ORBIT

I am rebuilding my street driven 1989 Porsche 911 3.2 liter, 53k original miles . Even though I have been around these cars for many years I do not have the experience of the head studs breaking that many others seem to have. It is the first time the engine has been out of the car. Seems like I have the following choices:

1. Leave them alone
2. Replace with all OE steel studs
3. Replace with OE steel uppers/Dilivar lowers
4. Raceware headstuds
5. Supertec Headstuds

Even though this car will never see a racetrack I want to give this engine the best long term solution.

Plan to replace Guides, bearings, gaskets-seals, and clean it up.

Anything else I should be worried about? I have not read the Dempsey Book, is it worth a read?

Thanks

Rodger@orbitracing.com

theiceman

im not sure why you would be rebuilding a 53 k mile car. whats wrong with it ?

theiceman

im replacing all my exhaust ones with steel on my sc.

Ed Hughes

Supertec-engineered for these cars, reasonably priced.

My dilivar studs looked better than the steel side on my 84 when I built her motor.

User 4221

If you don't have the shop manuals, the Dempsey book is good for torque values and some tips for re-assembly.

ORBIT

Even though the car has only 53k miles time seems to be the enemy of the head studs, and this car has a lot of hardware showing corrosion. In addition the valve guides seem to be wearing in these cars and I was looking to clean up the engine . The plan is to sell the car and I want to sell it with a clean bill of health. What remains to be seen if I will recoup the money in the sale that I am spending on preventative maintenance. I could easily sell the car and let the next owner assume the responsibility but I am going to try something different. We are going thru this car with goal of selling a car that will give the next owner another 25 years of enjoyment. I will get this project up on my website. I would be very interested to hear what other 87-89 911 Carrera owners are doing to maintain and preserve these great cars.

I ended up buying the Raceware headstuds, washers, and head nuts and the raceware rod bolts.

I attached a picture of the engine compartment before we start to clean it up. What is the best insulation panel, the one I bought from the Porsche dealer is really not very good?

Pjd131

That's very good of you. Based on my limited knowledge, you might want to replace the rubber centred clutch if it has not been done. You may also have to do release fork update if built before April 6 1989. My clutch failed 2 months after I got my car this summer. Been plugging away on it and other things for the last 2 months. Having fun though...most of the time.

Toby Pennycuff

Rodger, I have an '89 Targa with about 118K on the odometer. I have all the parts to perform a complete top-end rebuild and I will also be replacing all 24 head studs. I have the factory 993 studs that I've run in my '79 930 motor with no issues whatsoever. Will be interesting to watch your rebuild progress. Looking forward to the chronicles!

der Mond

Replacing the head studs as mentioned and the valve guide work would be a most compassionate gift to the next owner.

Derek911

A gift? A gift would be a full tank of gas when you sell it... Engine work is way beyond the scope of a gift. Hopefully you plan to get back your investment in the sale price. Unless the car had issues I would not do all that work on a 53,000 mile car just because I'm selling it.

theiceman

Yeah i wasnt sure either , i thought may be after reading it again the OP had a broken head stud.

I am doing mine currently and will probably go with Supertec. i was only gonna do the exhaust studs tho. dont know if you can buy just 12 and hardware.