What should I do ?

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

Lately, I have observed a large oil leak under my 911, and I know that I am going to have to do something about it before I drive it again.

The facts : my car is a 78 911 SC Targa, with 104k miles. New clutch, new bilsteins, new tires, nice body and interior. It has at least three broken head studs, and also bad syncros mesh on 1st and 2nd gear. I am pretty sure that the oil leak comes from the cylinder base. Could be an oil return tube too, but I doubt it. Also, unfortunately, I don`t have a garage, and even if I had one, I would be a bit scared to open my engine.(see the thread from Porsche_virus !!!)
So, my options are : Sell it and get a better one...but how much can I get from it ? Or have it fixed. I envision spending around $4k for 1st and 2nd gear rebuild, new headstuds, reringing the pistons...any other suggestions while I am there ? I am also tempted to sell, because I have seen a nice 86 3.2 Targa, around 100k miles for $12.5k that could be a good replacement. I am sure many pelicanites have been in the same situation, so what did you do ?

Aurel

RazorRacer · 12-17-2002, 07:01 PM

Do the right thing!

Drop the engine, rebuild the transmission, do a top end on the motor, and fix the oil leaks. After that you can sell it if you like. Don't pawn it off on some poor old chap who doesn't have a clue what you are selling.

k9handler · 12-17-2002, 07:02 PM

3.6 swap would run you just about $10k - $12k!

If the current car is mechanically sound, with no rust...this would be a good option.

www.instant-g.com

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

Quote:

Don't pawn it off on some poor old chap who doesn't have a clue what you are selling.

I would not try to hide anything, just wondering how much someone knowing the problem would be willing to pay for the car...but I feel I `ll be better off have it rebuilt.

Moses · 12-17-2002, 07:30 PM

3.6

biggtbiggt · biggtbiggt's Garage

If you are wondering what it might be worth. I paid $10,500 for this 75 with flares and whaletail. The interior is fair, 3 small dash cracks and the seats are ripped but have covers. The carpet and the rest is fairly nice. The car has 104k miles on it and drove nice. I have totaly dismantled the engine to fix oil leaks and to fix head stud problem. I will probably spend $3000.00 on this and some other repairs. The paint is in fair condition. but is not show quality!

biggtbiggt · biggtbiggt's Garage

here is a picture of it!

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

who's to say you won't be in the same boat in 6 months with another car? Devil you know...with the '86 you'll have to wonder about rod bolts, valve guides and head studs.

If you like your car (color, style, etc) and other parts are in good shape, I'd vote for top end, head studs and tranny work. Then you'll be set for another 100K miles...

rcwaldo · 12-17-2002, 08:35 PM

you need to loan the car to a co-worker (preferably upper management) for a day and when he or she returns it say.........HOLY COW, WHAT'D YOU DO?!?!?!?!?!?

Seriously, if you sell it, disclose the problems to the buyer. Or, get involved with the local PCA or even better a local pelicanite that can rebuild p-cars and strike a deal with helping them fix it. I know the p-car engines are intimidating, but you have access to one of the best sources (this BBS) for info on anything p-car related.

I guess it all depends on how much you like this particular car.

Good luck--I wish I can help you out.

Chris

Superman · 12-17-2002, 10:05 PM

Investigate. As far as we know, you have a leaky oil return tube and a tranny that shifts poorly. That describes half the cars here.

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

Moses, a 3.6 swap is out of the picture, because this is a street only car, and I live in copland. Besides, I want to buy a boat his spring.

Superman, you`re right. This is worth more investigation. When the temperature gets better, I`ll try to remove to heat exchanger to see where the leak comes from. If I am lucky, I will get away with instaling new collapsable oil return tubes. Problem is that temperature will probably not get better before spring, and this is the time when I will itch to drive it again...

Nostatic, I agree with you: I like the car, and I know it. But a friend of mine who has owned many vettes told me: never fall in love with a car. Get rid of it when it is still worth something and get a better one. Then I asked him if the same rule applied to women, but this is another story...

Aurel

k9handler · 12-18-2002, 05:32 AM

wow....sounds like you may have chosen the wrong vehicle from the start.

Go with your gut feeling.....

This board will be a little impartial when it comes to this.

Deeks · 12-18-2002, 07:28 AM

If low maintenance is what you're after trade it in for an
MX-5/Miata.
If you really have aircooled blood flowing through your veins and you like/know the car then I'd take Nostatic's advice and spend a little money on her ......... I'm sure she (like any other woman) would appreciate it

. I'm sure an engine rebuild and a fiddle with the tranny will bump up the re-sale value too.....

Superman · 12-18-2002, 08:03 AM

Investigation may be simpler than you think. First step is to drive into one of those pressure was car wash stalls and raise the rear of the car. Block the wheels. Spray the poop out of the bottom of the engine. Spend three or four dollars in quarters, and about 15 minutes of time. Get it clean and free of oil.

Drive it home, raise it again (again, block the wheels). See where the oil is coming from. There are even special additives for your oil that glow under a black light, but that is not necessary.

Put cheap clean oil in your tranny Drive 400 miles. Drain and fill with Swepco 201. I'm guessing your stated problems can be cured or at least lessened this way.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

How sure are you that you have three broken head studs? If not sure, then I'd say you have plenty of investigating and a few cheap fix attempts ahead of you before you drop the cash on a tranny rebuild and 3.0 top end. I don't have a garage, but I have a lot of local Pelicanhead friends who do. I've managed to do a ton of work on my car, which I would have previously thought waaaayyy beyond me. I opted for a DIY engine swap rather than a DIY rebuild. But you can probably line up some garage space and local help for your car woes. Believe me, after you've done all that stuff yourself, you'll be so much more connected to your car, you'll never think of selling it. I can't tell you what a great feeling of satisfaction I had after doing my own G50 clutch update.

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

Richard,

I have seen the broken headstuds when I did the valve clearance adjustment. If I could find a garage space where I could work on the car at my own pace, I would probably go for it. Are there any Pelicanheads in the NJ-Monmouth county area ? I will aso give a call to my mechanic for a quote on a top-end-1st2nd gear rebuild.
Maybe a good surprise will help me make my choice...

Dan Owens · 12-18-2002, 12:22 PM

Aurel

You can almost bet that part of your oil leak is the oil return tubes. There are a couple of other known leak areas but this ranks right up there. That's a fix you can do yourself without pulling the motor and it's not real expensive. The trans problem is a little different. You can pick up a completely rebuilt trans for about $1200 from Vertex Automotive. It comes complete except for throw out fork which you can swap off your old trans or pick up a new one for about $80. You do have to send them back your old trans as a core. They'll even arrange all the transportation for you. (NO AFFFLIATION OR CONNECTION, I am a happy customer though) That leaves the headstuds or rebuild. No way around that, you'll need to replace them. Once you pull the motor out and apart for that you're into it and should check and replace stuff while you're there. Yes there's serious dollars involved but look it it like this, you know the car and after all that you should be good for quite a while. Anything else you buy may land you right back in the same spot just a little farther down the road.

Dan O

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

hey, that's my 'old' car!

73.5blackT · 12-18-2002, 12:44 PM

How may miles and how long have you been driving with the broken head studs??

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Yeah, I wouldn't be able to drive around on broken head studs. It would just nag the hell out of me. Gotta fix that. Three is pushing it too. As cheap as Vertex's tranny swap deal is, I'd just do it. You can't beat it. You have plenty of time since your engine will be coming apart. If you're really diligent and patient and DIY your top end, you can probably get the whole shebang (tranny and engine) done for under $3500.