German Speed Merchants?

[Tom Oxner]

I bought a 911SC a little over a year ago from Don Salisbury. The engine had just been freshened by Scott at German Speed Merchants in Wilmington, NC. The invoice shows labor to remove the engine, refresh top end and re-ring the pistons. There is also labor to break the engine in on the dyno.

My son and I did one track day in the car. We were going to get it ready for PCA D Stock. Anyway, the engine now smokes like crazy. The longer it runs the more it smokes. It is obvious that the engine was put together VERY poorly. Is German Speed Merchants the Motor Meister of the east coast?

Thanks,

Tom Oxner

[juicersr]

They are a good group of guys here doing decent work on water and air-cooled P's (along with Bimmers). Not sure about their engine building, but they have done some minor stuff for me in the past to get my car ready for the track when i didn't have the time, and never had any issues with them. I would call 910-791-4844 and talk to Scott and see what all was done, who did head work, etc.

[sbullard332i]

Hi Tom, Scott here from GSM what ever did you find wrong with this engine? I do remember re-ringing that engine and that one of the pistons had broken ring lands, we replace that piston and sleeve with a used unit. I don't recall having any issues or Don contacting me about this, would just like too know thanks Scott

[304065]

What color is the smoke?

[Tom Oxner]

The smoking seemed to go away. We did one more track day-the second one- and there was little smoking. At the end of the session, the #4 rod spun a bearing. I took the engine apart to repair the crank and rod(s). The #4 piston was the one that had been replaced-it was visibly different from the others(different dome as well as lots of grinding on the back side of the piston). The piston oil squirter on the #4 was completely clogged-I would guess that is the reason the piston failed in the first place.

I replaced the crank and used another set of rebuilt rods. Since there had been a top end refresh, I assumed that the heads were OK. As I was getting ready to reinstall the heads, I decided to check the heads. The valve guides were worn very badly as were the valves. I do not know specifically what was involved in the top end refresh-but it did not involve replacing guides or grinding the valves (since you cannot do that correctly if the valve guides are worn badly). I had the heads rebuilt and and the valves replaced and the seats ground. I now have the engine back together.
I have to assume from this that the top end refresh consisted of stopping leaks-the engine was dry on the outside. What I got from Don was an engine with a clogged oil squirter, 5pistons of one CR and 1 with another CR, and completly worn out heads. The spun rod bearing was probably a function of the engine just being worn out.
I have attemped to be as factual as possible in this description without interjecting emotions into the description. Given the description of the engine and the work performed on it prior to my purchase-I felt I got ripped off big time.

Tom Oxner

[Lapkritis]

Most of the time a mechanic is doing the best with the materials they are given, and not which they have chosen without regard for a repair budget. Not sure if that is the case here but something to keep in mind.

[Henry Schmidt]

Without making judgements one way or another, I hate to see this kind of stuff happen.
I might have a serviceable set of pistons and cylinders that you can have cheap just to get you through this.
Let me know.