I'm trying to get back into it

[wdfifteen]

Looking at my posts here, I took the engine out of my '88 Carrera in November 2015 and disassembled it down to the cylinders. Things got a little busy in my life - sold my business, retired, moved to a new place that needed a year of remodeling. The engine was in pieces when I moved it and it is still in scattered boxes in the shop. I've got a lot of catching up to do.
But I am determined to get it back on the road this summer. I took it apart because of horrendous oil smoke when decelerating. The oil level didn't drop much, and I only saw smoke when slowing down and idling. Leakdown was 4% on the worst cylinder, 2 or 3 on the others. I diagnosed it as a valve guide problem. I took the the heads off and sent them to Craig Garrett 3 (??) years ago to receive his magic touch. I'm not doing a high dollar rebuild on it because I have two other Porsches (356s), a '47 Dodge truck, and a '65 Volkswagen to drive and keep limbered up, so the 911 will be lucky to see 1000 miles a year- mostly track miles.
I've spent a lot of time lurking here and working up a game plan. So far:

It has Alusil cylinders. The car has only 89,000 miles on it. Conventional wisdom seems to be either run them or replace them, but don't hone and re-ring. I plan to leave them alone. Should I pull them loose enough to get some sealer around the bases?

Change out the Dilly Bar head studs for plain steel ones. Lowers only.

Reseal the triangle of death.

Flush oil cooler, install with new seals.

Make new fuel lines. I've been making lines for other applications using Oetinger clamps and I think they'd make a good reliable fuel line set.

I'm not sure about chain guide rails. 89k miles, should they need replacement?

SO I'm posting this up here for inspiration and motivation. I'll feel like a slacker if I don't post some progress now and then. That will motivate me to make steady progress.

Wish me luck.

[QueWhy]

The business is sold, the house is remodeled, you are officially out of excuses. Get that baby back on the road.

[rokemester]

FUN! I’ll be watching this thread for sure. Looks like we are in exact opposite sides of the state, but road trips with a P car project on the other end can be fun. Great looking ride by the way!

Get moving, WD! It looks like a beautiful car. Is it GP White? The photo looks a bit tinted, like maybe chiffon. Great stance on the 7&8s.

I have a loose band of friends who get together and do car stuff, like engine pulls and rebuilds and the like. Sounds like you and rokemester can create an Ohio version and get that thing back on the road.

On the other hand, maybe you'll do all that work and discover the thrill is gone. You just don't love it any more. In which case, you should sell it to me! I'll love it!

[Trakrat]

Well, you should start with getting some space cleared out to get all of your engine parts together and go over everything and inventory everything again.
Start with cleaning, cleaning, and cleaning.
Start reading up again with Wayne's books and you'll get some motivation.

I'm in the same exact situation as you, in that my engine is in pieces for the last 18 months. Unfortunately I can't afford to put it together due to unexpected costs of having to buy new P&C, along with other parts that Ollie's lost upon completion of my engine.

[996AE]

My engine builder said they would not reuse the Alusil cyl. I thought we could hone and recoat and worst case I'd have 1 3.4L. But they said no. Something about smoke and odds arent good we could pass smog here in CALIF. I was at 155k mi and needed valve job. But once heads were off and we saw the P&Cs... the slippery slope....

So add another 4k to the build for P&Cs.

Then, once P&Cs off at 155k, even though shop said bottom end on 3.2 Carrera are great and mine was in spec, I went all the way with bottom end build too.

Car mechanicals will out me!

Good luck on the build.

[Jonny042]

Originally Posted by 996AE

My engine builder said they would not reuse the Alusil cyl. I thought we could hone and recoat and worst case I'd have 1 3.4L. But they said no. Something about smoke and odds arent good we could pass smog here in CALIF. I was at 155k mi and needed valve job. But once heads were off and we saw the P&Cs... the slippery slope....

So add another 4k to the build for P&Cs.

Then, once P&Cs off at 155k, even though shop said bottom end on 3.2 Carrera are great and mine was in spec, I went all the way with bottom end build too.

Car mechanicals will out me!

Good luck on the build.

Maybe I'm wrong but I thought you could bore alusils oversize and plate with nikasil. Or is the builder's issue passing smog with the modded motor?

[MadeofOak]

Motivation is the hardest bit. That's why I post here, keep me going!!

[996AE]

Yes. You can bore and plate. But as some can attest the risk is you could have a smoker. So much so my engine builder would not give their guarantee that I could pass smog.

Again, its not that it cant be done its just in CALIF the smog rules are tough and shop and I decided not to take risk.

i did a little research and spoke with US CHROME and EBS and they confirmed risk is there. Not every one will smoke but it happens.

[Geronimo '74]

That car is too nice to not be driven.
Nice color too.
Good luck on the rebuild.
Interested to see if you can resist to (lightly) mod it.

[darrin]

If you decide to replace your P&C, you could get 3.4l single plug Mahle motorsports p&c for under $5k -- see https://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-911-Carrera-3-4-Mahle-Pistons-Cylinder-98mm-/222034030198?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10#viTa bs_0

[chrisbalich]

We had a very disheartening winter for sure. I'm just now getting back into my car. I do wish I had the advantage of being retired though. Would make it easier to carve out some time to work on it.

The sun is coming out more and that is a really beautiful car. Best to get going on it and build some momentum before the temptation to drive the other toys is too strong.

Good luck, fellow midwesterner!

[911tracker85]

I am 5 yrs into the restoration of my project. and like you I have several others that constantly demand attention,especially the DE track car.

last year sold two of them to reduce the demand on my time and generate the cash I needed for all the parts / work needed to finish the project. I like to think I will get it on the road THIS YEAR, but only time will tell.

my heads, case, and some other engine parts sent to Rennsport Systems for rebuild / refurbish. have been accumulating and restoring lots of stuff on the car. now ready to start putting this thing back together.

good luck on yours.

[LIRS6]

20K posts - no wonder you had no time to work on it ... put your fingers to better work (but do keep us posted)

good luck

Jason

[2jmotorsports]

Ive been working on my engine rebuild (and associated subsystem rebuilds on the car itself) for about 3.5 years. Sometimes things get in the way but we figure out how to keep going one bolt at a time!

Looking forward to your rebuild.

[wdfifteen]

I just sent the fuel injectors off this morning for cleaning and testing.
Per Wayne's book, I am not taking the cylinders off the pistons. With a max of only 4% leakage on the leakdown test, and only 89k on the clock, I'll roll the dice an use the P&Cs that are on the engine.
The next step is, as recommended above - getting everything out an cleaned up. That's going to take some time.
One bolt at a time!

[Trakrat]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I just sent the fuel injectors off this morning for cleaning and testing.

FYI... it's recommended that you not let the injectors sit after getting them back. I was going to do this, but will make this the VERY LAST thing I do before I put my engine back in.

[scarceller]

Build a 3.4L, bore and plate the cyls you have then get the Max Moritz (wedge style) pistons. Off the shelf pistons at 9.8:1 compression are easy to source but better yet contact EBS Racing and get a custom set made for 10.3:1 then you have a 3.4L with Euro spec compression.

[wdfifteen]

^^
Please, I'm trying to move forward and get this car back on the road. If I start modifying it, it will sit for another 3 years. My philosophy on this car is it's better to DRIVE a 225 hp Porsche that work on a 300 hp Porsche.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by LIRS6

20K posts - no wonder you had no time to work on it ... put your fingers to better work (but do keep us posted)

good luck

Jason

Thanks. I have a little ADD when it comes to projects. Case in point...

Oh Lord, what have I done?