All,
Well, late October and I finally have my car back. Five months later than originally planned, but I kept adding to the list of jobs and we had a few surprises along the way. Anyway, the final reckoning:
- Engine rebuild (top-end, including valve guides, uprated Dilivar studs, timing chains, etc.)
- Gearbox repair and partial rebuild (including 2nd gear synchro)
- Uprated differential (changed from standard to a slippy diff - existing unit was smashed and I thought well, if it needs replacing anyway...)
- New clutch
- New suspension (M033 with Bilstein HDs from Gert)
- New ignition final stage unit
- New belts, plugs, filters etc. - basically all full service items and then some
- Re-bushed A-arms (after market bushes from Gert)
- Full geometry set up
- Door check strap mounting (door side, thankfully)
- some other stuff I've forgotten (suspension top mounts, etc.)
- Targa roof realignment
Was it worth it?
Well, the bad news is the cost - isn't it always with these things? I still can't quite get my head around how Porsche can charge what they do for some parts. The answer being 'because we keep paying it', I suppose.
The good news is that it's not only is the car better than it was before the gearbox failure, it's better than it was when I bought it! I was expecting it to be good after all the work, but it really is transformed. The engine itself is quieter (reduced valve noise, etc.), pulls harder (could be the work of the final stage unit) and runs much more smoothly.
...but the best bit is the handling. Moving from a 944 Turbo I always found the 993 suspect when pushed. Slow to turn in, too much under steer (seriously!) and slightly nervous at speed. The new suspension and A-arm bushes seem to have cured all of that, and then some. The car is much tighter and more responsive, the steering is more direct and the car finally inspires confidence. Just the result I wanted!
Is it as good as it could be? Probably not. I compromised on the set-up as it's a Targa, using M033 and Bilstein HDs. The roads around here are pretty bad, and (having run a number of race prepped cars) not good for low and hard suspension. On the smooth tarmac sections I wish I'd gone M030, but then thank the stars I didn't when the surface gets back to its normal pot holed best. In all, I'm pleased with the compromise, although I may run for a few weeks and re-evaluate - there's still some adjustment left in the HDs...
I'm sure we all run an internal "wish I'd done that while I had the chance list". Well, for me it is, for once, pretty short. The gear lever has been set back slightly so it's less of a reach, and the rebuild has made the change much sweeter anyway, but I wish I'd had a short-throw kit fitted. And... that's about it.
The only problem I have now is running the engine in for a few hundred miles, and keeping the revs sensible while I do it. Very difficult. Oh well, gives me chance to explore the handling, I guess.
Just the interior (again) and the wheel refurb left, a couple of roof seals and some trim and then, if history serves as any warning, time to sell and start all over again...
Definitely very pleased with the results, and impressed with the job my indy did. Kept me informed, gave me lots of sensible options and, best of all (having been a race mechanic), 2nd guessed the settings I'd want and had the car beautifully set up!
Cheers/John
p.s. New mantra. Never again. Never, ever again will I buy a project car.
