Porsche 3.2 rebuild compared to Ford 4.6

[Nick Triesch]

Why is it that a 911 3.2 engine rebuild is $15,000 and a Ford 4.6 modular OHC V8 is $5000 to rebuild? Both are great very famous long lasting motors. Is it because the Porsche parts cost so much. Nick

[Hugh R]

Its a PORSCHE! A friend of mine had an LS-1 in his 944, he blew it up and dropped in a New LS-6 engine with a GM warranty for something like $3500.

[toddu]

It's like my pontoon boat, the whole thing is worth 17k, 12k of that is the outboard ;-)

Todd

[Tippy]

I rebuilt mine far less than $5000. Luckily, almost all of the hardware was in specs minus the expendables like cam sprockets, IMS sprockets, etc.

[burgermeister]

Parts cost is a huge chunk, especially if you need new P&Cs. Even if you don't, it's easy to blow $5000 on a home rebuild ($1800 for heads, the rest in gaskets, bearings, bolts, rings, and whatnot)
And the parts count is probably double if you ignore the heads ... so it's fairly labor intensive.

[Nick Triesch]

Well, those just are not good answers. Just because it is a porsche motor why should it cost $10,000 more in Porsche shop compared to a Ford shop? Really, when you take everything off both motors they are just a case full of parts. And the 4.6 OHC is probably more complicated. I just wonder why. Are you really just paying for the name? Nick

[clutch-monkey]

i think a good answer is that any shop can rebuild a V8 as common as that, but porsche specialists are harder to come by and know it.. and charge for it.

[fastfredracing]

I can assemble a for 4.6 in one day, It takes me a few days to button up the longblock of a 911 if I have to check deck, piston to head, piston to valve, measure the main/rod clearances, and set the cams. What does a set of oem pistons cost for a 4.6? Compare to that to the cost of new mahle's. And as stated above, almost any body with a decent mechanical background can build an american v8 motor.An air cooled flat 6 is much more complicated, and there are a hundred more ways to screw one up. Parts cost more, just because of the laws of supply , and demand, and the fact that a lot of the stuff comes from across the pond. I could order a crankshaft ,and bearing kit for a 4.6 right now, and have it sitting in my shop tomorrow morning for less than $250.00. Try that with a 911 .

[Reiver]

Part prices are directly related to parts produced...Porsche just doesn't make that many cars...I think the total SC Coupe production in the USA in '83 was 5k plus.
Low volume = higher prices.
The motor is very complex compared to the avg V6/8.
And yes, even those prices are bumped up by the Porsche snoot factor. Just is.

[nick_911]

Welcome to the world of Porsche tax.
I got my wheel alignment done a few weeks ago and cost $100.00
My mate got his Audi done a week later and took the same amount of time and he paid $60.00.
Same place, same amount of time,sameguy,different badge.

[Nick Triesch]

OK thanks, I just did not know the facts. My car still runs very well but I think I will start looking for a 3.2 extra motor so I can install that some day. Next thing I am going to buy is a 930s steering wheel from Pelican for my 85 coupe!

[nkotselas]

Nick,

I may be wrong but I remember you living in San Diego (?)
My mechanic quoted me 8 grand to rebuild my spare 3.0 engine and it is a complete mess. I believe that included pistons and cylinders. I can point you in his direction if you like.

[aadrew10]

If you think they are the same then you should go with the Ford! Cooler cars are usually more expensive.

Well, those just are not good answers. Just because it is a porsche motor why should it cost $10,000 more in Porsche shop compared to a Ford shop? Really, when you take everything off both motors they are just a case full of parts. And the 4.6 OHC is probably more complicated. I just wonder why. Are you really just paying for the name? Nick

[Tippy]

I've never rebuilt a Ford 4.6 but I can assure you, the cam timing is more complicated on the 911. Sometimes it's quick, sometimes it takes hours.

Second, a 911 has a lot of peripherals to the engine that take a lot of time to put on.

I wouldn't consider a 911 engine to be difficult though, you just have to know the odd intricacies here and there.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by Nick Triesch

Well, those just are not good answers. Just because it is a porsche motor why should it cost $10,000 more in Porsche shop compared to a Ford shop? Really, when you take everything off both motors they are just a case full of parts. And the 4.6 OHC is probably more complicated. I just wonder why. Are you really just paying for the name? Nick

because Ford makes about x times more engines of a given type per year then Porsche does????
So less people know em, less suppliers and aftermarkt for em = more expensive.

[VINMAN]

I can rebuild a 351 ford for less than the cost of the oil pump on my 944

[GH85Carrera]

If you think a 911 engine is expensive check out a 6 cyl Lycoming airplane engine. Very simple design, air cooled. Very low RPM and it can cost 35 grand for a engine swap. And by LAW you have to replace them when they get a certain number of hours on them. They make Porsche engines look cheap!

[scottmandue]

The 4.6 has been around for how long? I had one in my 94' T-Bird and it was pretty new to the world then.

[J P Stein]

Shop time for an A/C 9eleben motor rebuild is around 80 hours. That would be @ 100 bucks an hour or more. Why 100 an hour? Because 911 engine builder tell ya it is rocket science. It is painstaking but not rocket science. Anyone with a decent mechanical background can do it. For $8k it's worth getting some or using what you have. Parts ARE expensive tho.
Special tools are needed & likewise expensive. I bought them 10-12 years back & sold them recently for about what I paid new.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Wait, hang on a sec.. Paul sold his 911S?