I thought Walt Watson was kidding me....

ischmitz · ischmitz's Garage

...or in other words:" Would you put those on an engine ever again or just make nice table art out of them?!?!" I couldn't belive I was looking at my heads when he was done with'em. He did replace all guides and springs and did a full valve job but these are my old valves

. I still have my doubts whether these are really nine

but Walt is worth every penny he charges and the some.

considering they looked like this when they entered his shop in Lake Isabella a couple of weeks ago:

Ingo

Neilk · 01-19-2004, 09:43 PM

What a job!!!! Too bad you have to put them back in the car.

Chuck Moreland · 01-19-2004, 09:50 PM

Those are beautiful.

But what did I miss? Why did you pull the heads on your 3.6?

ischmitz · ischmitz's Garage

Chuck, the answer is in the "before pictures". Head to cylinder leak times six bad. Walt is going to cut a groove for a head gasket into the barrels to take care of that.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by ischmitz
Chuck, the answer is in the "before pictures". Head to cylinder leak times six bad. Walt is going to cut a groove for a head gasket into the barrels to take care of that.

One of the many problems with these 3.6 engines. As I said in a recent thread - they are not as reliable as the 3.2s (in my opinion)...

-Wayne

Chuck Moreland · 01-19-2004, 10:08 PM

Yes, I saw the damage. What were the symptoms?

Seems like you just installed it a few months ago.

ischmitz · ischmitz's Garage

Wayne,

with all due respect your statement surprises me. Aren't there inherrent problems with every engine Porsche made so far. Look at SCC_ITA's wiring harness off a 993 almost setting the thing on fire, the rear main seal on a 996, the head to cylinder leak on early 964, the valve guides on every pre 993, the head studs, the rod bolts on a 964, non hydraulic chain tensioners, and the list goes on.

I think a blanket statement like that doesn't work for me. So far every engine I have come across has one or more of those "known" issues. You just need to understand what you are dealing with and improve on the issues.

Ingo

ischmitz · ischmitz's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Moreland
Yes, I saw the damage. What were the symptoms?

Chuck, imagine oil dropping onto heat exchangers. Just enough for one drop to reach the garage floor while everything gets cooked to a black mess. I simply didn't like the car stinking up my garage and my house after every spririted drive. Mobile 1 at 600 degrees F is not like your every day Eau de toilete. So I decided to tear into it and fix the leaks. Turns out the head to cylinder leaks is one of the more expensive ones to do

But oh well, at least I have the peace of mind that I have a sound engine with everything in spec afterwards and I learned how to do an engine rebuild.

ingo

aigel · aigel's Garage

Looks like Walt has a real good cleaning machine! That's why I string just about every little bit up on a coat hanger if I have an engine or parts of it "hot tanked".

George

speeder · speeder's Garage

Mine looked the same when he was finished w/ them, (except for no 2nd plug holes on mine).

Wish I would have taken some pictures, but I was just anxious to put it back together at that point.

And how many miles are on that motor? My SC had 115k and needed all new lower guides, springs, (one was broken due to defective springs on late SCs), + heads flycut due to minor damage from broken studs on BOTH SIDES of engine. But of course mine was a "bulletproof 3.0", not one of those inferior 3.6s.

Tyson Schmidt · 01-20-2004, 10:37 AM

Can't say that I agree with Wayne. Maybe on the early 3.6's, but from '92-on, they've been bulletproof.

thabaer · thabaer's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by ischmitz
Mobile 1 at 600 degrees F is not like your every day Eau de toilete.

Aw, I kind of like the smell of it boiling off my turbo housing....kind of like the castrol smell I get after taking the urq's CIS out for a good highway flogging

Those things shore are purdy tho', any consensus on what induces the leak ?? Head/cyl warping or just crappy gasket design...

Embs · Embs's Garage

Ingo,
If I may ask, what was the bill? I am going to need similar services on another 993 engine soon. Got any contact info?

Looks like he did a very sweet job.

Embs · Embs's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Tyson Schmidt
Can't say that I agree with Wayne. Maybe on the early 3.6's, but from '92-on, they've been bulletproof.

I agree except for the valve seals. I think any 993 engine with over 20K miles could probably use valve seals. The cats on stock motors disguise the symptoms IMO.

john_colasante · 01-20-2004, 12:55 PM

Not to take anything away from Walt (who is one of the best in the business) but a head should come back like that from any competent shop doing a valve job.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Ingo, Very nice!

Quote:

One of the many problems with these 3.6 engines. As I said in a recent thread - they are not as reliable as the 3.2s

Couldn't disagree more w/ this one.

Every 911 has had its known and infamous weaknesses

ischmitz · ischmitz's Garage

Todd,

I am doing a couple of preventive upgrades such as rod bolts, head studs and head gaskets 'while I am in there". Depending how you look at it its about 3k by the time I am done but I'll have the piece of mind that its done right without cutting any corners. It should give me a relatively bulletprove engine even though Wayne might disagree.

Give Walt a call. He also has prices posted on his website http://www.competitioneng.com/Catalog.htm

Ingo

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by ischmitz
Todd,

I am doing a couple of preventive upgrades such as rod bolts, head studs and head gaskets 'while I am in there". Depending how you look at it its about 3k by the time I am done but I'll have the piece of mind that its done right without cutting any corners. It should give me a relatively bulletprove engine even though Wayne might disagree.

Give Walt a call. He also has prices posted on his website http://www.competitioneng.com/Catalog.htm

Ingo

While you in there 993SS or GE 60-80 would be a really worthwhile upgrade

ischmitz · ischmitz's Garage

Bill,

If you or anyone has a set just taking up precious space in the garage I'd be happy to take them. But I am not willing to sink another 800$ into this project. I also figure changing the cams does not require the heads to come off. So I can always do it later should I get an itch.

Ingo

Embs · Embs's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
While your in there 993SS or GE 60-80 would be a really worthwhile upgrade

Bill what are you running in the 3.8? Don't you have to give up the hydraulics to use the 993SS cams?

Ingo,

Thanks for the info on Mr. Watson. I love new/rebuilt engine parts