" Rebuilt Engine" , have you got a mechanical story to tell?

[Guest]

As some of you may be aware, I decided it was time to have my engine head on my S2 Cabriolet de-coked and rebuilt, as some of the lifters were gone and it was a bit noisy (the doormen at the club where I work said I had the only diesel Porsche they had ever seen!!)

When my mechanic had the head off, it became apparent that the damage to my engine was a bit more sinister than first thought. The engine had been pushed hard while cold and the pistons had gouged out lines on all 4 cylinders. I checked out the posibility of having the cylinders re-bored, but as the engine is a " nickerseal" (or something that sounds like it), it is only Cosworth and a place in Andover that could re-bore.

Feeling dpwn in the dumps, I called Porsch-Apart in Bury adn they had a " small engine" (bottom end) which had only done 73,000 miles and was mechanically sound. I arranged for this to be sent to my mechanic and and then picked myself up when I found that it was going to cost me £964.00!!

Well the engine arrived and my mechanic got my existing engine out and got to work making one engine from 2. Once all was out, it was obvious that I needed a new clutch too, so the costs were spiralling, and to add to that, I needed new front pads and disks.

Well I got my car back yesterday and the noise difference was immense, all you can hear when the engine is ticking over are the injectors and belts and it has a fantastic throating roar when driving.

And it was quick before, but now, wow, what a difference!! My mechanic has worked wonders and in my eyes is a magician. All the cables tied properly, the engine and bay steam cleaned. Have a look at the pic and make up your own mind. I am now £3,194.00 worse off, but there ain' t much more that can go wrong!! Le Mans here I come!!!

I look forward to hearing your stories guys

 

[Fen]

Well, my Turbo blew its head gasket at 149k. Bob Watson pronounced the bottom end virtually unworn (visual inspection - it didn' t come out) when he had the head off, and leakdown tests after it was put back together with a rebuilt top end were between 3% and 6%. It didn' t exactly go back together as it left the factory though []

3 1/2 weeks and 3,500 miles later I holed the sump and drove the car until it started to rattle (I didn' t know it was haemorraging oil). Now the engine is in bits and it still doesn' t look bad. Slight wear to the rings, but the bores are perfect and the crank just needs a polish and some new bearings.

Just in case you think I' m trying to make you jealous though Phil, console yourself that my top-end rebuild ended up in a bill for £7,800 [&:]

 

[Guest]

There is just one word to say to that Fen

OUCH!!!!!

I am consoled by the fact that my mechanic has only charged me about £800 labour for about 60 hours work. So it does help having a mechanic who also is your skiing buddy!!!

I think the bill should have been about a further £1,000!!!

When he had rebuilt the head, it was a work of art. He' d ground the valves in by hand and decoked it and put new valve guides in. As I said, he' s a magician!!

Love to hear of any other horror stories though. One thing I have learnt is that if you buy a car like we have, you have to be prepared for it to cost you quite a bit to keep it properly maintained and a car of the age of even the newest 944' s needs alot of TLC.

Phil

' 91' Guards Red 944 S2 Cabriolet

 

[Diver944]

Good to hear you' ve got it back and are so happy Phil. The price is never going to be easy to swallow but as that included a clutch as well at least you have peace of mind for a looooong time to come.

I read the engine rebuild section on the Hartech website just after buying my S2 at 100,000 miles, and was pleasantly surprised at the ' affordability' [] of major engine work. I am guessing mine will need something at some stage, but so far fingers are crossed [8D]