Urgent!! Fuel rail cracked!

[Z06C5R]

And my "love" for this car goes on... Only weeks after fixing almost 1k worth of random parts that all chose to fail almost simultaneously, I get to have even more fun!

At any rate, I began to notice a distinct raw-gas odor this morning after driving to work, but I saw no gas leaking under the car so I shrugged it of for the moment. After arriving home this afternoon, I caught the smell of gas again and decided to pop the hood and have a look... I see the underside of the hood with a good bit of gas sprayed up onto it and figure "Ok, one of the hoses or nuts I just moved around when I changed the regulator and damper must have come loose or something". So I fire up the engine, and there's this nice, fine mist of fuel spraying out, not from any of the rubber lines or nuts, but from the little hard line that comes from the main fuel rail into the pressure damper. Fun!!! So now I am not only going to miss out on participating in the Porsche paddock that I already signed up and paid for tomorrow at Limerock, but it would seem that no-one even sells a replacement fuel rail?!

What can I do about this, preferably not spending a crap-ton of money since I just did that 2 weeks ago...

[zedsn]

Hi, go to the parts section on this forum and or ebay and look for a good used fuel rail. This is a common problem when the area has been disturbed. Some people have had success with brazing the cracked area and you might look to see if this is feasable for you too. You will probably have to get 4 new injector oring sets though. I feel your pain. I had an 83 944 that wasn't very well taken care of and had alot of bugs to work out before she was pretty much trouble free for awhile. I see you have a 240z. I just bought a early 260z and got rid of all the smog and put on 240z carbs. I will drive it on the street for the first time this Monday and hope the z gets me to work ok!

[Z06C5R]

Originally Posted by zedsn

hope the z gets me to work ok!

Have no fear, the Z-car is fifty-billion times more reliable than these 944s... Mine has NEVER let me down in over 3 years of ownership, unlike this confabulated Porsche thing which I can barely keep running after throwing the majority of my earning over the last month at it. And it was well taken care of and maintained previously too!!!

[earlr85944]

if you can find one closer, I have a good used one w/ recent o rings

[Techno Duck]

If your willing to take a ride out to Long Island, i have one also you can borrow until you find a replacement. Its a trek, but if you really want to get your car out it may be worth it to you. PM me if you want.

[Brando]

Common and known problem. Over years of heat cycling the metal becomes brittle.

I had this happen once on a 928 when diagnosing surging/stalling issues. Went to pull the end cap off and test the pressure, pressure was wonky ended up being a FPR. Put the ball and cap back on... leaked like a sieve. Replacement was $300+.

Someone needs a GOOD aftermarket aluminum one.

[shikzachaser]

I have a good one from my 84 that you can have for postage. I have offered it to a couple other members w/ similar problems but no one has expressed a real interest in it. First come first served. It is a bare rail as I have given othr members the pressure regulator etc. It definately does not leak, I just replaced it w/ a Lindsey a year or so back.

PM me if you want it.

Steve

[Z06C5R]

shikzachaser, that's perfect... All I need is the rail, since my FPR and damper are brand new, and my injectors and o-rings appear to be fine.

Sending PM now...

[TibetanT]

Way to go, Steve!

Now that is the kind of Pelican "community" I have come to trust and look forward to. Parts that are just laying around, to become a donor for another to live...awesome.

Hats off to shikachaser!

Hey, btw, I saw your icon with the picture of the flooding. I certainly hope you were not affected by that.

[bholmes]

You might replace the o-rings for peace of mind as they are only like 12 bucks for all 4 with the caps at your local napa store.

[Z06C5R]

Sounds reasonable enough... Is that a part they typically stock, or does it need to be special ordered?

[shikzachaser]

I just got back from running down to Louisville w/ my wife to see Barenaked Ladies. 7th row center, outside, lots a alcohol, doesn't get much better. The show was typical for them, killer and a lot of fun. Unfortunately I am old as is my lovely bride so the days of spontanious road trips in a 944 are over. Before the 944 it was a Fiat 124 and before that a Triumph Spitfire. It's amazing how crude the transportation was and how much fun we had. The Benz I have now is an absolute road burner w/ all the Renntech stuff I have done plus it's big and comfortable. Fuel consumption however is horrendous, 15MPG tops on the highway. Sorry, I got sidetracked. I sent a PM w/ contact info for me and I will get the rail out to you after getting your shipping info. I don't think you will be unhappy. You will need to wire brush it and shoot clear or color on it as I had it bead blasted a couple years ago with the intention of powder coating it. It definately did not leak on my car and has 70K miles on it tops. Glad I can help. These are cool cars and need to be kept alive. I intend on giving mine to my granddaughter when she is done w/ her first "driver". She is 4 now so it will be in the garage a while.

Steve

[shikzachaser]

Mike:

I got the rail out. It was only $9.85 going USPS. You should have it in 2-3 days. I will look you up for a beer when we come up that way sometime, don't worry about the postage. Hope that it solves your problem. I am packing right now to embark on a road trip in the Benz to Sacramento. Should be interesting.



Lowered, Renntech ECU and Tranny upgrade, vented brakes and ceramic pads, headers and exhaust, killer stereo, should be a fun trip.




There is still no replacement for displacement

[Z06C5R]

Sounds good, but I should owe you at least $10 for you're help. PM me your paypal info, or else I might loose sleep at night, LoL!

[Z06C5R]

Well, thanks to Shickzachaser's quick and generous donation, my 944 is back in action and no longer spraying $4.45 gas all over itself!

Thanks to everyone who offered up a part to me in my hour of need. It's great to know there's a helpful community behind these cars, and hopefully our combined efforts will help keep each-other running well into the future.

Thanks again!

[Schumi]

Steve, looking at the Merc V8 makes me want to renew my Cayanne V8 in a 914 project idea....

[shikzachaser]

It has worked great on my road trip to Sacramento, lots of nice scenery, even more here. I don't know what they feed those girls in California but it seems to be working, they look good.



I would have like to have driven the Porsche but I don't think this would have fit in the trunk.






The drive up from Green River UT to Salt Lake City is truly amazing. I averaged over 85MPH while driving 1800 miles and constantly hit 130-135 in the right areas. One drawback is the un-prius-like 13MPG at speed. I am not counting the stops for pics in that average but it still ain't bad for a truck.

Steve

[Desert Fox]

Yeah those girls here are pretty nice.

But the good thing about Sacramento is you can go up north for some good roads or go west for the ocean, or just sit around in old town, and have a fun ol' time.

And from experience, Ive leaned not to carry computer equipment in my Porsche. They don't like the sudden stop and go.

Have fun in sac, and glad to see your car is back in running order mike. That's some good community spirit of pelican.

[Z06C5R]

Originally Posted by shikzachaser

Do my eyes deceive me, or is that really a 75mph speed limit???

[hpservertech]

Steve

If you want an absolutely beautifl drive take 395 from Bishop, CA up to Reno. Make sure everyone stops for bathroom breaks first though....no stops for anything. Absolutly georgous. Although if the pass is open you can take that too. Good little hole in the wall to stop and eat at too half way through. But a georgous drive, even better in the winter.

Drive from Tahoo to Sac is really nice on 80 as well. I did a bunch of work up in Truckee and was there at least once a month for 2 years.

Might as well take a 2 hour drive north too to Eureka and go through the Red Woods.