Top-End and What Else?

[cicsprog]

Patient: 88 911 CAB with 86k miles.

Symptoms: 1 qt. Castro 20/50 oil burned 300-400 miles. Wrench pulled plugs and cylinders 2 and 3 have fouled plugs. Occasional smoke on start-ups. Observed smoke during standing idle one time and lasted 2 minutes – not a lot of smoke. No OIL leaks!

Wrench Diagnosis: is top-end rebuild when I have the dollars. From many of the posts on this board, this seems to the course of action. Burning this amount of oil should be tolerable and non-destructive (JW and the many others who agree with that stance). Just keep adding it.

1) Any disagreement on the diagnosis?
2) While the patient is on the table, what else should be checked/done/replaced?

I have the classic G50 transmission rattle, very noticeable. However, my Wrench says the Porsche modification for this has been done. Clutch is nice and tight.

Saw a post that recommended that the clutch release mechanism/bearing be replaced.

What else checked/done/replaced? I don’t want to open her up for a long while after this.

Jason
88 911 CAB

[Joeaksa]

If you are going to pull the heads off for the valve job, might as well pull the cylinders and do rings and check the rod bearings at the same time.

Would replace every seal and "O" ring that is not easily replaceable with the motor in the car. At 86k would hope that the gearbox does not need attention but who knows what the previous owner did with it. Would pull the drain plug and look for shavings and such and make a decision then.

At one quart every 3-400 miles, you are on the borderline, especially if you are fouling plugs. Would try to save as much as possible and fix the motor before it gets much worse. My 3.2 has 90k and has never fouled a plug, and is using about half as much oil as yours. Have been worried about the valve guides but will keep going until it gets much worse.

Joe

[Rick Lee]

Depending on your budget, a top end rebuild might be a good time for some upgrades. I am pretty much in the same boat (3.2 in need of rebuild, that is) as you are and I opted for an engine swap. The end of my engine's life is not imminent, but I fell into a super great deal, which cost me about as much as a top end job. The 3.2 I just bought was rebuilt 8k miles ago with Webcam cams, EBS headwork (stiffer valve springs), Raceware rod bolts, etc. After I sell my ailing 3.2, my net out of pocket will be about half of what a top end rebuild would have cost for the 3.2 in my car - and that would not have been with all the upgrades on the 3.2 I just bought. I was deathly afraid of having my engine all apart and then succumbing to the "as long as you're in there" disease, which gets real expensive. I'm doing the swap myself with the help of some very generous local Pelicanheads. If money were no object, I'd be going with a 3.6 swap.

[Joeaksa]

Jason,

Richard brings up a good point. If I had the heads off, I would do the rings without a question. If I had the cylinders off on a 3.2 motor there is no way that I would not replace the rod bolts with raceware units. The rod bolts are a very weak link in the 3.2 motor and above 7200 rpm they fail, known fact that they are a weak link.

Joe

[Superman]

I eventually decided to split the case on my 3-liter during the top end rebuild. Glad I did. I'd love to do it again. I love these engines.

Splitting the case would enable you to freshen the bearings, and also to get rid of those girlie-man rod bolts.

[cicsprog]

Joe

Agree with what you and Richard are saying. I don't want to go in twice. If I do this, I will probably be buried in her (i.e. I will have to commit to keeping the car so not to lose that large $ investment).

Jason

[Joeaksa]

Jason,

I really cannot see anything that would cause me to ever sell my 911. They do not make anything newer (except a 88-89 model) that I would be interested in, and if its not a 911, its not for me.

Build the car like you are going to have it forever and it will pay you back for years to come!

Joe

[kepperly]

question, if you are haveing the heads done can you replace just the rod bolts without splitting the cases?

keith