Third Try: Rebuild or Replace

[Rick V]

Chris, I just re-built the head on my S. Piece of cake. I had the guides and seats replaced at the shop. I did the rest in my garage. If you can have the car down a couple of days DIY. I think I have around 10 hours of my own time in the total rebuild, that includes R&R time. The hardest part for me was getting the springs balanced, that took some time measure all of them.

[Techno Duck]

Are you at all mechanically inclined? Can you afford a few days of downtime? If you answer yes to both of these questions, you can get this done for well under $1000 on your own time.

Lindsay and 944Online are both very reputable.

With option #4, $1000 for a head rebuild is freaken ridiculous. Paying that much for a modified head from Lindsay is one thing, but a basic rebuild should not cost you more than $2-300 locally (even that is high).

A $1000 head rebuild should include 8 brand new valves (About $80 each), which is not necesary unless yours are damaged or burnt. New valve guides, stem seals and probably valve springs.

[legion]

Mechanically inclined? I like to think so. I've build paintball guns from scratch and did pull the AC last year.

Can I afford down time? It's a third vehicle that I store for the winter...

Well...I may just start to dig into it myself.

Slow and steady. This may take me a month or two, but I'd rather take my time and not make mistakes.

I'll probably pull the head in a weekend or two and assess the situation.

I think I may send it into Lindsey racing for some performance upgrades with the money I'll end up saving...

[nynor]

Originally posted by EMBPilot
chris! comon man!! snap out of it! now im the last guy that should be giving advice around here but....

pull your head, go slow and read, get your rebuilt, i'll bet you'll be up and running for 500 bucks!!

techno just did this whole ordeal!! and something tells me theres another member that is currently knee deep in a head project...

you can do it!!

that MIGHT be me...

locally, here in salt lake city, if you take your head to NAPA, they will surface the head, touch up the valves, replace the seals, check the guides, touch up the seats, reassemble the head, for $70. yep, $70. i took them the valve seals i got with my reinz gasket kit and they did the whole thing, including transferring the springs from my OLD head the NEW head (the new head was in better shape, but it had a couple broken springs, which was weird), for $70.

i bet your valves and seats are fine, unless you snapped your timing belt.

personally, i am going to be in it for a bit more. i am changing all my belts, the rollers, the thermostats, and the radiator hoses, along with some intercooler hoses and vacuum lines under the intake manifold.

[Dave L]

$70 now thats a deal that sounds too good to be true, my PO had the head overhauled and was charged 12hours labour @ $78/hr. All part of a $5800 repair bill. Sometimes there are good PO's!

[hpaulb]

I've done a couple Porsches and many other engines. The head went to my local auto machine shop. Measured it all up, tanked, valve/seat grinding, put the three new valves, guides and seals I got from Pelican in, tested all springs, measured valve clearance and matched them, etc. etc. and it all cost me about $250. Disasembly and reasembly was about 2 days including all the bearings seals belts etc while I was in there.

[nynor]

Originally posted by Dave L
$70 now thats a deal that sounds too good to be true, my PO had the head overhauled and was charged 12hours labour @ $78/hr. All part of a $5800 repair bill. Sometimes there are good PO's!

the receipt went to the new owner, or i'd show you.

[legion]

I've got to say...I'm getting a little nervous about this.

Just a reminder on the last time I attempted something this major:

One Less 'S'

[Dave L]

Originally posted by nynor
the receipt went to the new owner, or i'd show you.

No need it just seems like a really really good deal thats all

[nynor]

oh, i was stoked, for sure.

oh, yeah, i remember the post about the burnt S. shizzit happens, i guess. something like that would probably make me second guess myself also.

[speedracing944]

I will be right there to buy your turbo if something goes wrong. I got your back man!

Chris,
Go for it. If you have the time and the space then rip into it. Take your time and do the job right. I like your idea of taking the money you would save and put it into some performance work. That very justification is how I was able to purchase all my tools for my garage.

Speedy

[legion]

Richard, I may need your help if I get in over my head. Beer, food, room and board on me (and whatever else it takes to persuade you). Regardless, I may enlist you for help when it comes to timing belt tensioning time.

[speedracing944]

If I am free I would be willing to give you a hand on the tensioning or at the very least I can lend you my P9201.

I usually hold tensioning parties at my place and was planning on having one come spring. Maybe we can do it at your place when it is time for you to reinstall your head.

Speedy

[legion]

I'd be up for hosting.

[legion]

Well, I think I'm going to pay to do this.

It's 22 hours of labor (which would be about 44 hours for me)--and I don't have any spare time right now. I've travelled six out of the last six weekends, including weeklong stints in Florida and Las Vegas. The sad fact is that if I don't pay someone to do it, the car is going to sit, unused.

[500_19B]

There is nothing wrong with deciding to pay to have it done. A lot of us "do-it-yourselfers" like myself enjoy the work to boot.

Even though it is not *that* hard, it is still a major job for which mistakes could be costly.

I have dealt with 944 Online a number of times (Ian) and have always felt they were very professional. Although I have not bought any of their re-built items, I was looking seriously into a rebuilt transaxle and recieved very good (and detailed) answers to my questions that indicated that they did stuff "right".

[blown 944]

What I would do if you are going to pay to have it done:

find a local good High performance. (I'm talking about race engine builders)repair facility that is open to this car. Or go to the drag strip and talk to some of teh quick 16 owners or Fast street car guys. Tell them it is not very hard.

I will even communicate with them if necessary.

Have them pull the head. They will flow it stock then make the porting plans and do it (or have it done by their guy).
Honestly I think Porsche folks competely overpay for some things.

I would bet that for about 1500 you could have the labor and porting done. Ths is w/o doing TB or anything (just the head)


The thing people just don't seem realize that is when the head is off it is just another piece of aluminum that functions exactly the same as all others. There should be no reason to pay outragous prices for performance head work IMO.

Sid