So I started the process of removing the engine. Mostly getting it up on jacks and removing things for access so far.
I did drain the coolant and removed the water pump. As suspected one of the blades was missing (floating around somewhere inside the engine?). Just like seen in the reservoir the coolant showed signs of mixing with oil (brownish color).
Found a broken bracket and at the rear engine support bracket and that a screw had almost worn through one panel under the engine. Added to parts list. Also ordered a X51 oil pan.
Stopped the tear-down for today when I struggled to get the power steering fluid reservoir off. Turned the bayonet fitting to release as directed but still can't pull the reservoir off. Any suggestions?
Hoping to have the engine out this weekend and then it's decision time:
- Get a used running engine, install it (perhaps with some basic preventative maintenance first) and move on OR
- Start tearing down the current engine to see how bad the damage is OR
- Send it off for a full rebuild. I've talked to ebay seller Porsche-Land in Illinois. Looks like a small one-man operation. Has anybody had any experience with them?
Perhaps a combination is the best, install another used engine to get me going while I try to figure out what's wrong with the current...
