Professional Engine Rebuilding Recommendation

[911Poorsche]

I am greatly humbled by the work I have seen on this forum. I am worse than all thumbs and a rebuild is more than I am willing to do myself.

I am looking for positive recommendations for a shop to do an engine rebuild on a '79 3.0 litre 911 SC engine in the midwest. Reality say that I should be willing to ship just about anywhere in the 48 states that makes sense, but closer would be better .

I'm in the middle of Iowa, and I have found few options for maintenance, let alone something more than routine.

I don't know if this allowed, but thought this thread may be a good place to list positive experiences with shops in other areas as well. If this is the wrong place, please point this newbie in the right direction.

[800vmax4]

I am no expert on Porsche rebuilds[yet... I'm still working on it!] but I am in the process of collecting parts and info to rebuild my 2.7. Steve at Rennsport has been very helpful and will be doing all of the work that I am not able or comfortable doing myself. My suggestion would be to stay with a reputable known Porsche rebuild shop and be ready...it won't be cheap!!!
JM.02c

[88-diamondblue]

Welcome to the forum. Customary to post some pictures so we can see what we are helping with.

There are some great shops available to get the rebuild done. Closest that I can recommend would be Aaron at Flat 6 in Minneapolis FLATSIX . Then there are the guru's that post here on Pelican. In no particular order are Steve Weiner at Rennsport, Welcome to Rennsport Systems, Porsche Performance Products for the 21st Century , Henry at Supertec Supertec Porsche Engine Rebuilder and John Walker at John Walker's Workshop Porsche 911 Service | Parts | Performance | John Walker's Workshop, Seattle, WA .

Just stay away from Motor Meister. Do a search on them if you are curoius. Grab a beer or mayby a 12 pack, it will take you that long to read about all the issues with them.

[turbobrat930]

I am sure that the companies list above are good... and numerous people have been satisfied with them......

I would go with JB Racing JB Racing, Inc. - Racing Services & Products

They did an excellant job on my engine...

Just stay far away from Motorsheister in CA... STAY FAR AWAY!!!!!

[kenikh]

Send a private message to Cornpanzer...his mechanic is around Dayton, OH. I wish I could remember his name. You are lucky for the good fortune of having access to someone so skilled, so close.

[Carrerax]

Originally Posted by kenikh

Send a private message to Cornpanzer...his mechanic is around Dayton, OH. I wish I could remember his name. You are lucky for the good fortune of having access to someone so skilled, so close.

Cornpanzer had his built by John Truman Enterprises (440-298-3858) and that is also who is assembling mine. I actually worked with Steve at Rennsport to design what I wanted to build and had Rennsport do the heads. I also purchased several parts from him such as PMO carbs and other things. Steves help is amazing! I cant tell you how valuable he was and is to me. Upon his suggestion, I am having it built closer to home due to shipping etc. John Truman is in Cleveland Ohio and is very experienced to say the least.

[JohnJL]

I hear Motormeister does good work.

[JohnJL]

Originally Posted by JohnJL

I hear Motormeister does good work.

Ha! gotcha.

[911Poorsche]

Gentlemen, thank you! I will be making some calls and looking into the recommendations. A picture of the car is included - sorry, didn't take a picture of the engine before she went to the shop.

I had seen MM all over You Tube, and heard the bad too. Shame as the price was (too) good.



This was taken just before pushin' her into a trailer for a 120 mile trek to the nearest dealer. After the local guys couldn't figure out the issues (replaced and damaged a second CDI without knowing why), this dealer tells me there is too much free play in the locking rings that hold the distributor in place causing electrical disturbance. Opening the case (I believe - waiting for their estimate) was what it would take to fix. Seemed like with the oil seepage and ~150,000 miles, a rebuild would be a better use of the money than just fixing one thing while it is torn open.

Again, many thanks

[Steve@Rennsport]

Originally Posted by 911Poorsche

After the local guys couldn't figure out the issues (replaced and damaged a second CDI without knowing why), this dealer tells me there is too much free play in the locking rings that hold the distributor in place causing electrical disturbance.

Nice car!!!

Something sounds fishy to me here,...........

Caveat Emptor on this dealer.

[dagriff]

After the local guys couldn't figure out the issues (replaced and damaged a second CDI without knowing why), this dealer tells me there is too much free play in the locking rings that hold the distributor in place causing electrical disturbance.

Originally Posted by Steve@Rennsport

Nice car!!!

Something sounds fishy to me here,...........

Caveat Emptor on this dealer.

Aahh, That pesky Flux Capacitor. Sounds like it needs new Munge nuts.....

[Don Settergren]

If you decide to go East, we have a couple of really quality shops in Madison, WI. I have used both Kelly Moss and Accomoto with great success. I figure if they can wrench on $100k plus race cars, they can work on my 964. Drop me a PM if you want to chat about DIY or these shops. DonS

[pete3799]

What's the reason you think you need a rebuild?
I would have a quality repair shop evaluate the motor before jumping in with a complete rebuild.
How long have you owned the car?
Any previous engine work done?

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally Posted by Don Settergren

If you decide to go East, we have a couple of really quality shops in Madison, WI. I have used both Kelly Moss and Accomoto with great success. I figure if they can wrench on $100k plus race cars, they can work on my 964. Drop me a PM if you want to chat about DIY or these shops. DonS

Not meant as a criticism of race mechanics or any shop but racing is a different world.
Back a few years I harbored the same reasoning until I hired the "Indy 500 mechanic of the year" to work with us on street cars.
He had some great stories and an interesting perspective on how things should be done but when it can to being a competent service technician he was a complete failure.
Engine building is a highly specialized endeavor and many qualified mechanics choose to sub-out heavy duty work out to people who specialize in the needed service.

[JFairman]

I agree with Henry on this because of my own experiences.

I worked at Gunnar Porsche Racing for 4 years starting in 1983 back in the eightees... I was in the body shop but I was around the racecar mechanics every day and during the winter Florida racing season 1-3 other
Porsche 962 teams rented bays and worked out of the shop too. The parking lot was full of huge fancy transporters.

Some teams had Andial build the motors others used Ed Pink, and Kevin Jeanette of Gunnar built his own.

Most of the younger race mechanics on the teams had never built a motor and couldn't if they had to... and they only worked on and knew O N E car...
ONE very clean car that only they worked on between and during races.

I also worked at a mostly German street car shop for a couple years and street car mechanics never know whats going to come through the doors any day, and every day is a learning experience because the cars that come in are all different and 99% of them have been abused and ignored by the owners until a problem forced them to bring it in to be fixed... and the motors are VERY dirty and greasy.

Anotherwords, I've seen street car mechanics that are wayyyyyy more talented and experienced than some of the younger race mechanics I've met that got where they are because of someone they knew.

[Don Settergren]

Both you guys are correct with regards to race and engine rebuild mechanics. Both Accumoto and Kelly Moss in Madison have street car departments. But the cool thing is that the street car guys overflow to the race department when schedules are tight and travel to races on big weekends - talk about the best of both worlds for these mechanics. I just offered these up because they are close to Iowa, always have quality parts, and I'd be happy to help 911Poorsche with a place to stay or whatever it takes.