ID this, for a slow $20
 

Okay, I was going to tear this engine down as it was in a flood and my confidence was low, however, this stock 3.6l in my '92 C2 Cabriolet ran perfectly (except for a stuck thermostat to the front oil cooler that was quickly caught before temps rose to high). Anyway, upon start up after an oil change, I heard one of those catastrophic noises from the rear of the 911. We found no tools bouncing around the engine compartment, so out came the oil and along with it this chunk or metal. YIKES, now I really do have to tear her down and split the case - a first for me!

Just for fun, I'll give the first person who can ID this chunk a $20 PayPal payment. It'll take me a couple of weeks to get the engine out and stripped down, so don't expect immediate payment. The scans below show a lot of details, except the size - which is just under 1cm (3/8"). Let's stay below 20 questions to limit the length of this post so make your questions count!

Oh yeah, if there's anyone in the Madison, WI area that wants to get their hands dirty and enjoy a beer or six, please PM me. My garage is warm and clean (as of the beginning of this project is clean). I have all the appropriate books (thanks Wayne!), but will be purchasing some tools on the fly. IT'LL BE FUN!!http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1105553064.jpg

I submit a piece of cylinder wall as my official guess and final answer.

rod failure, piece of your crank case got hit and broke off
i'm thinking part of the case below the cylinders, where the pistong squirters fit in... :

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1105554262.jpg


just guessing here, pic's aren't big , not much detail

chunk of the case internal re-enforcing web, official and final answer

Jim

I dunno guys, I think I got it. See the cross-hatching in the first picture? :)

could be just a scratch or 2... can't see that piece (straight round edge) fit on a cyllinder ...

I am with Stijn, looks like a nice rounded bottom, my cylinders were squared off, could be machine work leaving those marks, tough without a refernce in the image for size, could be really small, could be really big.

is it magnetic or not?

all open questions

Jim

Man, you guys are making some expensive answer. Couldn't you all come up with something that is less costly...

Answer to the first question about it being magnetic... I found this 1cm metallic part on my oil plug magnet, but it is barely magnetic. It doesn't stick to steel, but will stick to a strong magnet. Weird, huh?

From the milling marks it has it looks to me like part of the cylinder (bottom) or even part of the lower piston skirt. Those are my two guesses.

easy. that is without a shadow of a doubt a piece of the left googleflange crankcam gear.

I take paypal!

slightly magnetic.... it is a piece of a Nikasil cylinder.

yep, the odds favor the cylinder, if so he will need the $20:eek:

Jim

Smestas and Doug... You are TOO late. :D

I'm gonna donate my winnings back to Don if I am right, as Jim sez, he's gonna need it. In exchange for my $20 donation he has to carve my initials inside the case. :D

Don,
I have recently relocated to Brookfield from the East Coast. I would be happy to help you out some weekend if you need it. I guess I'm a qualified Porsche technician. I rebuilt the 930 nearly two years ago and it's still running fine! ;)

Great answers with only one of the 20 questions used up. Maybe it was too easy for you pros. Anyway, I'm hoping to get the engine dropped this week and start disassembly this weekend. My PayPal should be paying out early next week. The next question will be: Why did this damage occur?

Dave\Werk-I: I'd love to have your help for removal\disassembly if you have time, however, I really would like a help with assembly and don't want to over-extend you - whatever you feel comfortable with. I'm guessing you won't be making the 1.25 hour trip to Madison in the 930!

Chris is right, but it's from cylinder number 2.

Sherwood

Sherwood? I gotta know how you hazarded that guess.. Common problem?

The cause: Most likely a failure of one end of the rod. A broken wrist pin or rod bolt, main bearing, or something on the rod allows it to move sideways and knocks out pieces of the cylinder bottoms.

common problem is #2 and #5, they are in the center of the crank so get less oil, read the thread on "center drilled crank"

Jim

I guess I should have known that... :D

Chris,
Actually a WAG. With your sharp observations of that as a piece of cylinder, I have a 1 in 6 chance of scoring. I didn't realize #2 and 5 were likely candidates, but we'll see. If there's any prize money left, please donate mine to the Tsunami relief effort.

Sherwood