Basic Restoration Steps Help

Hey,
Glad to be joining the 928 family!
I own a 1979 928 Porsche.
She has been sleeping in my dads garage for a long time.
In 2007 I woke her up from a 10 year beauty sleep with no problems at all.
I changed some main parts like the clutch system, fuel tank parts, etc.

Now after three years I finally have the time to start actually making a restoration.
I would like to know if my way of restoration sounds correct:

-Completely strip the car (bare chassis)
-Paint the car entirely

In the meantime:
-Change wires that need replacement
-Check mechanical parts (engine,transmission, etc)

Then
-Install mechanics
-Install electrical wiring, components
-Ensure correct install (testing)
-Test drive

I would like to know if I'm doing anything wrong. If a step should go before another, missing a step, etc.

Also, any link to a past or current restoration project. I do have some information on the subject, its repair manuals, videos, specific parts repairs, etc. But I like having excessive info on what I'm doing.

Any help is really appreciated.

Thank you,
Humberto Cossio

Sounds like a good plan, just be prepared that it might be expensive

Good luck! If you're doing the work yourself, it shouldn't be too bad expense wise. 928s are bad for weird things being very expensive. For example, a 928 transmission is a very reasonable $800 used, but a MAF can cost $1000 (not a problem in 79 though) There's a wiper relay that costs $80 on its own.

Oh, and if you decide to rebuild the engine harness yourself, be sure to trace each wire out by hand. There are a couple of places where multiple wires are tied together inside the harness where it's not obvious. Specifically, the batch fired fuel injectors and grounds.

Hey,
Thanks for the replies and suggestions.
I'm not planning on doing it myself heh, don't have the experience to do it.
I dismounted everything that I could and forming the restoration team right now.
Just using three personnel that know everything about restoring, making it easier and faster.
I'll keep you guys posted as soon as I get some work done.

Humberto Cossio

Hi,

In regards to the paintwork... I would find it unlikely that you would have to completely strip the car to do a proper, as good as original, respray. Especially since you noted that the car has been sitting indoors. Basically if there are no issues to the finish inside the door jams, I wouldn't bother touching them, the engine bay, or passenger compartment alike. It's that easy presuming you have no body damage or rust anywhere.

Rust is uncommon with 928's. Even those with the greatest neglect. My '84 shares a similar history to your car. It has sat outside everyday of its life at least since '96. Didn't run for ten years or more. Only damage to the body is corrosion to the battery tray (acid leak).

Painting the 928 isn't that much of a hassle. I will tell you that pulling the rear quarter glasses is a must, though. There is no good way to get around them and your new finish will look mediocre at best if you, or anyone else, try to work around them. A nasty tape edge will be inevitable.

Spoiling us with photos as the restoration progresses would be appreciated to say the least.