What is a 4.6 these days? $6k new? It's a high volume domestically produced engine that the information is common on. that's why it's so cheap- market forces (being a Ford) prevent it from going any higher.

As for a competent Porsche rebuilder who has the right information / experience / access to parts- you won't find one in every state-that's not nearly as common as the Ford.

and that's where you pay.

rjp

The top end job on my SC ran around $4500 and $1500 of that was labor for my buddy who did most of the work. I added 964 cams and SSI's too. You can do it very affordably if you put the time, effort and research into it. Dropping it off at your local indep. Porsche shop and telling them to do a full rebuild or even a top end is going to be insanely expensive. I suspect doing the same with a Ford wouldn't be real cheap either. I don't know what shop rates for indep. domestic mechanics run, but it can't be all that much less than for foreign cars. And they probably charge according to the Chilton's manual, even if they can do the work in a fraction of that time.

It's all relative. Price-out a full rebuild on a '70s Ferrari V-12 some time. That will make the 911 motor seem like a lawn mower engine.

It's simply the price of parts, the cost of machine work from a reputable place that knows/specializes in the machinery involved and the labor time of a shop that knows how to rebuild them and has the special tools.

If you think that "anyone with general mechanical knowledge" can do a competent rebuild on a 911 engine, you're dead wrong. And your engine is going to be dead wrong. I have quite a bit of mechanical knowledge and building engines is probably my strongest area. There are specific *dos and don'ts* to rebuilding any particular engine. The correct procedure for assembling a SBC or other American V-8 are not only simple but well-known among back-yard mechanics in the U.S. Any machine shop in the land knows the rebuild specs from memory.

For Porsche 911 engines, there is a LOT of specific knowledge involved and very few machine shops that I would personally use on one. And they are expensive. The alternative is an absolutely ruined case or heads that is way worse than the oil-burning/leaking POS that needed rebuilding in the first place. There is significant disagreement even between so-called experts about the best case sealant to use and which head studs won't break in the future, etc., etc...

A bad 911 rebuild is WAY worse than leaving it alone. Even if it doesn't run. A Ford 4.6? Why on earth would anyone rebuild one of those? Just pull one out of a low-miles crashed car or truck at the junk yard for $800 and drop it in the same day. They are like McDonald's hamburgers.

Dead wrong, eh? My, aren't we full of ourselves.
The 2.7 L that I rebuilt in 2000 is still running today.....with a rebuild after 7 years.
Granted I had "decent mechanical knowledge" at the start of the adventure.....I had more when I got done but it is obvious that it is nothing like your grasp of the subject.

Did I accuse you of botching your rebuild? I stand by my statement, if you did it w/o Porsche-specific knowledge and it came out well, you're a very lucky man.

94.

The "porsche tax" payments are a minor part of why I passed the old 911S on...but they were a part. Today I enjoy driving a car that is faster than the old 911s, certainly more comfortable on a long drive, and a lot less expensive per mile.

Should I choose to modify, the aftermarket is vast and varied...power gains relatively easy and cheap to obtain.

Ahhh, but I gave up the "Porsche image". No big loss for me...

fom this:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1329506018.jpg

To this:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1329506169.jpg

Your sold your 911? :eek:

My god, that's a beautiful car.

Yep, and I was absolutely bonkers paranoid that somebody would ding it every time I drove it because even a minor fender bender would destroy it's originality.

Poor Evren didn't understand at the time I shipped it off to Istanbul. Now he does...:) He also dropped out of the clubs scene there...now understanding what I meant about those who know the price of everything, the value of nothing.

There is a freedom to driving a car not coveted by others...I'm enjoying my easily replaced Ford.

I know, thoughts like these are considered blasphemy by many who post here. Just being honest...

Lucky....If I was lucky I'd hit the lottery.
Porsche specific knowledge was limited to taking a that 911 motor apart and seeing what made it tick.
Research had a lot more to do with it. Asking questions, sorting thru the opinions,
separating the wheat from the chaff, then making the right choices..not much different than any other such undertaking. I've been doing this all my life and the 911 rebuild was not that high on the degree of difficulty. I've always figured that if an average guy can build something, so can I.

Not very many good answers here, but some have touched on a few of the critical points to directly answer the question, most notably Denis. I don't agree with everything he says about DIY and I don't think Wayne does either. But, if you buy the book by our host, become informed and ask questions on the Rebuild Forum, you might be more than just a lucky person.

The actual labor of assembling the engine might be 10% of the total cost. So where is the 90%?

Of course, those that mentioned the cost of parts are correct. But, the cost of outside machining is another major source of the expense. At $15K you are going down to the bare case and getting an align bore and the proper way to do that is to machine the case halves at the mating surface and at the decks. Then the bores are done. New studs and inserts, galley plugs and you have just the beginning of the task. You would be a lucky man if you got this far and didn't spend 2 grand.

Cranks must be tested, the oil passages modified and polished. You will need at the very least refurbished cams and lifters, rods sized and trued, balancing of all the parts including the new pistons and you might as well buy a new flywheel before you do that.

And the list goes on. Buying new ARP or Raceware rod bolts and studs will set you back a grand if you decide to upgrade. You just don't do this stuff to the block of a Ford, however, you can. Remember that a racing V8 can cost 6 times the cost of a Porsche 6. (NASCAR)

I see that one can buy a 4.6 crate spec race motor for 7K. I don't know of anyone that can sell a Porsche crate motor outright. If they did, it would cost a fortune.

You can buy a fat ugly girl a bucket of wings and a couple of beers.

try that with a hot one

but, but

They are both women.

for a visual, look at both green cars above.

As my previous boss explained to me... Ford engines are rebuilt to tolerance. Porsche engines are blueprinted.

Yep, dating a supermodel must be exciting...until you realize that many of those "friendly buddies" aren't friends at all, just angling to get into her pants. But I doubt you have that problem with a 930..

I'm going to rebuild my 930 motor and I've never done it before, in fact the only engine I have rebuilt was a 250cc Suzuki 2 stroke.

If I do it wrong and it pops I'll be honest and admit it.

I've done a lot of things other people consider difficult and most of them work out ok for me. I've also spoken to many a Porsche expert and they seem like normal folks just like me.

Do you guys think the experienced techs were born that way? Something tells me there had to be a first time...

Ford engines are built to some damned exacting tolerances, then...The redline of a Boss 302 5.0 is higher than many P-cars, the redline of my 4.6 is 6,500. I'd say they have to be built damned well to hang together at those revs, considering the displacement.

Good for you Will...go ahead on that rebuild!

There are some nuances to the building of a 911 air cooled engine and I don't know all of them. Being aware is a major benefit. How far do you seat that nose seal? Or rear main? Which threads do you lube and which go in dry? I guess you won't have to worry about whether to buy a 930 oil pump. :D But will you know the allowable side clearance for the gears? Sure you will. In fact, you won't miss even one of a thousand steps. ;):D

As I said, the cost to have a pro assemble the motor is about a grand. The rest is parts and machining. Do I give myself $14,000 worth of goodies to save a grand? I might, but I'm going to do a dry run or help on another motor first.

Now, if I were doing a partial, sure, I'll go at it.

Where's Henry? :)

Oh, and there is always a first time. With someone looking over your shoulder unless it's doing something in bed. :eek:

That is one nice about building a race car by yourself. If something goes wrong you know who to blame and he's never beyond reach.

Porsche parts prices are ridiculous.
I got tired of paying premiums for Porsche and Volvo parts and service. The shine has worn off the Porsche experience for me. I currently have the nicest toy I ever owned - a 2007 Shelby GT/SC. I could have a nice used 993 or 996 for what I have in it, but this thing is the most fun I ever had in a car. The acceleration is just amazing with 493 HP at the wheels. I guess I am with this "Paul Guy" you all write so often about. :) I still hang out here in PPOT because you guys are still the smartest people In know.