There are many great people here on Rennlist for the 928, and there is also our local guru, MrMerlin (Stan Kolen), from Jenkintown, if you ever get stuck.

We have a large group of 928 owners here in Philly Metro area. Ask question and ask often. I am very new here too, but getting my 3rd 928 soon enough...

 

thank you. Sent Stan a PM, and he already replied. Man, what a great group of people indeed. So happy to be part of this forum.

thanks again all for your help. Once i get my baby running, i will start joining your events and Sunday drives.


Best,

Sam

 

Congrats on your buy! And a free 944 is one of those stories you get to tell that will never get old.

 

I grew up in Voorhees. Mr. Merlin (Stan), the preeminent 928 mechanic is in Jenkintown PA, about the same distance as Bordentown NJ from you and he is the best you can get.

 

Welcome and congrats. Although the engine can sometimes be saved, you're likely better off just getting a used 85/86 short block from 928Intl out on the left coast and moving your stuff over to that if it's TBF. Just drain the oil, and run some of it through a white cloth. Then cut the oil filter apart and look at that. When it gets bad, there should be plenty of indication.

For the final test, pull off the flywheel/TC bottom cover, loosen that pinch bolt on the shaft and check your crank end play. That will tell the tale, no need to pull the pan unless you want to try saving the block. Sadly, at this point you may be past the bearing shell and into the Al of the case. Then you would have the engine out on a stand, and you can pull the pan and eval the extent of the damage.