Reconditioning engine

silversurfer515 · 10-20-2010, 05:22 AM

Hey folks,

I have a loely 1987 944s which I have decided to recondition the engine of and all I would like to know is what other things should I do while the engine is out of the car. I am changing the clutch and the cambelt, is there anything else I should change or look out for?

thanks

Will

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

You are just doing belts and clutch and you are pulling engine? Are you nuts? Both of those can be done in the car.

krystar · 10-20-2010, 07:50 AM

well if engine is out....and yer doing the clutch, might as well do front and rear main seals and balance shaft seals

Slam · 10-20-2010, 08:00 AM

Heck, if the engine is out, may as well add HG, rod bearings and ALL seals and gaskets to the list...

I'd do everything but disturb the crank and the pistons if I was going to drop/pull the engine.

wrightsvo · 10-20-2010, 03:15 PM

I have given some thought along same lines myself.

@slam->define "add HG" plz thnx

Arizona_928 · 10-20-2010, 05:46 PM

Do whatever your budget has entails. If your going to do the clutch and some front end work I would pull the engine.

smokin_944 · smokin_944's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrightsvo

I have given some thought along same lines myself.

@slam->define "add HG" plz thnx

I believe he means add head gasket to the list of things to do...

desertt5 · 10-21-2010, 04:31 AM

I would also say do the rod bearings. If money is a problem I would vote rod bearings before head gasket.

Like Slam said" I'd do everything but disturb the crank and the pistons if I was going to drop/pull the engine."

Mericet · Mericet's Garage

Since it is a S model, you would want to replace the timing chain tensioner pads as well.

silversurfer515 · 10-21-2010, 06:25 AM

Thanks for the adivce folks, like I said I'm getting the engine completely reconditioned and I just wanted to know what other maintenance I can do whilst it is out of the car,
cheers

Will

Mericet · Mericet's Garage

It would be easy to check/replace all the brake and hydraulic lines with the engine out. I would also check the radiator.

romad · romad's Garage

Whats the mystery of distrubing the crank and pistons? If a compression checks low or for that matter not....I'm removing a engine and replacing even thing but rings and bearings? Once the can of worms is open.... finish the can of worms .

Completely rebuild the engine and drive the car another 100,000 miles.

Pettybird · Pettybird's Garage

My S' belt broke this summer. I didn't take the motor out, but this is what I replaced:

Timing chain, tensioner pads, head gasket, have head checked by machine shop (mine at 166k miles needed cut and my valves weren't seating properly, new valve stem seals (a big weak point on the S,) oil cooler seals, ignition components, reference sensor, oxygen sensor, all coolant hoses, all four belts, check/clean idle control valve, replace vacuum tubing as necessary, check ALL wiring (my power steering lock/idle sensor wire had fried into the boot going to the DME,) clean/flow injectors, ignition components, new head nuts/washers, all new gaskets/seals, balance shaft/crank seals, ALL timing/balance rollers, misc. fasteners.

Maybe you should just buy my car...it was a lot of work!

Slam · 10-21-2010, 08:50 AM

Sorry about that! HG = Head Gasket.

Romad - since the bores are alusil and there are few folks (at least around here where I live) that can properly hone them, I'd leave them alone. Also, if the car's got good oil pressure there's probably no need for main bearings. They seem to last forever. My 83 has close to 300,000 miles on it and the oil pressure is still to spec.

wrightsvo · 10-21-2010, 01:49 PM

ah ok thnx...dang i feel like a nub...lol

HondaDustR · 10-22-2010, 01:05 PM

I would consider the pistons, cylinders, and rings a can of worms within the can of worms. If they're ok, leave them alone and do not pull the pistons if you can avoid it. If they need work, both the cylinders and the rings need to be done.

romad · romad's Garage

To take the time,effort, and money to pull a engine and not do a cylinder and bearing recondition is almost mind boogling...........the two most important reasons for rebuilding a engine is cylinder and bearing condition and it considered a option on a Porsche?

ddbach · ddbach's Garage

I thought I recalled HondaDustR discussing cylinders and rings in his engine rebuild thread and why/how the two interact so that replacement is challenging.
Project 924 S engine replacement
In post #10 he references additional information in 2 other threads:
Re-ring Alusils?
Alusil cylinder de-glazing/plateau honing
This should provide some insight on why not to fix something that's not broken.

HondaDustR · 10-23-2010, 09:04 AM

...but it pulls so well when it's correctly refreshed!

If your motor has more than 150K and your oil consumption is not great, you should look into it WYIT, especially if you like to drive it hard. If not, don't remove the pistons! Every cylinder will wear a bit of ovality and taper over time, which the rings obviously will be worn to match. You'll never be able to get the rings re-oriented to exactly the position they were worn in to, and will probably lose compression. That's my theory, anyway, but the 911 guys do it all the time, so who knows just how significant it would be.