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Engine rebuild - what mileage on average is it required?

R

Rabs

New member

Hi,

I am after some advice. Going to look at a 964 tomorrow that has done 94,000 miles. It is meant to have a great history file and has been maintained excellently. My question is around engine rebuild and clutch replacement when is it recommended that these are done on average? I don't believe it has had an engine rebuild so even if it is fine now is it likely it will need one soon? Thanks in advance
 
It's very hard to know. If treated well with good oil at annual services they can last until 200k before a rebuild is needed. However I have one that had a rebuild at 50k, I don't know why. Another was rebuilt at 89k because the clutch was playing up and an exhaust stud had broken and the tinware was shot.
The best thing is to pay a mechanic well versed in 964's to inspect it.
 
Impossible to be certain. My old 964 had the engine rebuilt at 118K. It was in overall good condition with good compression etc and pulled beautifully, in fact one of the nicest engines I have had on a 911. The rebuild was done due to pulling the engine apart to fix an oil leak from the bottom of the barrels plus the age of the engine. Once in there one of the camshafts was replaced as the surface on a lobe was worn through and on its way out and a main bearing was getting close to worn through. It could have been starved of oil at some point in its life but no way you can tell that from service history. Would it have lasted 200K like that? nope but for 118K was really very good with little else wrong. Chains were also replaced as they tend to wear as well.

Clutch was replaced and had lasted the 118K which is very good as it was not driven slowly !

Ian.
 
I think my car @ 99k sounds very similar to yours Ian. I have some oil leaks but engine pulls like a train with recent very good leak down / compression numbers. Won't rebuild until its required.
 
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate these engines all weep oil but what level is acceptable. Have seen 3 now. 2 seemed ok, they were moist but the third was very wet and was dripping oil on the floor of the garage. Trying to get a feel for what is acceptable? Thanks
 
Buy one that is used regularly and serviced on time (either on mileage or yearly).

I made the mistake of laying mine up for six months and came back to an engine that left a Hansel and Gretel oil trail wherever it went.

I subsequently ran it for the next few years (2007- 2010) without issue (except for having to ensure that I kept a close eye on the oil level, that there was cardboard on the floor of my garage and that I didn't park on friends drives.) With the seat-of-the-pants-o-meter the engine felt great and I thought it had loads of power.
I then had to lay the car up from Dec 2010 until April 2013 because all my money went on relocating for work.

I have just had the motor rebuilt (at 117,500 miles) - found that both camshafts had been starved of oil, due to blocked oil spray tubes, and were worn out beyond salvage (£550 each!) and that one of the chain tensioners was shot. Apart from that not too much wear elsewhere. Usual stuff replaced -Main bearings, big end bearings, intermediate shaft bearings, piston rings, engine gasket set, cylinder head set, spray tubes and one head stud (as it was broken).

I will give you the final total from my invoice - £5950. This is without the need to replace the tinware or clutch or flywheel as I had already done this in my first year of ownership. I believe that if you need to add these in it will add about another £1750 - £2000 to the bill.

Why have I rambled on like this. Basically because buying the wrong car can be costly. A pre-purchase inspection from a specialist that knows the 964 model and the problems that it has can save you having to splash out a fortune in repairs on top of the money you have spent buying the car in the first place.

My only recommendation on buying a 964 - If you do not know Porsches get a Pre-Purchase Inspection from someone that does. It is money well spent. Even if it just means you walk away from a lemon.

I hope this helps.

Chris


 
Thanks Chris, very good advice. I would definitely have a Pre Inspection but the more competent I become at assessing a 964 hopefully I wont have to have an inspection on a bad car.
 
In my opinion the only 964s that you can buy that don't leak oil are those that have had a rebuild by a reputable garage that specializes in rebuilds. I guess Chris was like myself in that I eventually had mine rebuilt because he got fed up of the oil leaks. It niggles at you and eventually wears you down.

Mine cost similar to Chris' higher estimate because of tins and other extra stuff. Like his, mine had camshafts because of wear.

It's worth bearing in mind that ALL of these engine builders will say to you when it's stripped down...."it's lucky that we caught this in time. It's a good job you're having it done." This is purely to make you feel better about the large amount of money you are spending. [:D] Yet, the cars have been driving round for 150,000 miles with no worrying signs of impending disaster. So, I'd agree with those that say that there is no set mileage for a rebuild on these cars and it's more a case of can you stand the leaks. [;)]
 
I agree with Steve.

I instigated the engine rebuild as I was tired of the smell of burning oil from the exhaust, tired of the mess and tired of worrying whether I had enough oil in the engine every time I went out for a drive!

I came to the point where I could either have punted the car for the bottom end of the market or bite the bullet and get it spruced up. Just the body work to get sorted now.............

Don't get hung up on engine rebuild or not.
Don't get hung up on mileage.
Recent service history is key here (e.g. all the usual stuff - regular oil servicing, quality brakes, suspension replacements, premium tyres (same on all 4 wheels), OEM wheels, service receipts/records kept etc).

You will find a good, honest and well looked after car - PPI it and go for it!

I bought mine because it was black, it had been kept on the Porsche extended warranty until March 2000 and came with a lovely printed history file the previous owner had compiled on his computer along with all the receipts from his ownership. It was also for sale at a well respected independent garage.

Well if I am honest, I mainly bought it because it was black - it is one of the fastest colours! [:D]

Good luck with your search.
 
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