Re-fix, Rebuild or Replace? An Engine Quandary
 

Got a quandary. I have a 1975 911 (with a 1980 3.0 liter) with ~60k miles on it. Downside: one of the head stud bolts is broken causing a slight oil weep, which, as we all know will likely get worse and the tear of oil will eventually lead to real tears, based on the financial outlook of my options. I've accepted that my dream car is about to cost me a large sum of money (~$5,000 give or take a couple grand).

So I'm curious what the informed and experienced participants of this forum think about my options.

I spoke with renown Porsche mechanic Jerry Woods today and he was helpful in discussing them at length. I guess the upside is that his shop is a few miles from my house so I can walk home and truly appreciate a running Porsche 911.

They include:

1. Replace head studs. This is the cheapest option. It involves mostly dropping the motor and replacing these damn cheap bolts with ones that don't break. Still over $4k.

2. Rebuilt the motor. This is more expensive but would ostensibly fix any potential problems that would happen down the road. Ideally, the head stud issue would happened at 120k miles and this option would be more obvious. But alas, this is not the case. Also an option here while the motor is out, is to try to do more to it that would squeak out a bit more horse power. Though this 3.0 liter is pretty well optimized as it is.

3. Replace the motor entirely with a 3.2, 3.4 or a 3.6 liter bad boy. Downside is that I'd unlikely get a motor with more documented history than the one currently in the car. My current motor has all its paper work and is no mystery.

I probably have other options. But they're not clear to me as I am far from an expert. The car has a new transmission, a great exhaust system, race oil cooler, steel-braided brake lines, and a handful of other goodies. I love it. Selling it is not an option. I'll push it around without a motor if I have to. Love this car.

Any ideas / feedback?

If it was mine...

1. Replace head studs. This is the cheapest option. It involves mostly dropping the motor and replacing these damn cheap bolts with ones that don't break. Still over $4k

Then drive it and have fun...

Sorry have to ask... How handy are you? A lot of people here have changed their own head studs.

I'm sure you would get plenty of help from the forum.... The $4k job suddenly becomes $1.5k.

Newlin,

Sounds like another case of corroded head studs on a motor that isn't used very often. If it were mine, I'd just replace the head studs as the rest of the engine probably doesn't have much wear with only 60K miles. But what do you want? Do you want a 3.6? Can you afford to sink another $15,000 to $20,000 into a $12,000 car? It's your car - if you want more HP, a 3.6 is one way of getting that.

Newlin,
The toughest part is the decision that you will do the job yourself. Acquire Wayne's book, seek assistance from this board where necessary and you'll find it a really safisfying experience.
I agree with both responses above. You'll save money, see the job done right, get to know your beloved car that bit better and at 60k miles, if there are no other symptoms, it shouldn't need a complete rebuild. A 3.6 may be nice perhaps, but a well sorted 3.0 liter is a delight to drive.
Good luck.
John

First you have to decide if you are willing to do the work yourself, secondly you have to decide your budget.

If you are not going to do the work yourself and it sounds like $3K is the budget then go with your option 1. Do it sooner, why add risk to the mix?

Spend some time in the re-build forum, buy a couple of books (re-build manual, 101 for the 911, and Bently manuals), and do the work yourself. For $3K you will be surprised what can be done to make things better. Parts and updates.

We do not know if you have the updated chain tensioners, pop-off valve to the airbox, etc. For a DIY now is the time and it will be within your $3K budget.