Looking for some advice on potential bad MM rebuild

[giamann]

Hi all,

I hate to bring up yet another thread about the infamous MM, but I may potentially be the next chapter in the long saga ( I hope not ).

Back in 2005, I finally decided to take the plunge and have the motor for my 1976 911-S (2.7 CIS) rebuilt. I had enough to make a decent down payment, the rest went on the credit card. Happy times at last, right ?

I came across MM's website and everything looked great. Sounded like they knew their stuff, looked like they knew what they were doing. Went down to their shop (about 15 minutes from me), got the tour from Roy, seemed OK to me. Dropped the motor off along with a brand new clutch disk, pressure plate, throw out bearing, and a brand new pair of hydraulic chain tensioners I had been sitting on for just this day.

Couple days later I get the phone call of dread. Apparently the airbox had detonated in the past ( no pop-off valve), the cylinders had been "washed down" with fuel and were no good, pistons were no good, oil pump was trash, the case had pulled head studs and also needed an align-bore. There were a couple other things I can't remember off the top of my head right now, but I still have all the paperwork stuck away in a drawer somewhere.

Being the trusting type of fool that I am, I authorized MM to make the repairs that were necessary (we had now gone from $3,000 to around $8,000). Along the line I also sprung for the SSI heat exchangers, ported and polished heads and manifold, and stainless muffler. Bottom line out the door was just a hair under $12,000 by the time the shafting was done.

I wrapped the motor up in plastic and took it over to my storage to install. In between then and now, I somehow managed to find a woman crazy enough to marry me and have a family. Long, long story shorter, five years later the motor still sits untouched in plastic.

Searching for some unrelated info on this site, I came across a virtual barrage of MM horror stories that have got me cursing that motor everytime I walk past it now. I've read about the shoddy workmanship and garbage parts that have gone into other peoples motors and am seriously wondering what may be lurking in the monster sitting in my garage.

So, it looks like I have two choices here :

1.) Take the motor over to Henry @ Supertec (if he'll even touch it) and have him run it on the stand and take a look at it to see what's what ( or what blows up).
2.) Take it apart myself, see what's really inside it, and rebuild it (very) slowly and properly.

I'm not new to engine rebuilding or mechanics, no problem there. I am an aerospace inspector by trade, so I know my way around precision measuring tools, even have a CMM at my disposal if I need it. I elected to have MM build my motor because I don't have the expertise or equipment to wrench on 911's. Now it looks like it may have been cheaper to buy the special 911 tools and do it the right way myself in the first place.

Anyway, what do you guys think ? Do I dare run this thing on the stand and take my chances with it if she holds together, or do I pull it back apart and do it myself ?

Thanks for reading my long-winded rant. I've had this car since 1994 and just want to get her on the road !

Chris

[88-diamondblue]

Chris, welcome to the board!

Sure seams scary after hearing all the stuff about MM. I with the 1st option of taking to Henry and having him run it and do a leak down and compression check as well as checking a bunch other things on the engine. He will know what to do. He should be able to give you information after being able to look at the engine. Less expensive to know if it needs it before tearing it back down given you could be lucky on this one. Plus Henry would be able to tune the CIS if it needs it.

[Henry Schmidt]

Hi Chris, welcome
I generally steer clear of these threads but you mentioned my shop so here I am.
Your story is remarkably familiar.
Here's my advise.
You paid good money for an overhaul and there is a chance that it will run just fine.
I would install the engine then take it to someone familiar with these engines.
Have them start it up and see what you have. I have heard many horror stories but you might be one of the lucky ones.
You said you found someone who loves you and in my book that's pretty lucky.
Maybe your luck will hold. One step at a time.
Putting the engine in will be a good experience and if it needs to come out you'll know what to do.
cheers

[KR8]

Hey Chris,

Take a couple pixs of the engine (unwrapped) and posted them for everyone to see. You could take a quick look at the tensioners make sure they are new - the ones you supplied. Check all the gaskets make sure that they are all new and if so I agree with Henry... through it in and run it.

Good Luck and keep the post running.
KR

[JeremyD]

Yeah, even a blind hog finds a truffle every once in awhile.

Throw it in there - make sure you build up oil pressure without spark, then fire that puppy up.

It will probably smoke for a good 30 minutes (or more)

Then know you have the resources of this board - and good people like henry behind you if you end up being one of the unlucky ones.

[giamann]

Thanks guys for all of your advice, looks like I will be taking the leap of faith and installing the motor. Need to find a new oil tank (mine was sandblasted prior to powder coating and is now unuseable), and clean out the fuel tank really well (found some metal shavings in there). I will definitely take some pics of the motor and get them posted for you all to check out. Will keep you posted.

Chris

[jimbauman]

I don't know what, if any, break in MM does on their engines, but Wayne's book has a good break in procedure. Generally, the first run is 20 minutes at a steady 2500 rpm while you look for leaks and listen for funny noises. Then you change the oil. The next part of the break in involves a few runs around town - and not having the book in front of me, I can't recall the exact sequence. I'll edit this later unless someone else chimes in....


JB

[chiroracer]

I would bet that since you are a local customer you have a better chance that you got a decent one.Lets hope thats the case,a lot of the horror stories are the out of state customers. S

[Don Settergren]

Wow, this thread a blast from the past. Is your car back on the road? How's that engine running? Pictures!! We need closure or we're going to have to send a posse over to your garage and wrap this baby up (I'm in Wisconsin, so I'm speaking for the local guys).

[pete3799]

Inquiring minds want to know.