Rebuilding questions

jkrustchinsky · 07:04 PM

My 944 recently snapped the timing belt, i was thinking of pulling the motor and completely going through the motor instead of just doing a valve job on a motor i know nothing about. it could have 100k miles or 200k, i dont know

I would like to use european or oversized pistons, what would be a good piston set to use, and what are all of my options in rebuilding a 944 n/a motor. I would like to have gained some good hp after im done. thanks josh

jkrustchinsky · 09-04-2007, 06:31 PM

Ok what are the benifits of using lightweight rods and lighter pistons such as the wiseco or pauter brand of pistons and connecting rods. Less mass so i would think it would respnd better and rpms and power would be more responsive.

you might have to school me on a few things, this is becoming a very serious project as the days go on, i am considering selling my volkswagen bus and taking this on. available budget is around 3500, so i have to build the motor within that. Including machining,

machining, new rod bearings, rings, wristpins, piston set, valve job with new valves, porting, all new gaskets and seals, reference sensors, oxygen sensor, etc...

nynor · 09-04-2007, 08:03 PM

is there anything wrong with the engine, other than the obvious? if not, you probably ought to just rebuild the cylinder head. if you are really bent on increasing performance this will cost more than your budget.

fast924S · fast924S's Garage

nynor is right. I started a rebuild about 4 years ago, and Im still doing it. Cost of performance parts is $$$$$$ Plus machine shops also want Big money to do things. Cost me $800 to get the bottom end balanced, Crank polished, light weight flywheel balanced, Rods shot peaned, and new rist pins and bushings installed. Another $300 for the 88 10.2 CR pistons, Proly another 2g in other performance stuf. Then you gotta get all the seals/sensors abuot another $1000. Havent finsished head work yet but Im sure that bill wont be any lower then $600. SO what I have learned is to make ANYTHING go faster its gonna cost alot more money then you think. Their are sooo many "WHILE IM IN THEIR" things and alot of fun gooddies to buy. SO I would say take your budget and Double or triple it if you want to do a performance rebuild. Plus On a NA your not gonna see LARGE gains in HP for all the work you did. Just think after spending all that money on your engine, You get to spent ANOTHER 2-3K On performance Suspension LOL. SO to some its not worth it, to me it is, I have owned the car for 8 years, Rebuilt it once with my dad when I was younger, I have spent sooo much time sweat and money on the car that it wouldnt be worth it for me to sell it to anyone. SO it will be my toy/project for a long time.

Their are alot of things that can be done to the NA motors, With your budget, First I would pull the head and make sure you can still use it. Then buy and valves you need and send the head out to the machine shop to get inspected and cleaned. Then get yourself a t-belt and all front roollers along with gaskets/sealss for the front of the engine, Also get a waterpump and new t-stat. Proly be around 600-800 for the parts (seals/rollers/belts/waterpump/ and oil cooler seals). So thats not even any head work or valves that may need to be replaced. I say pull the head rebuild it, throw a cam in and spend the rest of suspesnion stuff

nynor · 09-05-2007, 01:47 PM

^exactly.

Dana Norris · 09-05-2007, 02:09 PM

Many years ago when I was planing a rebuild to the motor of my 1967 Firebird I inquired into building the motor with more HP AND TORQUE and the guy said HP and Torque cost $$$$ how much do you want to spend????? And that was an old GM push rod motor, so what do you think Porsche OHC 4 cyl. alloy motor.
HOW MUCH YOU GOT TO SPEND. Put your money in brakes and suspension.
just my two cents.....

__________________________________________________ ____________

1986 944 NA Black with Burgundy Leather
still on jack stands cleaning up P. O. s neglect

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

That is possibly the largest signature i have ever seen.

Personally i would save your money. Get a known good used head and rebuild it. Fastest and cheapest route to get your car running.

jkrustchinsky · 09-05-2007, 04:07 PM

oh i love burgandy interior, i just need to make my 944 reliable, at the moment i dont have a car that runs, and im forced to sell my hippie bus, i realize now that 3000 is not even scratching the surface for a rebuild. thanks

Rick V · 09-05-2007, 04:15 PM

Before ypu make any decisions, you should pull the head and see what you are facing. You might have to spend your entire budget just getting the head in shape.
Providing the head is good (I suspect it is) you should rebuild it, replace the front end (Belts tentioners, rollers WP ect) then replace the bottom end bearings. You will then have a solid platform to do other things down the road. Remember the 944na is a GT car, you arn't going to get mega HP from it. Just get it running and sorted out and enjoy the ride.

nynor · 09-05-2007, 04:34 PM

3000 for the head? i did mine for about 400... the whole job with a new waterpump, rollers, tools, miscellaneous, and gaskets, was about $1200.

Rick V · 09-05-2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nynor

3000 for the head?

If it's damaged yes.
Hell I did my S including the front end for around $1400. I only had to replace 9 valves.

DarylJ · 09-07-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick V

If it's damaged yes.
Hell I did my S including the front end for around $1400. I only had to replace 9 valves.

He's got an '87 n/a. You can buy 3 decent used heads for the price you spent fixing yours. He doesn't even have as many valves in his whole head as you had to replace in yours.

So, no....it won't be that expensive.