So I'm on the hunt again but this time to help my friend find the car he wants. We came across a 79 Porsche 928 5-speed with 75k. The car has a supposed hydraulic clutch issue which need to be fixed and the ignition has a slight issue, so the car has to be started from the 16-pin connector under the hood. The gentleman was asking $3k for it, we started at half that price because of the unknowns. The guy seemed unwilling to budge, what do you think is a fair price for the vehicle? I'm not as knowledgable about the 928 as I am with the 944.
Here's the video:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/qnLu435RR0E
mndsm
MegaDork
2/13/17 6:57 a.m.
I'm not gonna say it's a good idea, because v8 porsche. I'm also not gonna say it's a bad idea, because....v8 porsche.
IIRC, anything involving clutch work on a 928 is $$$$$. I would also plan on a timing belt job right away, which is likely not cheap either.
This is one of those kinda potential projects that begs the question, "how much free time do you have?" I work a lot and prefer my free time to involve more driving than wrenching so I'd personally pass on something like that, but if you have a lot of time to kill many of those jobs become much less intimidating.
First of all, Go BLUE!
Second- if it were me, focusing on the expensive parts is what I would lean toward- the window, the clutch system (the whole thing), and the missing trim.
For whatever reason, the electronics of the car don't bother me at all. It's interesting to see that massive fuse/relay box in the passenger footwell- as that car is MASSIVELY simpler than cars we have today. I'd almost lean toward modernizing the entire system, if you could.
That will just take time and careful layout, and can be done DIY with different stuff. And given the vintage of fuel injection, I'd even lean farther away, and make that brand new, too.
But you need correct glass, and correct clutch parts, and almost more importantly- correct trim (since the small stuff seems to be the most impossible to find).
And that can answer the whole cost vs. effort thing as you look at the next car.
pointofdeparture wrote:
IIRC, anything involving clutch work on a 928 is $$$$$. I would also plan on a timing belt job right away, which is likely not cheap either.
This is one of those kinda potential projects that begs the question, "how much free time do you have?" I work a lot and prefer my free time to involve more driving than wrenching so I'd personally pass on something like that, but if you have a lot of time to kill many of those jobs become much less intimidating.
And that's one of those interesting time loss areas- would one take a chance and be the FIRST to run a Challenge (if you can talk him down enough) with a 928. Very possible with enough time.
And taking a risk that the actual clutch is fine- maybe just a new master.
XLR99
Dork
2/13/17 7:24 a.m.
When I worked at a Porsche shop in the mid-late 80s, the techs hated doing clutches on 5spd 928s. The parts guy loved them, though, from what I remember 
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alfadriver wrote:
pointofdeparture wrote:
IIRC, anything involving clutch work on a 928 is $$$$$. I would also plan on a timing belt job right away, which is likely not cheap either.
This is one of those kinda potential projects that begs the question, "how much free time do you have?" I work a lot and prefer my free time to involve more driving than wrenching so I'd personally pass on something like that, but if you have a lot of time to kill many of those jobs become much less intimidating.
And that's one of those interesting time loss areas- would one take a chance and be the FIRST to run a Challenge (if you can talk him down enough) with a 928. Very possible with enough time.
And taking a risk that the actual clutch is fine- maybe just a new master.
Yep very true, I think if I can get it at $2000 - $2200, we might pull the trigger. I just keep thinking, how many 5-speed 928s' are left. Especially at this price point. My friend has a lot more coin for his project but the game is making the best use of resources! This is awesome feedback
Only 75k miles. I hear of Maserati Biturbos available cheap with only 35k miles.
That said, I bet a non runner 928 is a similarly good deal like a 35k Biturbo.
PS: I really enjoyed the video format. Thanks for taking us along!
JohnRW1621 wrote:
Only 75k miles. I hear of Maserati Biturbos available cheap with only 35k miles.
That said, I bet a non runner 928 is a similarly good deal like a 35k Biturbo.
PS: I really enjoyed the video format. Thanks for taking us along!
no problem, I love a good BiTurbo, you got me looking now. Haha thanks
Oh God, please don't go looking for Biturbo!
Beautiful cars but miserable engines known to fail in less than 50k miles.
The only way to even consider a Biturbo is if you take out all the Maserati running gear and swap in an LSx.
Spelling it out, the real joke was supposed to be...
The worst deal in cars is a low mileage, non running Biturbo and a non running 928 looks to be the second worst deal.
JohnRW1621 wrote:
Oh God, please don't go looking for Biturbo!
Beautiful cars but miserable engines known to fail in less than 50k miles.
The only way to even consider a Biturbo is if you take out all the Maserati running gear and swap in an LSx.
Spelling it out, the real joke was supposed to be...
The worst deal in cars is a low mileage, non running Biturbo and a non running 928 looks to be the second worst deal.
I know LOL, but it would be an incredible ego boost though.You'd be that guy, who daily'd a BiTurbo. You'd also be going steady with Taylor Swift, make 1000 phone calls with your Samsung Note 7, and asking for an extra side of Ghost Pepper sauce for your hot wings.
oldtin
PowerDork
2/13/17 8:03 a.m.
15% of 928s were manuals fwiw. That year is not an interference engine - so the timing belt is less critical than on the euro S models and 32 valve cars. Trim bits can be brutally expensive if you can't find them second-hand. On the other hand - the good ones are holding their own on price if not starting to climb. People are a bit scared of 928s. They were complex for the time. Simpler than an average ford or chevy these days. Looks like that one has been sitting a while sinking into the ground. Interior looked to be in pretty decent shape - but missing radio and other bits and the general pain in screwing it all back together. Ignition switch is a 2-part bit. Each part is about $120. HVAC blower sits over the fuse panel. it's common that the blower motor goes out/leaks around the gasket or a/c evap seal leak (directly on to the fuse panel) causing electrical mayhem. You do have to get creative with these sometimes (new hvac blower lists for well over $600 - or there's a siemens cross-reference part for $115 if you know the magic number). Rennlist 928 board is very helpful.
I love this, because I have a standing search for "Porsche" under $5k on our local Craigslist, and I've seen that car and been tempted by it. Then your video popped up last night. It was enough to scare me off the car, but I'd love to see it revived and put back on the road.
BUY it, what's the worst thing that could happen anyhow.
The gear shift has a tricky to replace ball joint part on top of the drive shaft tube.
I think the 928 was designed to replace the clutch thru a cover on the bottom of the bell housing, but I never had to do that on mine.
I miss mine, why did I ever sell that car anyhow.
oldtin wrote:
15% of 928s were manuals fwiw. That year is not an interference engine - so the timing belt is less critical than on the euro S models and 32 valve cars. Trim bits can be brutally expensive if you can't find them second-hand. On the other hand - the good ones are holding their own on price if not starting to climb. People are a bit scared of 928s. They were complex for the time. Simpler than an average ford or chevy these days. Looks like that one has been sitting a while sinking into the ground. Interior looked to be in pretty decent shape - but missing radio and other bits and the general pain in screwing it all back together. Ignition switch is a 2-part bit. Each part is about $120. HVAC blower sits over the fuse panel. it's common that the blower motor goes out/leaks around the gasket or a/c evap seal leak (directly on to the fuse panel) causing electrical mayhem. You do have to get creative with these sometimes (new hvac blower lists for well over $600 - or there's a siemens cross-reference part for $115 if you know the magic number). Rennlist 928 board is very helpful.
Nice info, much appreciated. I looked at all the relays under the carpet on the passenger side and nearly fainted. I'm doing a little more research to see if water ever gets in there and causes issues. Did they ever relocate the relays on newer models?
Cotton
UberDork
2/13/17 11:23 a.m.
I have an 82 16v 5 speed. Its a fun car and easier to work on than the 85 32v auto I had. I would def recommend the early 5 speeds.
I saw that one on CL. Not only did you go look at it, you got video!
I have wanted a 928 for a loooong time. But I'm not sure I'd pull the trigger at 3k. Like you said, about 2k and I'd probably do it.
Edit: and don't forget, I know squat about P cars 
In reply to paranoid_android74:
I may know about a 5 speed, supercharged, megasquirted 928 for sale if you're serious...
Pros: Cheap 80s Porsche supercar
Cons: Cheap 80s Porsche supercar
In reply to paranoid_android74:
Yep- I've driven it (kind of fun) and worked on it (less fun). Would you like to return from WMWR with a new vehicle?
Kind of fun? Please do tell.
In reply to nderwater:
Great noises, pretty good handling, pretty quick, ergonomics and feel were not for me. I might feel different about it on a highway trip instead of my local choppy backroads.
GREAT noises though.
