[ensign42]

Hi guys, first time posting. A bit about me, I started playing with British cars with my Dad at about 12 , since then I worked in a shop restoring MG's Jag's, and the like, after that I joined the coast guard and am now a marine and diesel mechanic (MK2 or E-5), though the pay is bad, I have lots of experience turning wrenches (just bigger LOL). I understand fuel injection, turbos, and super chargers. I do not realy grasp the finer details of the engine management, but that's okay, as I want to learn.

About the Car, 1986 951. Stage 2 chips, test pipe, turbo twist wheels, dark meatlic grey, black interior. I purchased it from it's original owner in 2001. 78K on the clock. Blasted around in it for about 2 years, and then things went bad.

So, here I sit, with my 951 in pieces. LOL. I, blew the head gasket (indicated by lots of steam, lost compression, and irradic running before hand). I have pulled the engine (through the hood, along with the radiator, after cooler, (want to clean and flush them) and all associated crap. Pulled the clutch and mounted the engine on a stand. Where to go from here? I have a local machine shop, (in michigan 70 miles is local, LOL) that will let me watch as they work on my parts, and they are used to working aluminium. I am getting the impression on the other hand that I might be better off going through a known Porsche shop. So here are my first questions:

What is the point of the ringing on heads, will it prevent future failures? I am planning a wide fire head gasket.

What is a reasonable price?

What should I plan to do while I have her appart, I am planning the head, belts, clutch, and front, rear and pan seal?

Since I am not ever planning on jacking up my boost or HP much, I am more interested in handling, what are mods that should be made for relaibility and maint.?

Where can I get a set of factory manuals on CD or DVD?

Can someone tell me about the belt tensioning tool, is it really needed?

What is the best place for cost on quality parts, I don't want to do this again in 5 years.

While the engine is out I am having paint resprayed (clear coat is going in big flakes) by a guy who owes me for work I did on his boat.

This leaves me an interior to complete after a couple of years.

I know this is a bit long winded, but I would appreciate all the help I can get. Any input excepting forget it, torch it, and/or push it in the lake (wife gave me that advise already) would be of the greatest intereste to me. Sorry for asking a bunch of dumb overasked questions.

Will