DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

So, I bought an old 928 manual when on holiday last year.

The story is here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=62012

It is a 9/78 registered early 79MY non sunroof manual, with single wingmirror. Originally in special order lagoon green metallic and with an intact beige/black pascha interior. But like most early 928's it was abused via a two step process: 1. Updated by a Tom Cruise wannabe with a repaint in death blue, later spoilers and saddled with various 80's alarm and cellphone junk, and then 2. Neglected when its relative complexity overwhelmed the owner, and put up for sale.



So, a runner, but much to do. There is some old 928 interest on here and I thought I would share some of the car's journey back to health in the resto section.

OK, so we are home and first things first, NOVA (telling the taxman), request the letter of origin from Porsche so it can be registered once MOT’d, and the thrill of seeing it sitting on my drive, and not in a yard, in aix en provence, on a computer screen. And it was on my drive that it failed my home made MOT, with:

1. Car not starting on key
2. Significant exhaust gas leak from hugely broken exhaust
3. Hole in rear silencer, now academic
4. Front steering arm boot split
5. Rear CV joint split
6. Windscreen washer inoperative
7. Parking brake operation insufficient
8. Tailgate does not close securely
9. Headlight aim inaccurate because headlamp bar at wrong angle

So much for the Controle Technique, in other words

And the advisories:
1. Ludicrous amount of play in gear shifter
2. Sagging rear shock absorbers
3. Tyres sufficient tread but brittle and very old
4. Significant oil leak from front of engine
5. Clutch slipping
6. Cool car but pretty much totally f’ing f’ed mate

The CT was admittedly probably undertaken by a Foreign Legion comrade of The Boris who did the inspection, no doubt squiffy on pastis and skunkweed.

But no matter, the next step to MOTville was to make it actually startable, he said, with a slight twitch of the eye

Owning and sorting old Porsches is a learning experience, both in terms of technical learning, and also in The Ways Of The Universe. So, I soon learned that one problem should not be assumed to be caused by one issue, but many.

Take this 928’s starting issue: Caused by three things.

First was the cam between the ignition key barrel and the ignition switch being worn – so the car would start with a screwdriver turning the ignition switch but not the key, unless you wobbled it in exactly the right way. A new cam gear was cheap, and stripping the dash down wasn’t too bad, which was a good thing because I did it twice, as I forgot to put the grubscrew that locked the ignition barrel in place the first time. (Sake.)







While the dash was out I cleaned up the earths, and dealt with unacceptable items such as these rusty screw heads, and brasso-ing the scratches out of the binnacle ‘glass’ (perspex).



The second cause of pas de startage I discovered was the battery earth, which was just holding on by its little French vintage copper fingertips. That was easy to sort.

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3rd was the hot start thing: internet said first of all change fuel check valve at the fuel pump. I found that I had one in my box of bits from a previous new pump. I fitted it, and it has fixed it. Good.

OK, so now it starts.

Next!

Nice one Johnny. Look forward to reading about it. 928's ( and BMW 850's ) have always been cars I'd like to own but have been petrified of ownership hassle


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Chapeau!

Great to see a 928; I will look forward to your updates and hope others start doing more of these brilliant cars. Values here (USA) are now climbing...see BringATrailer.com. I noticed that 13 number plate; when I was a lad we went to Aix on holiday a number of times. Are cars from there usually low on rust? Thanks and best of luck to you. John.

Yes, no rust, just red dust! The QX plate in the pic was a private plate that he changed before I got it. Boris confided that QX is a reference to a model or porn actress or something..she doesnt come up on my Google, which is probably a good thing.

New french pates no longer have the department number as a suffix, instead it is in a square to the right of the plate. This car still has 13 on its plate, which is the number for Bouche du Rhone, so correct for mediterannean coast.

It’ll be a T regie soon I hope!

Burma-Shave wrote:Yes, no rust, just red dust! The QX plate in the pic was a private plate that he changed before I got it. Boris confided that QX is a reference to a model or porn actress or something..she doesnt come up on my Google, which is probably a good thing.

QX is the largest Swedish gay site. Feel free to check it out at www.qx.se (safe for work).

Thanks, will do. Like a bit of Scandi

OK, so next job. But wait, what's this, an email from the Boris, with two photos attached?

Bonjour Johnny, je viens de recevoir 2 contraventions pour excès de vitesse
Pensez à régulariser la situation.

But wait, how many more will be coming from the UK, through Boris of course.

The adventure never ends.

You have a knack of making us smile Johnny.

DEEMAN wrote:But wait, how many more will be coming from the UK, through Boris of course.

Having met Boris, this is not a good idea. I would be forever in peril, waiting for a Foreign Legionnaire posted in Scotland to appear from a dusty Clio one day in Tesco's car park, cracking his knuckles.

And besides, Boris was a good guy, and I genuinely felt like a bit of an arse for getting done for speeding on his registration. The tickets he sent me had a section for early paying of the forfaiture and a section for licence points, but being furrin, it didn't seem compatible with UK points of course. Anyway, I very quickly advised Boris to inform the the authorities that the car had been sold to me and to give them my name and address: Mr T Lubbock, c/o DDK, Norwich, Norfolk, England

As an aside, the two tickets were 8 minutes apart at 08.59 and 09.07 (over the course of a 15 hour journey), and the contravention was 96kph in a 90kph limit and 123kph in a 110kph limit.

I mean, really? And, I bet the 123kph was in one of those 130/110 areas, which vary according to conditions, the flic clearly making his own call as to whether it was, perhaps if he squinted, spitting a bit. Its funny, these Frenchies are all, like, loose fit long life, comme ci comme ca, que sera sera, all until it comes to a POINT OF ORDER, and then they briefly get all Germanic and efficient.

Anyway, it was all fine. I got a new pair of billets through the post, same early payment fine of 45 Euro, but the bit about points left blank. I wired the money, and it has been quiet since. I have even been to a French restaurant in Dundee and lived, so I think the matter is settled.

Alors, on with the spannering!

You’ve heard nothing yet I had a visit from a Foreign Legionnaire and I’ve had him in one of my cages ever since

Another great thread Johnny. You will need to bring it to Porsche in the Glen this year. Last year I spoke to a 10 year old boy who was disappointed that there were no 928's, as this was his favorite car! There is hope that this car will live on after us

Keep it coming Johnny.....well entertainin’ ....

Whatever happened to this .................. did you keep at it , sell it . park it , or ??

Well, yes I still have it and drive it.

Its funny being back on DDK and looking back to that time, it was an amazing trip but all was not well that year, possibly in the noggin department. It reads as a moment of madness to me. Maybe Jason was right, maybe I did have a screw loose. I was burning out at work and later that year my wife left me for the woodwork technician at her college. The one she had been having an affair with. Til death do us part, or possibly til a man with a beard, a collie and some great furniture skills do us part.

She was probably right, the batteries had run out on the marriage and/or I wasn’t as cheery as I used to be. The prospect of losing my house and my antidepressants (the cars) added a new dimension to the bleak outlook, though, plus work still, erm, keeping me on my toes. This including having to give evidence at a fatal accident enquiry about one of my patients who took her own life, a girl who was ages with, and at the same school as, my daughter.

But, my family was great, my kids a complicated joy, as was a lady I met, who I am still with. I moved to a different locality at work (a change as good as a rest), and have taken on some private work to pay for my mortgage, because it doubled when I finally bought my house off my ex. I got my bike licence and an XSR700 (don’t tell Vicki or I’ll kill you) and I persisted at trying to write a book. It has taken a long time but I now have a literary agent, and a plan. Just not enough time.

I’m still not divorced – since we agreed an interim agreement 2 years ago she is comfortable with a big new house, an eGolf and that bearded c*nt, so she isn’t replying to our letters. But this means that I do still have the cars, for now, and the 928 is still running, after some ongoing up-fixin, which I will update on this thread I promise. It is actually going in next week for mixture/idle set up (its running rich) and then, as long as Tesco momentum 99 RON doesn’t head too much beyond £1.65/litre, I’ll continue to use it as intended: For comfortable high speed escapes to Edinburgh, and to the refuge of Margaux’s arms.

Sorry for oversharing, back to 928 news soon