Rebuild of 1989 911 motor with 200k miles

[BlackBear]

Who can be trusted with this job in Los Angeles?

How much will it cost me?

How long will it take?


Thanks.

[sc_rufctr]

1. Who can be trusted with this job in Los Angeles?

No idea but someone will chime in.

2. How much will it cost me?

Going by other threads... in US dollars... About $8,000
(Assuming your bottom end/crank is good and you can reuse you pistons and cylinders)

3. How long will it take?

A good shop should be able to do it in about two weeks total.

I've made a heap of assumptions in this reply. So much depends on what they find when they open the engine. But the 89 is a good engine and at 200,000 miles a lot of the components should still be OK. But as I said a lot depends on what they find.

[lvporschepilot]

Valve guides are the biggie on this engine. Chances are very good your bottom end is still well within spec. Getting by with a top end only job is considerably less and may very well be all you need.

[Rusty 356]

Black Bear, several considerations: Do you know the history of the motor? Maintenance records, why is it being rebuilt? Using oil, oil pressure? Leaks? Smoke; start up, acceleration or? End play? Leakdown? I believe the 3.2 is a very durable motor, strong bottom end.
Good luck with you decision, there are plenty of experts in the LA area. Opinions will vary.

[Flat6pac]

I cant see the job being done in 2 weeks, usually takes me 2 weeks to get the heads back from the machine shop. The machine shop isnt the only guy, getting the case and sheet metal cleaned, maybe power coated, glass beading some surfaces all is time consuming I like to say 4 to 5 weeks from R to R but then I dont usually stand over an engine for 8 hours straight but when its done there is all of 40 hours worth of work in the job.
Bruce

[Flieger]

I would take the car to Tony and Marco at TLG Automotive in North Hollywood. Actually, my car is there currently for a tuneup and suspension refresh.

TLG Auto Porsche Service in North Hollywood, CA

[jimbauman]

I'd trust a small local Porsche specialty shop to do the job, rather than any of the large Porsche "engine mills" in SoCal. I think the estimate of 8K might be a tad low... In this business "you get what you pay for" really applies.

JB

[john walker's workshop]

takes me about 2 weeks. i do the heads here, so no waiting on that. $7K for a top end, rings and bearings, etc. and $14K for a first cabin rebuild, with new P&Cs, oil pump, rockers, shafts, intermediate shaft, etc, etc. there are rebuilds and there are rebuilds. depends on what you and/or your engine wants and needs.

[jimbauman]

Buy a used engine, swap it with the one you have now, then rebuild your original engine yourself with help from local Pelicans. It'll be a labor of love, you'll learn a lot, and because your car will still be on the road, you won't have major withdrawal symptoms....

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by jimbauman

I'd trust a small local Porsche specialty shop to do the job, rather than any of the large Porsche "engine mills" in SoCal. I think the estimate of 8K might be a tad low... In this business "you get what you pay for" really applies.

JB

TLG is not a large "engine mill", despite how their new website may appear. Anyone considering their services should stop by and talk to the guys. They are very friendly and have many years of experience.

That said, I do not want to steer you away from rebuilding your own engine.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by jimbauman

Buy a used engine, swap it with the one you have now, then rebuild your original engine yourself with help from local Pelicans. It'll be a labor of love, you'll learn a lot, and because your car will still be on the road, you won't have major withdrawal symptoms....

This I like... but maybe you don't have time or the inclination to swing your own spanners.

I did a similar thing when it came time to rebuild my transmission.
For a lot of reasons I bought an 83 915 and that's what's in the car now.
The original 78 gearbox is in pieces waiting on parts and time.

[jimbauman]

Originally Posted by Flieger

TLG is not a large "engine mill", despite how their new website may appear. Anyone considering their services should stop by and talk to the guys. They are very friendly and have many years of experience.

That said, I do not want to steer you away from rebuilding your own engine.

YIKES! I was NOT referring to TLG! I was thinking of those guys down in the OC we hear about now and then..... and whose name i swore i would never utter....

JB

[Flieger]

Ah... gotcha

[Flieger]

So, will the original poster be rebuilding his original engine?