964 help...

[Kurt B]

I was looking at this.
http://autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=162984098&dealer_id=92149&car_year=1990&make=POR&distance=10&max_price=&model=&advcd_on=n&end_year=1994&min_price=&certified=n&address=90024&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1990&color=&cardist=3

Price isn't bad really. The paint appears to be original (it is not perfect, but I want original).
122k miles.
I wanted coupe, but since I don't plan on modding this thing theoretically, a cab is cool in CA. Will not do a damned thing to it.
No proof the cylinder leak problem was addressed. Doesn't leak. Everything works. Interior is good. Engine pic enclosed.

Something that does trouble me is the bottom of the engine, it appears as though the crank case scraped and a mm or so is scraped off! Car runs well. Obviously I could feel the torque difference right away (I assumed my lighter car + its torque would produce the same torque feel, but not so).
I also noticed when I pushed in the clutch at all, or even as I was doing so, i tended to be able to pull it out of first easily. I don't know if the tranny is just easier or what.

Now the trunk looked great. Top is perfect. Wiring was good. My car originally, given it is a 1984 when I got in 1999, was in much worse condition for the 1.5 decade between, and I paid like 23k for that thing.

the arrow points to the part where it was scraped and some of metal along that bottom part (not the seam though) was scraped off. But you cannot see where I mean, it is beyond the pic... It went somewhere it didn't have clearance in the center...

If I got out for like 18k total yay or nay or need more info? It is not a salvage.

[Tyson Schmidt]

You're rolling the dice with a pre-'92 unless it had the cylinder head gasket update.

[Kurt B]

So, if there's no evidence it was fixed, how much do I need to keep handy for the repair?

[Tyson Schmidt]

That depends on how deep you want to go into the motor. You need new cylinders, and the heads need machining as a bare minimum. Then tack on head rebuilds, possible rod bolt upgrade and reseal, (Case through-bolt o-rings should be done at this time.) new intake boots, etc. It can get pricey. Then after all that, you may still have a leaky #8 main bearing o-ring. Best to just rebuild the whole motor once you're in that far.

[aigel]

The scrape may be from a DIY or sloppy shop jacking it up on the engine. My case is a bit rounded in that area. If it had a clutch job (likely did, at that mileage), the engine has been out, and it may have happened there.

That said, I don't think that a few mm of material missing on the lips will be a problem at all.

Tyson: Aren't you on the half glass empty side a bit here? If it has 122k miles and passes PPI with no problems, why would it need an overhaul next month? And do you really need new cylinders if you catch things early?

The price seems very reasonable if you like white. The 3.6 definitely is a nice engine to have. I personally don't care for the looks of the 964, but with the power they have and the prices coming down even further, I may have to overlook that fact!

Cheers, George

[Tyson Schmidt]

You need new cylinders because they are completely different from the later ones.

The early ones are the "2.7 of the nineties", and all seem to have major oil leaks. With 122K, if the cylinders weren't updated to the later version, then it's pretty much guaranteed that it it's a leaker.

If it does pass a PPI, then I'm sure it's one of the early cars that got the fix.

[TMH]

Originally posted by Kurt B
No proof the cylinder leak problem was addressed. Doesn't leak.

I'm not so sure I can agree with Tyson here, although he may well know a lot more than I do. The cylinder head leak issues typically resulted in early "gushers" IIRC, and the vast majority of the real issues have already occurred and been taken care of by now - Either under warranty or by a subsequent owner. If this car is not leaking at 122k miles, I think that it is O.K. from the cylinder head perspective, and this will be verified during the PPI. DMF issues should also have been dealt with by now, as the problem flywheels lasted what, 40-60k?

It doesn't seem like such a bad car to me if you really want a Cab, and it is priced at only a little over what we paid for our '89 C4 Coupe, which had 103k on the clock when we purchased it a year ago. And when you can get bargains in Santa Monica anymore, you have to grab them!

Good luck,
Tom

[KTL]

Wow. The prices on these cars are really coming down!

I wouldn't worry about the scrape. I think alot of cars have those. My car has some scrapes on the case flanges too. I gotta agree it's a crapshoot if you don't have proof of the cylinder leakage repair. That's a risky bet to make. But, I also agree the fact that 122K are on the clock with no leakage is a good sign (in this case).

If you want a coupe Kurt, i'd hold out for one. Heck, you're in the Land of Porsche out there in CA. Another good example should come along, no?

[Tyson Schmidt]

Originally posted by TMH
I'm not so sure I can agree with Tyson here, although he may well know a lot more than I do. The cylinder head leak issues typically resulted in early "gushers" IIRC, and the vast majority of the real issues have already occurred and been taken care of by now - Either under warranty or by a subsequent owner. If this car is not leaking at 122k miles, I think that it is O.K. from the cylinder head perspective, and this will be verified during the PPI. DMF issues should also have been dealt with by now, as the problem flywheels lasted what, 40-60k?

It doesn't seem like such a bad car to me if you really want a Cab, and it is priced at only a little over what we paid for our '89 C4 Coupe, which had 103k on the clock when we purchased it a year ago. And when you can get bargains in Santa Monica anymore, you have to grab them!

Good luck,
Tom

Just from my experience, every '90-91 C2 that has come in to our shop regardless of mileage was a leaky pig unless it had been updated.

Remember this is So. Cal, so it is the extreme as far as heat and stress on a car.

[Kurt B]

Okay. Well, I'm going to have to work out a PPI thing either way, and they're OK with that at least verbally. In any case, I didn't have a chance to really open the thing up, am I going to be happy with the power?

[nostatic]

Originally posted by Kurt B
Okay. Well, I'm going to have to work out a PPI thing either way, and they're OK with that at least verbally. In any case, I didn't have a chance to really open the thing up, am I going to be happy with the power?

hmm...hard to say. Your current car is a lot lighter, so while the 3.6 will definitely have more grunt, the whole package might not feel as "quick". There also is the "feel" issue of having PS on the 964. You'd have to drive it and see...

[Tyson Schmidt]

Originally posted by Kurt B
Okay. Well, I'm going to have to work out a PPI thing either way, and they're OK with that at least verbally. In any case, I didn't have a chance to really open the thing up, am I going to be happy with the power?

If it's in a good state of tune, (many aren't and feel anemic) it will be plenty fast enough. They really come on strong around 4000 and pull really hard until redline. When cruising along the freeway, drop it into 3rd gear at 70mph and stand on it. It will amaze you.

[speeder]

Kurt, If you want a coupe, get a coupe. Better car and definitely cheaper/more car for $$. Prices of anything that burns gas will be falling precipitously this summer, and I have seen a 1990 C2 coupe w/ 100k get traded in for ~$12G, and that was 2 years ago. (Granted, that was a wholesale price, but the car had $10k in reciepts for every fix/upgrade).

Hold out, dude. He who hesitates wins, right now.

*And where on earth have you been? Out being productive in the world? Check in form time to time, OK?*

[Rick Lee]

964's can be a great bang for the buck. But for just a few dollars more, you can get a much better one this shaky one. 993's aren't much higher up the price scale.

[Kurt B]

Thanks. Yeah, I've thought about all of these issues--not only getting a coupe, but also getting a 993....decisions decisions...I just thought, hrrm, the price is right for this cabrio.