What are old engines worth?

[tgarnoldo]

I am currently in lots of pain, my 3.2l motor started knocking and hammering. I checked the valve train and cam chains and there is nothing obvious. Therefore, Main or rod bearings. On to my question... I have found a good/ freshly rebuilt 3.2l, it is fully dressed. the question is what is my motor worth? How would I go about getting the most for the good parts on motor, ie Fuel injection, computer, exhaust, all the auxiluries? This will help me with the rebuild vs buy decision.

Thanks,

Arnie
'87 Carrera
'01 Beck 550

[snowman]

A Porsche motor that is not running is worth about 300 to 500 dollars, by not running means it runs with a knock.

Any Porsche motor that runs ok and can be certified to run ok, meaning it is being sold by a repudable known resale outfit, like say Pelican is worth at least $2,500 and up to whatever the market will bear, depending on the model. As a privite party, good luck.

[Wayne 962]

A 3.2 with a knock problem? I wouldn't probably pay more than $2000 for it - that would be the amount of $$$ I could recoup if I parted it out completely.

-Wayne

[tgarnoldo]

how would I go about parting it out? What parts and advertize thru who??


arnie

[jluetjen]

Ebay!

[john walker's workshop]

take it apart, see what's still good, and list the items om the pelican 911 parts for sale board. heavy knocking could be a spun rod bearing, which generally takes out the crank.

[snowman]

This is all correct if you all want to be in the used parts business. IF not its back to the lower value.

[pjv911]

I would be happy to pay you $700.00 + shipping for the complete motor. If interested let me know and where to send the money.


Kurt Williams

[snowman]

Where were you when I was selling a complete running engine 2 years ago?

[tgarnoldo]

Thanks for all your inputs. I am still stuggling with the make vs buy decision. I bought Wanye's book (Wayne, great job) and am seriously thinking about rebuilding my motor myself. But I have a few questions.

1) What type of pistons and cylinders would my 3.2l engine have? Can I tell with out a tear down?
2) Does any one know of a good machine shop in the Detroit area?
3) I found some very fine metalic debris on the drain plugs at my last oil change and now have a hard knock on, spun bearing. How much effect will this have on the oil pump? Can it be tested/inspected before reassembly?


Well this ia a start and I will probably have a ton of questions before all is through.

Thanks,

Arnie

'87 Carrera
'01 Beck 550
'86 325

[snowman]

Arnir,
There is a guy in "something (Benton?) Harbor" somewhere west of Detroit but east of Ann Arbor. He does BMW for the most part, but almost certainly knows of the Porsche gurus in your area. Try the BMW route and see if your can find him. I wish I could remember his name, but can't. He is a BMW racer and master mechanic. I will look up my records for his name and report back if I find it. He repaired my M6 about 12 years ago and was VERY knowledgeable. THere ain't to many Porsche mechanics in the land of CHEVY s.
I know. Rember breaking down in a 62 Karmen Gia near Detroit around 1969. Couldn't get it fixed at nearest and only garage, cause its one of them FERIN things. That chev garage is now a TOYOTA garage. The irony.

[tgarnoldo]

Snowman,

Could that be Keego Harbor? Benton Harbor is on the west side of the state. If you have any more info, please let me know.

Thanks,

Arnie

[snowman]

You are correct it is Keego Harbor, I just couldn't remember. ITs a small place so I suspect that if you ask around the BMW crowd you can find him. I know people come all the way from Ohio, Kentucky, Tenn to see the guy.