1988 911 3.2 Top end Rebuild
 

Hello,

I have a 1988 911 with 71k miles on it. I seemed to hit the sweet spot (60k - 80k miles for Valve Job) that requires a Top End job. Oil consumption is not a huge problem but I would rather get it done now than later.
I was wondering if anyone knew the "typical" price for a Top End job to be done. I live in the Bay Area of San Francisco.

Thanks in Advance,

Matt

Beware the slipperly slope. About 2K depending.
examples
Why not a clutch while you are in there.
Might as well re-ring
could as well refreshen the cams
would sound better with a new exhaust system
heck, the alternator is old, good time to replace
and on and on

Yeah, I have fallen into that trap before with a CJ7. Had to sell it so I would spend any money on it. LOL.

Thanks,

Matt

I am sliding down that slope as I type this.

Top end only for me ended up a total rebuild...bad case of while you're in there. As many pointed out to me, once you have the heads off there's not much reason to stop there since taking the case apart is not that much more work and you can have things checked out to see if in spec. I got lucky and didn't have to replace any pistons/cylinders etc.

Yeah, my '88 needed a clutch and it proceeded as follows:

1. I'll go ahead and get the SSI headers, exhauset and chip I always wanted...
2. I might as well check the heads...
3. Oh crap, broken head stud...
4. Damn, pistons and cylinders are worn out of spec...
5. Might as well do the bottom end since I have gone this far :-)

$14k later, basically a new engine :-)

oh no. Looks like I might be going down Bullet Bob's road. Clutch needs be replaced in about 10k (chatter). Valve Guides are a little worn. We will see. Thanks for the all the feedback. I will update you guys on what I do the next couple of months.

oh no. Looks like I might be going down Bullet Bob's road. Clutch needs be replaced in about 10k (chatter). Valve Guides are a little worn. We will see. Thanks for the all the feedback. I will update you guys on what I do the next couple of months.

most already mentioned:
clutch - I favor the no drill bushing type - there are a number of needed updated parts, e.g. updated fork and tube - put in steel spring type disk
head studs - at least put in steel lowers if there are Dilvar now
inspect p's and c's - properly condition and rering if Nickasil
powder coat engine tin
seal around engine compartment
check clutch slave
have injectors clean/flowed - Witch Hunter
update cam to 964 - Camgrinder
sprockets and cam chains
cam chain tensioner - Jerry Woods slugs for extra insurance
replace hard to get at engine sensors

I'm probably leaving out a bunch of things I forgot I did.

Have never heard of one coming in that low!

A fairly standard top-end re-build here will cost you $7K - $8K. Get carried away, and you can double that without too much trouble.

There is a thread on Dorkiphus.net that might give you some ideas.
http://dorkiphus.net/porsche/showthread.php?t=17192

A few days late on this thread, but 71k seems awful low for a rebuild on an '88, even just the top end. I'm still going strong at 215k on an untouched '88 daily driver, in the Bay Area. Why, other than oil consumption, are you tearing it apart? You might want to look into simply replacing valve seals, and see how she rolls for awhile.

a combination of bad maintenance and bad luck with valve guide material... I bought an 89 about 6 years ago with 47k and it had a couple of bad guides... after driving it for a couple of years I went in and did the "full" top end. Even though I DIY it was a bunch of money... I didn't want to add it up and haven't added it up. If you paid a shop to do it I would guess easily 8-10k for all the stuff I did.

Yup. There's seems to be a huge discrepancy in valve guide material used - hence the discrepancy in the miles before top end rebuild. A mechanic in Switzerland told me he rebuilds 3.2's from anywhere between 50,000 kms to 200,000 kms - with the majority coming in at between 100,000 to 150,000 kms.

I had mine done at 100,000 kms and it's like a new car. No smoke. No oil consumption. Tight as a teenager.

My guides were shot at 56K miles - My layshaft bearings were showing cooper too. In fact - I have yet to see a carrera or SC opened up that didn't have layshaft bearing wear.

Of course - I took it to the quasi extreme

3.4 mahle 9.8 to one jugs
extrude hone intake
993ss cams (Dougherty Racing Cams)
arp rod bolts
Supertech Head Studs
enlarged throttle body
competition springs and retainers (EBS)
LN 1 3/4" SS Headers
Dansk Dual in - Single out
Powdercoat
Engine backdate heat
930 clutch
Bilsteins
Engine sound pad
Steve Wong custom chip to pull it all together