Pics of my new 968

mike944 · 10-23-2003, 08:41 PM

Hey guys,

Here's the car i wrote about a few weeks ago. I got this from a co-worker, when it blew a chain tensioner. He took it to a shop, and they quoted him somewhere in the neighborhood of $6K to repair. He decided not to repair it, and sold it to me for $5k

So here's pics of a $5000 1992 968

Why it was so cheap -

Wolf1 · 10-23-2003, 08:46 PM

Looks nice!!!! Well at least the first two pics.

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

What's the extent of the damage?
Ahmet

RaF944 · 10-23-2003, 09:37 PM

Thats awesome, good deal, Hope to see you over at 968.net!

ronin · 10-23-2003, 11:00 PM

very nice. looks like a bargain even if you spent the 6K to get it fixed

fty · 10-23-2003, 11:11 PM

Nice grab...I couldnt help but laugh out loud when I saw the bent valve...WOW..thats on hell of a bent valve...

mike944 · 10-24-2003, 07:51 AM

What you see there is pretty much the extent of the damage.

No way i'm spending 6K fixing it, at least, not on the head anyway. I've found used and rebuilt heads for anywhere from $1500 - $1800. Plus a few hundred for gaskets and misc. stuff required to put it all back together, i should be running for $2k.

I do want to do new shocks, wheels, tires, and some other stuff it might need. I could EASILY pass 6K with all the rest of the stuff.

That valve is AFTER i had to beat it straight with a hammer so i could remove it. They were so bent, i couldn't even compress the valve spring enough to get the keepers off, so i had to "straighten" one of them enough to relax the valve spring.

Mike

P.S. Anyone want to buy a nice '84 944????

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

nice, Mike! hope to see you driving around the Avon area!

..P · 10-24-2003, 01:56 PM

Beautiful car. I've seen them for sale at $25,000 and up in Panorama magazine, and at $5000 you can spend money on the repair and still be way under book, with a superb world class auto. Be very sure to use a good porsche mechanic.

regards, P
Nashville

ae1969 · 10-24-2003, 02:11 PM

OMG! What a steal....................

I'll give you 5,100 for your troubles....

Mike B · 10-24-2003, 04:12 PM

Why can't I have co-workers like that.

Congrats on your steal of a deal!

Nabeel · 10-24-2003, 05:47 PM

I hate you

Roger Hall · 10-24-2003, 07:50 PM

Damn! Nice buy....

connecticutdan · 10-25-2003, 07:15 PM

You Suck!

And you should be arrested for theft!

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Keep us posted on the rebuilt goes!

Great catch, despite the bent valves! Was it a snapped timing belt? Fouled cam chain tensioner? What caused it?

-Z.

Dark Skies · 10-27-2003, 08:05 AM

People like you make me sick with envy!

mike944 · 10-27-2003, 08:32 AM

They way i look at it, it seems like the "good things" always happen to other people. For once, one of them happened to me.

Of course i'll keep everybody informed. Right now I am trying to find a replacement head (see my other post on valve lifters) It's a winter project for me. Those of us in the snow belt need something to keep ourselves occupied in the winter. There probably won't be too much progress in the next few weeks, still waiting for my rented garage to be cleaned out.

Here's my analysis of the cause. Unfortunately, no pictures of the failed parts yet. What went is the variocam chain tensioner. the plastic ramps that the chain rides on were severely pitted, and one of them wore through enough to break. once it broke, the chain started slipping, and goodbye valvetrain. I can't determine the cause of the chain ramp failure, but i suspect something to due with oil. Maybe contamination from extended oil change intervals, or too thin a grade used (quicky-lube places are famous for putting in the wrong grade) or could just be low-quality oil. So you people with 968's and S2's watch your oil grades, and change intervals.

I'll post pictures of the failed parts tomorow.

Mike

flangermog · flangermog's Garage

Nice one Mike! It's good to see the Porsche gods smile on somebody in here for a change

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by mike944
I can't determine the cause of the chain ramp failure, but i suspect something to due with oil.

Mike

Mike: the plastic ramps on the chain guide/tensioner get brittle over time and mileage. They need to be replaced every 100k miles, or 10-ish years. The failure could have been caused due to the piece simply NOT being replaced in time. When my mechanic replaced my chain guide/tensioner at 125k, the ramp was so brittle it broke apart in his hand!

Talk about a close call!

-Z.

mike944 · 10-27-2003, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Z-man
Mike: the plastic ramps on the chain guide/tensioner get brittle over time and mileage. They need to be replaced every 100k miles, or 10-ish years.

-Z.

We should all try to put together a list of what should be replaced when, on which cars. Sort-of our own maintenence schedule based on how long parts typically last. Especially for critical items like this one.

Anybody interested in starting something? maybe someone that has a 944/951/968 website with tech info already?

Mike