924Board.org

[timstar92404]

I'm just wondering about the early 928s I think from 1878-early 85 I've read that they have the 16 valve v8 and this is not an interference engine so if the timing belt snaps the engine won't be destroyed.

I want to get another car sometime soon not really as a daily driver or anything. The 944 looks much cheaper to maintain than the v8 928 but all the timing belt maintenace makes me paranoid as I can't immediately spend 2 grand to get a porsche shop to fix it.


How hard are the early 928s to work on? I think parts are basicly the same price as the 944. and if the engine is non-interference then I can attempt to replace the belts / pump myself and if I screw it up it won't destroy the engine.


just asking because I've seen two early 928s recently a 78 and a 79 for around 3000 cdn they are in running condition.

is there a Haynes manual for the 928? I think I also read somewhere that there is no haynes or chiltons manual for the 928.
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78 924 sold.
85.5 944

[J1NX3D]

[timstar92404]

I'm pretty sure the early ones are non interference but I could be wrong that allt he 16 valve ones are non-interference. I read on the net that the 4.5 l 16 v ones fromt he early years are non-interference.

but for some reason there is no haynes or chiltons manual for the 928 so how the hell are you suppose to fix things without a manual?
_________________
78 924 sold.
85.5 944

[gohim]

The 928 is TWICE as complicated as the 944.

If you can't afford to maintain a 924 properly, there is no way you can take care of a 928.

The early 4.5L 2V per cylinder 928 engine is a non-interference engine, but it still has the same maintenance schedule as a 944. 30K miles or 3 years, for the complete front of engine service, if you don't want to end up stranded somewhere.

ALL of the parts on the car are VERY EXPENSIVE, as there are no VW parts.

[timstar92404]

I know it is expensive. I"m not stupid I'm not thinking of buying a 928 and making it into a reliable daily driver.


If I can find a running one for cheap with a non interference engine I might consider buying one.

I would be too scared to replace the timing belt or water pump on the 944 because if I screw up then I'll blow the engine and i'll have to sell it for a few 100 bucks.

but if there is no repair manual for the 928 then I will definately wreck it.


the 924 haynes manual has helped me alot
_________________
78 924 sold.
85.5 944

[timstar92404]

i'm just saying if I were to decide between a 944 and an early 928 the 928 might be cheaper to maintain because of the belt replacement.

if I do it myself or get someone to help me replace it for cheap then even if it were to fail due to a improper job you would just have to get towed rather than an engine rebuild.
_________________
78 924 sold.
85.5 944

[Mike924]

Careful, Tim.

Neither the 944 or an early 928 are going to be cheap to maintain.

True, the cam belt replacement may (I say, may) be simpler on the 928, but when it comes to car of this age, it really depends on the individual vehicle as to which one will be cheaper.

It all depends on good PO history. A previously well maintained example of either model will be cheaper to run than, let's say, an 'average' one.
_________________
1985 Porsche 924 'Lux', Kalahari Beige (my ex)
1993 Porsche 968 Coupe, Midnight Blue, 6 spd

'There is no substitute for a little grease under your fingernails.' - Chrenan, 924board.org

[timstar92404]

No I did not say either one would be cheap and I woudl thinkt he 928 timing belt/ water pump would be more complicated to replace but I said I could attempt to do it cheaply myself or with the help of someone else.

but if there is no repair manual then I can't even attempt to do anything myself.

on a 944 I would not want to do it myself or have anyone else do it other than a qualified shop that would guarantee their work.

the 78-79 928s also probably have the most problems as they are the first years.
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78 924 sold.
85.5 944

[dpw928]

The 16 valve 928 engines are non-interference IF the head hasn't been overmachined and there isn't too much carbon buildup on the pistons. My 78 euro has had two timing belts during my ownership (7 years) and my 78 5 speed is still on the same belt as when I bought it 5 years ago. The euro has had two belts becase I took a shortcut and didn't replace the waterpump the first time. Guess what started leaking 50 miles later.

IMHO the early cars without sunroof and alarm are easier to work on and are more reliable than the later 928's. BTW the 78 and 79 928's were team built. But as with all used cars, your maintenance will vary car by car.

There is no Haynes manual for the 928 but there is a Chiltons which is next to useless. At present (until supply is exhausted) the workshop manuals are selling for about $220 from 928 Internalional and 928 Specialists. I paid $425 for my set 7 years ago when I needed a wiring schematic for the ignition switch.

If you want a good rundown on the 928 try to find a July 97 Panorama magazine. It includes a good article by Kim Crumb on buying a 928 with year by year changes.

Dennis
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81 931 5 sp
78 928 5 sp Silver
78 928 AT Euro Black

[timstar92404]

so chiltons is not as good as Haynes?

Haynes isn't great, some of the things aren't clear and they don't have much useful pictures. Pics help alot when You don't know what to look for.

Those factory books are probably useless to me as I think they are written for mechanics and pros not for people learning to work on cars , like haynes is made for beginners to understand as well.


the 944 has a haynes manual but all the 944 motors are interference so I would be too scared to replace the belts myself.
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78 924 sold.
85.5 944

[Mike924]

[timstar92404]

yeah exactly I would most likely not get it right he first try and if it fails there won't be a second try haha.


on my 924 which is an audi engine and much more basic it took me a while to set the timing and when I put the belt on for some reason the belt would move to the very end of the pulleys looked like it might come off althought it didn't and the threads on the belt were getting damaged (strings comming off the belt)

I had to get lizard on this board to do put on another belt.


also the haynes manual did not explain how to properly set the engine to tdc it just said to align the pulley on the camshaft but it did not say anything about teh cranshaft pulley and alligning it with the dot on the oil pump.



I'm just saying if I do the timing belt like I did on the 924 and screw it up he first time I would be screwed.


plus you need a special tensioning tool I've heard. but you can probably just overtighten it and get a shop to tension it properly with the tool.




on the 944 engine after you remove the timing belt you can't move the cranshaft or camshaft pulleys right? so what would you do if after you remove the belt it goes out of adjustment.
_________________
78 924 sold.
85.5 944

[timstar92404]

i'm just saying if I spend 3000 or more on a 944 and then buy 500 in parts and then screw up the timing belt and then destroy the engine that would really suck.
_________________
78 924 sold.
85.5 944

[Mike924]

It sure would!

But, if you did it right, you'd feel like a king!
_________________
1985 Porsche 924 'Lux', Kalahari Beige (my ex)
1993 Porsche 968 Coupe, Midnight Blue, 6 spd

'There is no substitute for a little grease under your fingernails.' - Chrenan, 924board.org

[marky522]

Tim,
Its not that hard to do the t-belt on a 944, make sure you have the correct tools and it would be cake, I would be hard for you to bend valves after doing it becuase every pully has a mark that needs to line up, i just got done doing it for my first time, everything all lined up, then i rotated the engine with a ratchet 1 full rotation, and my cam was one tooth off, no big deal, loosen the tensiner and move it, as long as you triple check everything, you wont screw it up, Clarksgarage has a great walkthrough if you need it. I reccomend getting a flywheel lock and the special pin wrench for the balencer pullys, I jsut did belts and waterpump without them and it was such a PITA, if i had those tools i could have done it in 5 hours my first try. If you do end up doing this there is a fe wmore details you should know.

MArk