Engine Rebuilds...Come in here if you have any experience.

stray15 · stray15's Garage

I am wondering how much work goes into a rebuild. Can it be done by a "novice" DIY, with the help of these boards? How much does it cost to do it alone? Like what kind of price am i looking at? Does anyone that has done this before have a complete list of parst and prices to do it correctly? What are they reasons that you had your engine rebuilt? How long would it take to do if you mainly do it on the weekends and some weeknights? Am I crazy for wanting to do this? I think that is all the questions right now, I will probably have more later.

Porsche, through and through
Tim
'83 944
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"Their would be no Porsche today if it wasn't for the 944..."

kukunaokala · 03-07-2002, 07:24 PM

A re-build is not for a novice alone (micrometers are not c-clamps). If you have a knowledgable friend that you can count on, I would say no problem. If money is not an issue, yank the engine and send it out. But definitely you'll be sending your head out.

I usually go for long/short blocks or junkyard. Let us know what you decide.

Hana pa'a (good luck), Neal

Blackfoot · Blackfoot's Garage

i'd really think about the financial justification of laying out say $3k to fix a $3k car. a cheaper way of fixing it is definitely called for.

if that's not feasible, it may be time to let it go and get a different 944.

Panzer909 · Panzer909's Garage

What is wrong with it?

Obin Robinson · 03-08-2002, 07:18 AM

i am 1/2 way done with my 924's engine rebuild. i've never done one before it, and at first it seemed intimidating.

here's the best bet:

do what you can, and then the parts you can't do.... send that out to get done for you. so far, ALL the outsourced work has cost me $175. that's the delicate machine-shop stuff. the simple things that i did have saved me over $1000 in labor alone.

also, if you hit a part that you don't understand, then just ask for help

. i've had help for literally a half dozen different Porsche racing engine builders. i send them photos and they respond with "ok, you're doing great" or "don't do that".

photos:
http://209.4.91.164/Porsche_Stuff/924project/

go for it, worst case you can just stop partway through the rebuild and give it to someon that can do it. rebuilding a 944 engine is my next plan.

good luck!

obin

stray15 · stray15's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Panzer909
What is wrong with it?

Well, the only thing wrong with it right now is its 20 years old and leaks/burns oil. I figure it wouldn't hurt to do. This is a long way off but I want to do my homework.

Blackfoot, are you saying it will cost about 3k to do even if I do the work?

jland924T · 03-08-2002, 10:09 AM

Do it it is not that difficult if you have patience. You don't even have to take the motor out of the mounts. Once you gather up all your parts you could do it in a couple of weekends. Great way to get intimate with your car.
John
1980 931

Blackfoot · Blackfoot's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by stray15
Blackfoot, are you saying it will cost about 3k to do even if I do the work?

no, i was referring to the $3-$4k for someone else to rebuild.

if you take on the project yourself, if would definitely save a load of money, but it might also take a long time to complete, and probably requires a lot of skills and knowledge you probably do not have yet.

if you do try it yourself, it would be a judgement call whether or not the cost, downtime, your own time, and the uncertainty of not knowing if you did it correctly are really worth it.

but maybe rebuilding an engine is easier than i'm thinking. hope others who have rebuilt their engines respond here to give you more info to base your decision on.

seb928s · 03-10-2002, 06:50 PM

I'm doing my cylinder head right now cause I have bent valves doesn't seem all that hard and it's going to save me a lot of money so it's only the top half rebuild on my engine. I get the new parts in sometime this week so I will have to have the shop put in the valves and I put everything back together and have the thing running soon. Can't wait til it's fix so I can sell the 951.

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Besides the cylinders you can DIY. But if the cylinder walls are scored you will need them cut and after that they have to be surfaced with a lapping compund to get them smoothe again. But other than that it's pretty straight forward.

Obin Robinson · 03-11-2002, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scott R
Besides the cylinders you can DIY. But if the cylinder walls are scored you will need them cut and after that they have to be surfaced with a lapping compund to get them smoothe again. But other than that it's pretty straight forward.

just for reference... ALL the machine work that was done on my 924.. including the hot tank dip, and an extra $45 in labor for a stuck flywheel bolt... came to under $200. price would be about the same for a 944.

the machine shop that did the work was in Watkins Glen, right near the track. they do work on race cars too.

obin

seb928s · 03-11-2002, 06:15 PM

Do any of you guys know how much a shop will charge to put in the new valves? Cause I don't feel like doing it myself and my friends school has an auto program and they will do it for free but I don't know if I can trust them lol

Obin Robinson · 03-12-2002, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by seb928s
Do any of you guys know how much a shop will charge to put in the new valves? Cause I don't feel like doing it myself and my friends school has an auto program and they will do it for free but I don't know if I can trust them lol

i was charged $25 by the machine shop to have all the valves reinstalled

. MUCH cheaper than the $110 tool to do it with.

obin

Obin Robinson · 03-12-2002, 11:01 AM

some links that might help you:

http://www.sa-motorsports.com/diyport.htm

http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=%2Fsection%2Easp%3Fd%3D1%26s%3D 60

don't be afraid, if i can do it, then anyone can.

obin