RennPartsDirect

So I have some extra 928 engines in my possession and a friend who rebuilds 911 engines that is willing to help me rebuild them. Is there a market for rebuilt 928 engines? Or is it not worth investing the time and effort hoping to find a buyer? What's the general consensus amongst the group? Should I just sell them as-is and call it a day?

hlee96

For me, I would only be willing to buy rebuilt engines from the few here on Rennlist that work on 928 on a fulltime basis. Greg, Sean, Stan, Colin, etc.

Used engines are a crab shoot , but I am willing to gamble still if the price is right, although my batting ave with them has been less than .500.

hacker-pschorr

I would prefer to buy them as-is and rebuild them myself. Way too many factors involved with a proper rebuild. I'd never drop a rebuilt engine into my car unless it came from a known 928 shop or certain members with a reputation for doing such work.

RennPartsDirect

Agreed. The builder is working on a 930 turbo engine as we speak so I know he has skills but your points are valid.

Also, how the hell do you have over 10 million posts???

davek9

Exactly what I was thinking, however given the rising prices for parts almost makes me want to do one on a stand and sit on it, however that poses another issue, storage.
If one is rebuilt/refurbished how long can it sit around unused w/o having to go back in at some point and re do the belt, lets say?

Also there is the Warranty issue, what type of warranty were you thinking of offering?

Dave K

RennPartsDirect

I totally hear ya, that is why I am tempted to rebuild them instead of selling them as-is with all the unknowns of condition and such. Or at least pull the heads and inspect everything before listing it. I don't ever want to sell another engine with a random bolt floating around somewhere internally...

RennPartsDirect

More good points. I didn't think about a warranty quite honestly. What is the going warranty with the trusted vendors? One year 10,000 miles?

Quite honestly, I'm concerned that the price of replacement parts coupled with the labor required to do it properly is going to price the engines beyond most people's interest in spending on a car that is most likely worth far less than what the engine will ultimate cost for it to be financially worthwhile for me and the engine builder...

davek9

Right, as with rebuilt heads, new head bolts, rod bearing, (lifters?), water pump and all the other smalls, it can easily reach several thousand $'s.

Lot's of unknowns, I would think you would need to build a engine cradle like Greg B. did and test run them too.

GregBBRD

Rebuilding a 911 or a 930 engine is about as difficult as rebuilding a lawnmower engine.....which is why so many people are able to do it.

The 928 engine is a whole new bag of tricks....which is why so few are able to do it.

GlenL

You can always start small, and local, and build up your reputation.

Everyone starts as someone else.

John Veninger

Very True!

Imo000

There is no money yet in rebuilding them. Unike the 911s, the 928 isn't yet worth enough to make it worth while.

Adamant1971

I would agree. But there could be value in preserving existing used motor's for the future.

As the others have mentioned there are so many variables. The 89 motor I'm working on now is easily at 10k cdn in parts and machine shop work, pistons alone were 3k cdn. It is not cheap to do it right.

V2Rocket

is that why they come with a pull-cord ?

karl ruiter

For many models, just the cost of rings and a gasket set would take you close to the limit of what folks would pay. Its possible that, if you were doing enough of them, you could come up with less expensive options, but the risk would be high and the volume not enough to justify it.


Here is another thought...just take the motors apart and refirb the parts. For example, in theory you can lap the cylinder bores to recondition them, but finding someone who can and will do this properly is hard enough that almost nobody does. You could have a set of clean blocks with properly re-lapped bores all set and ready to ship. I think you would sell some of them. Likewise heads. If you had fully reconditioned heads that were nicely documented as far as exactly what was done to them and with lots of pics, I think you could likely get a good price for them exchange. Most of us can get them done locally, but it is a hassle, a risk, and takes time. Even valve covers and intake manifolds. Fully cleaned, prepped, powder coated, with full documentation as to the cleaning and other prep, they would sell. And its much easier the ship parts than whole motors.