Engine fire, quick advice head removal

[julahti]

My engine overheated and cought fire. The engine bay and parts of interior (+targa roof and rear window) are history. Lots of melted aluminium in on top of the engine; what a mess.

I need quick advise on few things:

- I want to remove the cylinders without turning the engine (2.7). Too much dirt etc. inside the intakes now. What are the steps to take?

Can I just release the hydraulic lifters, take off the chains and then start taking the head, cams, cylinders..?

I am hoping to rescue the cams, pistons and cylinders. They have only about 2 000 miles...perhaps use for rebuild engine, but I will need new block.

Also, if anyone has all kinds of stuff that the engine bay will need once I am starting to rebuild, please send me an offer for parts (shipping to Europe). Everything was lost in fire....

edit. sorry, tried to change the picture but didn't know how to do it, so I posted a new pic of the car on the page 2.

[TR]

burnt toast, I think

[enzo1]

sorry this happened to you.... hope you can get her running again! SUCKS!

[Joe Bob]

You don't have hydraulic lifters.......or a 2.7 shouldn't have them.

Pull the engine and trans as a unit. Everything should come off without spinning the motor. Get a good shop vac.

I agree, that looks like it's unsaveable except for parts.

[herman maire]

Thats terrible.....

did you ever replace your old rubber fuel lines? You see these kind of engine fires quite often on older 928 that have never had the old cracked fuel lines replaced.

As for the engine, you may get lucky and have some usable items... cams should be ok. Get it dismantled before any rust starts.

[julahti]

More info:

this engine has hydraulic chain tensioners, not lifters...sorry, what was I thinking.

I meant to ask how to release those hydraulic tensioners and can I take all that stuff out without turning the engine?

- the tranny is fine, and the interior was burned so that the backrests of the front seats burned just a little (unusable, though. Would you believe, the rear seats are just fine!

- The dash is fine, and I cleaned up the interior. Now it is bare naked, but no damage really. Needs new front seats, and carpet set and side panels for rear. Obviously new rear window and rubber stuff.

- the body is actully ok. The engine hood sure is twisted.

- so, positively thinking....new paint, interior , rear glass, targa top refurb, and new engine / or rebuilt with good parts from the old.

- it is amazing how none of the damage is underneath the engine...the heat does not get there easily.

[julahti]

not a nice pic...

I hope the heat did not damage the pistons....

You can see how the rocker cover was like powder. I removed what was left of it on this side, on the other side it stayed in better shape.

[Joe Bob]

Were you hoping to save the engine without a complete tear down? I wouldn't.......

[911Freak]

Clearly from that last pic the fire melted the upper valve covers and looking at it, it seems that ash and burnt debris could have easily got into any of the valves that were open. I wouldn't use any of it. Nice 3.0 are cheap compared to rebuilding that... Maybe a 3.2 upgrade? There are several for sale here in the classified ads. Sorry to see that, looks like engine is totally toast IMHO

[julahti]

Sure it needs to be taken into bits.

[julahti]

3.0 is actully what this car should have. It has a 2.7 for some reason, it is an SC -78.

Yes, there must be ash and debris in the cylinders where the valves were open. I will post when I get that far.

[eastbay]

I fixed a Targa that was burnt just like yours. Not too bad of a job, good luck!

[john walker's workshop]

just find another engine. not even worth a teardown on that one, except for practice.

[ischmitz]

ouch - sorry for the loss and I agree with John. There isn't much left in that engine that is worth saving. Better move on and find a good replacement.

[julahti]

You must be right. I will tear down the engine for "fun and practice" and if there is any positive surprise there that is then just fine.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

just find another engine. not even worth a teardown on that one, except for practice.

and convert it into a coffee table

[dshepp806]

History, unfortunately....

BEST!

Doyle

[andyt11]

It must be cheaper to turn that in to a coffee table and replace it with a nice used engine. I wouldnt think a rebuild would make financial sense.

Good luck with the rest of the car, I'm sure you'll be able to sort it out nice. Just not so sure the engine is worth it.

[70S Targa Guy]

Man julahti, I am sorry to see those pics and sorry for your loss. I don't know if a fire extinguisher in your car would have helped but just out of curiosity, did you have a small fire extinguisher with you at the time?

[TR]

can we see the p&c's when you pull them out