You may have found your noise. If you are going to pull it for the clutch, it will be a good time to get a real close look at what is going on. You need to look at your cam lobes too.

Well that didn't go as well as I planned.....


Got the valve adjustment done, started the car and the tapping noise was completely gone. Of course I was ecstatic and ready to take it on a test drive because the longest id ever driven the car was about a mile. let it warm up, checked my oil levels and all is good. Take off down the hwy with no problems. Get off on my exit and go to slow down, so I clutch in because I'm coming up on traffic. I hear a faint "pop" and the car dies. I fire it back up and it starts, but isn't running right. No knocks or anything, just feels dead and isn't" right". I see no fluids on the ground so I trek it the 5 more miles to my destination at 40 mph. when I get there she dumps oil on the ground. I get under and look and there's a nice hole in the case with piece of the tI'ming chain dangling! Needless to say I'm not in the best of moods, but it is what it is. I don't know if the case can be welded or not, don't know what m options are as of yet. Just got the car home off of the tow truck, all in all, I am still a proud 911 owner!

I think that sort of damage should be fixable. Why don't you post some pictures so we all can help you determine where the damaged area actually is. There is some real brain power on this forum that can give you some solid advice as well as moral support.

Yikes, but depending on size and precise location of damage, that is perhaps an area of the case that can be repaired.

Curious if you ever did the stethoscope or rubber hose suggestions to try and locate the sound?

Will have pics up tomorrow. I did the valve adjustment, and the noise was gone. Like I said the rockers were so loose it was unbelievable.

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psuhjazg8h.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psckh23ogg.jpg

Now that I'm looking at it again it doesn't look like it will be that hard to have welded. Just will have to have someone who really knows what they're doing.

Pics of the car finally.....

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psgm4xvzuq.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psejnzam7c.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/x...psyznoeh4k.jpg

First of all Deanh, it's a really fine looking 964 and I'm sure that you will really enjoy it once this all is behind you. When the engine is disassembled, be sure that proper forensic work is done to figure out what happened. I reread the thread and I noted that you saw at least one very dry rocker arm and a spray bar that appeared to be plugged. My hunch is that either some rockers or the cam itself seized due to lack of lubrication causing breakage of the chain, sprocket or something else related to driving the cam. This shouldn't have been as destructive to the engine as a spun bearing, but you still want to ensure that the entire oiling system is thoroughly cleaned before it all goes back together. Best of luck and keep us all informed.

According to the oil pressure gauge (how accurate that is I don't know) i've had strong oil pressure. when I pull it apart I will check, clean and or replace anything to do with oiing to the heads. Hopefully no bent valves, But I might as well pull the heads, clean them and do a valve job. Great time for new head studs aswell. Forgot to mention the car had a full rebuild done at the dealer at 55k. Doesnt mean much now at 183.

If possible, could some one start a list of all the common things replaced when doing a reseal?

Strong oil pressure doesn't mean that oil was getting up to the top end - to the cams and rockers. It just means that your rod bearings and main bearings should be fine. I suspect that you'll need to do more than just a top end overhaul or a re-seal. I couldn't quite tell exactly where the hole in the case is, but it seams as though you will have to completely strip the engine down to have the patch welded in. Unless I'm really off base.