To split or not???

[Mr Mike]

Hello everyone!

First time poster from the Augusta Ga area. Look forward to sharing some info on my latest basket case: a 1980 911SC.

Car has been sitting for the past year in a garage with a burned up clutch. Has about 200k on the odometer. Needs a good bit of mechanical tweaking. Engine does have a good history of maintenance with Mobil 1 oil.

I dropped the engine this weekend to get started on the clutch as well as find the oil leaks that have BP/Amoco camped at my house with an oil drilling contract! Needless to say I found 1 broken head stud whcih will require replacement. Since I'll be pulling heads to replace the studs should I go ahead and break the case and replace the bearings?? Engine had great oil pressure last time it ran. Any suggestions will be appreciated, the project funding is there if I need to do this also!


Thanks

[Fishcop]

You can remove a rod or two without splitting the case. Start by assessing the bearings that are revealed.

At 200k it's a flip of the coin as to whether it will last much longer or not... Personally I'd split it, you've gone to all the trouble to get that far, you might as well do it right. You will definitley need to refresh the upper half of the engine anyway.

Make sure you have Wayne's book... very helpful in making a decision like this.

[garibaldi]

dont you go to the doctor for a complete checkup once you have about 200,000 miles on you? Or do you tell him to check your bp, and look down your throat, but skip the scope for the time being, he can get you next time? Split it, that thing is tired.

[mtelliott]

Split. Your there, might as well. It will only add an additional couple hundred to the project and well worth it.

[Mr Mike]

Thanks - I figured I needed to split, I just needed a nudge!

[Porsche_monkey]

Buy 'the book'. Read it. Then split it.

[Mr Mike]

Got the books, also secured the help of the local Porsche guru at lunch. He told me he figures he has about 1000 911's rebuilt over his years of involvement in Porsche racing. I'm lucky to have his help.

[Porsche_monkey]

1,000 911's ? hmmm...maybe he's like me. He's worked on the same engine 1000 times?

[Mr Mike]

Kinda doubt it, Frank has been racing Porsche's since the early 60's. I'm sure he could help you with yours.