What do I doooooooo - quick rebuild or save for an LS?
03-03-2015, 11:58 AM
#1
What do I doooooooo - quick rebuild or save for an LS?
Hi Guys,
Here's the scoop on my 944s and I need your honest opinions-
I got the car for $700 late last year. Odometer stopped working at 130k or so (doesn't have more than 150k or so). It had horrible vacuum leaks, the clutch barely worked, it was pretty rough, but the body was clean and motor and tranny actually sounded great.
Here's what I've done so far:
AOS Seals
Timing Chain pads (teeth looked good)
Spark Plugs
Intake Manifold Seal
Rebuild TB
New Vacuum lines
Injector seals (injectors looked good, too)
Master/Slave cylinders
Still gutless but ran much smoother. So I did a compression test. 120-120-105-120. A far cry from the high compression motor it's supposed to be.
Now I'm at a crossroads. My goal was to get this thing going for a couple years and do an LSx swap, but a factory motor with an S2 intake and chip would also be just fine. I want reliability, I just don't know how long to expect the motor to last. My E30 is at 231k with just maintenance.
What do I do?
Did the timing belt jump a tooth and maybe there's crap on one of the valves?
If that's not the case, is it worth pulling the motor and doing set of rings? Rings and bearings?
Beyond that, some parts are so crazy expensive that I might as well save for a v8. A water pump is the better part of $500, a timing belt will put me back around $350, t-belt tensioner is probably the same.
What do you guys think?
-PC
Here's the scoop on my 944s and I need your honest opinions-
I got the car for $700 late last year. Odometer stopped working at 130k or so (doesn't have more than 150k or so). It had horrible vacuum leaks, the clutch barely worked, it was pretty rough, but the body was clean and motor and tranny actually sounded great.
Here's what I've done so far:
AOS Seals
Timing Chain pads (teeth looked good)
Spark Plugs
Intake Manifold Seal
Rebuild TB
New Vacuum lines
Injector seals (injectors looked good, too)
Master/Slave cylinders
Still gutless but ran much smoother. So I did a compression test. 120-120-105-120. A far cry from the high compression motor it's supposed to be.
Now I'm at a crossroads. My goal was to get this thing going for a couple years and do an LSx swap, but a factory motor with an S2 intake and chip would also be just fine. I want reliability, I just don't know how long to expect the motor to last. My E30 is at 231k with just maintenance.
What do I do?
Did the timing belt jump a tooth and maybe there's crap on one of the valves?
If that's not the case, is it worth pulling the motor and doing set of rings? Rings and bearings?
Beyond that, some parts are so crazy expensive that I might as well save for a v8. A water pump is the better part of $500, a timing belt will put me back around $350, t-belt tensioner is probably the same.
What do you guys think?
-PC
03-03-2015, 10:59 PM
#2
I know Rock Auto is generally frowned upon, but check out their prices for the stuff you need. Pretty much all of the parts on there is the same you can get at other stores, except much cheaper. I'm really not sure that an LS swap in its entirety would be that much cheaper. But that's just my $.02
03-03-2015, 11:27 PM
#3
Going with the pack
is quite monotonous.
Rennlist Member
is quite monotonous.
Rennlist Member
I think you are not looking in the right places.
A rebuilt water pump from Zims (www.allzim.com) is just over $100.
They also have a timing belt kit with all rollers, including the one for the tensioner for less than $200.
Your V8 swap would likely end up in the $10k range.
A rebuilt water pump from Zims (www.allzim.com) is just over $100.
They also have a timing belt kit with all rollers, including the one for the tensioner for less than $200.
Your V8 swap would likely end up in the $10k range.
03-04-2015, 12:43 AM
#4
Freedom Enthusiast
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
If you can do the work yourself, a basic rebuild will typically be cheaper. OTOH, If you are going to pay a really good shop to do all the rebuild work, you might be able to pull off a budget swap for around the same money.
03-12-2015, 03:29 PM
#5
Team Owner
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: one thousand, five hundred miles north of Ft. Lauderdale for the summer.
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how fast do you want to go? how far do you want to go?
best outcome: (in theory); v8, predictable higher than you thought entrance fee,
eventually leading to a solid, reliable, fast car and happiness ever after.
(in reality); a lot of seemingly endless sorting, over the course of many months, followed by nirvana.
944 n/a outcome: thirsting for more power and making the big move (to a 944T)....
944T outcome: fun car, daily soap-opera requiring a dedicated plan, maintenance $$$ and occasional to significant time off the road
tinkering with a host of issues... next; overconfidence sets in: the tuning stage, endlessly wanting more until you are satisfied....
(which of course, rarely actually occurs). from there it's a slippery slope to divorce, homelessness or death. a very real, possibility
when only a few months (or years) before this seemingly impossible outcome would have been brushed off as a seemingly impossible
outcome:
sad endings are nothing to scoff at with the 944T. bad things, real-life horror stories, and destroyed lives really does happen....
(moment of silence for the scores of astronauts who came before, only to die on the launch pads).
neutral outcome? ending up on the 986/987 forums.
best outcome: (in theory); v8, predictable higher than you thought entrance fee,
eventually leading to a solid, reliable, fast car and happiness ever after.
(in reality); a lot of seemingly endless sorting, over the course of many months, followed by nirvana.
944 n/a outcome: thirsting for more power and making the big move (to a 944T)....
944T outcome: fun car, daily soap-opera requiring a dedicated plan, maintenance $$$ and occasional to significant time off the road
tinkering with a host of issues... next; overconfidence sets in: the tuning stage, endlessly wanting more until you are satisfied....
(which of course, rarely actually occurs). from there it's a slippery slope to divorce, homelessness or death. a very real, possibility
when only a few months (or years) before this seemingly impossible outcome would have been brushed off as a seemingly impossible
outcome:
sad endings are nothing to scoff at with the 944T. bad things, real-life horror stories, and destroyed lives really does happen....
(moment of silence for the scores of astronauts who came before, only to die on the launch pads).
neutral outcome? ending up on the 986/987 forums.
Last edited by odurandina; 03-13-2015 at 10:23 AM.
03-12-2015, 09:12 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
that was entertaining to read.
however i do agree with an add on…how fast do you want to go, hows your patience level (time to get things right), and how much money do you have?
1&2 are co-dependent.
however i do agree with an add on…how fast do you want to go, hows your patience level (time to get things right), and how much money do you have?
1&2 are co-dependent.
03-13-2015, 10:38 AM
#7
Rainman
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Still gutless but ran much smoother. So I did a compression test. 120-120-105-120. A far cry from the high compression motor it's supposed to be.
What do I do?
Did the timing belt jump a tooth and maybe there's crap on one of the valves?
If that's not the case, is it worth pulling the motor and doing set of rings? Rings and bearings?
Beyond that, some parts are so crazy expensive that I might as well save for a v8. A water pump is the better part of $500, a timing belt will put me back around $350, t-belt tensioner is probably the same.
What do you guys think?
-PC
What do I do?
Did the timing belt jump a tooth and maybe there's crap on one of the valves?
If that's not the case, is it worth pulling the motor and doing set of rings? Rings and bearings?
Beyond that, some parts are so crazy expensive that I might as well save for a v8. A water pump is the better part of $500, a timing belt will put me back around $350, t-belt tensioner is probably the same.
What do you guys think?
-PC
you probably have a mis-timed belt or even the cams are mis-timed to eachother. but the 944S does feel fairly gutless until 4000rpm no matter what.
you are looking in the wrong places for parts - i just bought a timing belt/balance belt kit off pelicanparts (including rollers and tensioners) for $210 (gates belts + INA pulleys). water pump is $100 for a rebuilt piece from zims.. changing the timing belt is about a 2-3 hour endeavour, changing the water pump adds another 4 or so mostly due to cleaning parts.
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03-28-2015, 02:54 AM
#8
how fast do you want to go? how far do you want to go?
best outcome: (in theory); v8, predictable higher than you thought entrance fee,
eventually leading to a solid, reliable, fast car and happiness ever after.
(in reality); a lot of seemingly endless sorting, over the course of many months, followed by nirvana.
944 n/a outcome: thirsting for more power and making the big move (to a 944T)....
944T outcome: fun car, daily soap-opera requiring a dedicated plan, maintenance $$$ and occasional to significant time off the road
tinkering with a host of issues... next; overconfidence sets in: the tuning stage, endlessly wanting more until you are satisfied....
(which of course, rarely actually occurs). from there it's a slippery slope to divorce, homelessness or death. a very real, possibility
when only a few months (or years) before this seemingly impossible outcome would have been brushed off as a seemingly impossible
outcome:
sad endings are nothing to scoff at with the 944T. bad things, real-life horror stories, and destroyed lives really does happen....
(moment of silence for the scores of astronauts who came before, only to die on the launch pads).
neutral outcome? ending up on the 986/987 forums.
best outcome: (in theory); v8, predictable higher than you thought entrance fee,
eventually leading to a solid, reliable, fast car and happiness ever after.
(in reality); a lot of seemingly endless sorting, over the course of many months, followed by nirvana.
944 n/a outcome: thirsting for more power and making the big move (to a 944T)....
944T outcome: fun car, daily soap-opera requiring a dedicated plan, maintenance $$$ and occasional to significant time off the road
tinkering with a host of issues... next; overconfidence sets in: the tuning stage, endlessly wanting more until you are satisfied....
(which of course, rarely actually occurs). from there it's a slippery slope to divorce, homelessness or death. a very real, possibility
when only a few months (or years) before this seemingly impossible outcome would have been brushed off as a seemingly impossible
outcome:
sad endings are nothing to scoff at with the 944T. bad things, real-life horror stories, and destroyed lives really does happen....
(moment of silence for the scores of astronauts who came before, only to die on the launch pads).
neutral outcome? ending up on the 986/987 forums.
Don't forget the fires. The fires will get you.
04-03-2015, 12:03 PM
#9
Three Wheelin'
Unfortunately a $700 944 is probably going to need fair amount of work. Hopefully you are able to wrench and do majority of work.
Odurandina for president! 
how fast do you want to go? how far do you want to go?
best outcome: (in theory); v8, predictable higher than you thought entrance fee,
eventually leading to a solid, reliable, fast car and happiness ever after.
(in reality); a lot of seemingly endless sorting, over the course of many months, followed by nirvana.
944 n/a outcome: thirsting for more power and making the big move (to a 944T)....
944T outcome: fun car, daily soap-opera requiring a dedicated plan, maintenance $$$ and occasional to significant time off the road
tinkering with a host of issues... next; overconfidence sets in: the tuning stage, endlessly wanting more until you are satisfied....
(which of course, rarely actually occurs). from there it's a slippery slope to divorce, homelessness or death. a very real, possibility
when only a few months (or years) before this seemingly impossible outcome would have been brushed off as a seemingly impossible
outcome:
sad endings are nothing to scoff at with the 944T. bad things, real-life horror stories, and destroyed lives really does happen....
(moment of silence for the scores of astronauts who came before, only to die on the launch pads).
neutral outcome? ending up on the 986/987 forums.
best outcome: (in theory); v8, predictable higher than you thought entrance fee,
eventually leading to a solid, reliable, fast car and happiness ever after.
(in reality); a lot of seemingly endless sorting, over the course of many months, followed by nirvana.
944 n/a outcome: thirsting for more power and making the big move (to a 944T)....
944T outcome: fun car, daily soap-opera requiring a dedicated plan, maintenance $$$ and occasional to significant time off the road
tinkering with a host of issues... next; overconfidence sets in: the tuning stage, endlessly wanting more until you are satisfied....
(which of course, rarely actually occurs). from there it's a slippery slope to divorce, homelessness or death. a very real, possibility
when only a few months (or years) before this seemingly impossible outcome would have been brushed off as a seemingly impossible
outcome:
sad endings are nothing to scoff at with the 944T. bad things, real-life horror stories, and destroyed lives really does happen....
(moment of silence for the scores of astronauts who came before, only to die on the launch pads).
neutral outcome? ending up on the 986/987 forums.
05-25-2015, 10:49 AM
#12
Intermediate
I just picked up a 951 with $4500 worth of receipts so I'm really hoping the PO took care of most of the soap opera.
02-04-2018, 01:51 PM
#15
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My question would be how much are you willing or able to enjoy the journey compared to the outcome? If the latter beats out the former, then let that guide your decision.