Hi Jay! I have three of them. I would go to a Mercedes specialist who services vintage cars. This is a Mercedes gear box. I am sure that someone can modulate it to work properly. Mine had the same issue and it is fine now. No repair needed. Then I would recommend you to learn how to fix ACs by yourself by tinkering on that 928. There is a relay on the pcb in the AC control panel. Change this one. Check on the vacuum lines which go to the solenoid vales beneath the AC control panel and check the solenoids too. Then get decent rims for the car. Cup 1 in 17 inch for example and replace the rear muffler with a straight pipe. Then drive the wheels off that thing and enjoy. Best wishes from Taiwan
Jay, good luck to you with this project. I can’t say it seems the most, er, rational endeavor… but I admire the enthusiasm and will enjoy watching whatever direction you go!
I’ll said tackle the transmission first , it is essential in order to well just drive. I agreed, it’s quite rewarding building and fixing up . As always great content.
I bought a 1981 928s 4 years ago, had to make a choice of selling or doing properly over a few years. Still more to do but always wanted one and have no intention of letting it go. I love it and share your view of no really caring if it’s worth what I’ve put into it, cos I love it! Good luck
Hi Jay. I had the same auto issue with my 928 when it was cold. Once it was warm, it was OK. One auto place said it was the valve body issue. In relation to the sunroof not working. All of the console switches have (are) the same wiring plug with different image print on the switch. You can swap the working window switch into the sunroof and see if it works. If it does, then you know it's the switch. All the best in your decision. No hobby is cheap. You live once. Does it make you happy? Just start the car... is enough to make you smile. Cheers from Australia
"Too much money" is totally relative. You're enjoying it. It has meaning for you. So it's worth exactly what you paid. Lower is "would be nice", but what you paid is just right!
Had mine for exactly 10 years, I’ve done everything as well. Still in the process of making it perfect. I’m taking my time no hurry. I am using the interior out of my automatic since it had an engine fire. I don’t plan on fixing it. I’ve replaced engine harness, completely rebuilt, the fuse panel, found all the grounds and clean them up. Yeah a few things still don’t work but I’m very close Jay.
For the auto there is a couple things that are cheap to start with. Vacuum leak. Kick back cable adjustment and the modulator adjustment on the auto box side itself. I guess it doesnt explain why it gets better when warm but they are some easy options to start with. I had to play with all that on mine and its now pretty good. With oil and filter change.
Tremec supply new 5-speed boxes. The best is the TKX, then TKO, and T5. They can be fitted to a Corvette so a 928 seems feasible. Just need clutch master, bypass the autos lock out switch (that prevents startup if not in P), maybe "fettling" of the torque tube driveshaft, and as others have said, a short shifter.
Great car and video. I always wanted a 928 but in Australia couldn't find a reasonably priced one which wasn't a money pit. Some items I would do: * Door and window seals/trim. Don't let that water in! * Rust prevention sealing in all the right places. * Bushes and shocks. Adjustable camber etc. would be a bonus. * Yes agreed, the interior and paint could do with attention. But only to keep it respectful, not concours. It's a driver. * Depending on your pockets' depth, a manual conversion. * Personally, I always intended to replace the Bosch injection with a modern EFI setup, with all the engine protection measures, e.g. Haltech. Harry's Garage did this with his V12 XJ Coupe.
The 928 is the first road car Porsche made that could stand on it's own against the classic gran tourismos from Italy during their dying days. No 'giant slayer' 6 cylinder turbocharged car. The first big engined and traditional layout big horsepower car that was also not a 911 derivative. That's why they are special and history will continue to be kinder to them. I have to say though, that I do share your lust for the 930 Turbo; the only car in Porsche's lineup a few grand more expensive than the 928 year for year. They also look fantastic, of course. The ultimate classic 911. But with that said, it's probably important to understand that when you are not a 'Porschephile' and 911 diehard it is very easy to accept the 928 as being totally different. European grand tourers are most appealing to me personally, and I would no doubt make some scoff at the list of cars I would have in my garage before a 911 of any year.
My '87 S4 ruptured the transmission oil cooler in the radiator, filling the 4 sp auto with radiator water. A standard kit with gaskets and bands is readily available, but many parts not included in the kit were hard to find. It cost me $8K Australian to have the box taken out, rebuilt and installed, very expensive. I'm sure in Europe it can be done cheaper. At the time I was not aware of the Torque Tube and it's maintenance, I would have rebuilt that too while the box was out. I did rebuild the rear shocks with Konis and refurbed both rear axles myself so at least there was a small saving there.
@@JAYREAD keep the history of the car alive. It is what it is. I once seen a 914 with a corvette engine in it. If God wanted a GM transmission in the Porshe, he would have instilled divine intuition with the Porsche engineers.
I bought (and Sean replaced) the front wiring harness, which solved a lot of electrical issues. Also the ignition switch can lead to problems. Lastly, cleaning of all ground points and checking fuse panel for good fuses/relays.
@@JAYREAD And for the record, if I’ll never view money spent on mine in terms of “putting into it more than it’s worth”. That ship sailed many years ago. Can’t quantify the ROI of enjoyment in $$$.
Jay, I've got an 85 S2 manual in France. Love my car so much, same blue color inside and outside as yours. Bought a short shifter in the US, the car is amazing now. So if you convert to a manual, spend the extra 300$ on the short shifter, the car becomes a different beauty. In a short while there will be so few left, they are so worthy to keep and care for, for me i never get ❤tired looking at it and driving it. In France they were not getting the respect they deserved, now anywhere I go, someone approches me and loves it. Spend the money, we only live once 😂 Take care and keep posting
My opinion :). 1) get everything working, 2) as much interior re-trimmed as the wallet allows, 3) exterior re-spray and wheels. I feel like you can go as far as you want with this car as it’s a special thing and will only get more special. It might or might not work out financially viable but you could end up with an even better car….maybe one you keep forever when you end up with something else further down the line. I wouldn’t swap the gearbox but then I don’t know how the auto is in this car and I like an auto 90% of the time.
Hi Jay, please invest first in a good startermotor cause the current one sounds a bit like a rooster 🐓. A manual swap only makes sense if you can do it yourself mostly due to the amount of labour. Would not invest in a rebuild of the autobox, it costs quite some money and does not really transform the car. Fitting some 245 GT 90 style wheels is not a big spend and spices up the looks of the car. Good luck! 💪🏼
Hello Jay, Seeing how hard your gearbox is working I would make that my first priority. This story reminds me of an edition of Wheeler dealers with a slipping gearbox with tiptronic from an Audi TT. Ed China was able to do the job at the time by flushing the gearbox and providing it with fresh oil and a new oil filter. Simply done. If this does not help, then I would consult an honest specialist in gearboxes. They may be able to help you with a correct diagnosis. It may be a spring or something that is not properly secured. In short, I would not simply condemn the gearbox to the scrap yard as long as the repair costs do not exceed the replacement of another second hand gearbox.
Yes, I was going to also recommend first changing the oil. But best advice is to go to a Mercedes auto specialist. Also, adjust the first gear change up point to something closer to 6000, this is easy to do by turning a screw on the box. And consider getting a manually controlled kick down switch.
Oddly enough, I like the manhole cover wheels on the 928. When we grew up, most cars at first had "bicycle spoke" wheels which I thought were crazy ugly. So when Honda came out with a manhole cover type hubcaps I was thoroughly impressed. And the manholes on the Porsches remind me of that.
16” phone dials are my favorite, clean up the rear off set. What is the condition of the harness overall? Have you taken a meter to the hvac head unit? Interior always makes living with a car more enjoyable. I’d like to learn more about the C5 Manual conversion!
Hi Jay, with an old Porsche it does become a labour of love. That drivers seat would really annoy me so would have those damaged leather panels replaced. Change out auto transmission for a 5 speed. Sought out the rear number plate situation please, get rid of the plate below the VROOOM, would look so much better. Then the electrics, a/c and sunroof. If you think it is a keeper just spend the money. Kind regards, Phil
Passenger side footwell has a big fuse/relay panel. Remove it and clean all the contacts, plus clean up all the grounds with a dremel and wire brush. this should fix most of your issues. Leave it automatic, the manuals for these cars are not great. Also, get a good paint correction company to go to town on it.
The manual swap is notoriously difficult. The automatic does not have the mounting point in the engine bay for the clutch master cylinder. You would need to find a donor car and cut the mounting from the body and weld it into the automatic car.
Yes! As I have researched this a bit more since I did the video, this is what people have been telling me. I have a plan though! It’s not quite what you might think either. Stay tuned!
@@JAYREAD I have heard it's been done without, either by 928 Motorsports or 928sRUS, but I doubt the latter, Roger Tyson notoriously hates the 928's manual gearbox.
Hi Jay, I follow your channel in Portugal, because I have an 83S, 5spd. I'm not an expert but I will start with the auto box to make it more driveable, i'ts a Mercedes box, shouldn't be very expensive and no problem finding parts, I guess. Then the electrics, foe, grounds, and you might have a surprise and some things start working😄! Good luck and keep us posted!
For the electrics, did you check the fuses? If Ok then yes, rewire. Interior is next, followed by exterior. Perhaps a good exterior clean up by a pro will clean up the exterior. Five speed is the way to go...
Start with the gearbox. When I got my 928, my gearbox was acting up like yours. The fix? Mechanic changed the trans fluid. That fixed it. If that doesn't do it, there are guides on the 'net (which TH-cam won't let me link to) that can help - try searching for "928 automatic transmission issues". I personally don't think that a manual really suits this car as a grand tourer (and I have several manual cars). As for the electrics - the wires are probably fine. Start with having all the grounds cleaned up., and then see where you're at - that may fix a lot of issues. Also check that the relays haven't died. This car is definitely worth it when it's running right.
I also just got a 78 (79?) EURO 928 recently ... same colour (but not its original) and I'm going to attempt some of the electrical issues you've noted myself. To me, electrics are the most understandable part of a car. I'm not going to pretend I'm electrician level good at this stuff, but I can grep where and how things are supposed to be connected if I can find the time to sit down and attend to it. So perhaps you can avoid the electricals being a high priority per se, which might give you wriggle room on deciding more important things?
I’ll be honest, I don’t know the first thing about electrics. If something bolts together or is mechanical then I can understand it but electrics are WAY out of my league.
@@JAYREADOh ... heh ... I am not saying that I UNDERSTAND the electrics ... but I can follow a wire for a thing, see if that thing connects to a fuse (and do fusey things), and have a vague idea of what those things might be on one one of those CRAZY electrical images! But, yeah ... ask me about ohms and volts? I'll answer: "Gesundheit!"
I have a manual 928 around the same year. Get the electrics working. Your interior can easily be refurbished with dyes by someone who know what they are doing but don't recovered with new leather, it will never look right. They can fix all the holes. And redo the automatic transmission with someone who has upgraded one for racing so it shift a bit sportier. Manual transmission is a big job and you don’t know what kind of used box your going to get. Not worth the gamble. I also have the same wheel but looked around and found cheap 16’ phone dials for 600 bucks. Those original wheels make the design pop. They are not always big money. And spacers make a huge presence to push the wheels out. Good luck
Hi Jay, if it were me and I’d taken the brave step to make this 928 a keeper, I think the gearbox would be the next job. You don’t currently have any plans to sell the car, but nobody will want to pay the best price for a 928 which has a failing gearbox. I can see the lure of a change to manual and if there’s only a small cost penalty, that’s probably the route I’d take. However, let’s not forget that the 928 is a sporty Grand Tourer and not a traditional ‘sports car’. Auto suits this model. Why not get onto a 928 forum or a club site and persuade two owners of 928’s, each with great examples of the model but with the two types of ‘box, to take part in your video and help your decision? As always, great content. All the best Stuart.
I would get the gearbox sorted first. Research the options then go for it. A least you can drive the car without worrying about it. Then the electrics. The cosmetic issues can be sorted as you go along.If your spending that amount on the car you need to keep it . Good luck I’m looking forward to seeing how it works out.
@@JAYREAD On the AT itself there is a modulator powered by vacuum,. coming through a line all the way through the bottom of the car into the engine bay. I was losing vacuum at the fuel regulator and damper. Once those were replaced no more hard starts when warm and better shifts. Test the vacuum at idle at the EZK. Probably the easiest access at a far away point from the manifold. If you do have a vacuum issue, it can be anywhere and it is a very common problem. All HVAC controls are vacuum operated. Get a mitivac and if not enough pressure you go on a hunt with a smoke machine.
Sunroof and rear wiper is probably just the switches. The contacts tend to break down. I would recommend cleaning all the grounds before spending hours searching for electrical gremlins. Before considering a manual swap, drive a manual 928. They're not actually that great - the clutch is quite heavy and the action isn't great and that's before the cost of doing the conversion.
Ah interesting! You’re the second person in the comments for this video to say that about the manual box. Hmm. Has to be better than the auto though, right?
@@JAYREAD everything is grand! Enjoying the journey of the 928; will we see it at The Dragon soon??? Wasn’t a bad swap on the 996, bolt on parts were easy peasy. The wiring took some deciphering but I don’t think you have to worry about much of that on the 928 from what I’ve seen. Go for it!!!!
This is why I couldnt have one of those. All those electrical issues would drive me nuts. Id end up spending another 20k sorting all that out. I applaud you for doing it if you do. Its either older aircooled stuff with simple electronics or modern 2000+ porsches for me. My opinion would be in this order of things manual swap, wheels, suspension then interior and electrics at the same time. I would get it driving absolutely killer first then go after the interior/electrics. Good luck and look forward to what you end up doing.
Maybe a dumb question, but have you changed the A/T fluid and filter? Have you tried additives for the A/T? Maybe time to visit a reputable Transmission shop and see what they think. Don't do anything drastic until you are sure that you need to. I'd tackle the electrics and recover the driver seat. If you end up selling the car, those items being done will help imo.
Jay, the issue is also this: You can either start at a project car of a varying degree and spend a lot of time or money restoring the car, or you can spend a lot more money buying a mint example and skipping all of that. Either way nobody can get into any 'perfect' 928 for cheap. The saying amongst owners that these are 50-60k cars, and it just depends on where you choose to start, is true.
The a/c can be an issue. There are vacuum valves in the dash and on the firewall. They go to pieces and lose vacuum. When that happens it defaults to heat. Germania mindset. It means taking the dash apart and many hours of labor.
I have done the valves on 2 of mine. It can be a diy if you are patient. Allow two full days of labor, and I mean full and take a copious amount of photos. You will need them. You do not have to drain the compressor to do.
Definitely a 5spd swap. Before dropping a bunch of money on a rebuild though, do a service on the trans. It probably hasn't been done in a while if ever. May cure a lot of ills. Certainly cheaper if it works. If going with a rebuild, why not do the electrics while the car is off the road? And BTW, how about some blue gaffer's tape on the splits in the seats as a stop gap for the time being. Just a thought.
It looks like a spaceship / great white shark. If the car was mine I would recover the seats and replace the carpet. Have the paint looked at by a specialist, then drive the wheels off of it making repairs as necessary.
Hey Jay , what is the Best 911 Book ? , to see the different styles & changes over the years ? I want to pick a few older ones to hunt for my first 911.
Hi there Bob! Gosh, I don’t know! Slightly self-serving but take a look at my ‘What is the best…’ series of videos. They will tell you how the 911 has changed over the years and give you all the stats you need to decide which ones you want to go after. They start in 1974 with the G-body and go all the way to 2020 to the end of the 991.
@@JAYREAD Jay , I’ve watched (&saved) all your videos on the year by year comparisons. Very , Very Helpful ! I consider you the best source for Porsche on TH-cam. I’m just considering a book I can pour over , make notes , carefully look at different body styles , etc……. Thanks
For the gearbox, the wheeler dealer opinion is, have you changed the oil and filter? In seriousness, my thoughts on restoring cars is to first sort out the mechanicals of it to get it to a driveable state, your car is nearly there apart from the gearbox which is a big thing. I'd love to see a manual conversion but it might cost a lot! So, maybe a repair of the auto gearbox for now? I haven't owned a 928 but had a 924, the electrics on the 928 are horrendous from what I've heard though! My 924 had brittle wiring being over 30 years old, so can only imagine what this is going to be like. What I dont want to see is you going too deep and causing more problems for yourself down the line and not being able to use and enjoy the car for a long time! I normally dont care about AC (my 911 works though yey!) but in America I guess you do need it, so maybe tackle that next year closer to spring? The interior would be like one of the last things I'd personally do, as its not that bad of a place to be, you can patch up the seat for now I guess and leave it at that, I kind of like the patina look of the exterior as well tbh.
I would have the electronics and a 5 speed priced up. They seem to be the biggest issues. I have a feeling the electrics will be a deep rabbit hole so it might be wise to have a professional look things over and advise. As for the transmission, sinking money into a slushomatic seems silly, I'd look for a good manual parts car that you can potentially use the transmission and interior from - two birds one stone sort of thing.
It's Mercedes autobox which shouldn't be an issue to repair, maybe a check over and a service first? I'd do the Electrics, A/C, Leather repair, Smart paint repairs. Whatever you do, do make it you're own.
@@JAYREAD Ha, I don't know about words of wisdom. After all it's easy to comment. I've always had an older car knocking about (currently another Merc) and nearly all those were German and from my experience the secret for improving and upgrading is to write a realistic list and stick to it! I've dozens of lists... If the box can be sorted at a reasonable cost I wouldn't at this stage look at a conversation to 5 speed manual. I wouldn't say don't do it but, there was a good reason why the auto was far and away a more popular choice, it is a GT car rather than a sports car. So, the question is should that be a priority considering the cost and hassle over getting the auto repaired? Anyway, keep up the good work, looking forward to updates 👍 P.s, there is a retrofit upgraded fuse box available for the 928, I know Paul Anderson in the UK did supply them.
Yes, you can rebuild the gearbox, but that usually costs more than I would want to spend if there’s a viable option to swap for manual. Also, you should just go ahead and paint the whole thing bright orange. Lol.
@@JAYREAD i owned 928 back in the late 90s to 2006 the back of the fuse board nightmare wires get old and hard break at the connections and you can't see that the wires have broken inside the covering, as to the gear box I was watching the oil change you did these boxes I think arr MD boxes I have had problems with these boxs before and it turned out to be the values in the gear box. That hesitation you described sounds like a values sticking.
I think if you love it enough Jay, then money is out of the equation and trying to get your $’s back probably wont happen. I would focus on getting everything working as it should before the cosmetics like interior and exterior. Something really satisfying about getting a rear wiper working yourself 😁. I would struggle with new seats over a gearbox service. Keep going Jay, love your videos 👍🏻😁
mechanicals/Electric, best take care of all that first, tracking them down is going to be "fun".. tracking down the grounds. as for the Paint/interior= perhaps get the bad areas out, keep it from rusting.. so undercoating as well, interior perhaps check how the materials are and see if dying can be done. Of course as for yer Manual transmission.. all real depends how far you go.. Torque tubes, rear ends perhaps, pedal boxes... the outbox is from Mercedes.
TBH I'd get it mechanically tip top and even think about a manual conversion. You should've picked up a good used passenger/ drivers USA seat when you were in the UK.
Jay, yes, it might not be a "concourse" winner, but it is also not a wreck. It is actually still in a good condition, in need of some repairs, but so be it. Please don't go the butchered route. Rather stick to the Porsche issued parts. I also like the colour of your 928: A nice "rich" colour suiting the GT side of the car.
Quite a journey ..!! sort out the the mechanically first before addressing any cosmetics issues .. I have an S2 manual and I am 1 hour away from you ..if you would like , you could try it and I guarantee you will never look back .. manual is vastly superior to automatic ..people who says the opposite are the one who drives automatic and never tried manual .-) .lmk and we will arrange something ..
If you don't mind me saying, I think you need to reign in your enthusiasm a tad; well, more than a tad, actually. I'd get the paint touched in (firmly ignoring any advice to bite the bullet and do a bare metal respray), the original driver's seat reupholstered, and the rest of the interior just detailed/coloured/repaired just to the level of making it very tidy. Personally, I love the wheels you have, too, so no need to waste money there, either. I wouldn't bother with a manual swap. Way more expensive than it's worth! And this is hardly one of the best auto 928 examples!. For sure, you can get the auto box repaired at a specialist transmission repairer, which will be much much cheaper and retain the GT nature that you seem to love. If you really want a minty manual, sell this and buy a minty manual. Much much cheaper in the end. But my advice would be to look for a different model of car altogether if you really want a manual car for Sunday morning blasts. As far as the electrics, I'd start off doing the bare minimum to get it all working well, and reinstating the air-conditioning, BUT making it clear to the auto electrician that you want the electrics to be reliable. And while you don't want to go overboard, you also don't want to skimp and have to keep repairing weak spots for the sake of a bit more money to make it good in the first instance. If you follow my advice, you should come out the other end with a very good car, but not a show winning car. You'll still have spent way more than this car is logically worth, though! Please make sure you really want to keep this car long-term before you do more than fix what's broken and a quick tidy-up!!! And make peace with not getting most of your money back!
I’ll never reign in my enthusiasm but I do take your point about doing what is necessary to achieve sensible outcomes rather than looking to create a purse out of a sow’s ear! What you’ve described is exactly what I’m after actually. I need to think hard about the manual swap. I don’t necessarily agree that a GT has to be automatic. A manual would make it a little less lazy and the torquey nature of the engine would still be conducive to GT driving. We’ll see anyway! I’ve made no decisions yet!
What is your purpose for owning a 928? Showroom fresh? Or enjoying the mystical? If the latter, fix only those things that hampered your enjoyment. Showroom fresh is a never ending quest and very expensive. I own a 2015 911 with less than 10K on the clock. A true garage queen that is still deteriorating before my eyes. The PCM has decided to be finicky. Does it bother me? Yes! But north of $5k for repair, I can live with it; has almost no impact on the driving. Just part of the Porsche experience.
Hi Jay, I would love to do a paint correction and ceramic coatings...make the paint as perfect as it can be ..then lock it in with ceramic...you would be very surprised how good it could look. I am in MA ..I believe your are in CT? Would love to have you work with me and we could film it ?
I’d ignore the exterior and interior for now and rip out that awful automatic gearbox immediately😂 If it’s impossible to find a decent manual 928 tranny, go for the Corvette alternative. Once you have the gearbox out, you should get on with the electrics as well… I hope that my like and subscribe helps👍
@@JAYREAD No problem mate! And btw, if I were you I'd ignore the comments regarding the 928 having a subpar gearbox, that's nonsense. Watch any 928 review here on YT, for instance the video by Harry's garage from a few years back, and you'll see that this car works amazing with a manual!
@@JAYREAD To put it bluntly, we all know that the automatic transmissions from the 80s and 90s are crap, but were installed to sell cars in the US since the Americans generally don't know how to operate a stick shift😂
I don't know if younger generations would visually dissect this car as us older enthusiasts would, but my summation of the aesthetic look of the 928 is simple - "it oozes bestial sexuality".
Fully agreed! That’s exactly what it is. I jokingly christened it ‘Burt Reynolds’ in one of my earlier videos. If it were a man, it would wear a medallion and have a hairy chest!
@@JAYREAD When I got my 1st drivers license in 83/84 I asked my dad for a Porsche 944. Unfortunately for me I had already shown him my reckless need for speed in my older sisters souped up Chevy Malibu...so I ended up getting a boring Volvo 240 (new, but boring). Then I watched the movie Weird Science and fell in love with the Midnight Blue 928 peel out scene when they were leaving the mall with Kelly LeBrock. Then recently Ive been contemplating a 1st time Porsche dive into a 911S (2009/10/11/12), because my ex-girlfriend got me interested in them. Well, up until today Ive never bought any of them because of monetary restrictions, but I may be back on the 928. BTW: I never caught how many miles yours had when you purchased it for $12k.
For starters get prices for all the potential work items. If you want to address the body work then consider a wrap or one of the latest paint wraps instead. Almost instant improvement. The electrics would annoy me given they’re critical to driving enjoyment. Investigate the gearbox and get some prices assuming it’s had a gearbox service recently And whilst you’re at it can you sort out the US political system and US media please
@@JAYREAD I have the same issue my mechanic checked the gear was fine but I have some noise in the flywheel I think this the issue parts will arrive tomorrow I will update you if the problem solved
Glad to hear the project continues. Our cars share some common issues, no surprise there, seems that most 929’s do. I’d focus on the transmission and electrical. For the transmission, and I k ow some purists will cringe, Lucas oils makes a great transmission additive. I’ve used it with older vehicles when I notice slipping. I know you recently flushed and changed the filter. Maybe do it again and add Lucas. Can’t wait to see how you fox the tachometer issue. I’ve the same issue and intend to follow along.
Oh I see! There are two things that I enjoy about this. Firstly, bringing something back and making it better again. I find that very satisfying…if expensive! Also, I get to make it my own. I don’t have to keep it original because I can’t! Things just need replacing! We should do a video together about yours and your approach. You’ve got a nice one there!
Hi Jay! I have three of them. I would go to a Mercedes specialist who services vintage cars. This is a Mercedes gear box. I am sure that someone can modulate it to work properly. Mine had the same issue and it is fine now. No repair needed. Then I would recommend you to learn how to fix ACs by yourself by tinkering on that 928. There is a relay on the pcb in the AC control panel. Change this one. Check on the vacuum lines which go to the solenoid vales beneath the AC control panel and check the solenoids too. Then get decent rims for the car. Cup 1 in 17 inch for example and replace the rear muffler with a straight pipe. Then drive the wheels off that thing and enjoy. Best wishes from Taiwan
Wire harness, manual transmission, and maybe wheel spacers would be a great upgrade and more awesome content. Thanks for the videos, great stuff 👍
Thank you!
Jay, good luck to you with this project. I can’t say it seems the most, er, rational endeavor… but I admire the enthusiasm and will enjoy watching whatever direction you go!
Ha! I think you’ve summed it up rather well there!
I’ll said tackle the transmission first , it is essential in order to well just drive. I agreed, it’s quite rewarding building and fixing up . As always great content.
Wise words, Julio! Thank you, sir!
I bought a 1981 928s 4 years ago, had to make a choice of selling or doing properly over a few years. Still more to do but always wanted one and have no intention of letting it go. I love it and share your view of no really caring if it’s worth what I’ve put into it, cos I love it! Good luck
Thanks brother! Such GREAT cars, right?!
Definitely 👍🏻
Hi Jay start with the electrics! So satisfying
Transmission, electrical must do, and then the interior bits.
Hi Jay. I had the same auto issue with my 928 when it was cold. Once it was warm, it was OK. One auto place said it was the valve body issue. In relation to the sunroof not working. All of the console switches have (are) the same wiring plug with different image print on the switch. You can swap the working window switch into the sunroof and see if it works. If it does, then you know it's the switch. All the best in your decision. No hobby is cheap. You live once. Does it make you happy? Just start the car... is enough to make you smile. Cheers from Australia
I’m hearing valve body issue from several places actually! Could be it! Thanks for the advice and oh yes, it makes me smile alright! ❤️
"Too much money" is totally relative. You're enjoying it. It has meaning for you. So it's worth exactly what you paid. Lower is "would be nice", but what you paid is just right!
Ha yes! Quite right!
Had mine for exactly 10 years, I’ve done everything as well. Still in the process of making it perfect. I’m taking my time no hurry.
I am using the interior out of my automatic since it had an engine fire. I don’t plan on fixing it.
I’ve replaced engine harness, completely rebuilt, the fuse panel, found all the grounds and clean them up. Yeah a few things still don’t work but I’m very close Jay.
Nice!
For the auto there is a couple things that are cheap to start with. Vacuum leak. Kick back cable adjustment and the modulator adjustment on the auto box side itself. I guess it doesnt explain why it gets better when warm but they are some easy options to start with. I had to play with all that on mine and its now pretty good. With oil and filter change.
Thanks a lot! Appreciate that!
Agreed. Lack of maintenance elsewhere suggests the gearbox hasn’t received simple attention either.
Tremec supply new 5-speed boxes. The best is the TKX, then TKO, and T5. They can be fitted to a Corvette so a 928 seems feasible.
Just need clutch master, bypass the autos lock out switch (that prevents startup if not in P), maybe "fettling" of the torque tube driveshaft, and as others have said, a short shifter.
I had 19" Cayenne wheels on my 89, they looked great with no issues at all
Cheers!
Great car and video. I always wanted a 928 but in Australia couldn't find a reasonably priced one which wasn't a money pit.
Some items I would do:
* Door and window seals/trim. Don't let that water in!
* Rust prevention sealing in all the right places.
* Bushes and shocks. Adjustable camber etc. would be a bonus.
* Yes agreed, the interior and paint could do with attention. But only to keep it respectful, not concours. It's a driver.
* Depending on your pockets' depth, a manual conversion.
* Personally, I always intended to replace the Bosch injection with a modern EFI setup, with all the engine protection measures, e.g. Haltech. Harry's Garage did this with his V12 XJ Coupe.
The 928 is the first road car Porsche made that could stand on it's own against the classic gran tourismos from Italy during their dying days. No 'giant slayer' 6 cylinder turbocharged car. The first big engined and traditional layout big horsepower car that was also not a 911 derivative.
That's why they are special and history will continue to be kinder to them.
I have to say though, that I do share your lust for the 930 Turbo; the only car in Porsche's lineup a few grand more expensive than the 928 year for year. They also look fantastic, of course. The ultimate classic 911.
But with that said, it's probably important to understand that when you are not a 'Porschephile' and 911 diehard it is very easy to accept the 928 as being totally different. European grand tourers are most appealing to me personally, and I would no doubt make some scoff at the list of cars I would have in my garage before a 911 of any year.
If it makes you happy…….. priceless 👌🏾
Could t agree more!
My '87 S4 ruptured the transmission oil cooler in the radiator, filling the 4 sp auto with radiator water. A standard kit with gaskets and bands is readily available, but many parts not included in the kit were hard to find. It cost me $8K Australian to have the box taken out, rebuilt and installed, very expensive. I'm sure in Europe it can be done cheaper. At the time I was not aware of the Torque Tube and it's maintenance, I would have rebuilt that too while the box was out. I did rebuild the rear shocks with Konis and refurbed both rear axles myself so at least there was a small saving there.
Helpful to know. Thanks a lot.
A GM in a Porsche... PLEASE Jay you are brining tears to my eyes.
Haha! Certain things could possibly be improved! Let’s see!
@@JAYREAD keep the history of the car alive. It is what it is. I once seen a 914 with a corvette engine in it. If God wanted a GM transmission in the Porshe, he would have instilled divine intuition with the Porsche engineers.
@johnsmith4219 hahaha! Fair enough! ❤️
I bought (and Sean replaced) the front wiring harness, which solved a lot of electrical issues. Also the ignition switch can lead to problems. Lastly, cleaning of all ground points and checking fuse panel for good fuses/relays.
I think I’m going to get one of Sean’s harnesses. I’ve already replaced the ignition switch and checked the fuses. Next job is grounds!
@@JAYREAD And for the record, if I’ll never view money spent on mine in terms of “putting into it more than it’s worth”. That ship sailed many years ago. Can’t quantify the ROI of enjoyment in $$$.
@@OB928 haha! Yes. I’m right with you there!
Jay, I've got an 85 S2 manual in France. Love my car so much, same blue color inside and outside as yours.
Bought a short shifter in the US, the car is amazing now.
So if you convert to a manual, spend the extra 300$ on the short shifter, the car becomes a different beauty.
In a short while there will be so few left, they are so worthy to keep and care for, for me i never get ❤tired looking at it and driving it. In France they were not getting the respect they deserved, now anywhere I go, someone approches me and loves it.
Spend the money, we only live once 😂
Take care and keep posting
Love it! Hello brother! Agree with you!
Absolutely the gear box !!!!
Haha! Thanks!
My opinion :). 1) get everything working, 2) as much interior re-trimmed as the wallet allows, 3) exterior re-spray and wheels. I feel like you can go as far as you want with this car as it’s a special thing and will only get more special. It might or might not work out financially viable but you could end up with an even better car….maybe one you keep forever when you end up with something else further down the line. I wouldn’t swap the gearbox but then I don’t know how the auto is in this car and I like an auto 90% of the time.
Thanks! A plan is being hatched! Watch this space!
Rember they are a life long love. There will always something to do
Quite so!
Hi Jay, please invest first in a good startermotor cause the current one sounds a bit like a rooster 🐓. A manual swap only makes sense if you can do it yourself mostly due to the amount of labour. Would not invest in a rebuild of the autobox, it costs quite some money and does not really transform the car. Fitting some 245 GT 90 style wheels is not a big spend and spices up the looks of the car. Good luck! 💪🏼
Hello Jay,
Seeing how hard your gearbox is working I would make that my first priority.
This story reminds me of an edition of Wheeler dealers with a slipping gearbox with tiptronic from an Audi TT.
Ed China was able to do the job at the time by flushing the gearbox and providing it with fresh oil and a new oil filter. Simply done.
If this does not help, then I would consult an honest specialist in gearboxes.
They may be able to help you with a correct diagnosis.
It may be a spring or something that is not properly secured.
In short, I would not simply condemn the gearbox to the scrap yard as long as the repair costs do not exceed the replacement of another second hand gearbox.
Yes, I was going to also recommend first changing the oil. But best advice is to go to a Mercedes auto specialist.
Also, adjust the first gear change up point to something closer to 6000, this is easy to do by turning a screw on the box.
And consider getting a manually controlled kick down switch.
Oddly enough, I like the manhole cover wheels on the 928. When we grew up, most cars at first had "bicycle spoke" wheels which I thought were crazy ugly. So when Honda came out with a manhole cover type hubcaps I was thoroughly impressed. And the manholes on the Porsches remind me of that.
They’ve really grown on me! Changing the wheels is low on my list of priorities, I must say! Bigger fish to fry!
16” phone dials are my favorite, clean up the rear off set.
What is the condition of the harness overall? Have you taken a meter to the hvac head unit?
Interior always makes living with a car more enjoyable.
I’d like to learn more about the C5 Manual conversion!
I think the harness is likely pretty crispy! I haven’t taken a meter to anything yet. I think it’s gearbox and electrics next!
PS… check out 928 Motorsports for the C5 conversion and for Carl Fausett’s videos on YT. He’s the owner of 928 Motorsports.
Hi Jay, with an old Porsche it does become a labour of love. That drivers seat would really annoy me so would have those damaged leather panels replaced. Change out auto transmission for a 5 speed. Sought out the rear number plate situation please, get rid of the plate below the VROOOM, would look so much better. Then the electrics, a/c and sunroof. If you think it is a keeper just spend the money. Kind regards, Phil
Cheers Phil! Good advice!
Passenger side footwell has a big fuse/relay panel. Remove it and clean all the contacts, plus clean up all the grounds with a dremel and wire brush. this should fix most of your issues. Leave it automatic, the manuals for these cars are not great. Also, get a good paint correction company to go to town on it.
Oh yeah? What’s wrong with the manuals? I hadn’t heard that. Grounds next then. I already cleaned the contacts in the fuse box.
As long as you get an 85 and upward manual they are good.
The earlier manuals have synchros made out of glass 😄
The manual swap is notoriously difficult. The automatic does not have the mounting point in the engine bay for the clutch master cylinder. You would need to find a donor car and cut the mounting from the body and weld it into the automatic car.
Yes! As I have researched this a bit more since I did the video, this is what people have been telling me. I have a plan though! It’s not quite what you might think either. Stay tuned!
@@JAYREAD I have heard it's been done without, either by 928 Motorsports or 928sRUS, but I doubt the latter, Roger Tyson notoriously hates the 928's manual gearbox.
I think if you had a full respray, apart from the cost, it would reduce your ability to enjoy the car. coco mat fan here too!
Completely agree. I can take it anywhere and not worry in its current state.
Hi Jay, I follow your channel in Portugal, because I have an 83S, 5spd. I'm not an expert but I will start with the auto box to make it more driveable, i'ts a Mercedes box, shouldn't be very expensive and no problem finding parts, I guess.
Then the electrics, foe, grounds, and you might have a surprise and some things start working😄! Good luck and keep us posted!
Obrigado, Ricardo!
For the electrics, did you check the fuses? If Ok then yes, rewire.
Interior is next, followed by exterior. Perhaps a good exterior clean up by a pro will clean up the exterior.
Five speed is the way to go...
I did check all the fuses and cleaned them too. Yeah..rewire is the way forward, I fear! All agreed!
Start with the gearbox. When I got my 928, my gearbox was acting up like yours. The fix? Mechanic changed the trans fluid. That fixed it. If that doesn't do it, there are guides on the 'net (which TH-cam won't let me link to) that can help - try searching for "928 automatic transmission issues". I personally don't think that a manual really suits this car as a grand tourer (and I have several manual cars). As for the electrics - the wires are probably fine. Start with having all the grounds cleaned up., and then see where you're at - that may fix a lot of issues. Also check that the relays haven't died. This car is definitely worth it when it's running right.
Appreciate it, Jack, thanks!
I also just got a 78 (79?) EURO 928 recently ... same colour (but not its original) and I'm going to attempt some of the electrical issues you've noted myself.
To me, electrics are the most understandable part of a car. I'm not going to pretend I'm electrician level good at this stuff, but I can grep where and how things are supposed to be connected if I can find the time to sit down and attend to it.
So perhaps you can avoid the electricals being a high priority per se, which might give you wriggle room on deciding more important things?
I’ll be honest, I don’t know the first thing about electrics. If something bolts together or is mechanical then I can understand it but electrics are WAY out of my league.
@@JAYREADOh ... heh ... I am not saying that I UNDERSTAND the electrics ... but I can follow a wire for a thing, see if that thing connects to a fuse (and do fusey things), and have a vague idea of what those things might be on one one of those CRAZY electrical images! But, yeah ... ask me about ohms and volts? I'll answer: "Gesundheit!"
@@carshomediyhahahahahaha!
I have a manual 928 around the same year. Get the electrics working. Your interior can easily be refurbished with dyes by someone who know what they are doing but don't recovered with new leather, it will never look right. They can fix all the holes. And redo the automatic transmission with someone who has upgraded one for racing so it shift a bit sportier. Manual transmission is a big job and you don’t know what kind of used box your going to get. Not worth the gamble. I also have the same wheel but looked around and found cheap 16’ phone dials for 600 bucks. Those original wheels make the design pop. They are not always big money. And spacers make a huge presence to push the wheels out. Good luck
Thanks. Great advice!
Hi Jay, if it were me and I’d taken the brave step to make this 928 a keeper, I think the gearbox would be the next job. You don’t currently have any plans to sell the car, but nobody will want to pay the best price for a 928 which has a failing gearbox. I can see the lure of a change to manual and if there’s only a small cost penalty, that’s probably the route I’d take. However, let’s not forget that the 928 is a sporty Grand Tourer and not a traditional ‘sports car’. Auto suits this model. Why not get onto a 928 forum or a club site and persuade two owners of 928’s, each with great examples of the model but with the two types of ‘box, to take part in your video and help your decision?
As always, great content.
All the best
Stuart.
Ooh that’s a good idea, Stuart! Good thinking!
@@JAYREAD No problem, my invoice is in the post 😂😂
I would get the gearbox sorted first. Research the options then go for it. A least you can drive the car without worrying about it. Then the electrics. The cosmetic issues can be sorted as you go along.If your spending that amount on the car you need to keep it . Good luck I’m looking forward to seeing how it works out.
Wise words! Thank you, Andrew!
As for the AT: make sure the vacuum modulator is getting proper vacuum. You may have a vacuum leak. It was the source of my shifting issues.
Ah that’s helpful! Is the vacuum modulator likely to be a rubber hose with a hole causing the problem?
@@JAYREAD On the AT itself there is a modulator powered by vacuum,. coming through a line all the way through the bottom of the car into the engine bay. I was losing vacuum at the fuel regulator and damper. Once those were replaced no more hard starts when warm and better shifts. Test the vacuum at idle at the EZK. Probably the easiest access at a far away point from the manifold. If you do have a vacuum issue, it can be anywhere and it is a very common problem. All HVAC controls are vacuum operated. Get a mitivac and if not enough pressure you go on a hunt with a smoke machine.
@andrasgaspar3889 Thank you!
Sunroof and rear wiper is probably just the switches. The contacts tend to break down. I would recommend cleaning all the grounds before spending hours searching for electrical gremlins.
Before considering a manual swap, drive a manual 928. They're not actually that great - the clutch is quite heavy and the action isn't great and that's before the cost of doing the conversion.
Ah interesting! You’re the second person in the comments for this video to say that about the manual box. Hmm. Has to be better than the auto though, right?
Manual swap! I’ve done it in a mid 80’s bmw 3 series and just recently swapped out the tiptronic for a 6 speed in my 996 C4S.
How are you Andre? Long time no see! Was it a big job on your 996?
@@JAYREAD everything is grand! Enjoying the journey of the 928; will we see it at The Dragon soon??? Wasn’t a bad swap on the 996, bolt on parts were easy peasy. The wiring took some deciphering but I don’t think you have to worry about much of that on the 928 from what I’ve seen. Go for it!!!!
@andrebrown8792 it’s already been to the Dragon! I’m sure it’ll be back next year! Glad to hear you’re doing well!
@@JAYREAD I plan to be there!
This is why I couldnt have one of those. All those electrical issues would drive me nuts. Id end up spending another 20k sorting all that out. I applaud you for doing it if you do. Its either older aircooled stuff with simple electronics or modern 2000+ porsches for me. My opinion would be in this order of things manual swap, wheels, suspension then interior and electrics at the same time. I would get it driving absolutely killer first then go after the interior/electrics. Good luck and look forward to what you end up doing.
Cheers!
Maybe a dumb question, but have you changed the A/T fluid and filter? Have you tried additives for the A/T? Maybe time to visit a reputable Transmission shop and see what they think. Don't do anything drastic until you are sure that you need to. I'd tackle the electrics and recover the driver seat. If you end up selling the car, those items being done will help imo.
Yes, already did that and formed the same conclusion as you. I need an expert! Cheers!
Jay, the issue is also this: You can either start at a project car of a varying degree and spend a lot of time or money restoring the car, or you can spend a lot more money buying a mint example and skipping all of that. Either way nobody can get into any 'perfect' 928 for cheap. The saying amongst owners that these are 50-60k cars, and it just depends on where you choose to start, is true.
Spot on! For me, the journey is more interesting than the destination!
The a/c can be an issue. There are vacuum valves in the dash and on the firewall. They go to pieces and lose vacuum. When that happens it defaults to heat. Germania mindset. It means taking the dash apart and many hours of labor.
Ha! Yes! I take the hours of labor part as read! The car badly needs it though.
I have done the valves on 2 of mine. It can be a diy if you are patient. Allow two full days of labor, and I mean full and take a copious amount of photos. You will need them. You do not have to drain the compressor to do.
Have you done a fluid flush and change on the gearbox? A manual swap would be good, assuming parts are available and the shell is ready for it.
I have. Made no difference!
I’d get a whole interior from a wreck and swap the lot
Definitely a 5spd swap. Before dropping a bunch of money on a rebuild though, do a service on the trans. It probably hasn't been done in a while if ever. May cure a lot of ills. Certainly cheaper if it works. If going with a rebuild, why not do the electrics while the car is off the road? And BTW, how about some blue gaffer's tape on the splits in the seats as a stop gap for the time being. Just a thought.
Yeah I did the service. I’m afraid it made no difference. I need to do something. I do need gaffer tape, you’re right!
It looks like a spaceship / great white shark. If the car was mine I would recover the seats and replace the carpet. Have the paint looked at by a specialist, then drive the wheels off of it making repairs as necessary.
Hey Jay , what is the Best 911 Book ? , to see the different styles & changes over the years ? I want to pick a few older ones to hunt for my first 911.
Hi there Bob! Gosh, I don’t know! Slightly self-serving but take a look at my ‘What is the best…’ series of videos. They will tell you how the 911 has changed over the years and give you all the stats you need to decide which ones you want to go after. They start in 1974 with the G-body and go all the way to 2020 to the end of the 991.
@@JAYREAD Jay , I’ve watched (&saved) all your videos on the year by year comparisons. Very , Very Helpful ! I consider you the best source for Porsche on TH-cam. I’m just considering a book I can pour over , make notes , carefully look at different body styles , etc……. Thanks
@bobclapper2672 Thank you so much, Bob! I really appreciate such kindness. Let me give it some thought. Cheers!
For the gearbox, the wheeler dealer opinion is, have you changed the oil and filter?
In seriousness, my thoughts on restoring cars is to first sort out the mechanicals of it to get it to a driveable state, your car is nearly there apart from the gearbox which is a big thing. I'd love to see a manual conversion but it might cost a lot! So, maybe a repair of the auto gearbox for now?
I haven't owned a 928 but had a 924, the electrics on the 928 are horrendous from what I've heard though! My 924 had brittle wiring being over 30 years old, so can only imagine what this is going to be like. What I dont want to see is you going too deep and causing more problems for yourself down the line and not being able to use and enjoy the car for a long time! I normally dont care about AC (my 911 works though yey!) but in America I guess you do need it, so maybe tackle that next year closer to spring?
The interior would be like one of the last things I'd personally do, as its not that bad of a place to be, you can patch up the seat for now I guess and leave it at that, I kind of like the patina look of the exterior as well tbh.
Good advice, Usman! Thank you! I agree. I need to look into the manual swap first, I think. The gearbox is really not good!
I would have the electronics and a 5 speed priced up. They seem to be the biggest issues. I have a feeling the electrics will be a deep rabbit hole so it might be wise to have a professional look things over and advise. As for the transmission, sinking money into a slushomatic seems silly, I'd look for a good manual parts car that you can potentially use the transmission and interior from - two birds one stone sort of thing.
That’s helpful! Thank you!
It's Mercedes autobox which shouldn't be an issue to repair, maybe a check over and a service first? I'd do the Electrics, A/C, Leather repair, Smart paint repairs. Whatever you do, do make it you're own.
Thank you, John. Words of wisdom!
@@JAYREAD Ha, I don't know about words of wisdom. After all it's easy to comment.
I've always had an older car knocking about (currently another Merc) and nearly all those were German and from my experience the secret for improving and upgrading is to write a realistic list and stick to it! I've dozens of lists...
If the box can be sorted at a reasonable cost I wouldn't at this stage look at a conversation to 5 speed manual. I wouldn't say don't do it but, there was a good reason why the auto was far and away a more popular choice, it is a GT car rather than a sports car. So, the question is should that be a priority considering the cost and hassle over getting the auto repaired? Anyway, keep up the good work, looking forward to updates 👍 P.s, there is a retrofit upgraded fuse box available for the 928, I know Paul Anderson in the UK did supply them.
How about enjoying it for a while and really experience what needs to get done? Take it on a road trip and document it.
Yes, done that! Took it on a run down to the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina. It was very useful to understand what needs to be done!
hooray jay is back!
I know right! ❤️
Yes, you can rebuild the gearbox, but that usually costs more than I would want to spend if there’s a viable option to swap for manual. Also, you should just go ahead and paint the whole thing bright orange. Lol.
Haha! Cheers mate! Might look pretty cool in orange actually!
Or a wrap. Preserves what's underneath.
Jay install new seats and fix the sunroof and just Enjoy the little lady.
Nice! Yeah. Sounds like a good plan! Thanks John!
I need to have my 1985 928s auto transmission rebuilt also.... does not downshift correctly and it bangs into gear also
You will need to do the whole interior, as to electricals it's the fuse board they all start to fall apart.
Thanks! I cleaned all the contacts in the fuse board. I guess you mean the fuse board wiring itself?
@@JAYREAD i owned 928 back in the late 90s to 2006 the back of the fuse board nightmare wires get old and hard break at the connections and you can't see that the wires have broken inside the covering, as to the gear box I was watching the oil change you did these boxes I think arr MD boxes I have had problems with these boxs before and it turned out to be the values in the gear box. That hesitation you described sounds like a values sticking.
Thanks so much! That really helps a lot! Appreciate the advice!
I think if you love it enough Jay, then money is out of the equation and trying to get your $’s back probably wont happen. I would focus on getting everything working as it should before the cosmetics like interior and exterior. Something really satisfying about getting a rear wiper working yourself 😁. I would struggle with new seats over a gearbox service. Keep going Jay, love your videos 👍🏻😁
Thanks a lot! Glad you enjoy my rubbish! Sage advice!
mechanicals/Electric, best take care of all that first, tracking them down is going to be "fun".. tracking down the grounds. as for the Paint/interior= perhaps get the bad areas out, keep it from rusting.. so undercoating as well, interior perhaps check how the materials are and see if dying can be done. Of course as for yer Manual transmission.. all real depends how far you go.. Torque tubes, rear ends perhaps, pedal boxes... the outbox is from Mercedes.
Good thoughts! Thank you! Everything about refurbishing this car is ‘fun’! Bloody Germans! Lol!
@@JAYREAD well either that or get yourself a Challenger and a manual.. with the 6.4, since they don't make anymore...
Not really my scene!
I'd get the electrics sorted first then have the gearbox then interior done gradually.
Plan!
TBH I'd get it mechanically tip top and even think about a manual conversion. You should've picked up a good used passenger/ drivers USA seat when you were in the UK.
I can still look in the UK. The only problem is how I’d get it back here. Manual conversion is SOOOOO tempting!
Electrical systems, and keep as much original interior as poss 👍
It's 911 time again Jay. As much as I love the Kaiser, come on now...
I need a 930. Perhaps we could have a whip round for me? Go fund me page maybe?
Jay, yes, it might not be a "concourse" winner, but it is also not a wreck. It is actually still in a good condition, in need of some repairs, but so be it. Please don't go the butchered route. Rather stick to the Porsche issued parts. I also like the colour of your 928: A nice "rich" colour suiting the GT side of the car.
Yes! Agreed! Thanks!
Try changing out the gear oil first. Might just need a good clean.
Ah I did that already. No dice, I’m afraid.
bummer. nice car! considering one myself :)@@JAYREAD
Quite a journey ..!! sort out the the mechanically first before addressing any cosmetics issues .. I have an S2 manual and I am 1 hour away from you ..if you would like , you could try it and I guarantee you will never look back .. manual is vastly superior to automatic ..people who says the opposite are the one who drives automatic and never tried manual .-) .lmk and we will arrange something ..
That’s be GREAT! Would you mind emailing me at videocarclub@gmail.com ?
If you don't mind me saying, I think you need to reign in your enthusiasm a tad; well, more than a tad, actually.
I'd get the paint touched in (firmly ignoring any advice to bite the bullet and do a bare metal respray), the original driver's seat reupholstered, and the rest of the interior just detailed/coloured/repaired just to the level of making it very tidy. Personally, I love the wheels you have, too, so no need to waste money there, either.
I wouldn't bother with a manual swap. Way more expensive than it's worth! And this is hardly one of the best auto 928 examples!. For sure, you can get the auto box repaired at a specialist transmission repairer, which will be much much cheaper and retain the GT nature that you seem to love.
If you really want a minty manual, sell this and buy a minty manual. Much much cheaper in the end. But my advice would be to look for a different model of car altogether if you really want a manual car for Sunday morning blasts.
As far as the electrics, I'd start off doing the bare minimum to get it all working well, and reinstating the air-conditioning, BUT making it clear to the auto electrician that you want the electrics to be reliable. And while you don't want to go overboard, you also don't want to skimp and have to keep repairing weak spots for the sake of a bit more money to make it good in the first instance.
If you follow my advice, you should come out the other end with a very good car, but not a show winning car. You'll still have spent way more than this car is logically worth, though!
Please make sure you really want to keep this car long-term before you do more than fix what's broken and a quick tidy-up!!! And make peace with not getting most of your money back!
I’ll never reign in my enthusiasm but I do take your point about doing what is necessary to achieve sensible outcomes rather than looking to create a purse out of a sow’s ear! What you’ve described is exactly what I’m after actually. I need to think hard about the manual swap. I don’t necessarily agree that a GT has to be automatic. A manual would make it a little less lazy and the torquey nature of the engine would still be conducive to GT driving. We’ll see anyway! I’ve made no decisions yet!
electrics, gearbox manual sort that sunroof and paint the wheels gold !!
Oooh! GOLD WHEELS! Hadn’t thought of that!
@@JAYREAD trust me with the blue they will look very cool !!
Change the gearbox oil. You may be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.
I did that. No difference, I’m afraid!
You could try a gearbox oil change first
Ah I already did that! No dice!
OK Gear box first interior secondly
Interesting choice there! I think I might need a/c pretty soon!
Vacuum line for transmission?
Tell me more! What does that do if it’s got a hole?
@JAYREAD I haven't quite gotten to that repair, but I've read if the vacuum line is cracked or disconnected it will shift poorly .
What is your purpose for owning a 928? Showroom fresh? Or enjoying the mystical? If the latter, fix only those things that hampered your enjoyment. Showroom fresh is a never ending quest and very expensive. I own a 2015 911 with less than 10K on the clock. A true garage queen that is still deteriorating before my eyes. The PCM has decided to be finicky. Does it bother me? Yes! But north of $5k for repair, I can live with it; has almost no impact on the driving. Just part of the Porsche experience.
Definitely the latter, Roger! Just get it to an acceptable standard then drive the wheels off it!
Hi Jay, I would love to do a paint correction and ceramic coatings...make the paint as perfect as it can be ..then lock it in with ceramic...you would be very surprised how good it could look. I am in MA ..I believe your are in CT? Would love to have you work with me and we could film it ?
Ha! God, I’m not sure it’s recoverable but you’re welcome to try! Email me at videocarclub@gmail.com
I’d ignore the exterior and interior for now and rip out that awful automatic gearbox immediately😂 If it’s impossible to find a decent manual 928 tranny, go for the Corvette alternative. Once you have the gearbox out, you should get on with the electrics as well… I hope that my like and subscribe helps👍
That’s very helpful, thank you! Glad you’re sticking around!
@@JAYREAD No problem mate! And btw, if I were you I'd ignore the comments regarding the 928 having a subpar gearbox, that's nonsense. Watch any 928 review here on YT, for instance the video by Harry's garage from a few years back, and you'll see that this car works amazing with a manual!
@@JAYREAD To put it bluntly, we all know that the automatic transmissions from the 80s and 90s are crap, but were installed to sell cars in the US since the Americans generally don't know how to operate a stick shift😂
@nitramh24 lololol!
Next? Off-road Cayenne.
Oh good point! My friends are getting into this. I really like them!
4 inch lift, big off road wheels, go full Paris Dakar spec.
It’s on. Let’s do it. See you in Paris. 😆
I don't know if younger generations would visually dissect this car as us older enthusiasts would, but my summation of the aesthetic look of the 928 is simple - "it oozes bestial sexuality".
Fully agreed! That’s exactly what it is. I jokingly christened it ‘Burt Reynolds’ in one of my earlier videos. If it were a man, it would wear a medallion and have a hairy chest!
@@JAYREAD When I got my 1st drivers license in 83/84 I asked my dad for a Porsche 944. Unfortunately for me I had already shown him my reckless need for speed in my older sisters souped up Chevy Malibu...so I ended up getting a boring Volvo 240 (new, but boring). Then I watched the movie Weird Science and fell in love with the Midnight Blue 928 peel out scene when they were leaving the mall with Kelly LeBrock. Then recently Ive been contemplating a 1st time Porsche dive into a 911S (2009/10/11/12), because my ex-girlfriend got me interested in them. Well, up until today Ive never bought any of them because of monetary restrictions, but I may be back on the 928. BTW: I never caught how many miles yours had when you purchased it for $12k.
@MasterArmedforces Do it! 77k.
For starters get prices for all the potential work items.
If you want to address the body work then consider a wrap or one of the latest paint wraps instead. Almost instant improvement.
The electrics would annoy me given they’re critical to driving enjoyment.
Investigate the gearbox and get some prices assuming it’s had a gearbox service recently
And whilst you’re at it can you sort out the US political system and US media please
Lol! I’ll do my best on all fronts but I make no promises on the latter!
@@JAYREAD on the car until you get budgetary prices do nothing. Think with the head not heart 😄😄
The 928 is a better car than the 911 plain and simple, aside from a few seconds on a track
What Year? 1985?
Yes. 1985 Euro S2.
@@JAYREAD thanks. love it!
Me too! Haha!
Hi jay check the flywheel
Do you mean the flex plate? What about it would cause it to slip?
@@JAYREAD I have the same issue my mechanic checked the gear was fine but I have some noise in the flywheel I think this the issue parts will arrive tomorrow I will update you if the problem solved
@fahadalenaizi8491 Thank you! Yes, please do! I’d love to hear how you get on! ❤️
Glad to hear the project continues. Our cars share some common issues, no surprise there, seems that most 929’s do.
I’d focus on the transmission and electrical.
For the transmission, and I k ow some purists will cringe, Lucas oils makes a great transmission additive. I’ve used it with older vehicles when I notice slipping. I know you recently flushed and changed the filter. Maybe do it again and add Lucas.
Can’t wait to see how you fox the tachometer issue. I’ve the same issue and intend to follow along.
Lets sell it and everything else and buy sumtun epic.
Or keep it and still buy sumtin epic?
Ok moneybags!😂
Whatever you decide to do I'm here for that.
Love the content jay.onwards and upwards
Jay - Sell the car and get your money back, then buy a 1st gen 5-speed.
I’m thinking that the journey is more interesting than the destination!
I bought a mint condition '89 GT a couple of years ago - had 16 thousand miles on it now 23 thousand. I would go insane to upgrade one.
What do you mean?
@@JAYREAD - doing what you're doing.
Oh I see! There are two things that I enjoy about this. Firstly, bringing something back and making it better again. I find that very satisfying…if expensive! Also, I get to make it my own. I don’t have to keep it original because I can’t! Things just need replacing! We should do a video together about yours and your approach. You’ve got a nice one there!