Kishme79

Hello all,

I have a 1986 911, that is currently burning about 600 miles per quart. I drive the car 3 to 4 times a week about a 150 miles each time. The strange thing is on open road it consumes about a quart every 700 miles and about a quart every 600 miles in traffic in Los Angeles. I started to look at doing a top end rebuild and I am trying to see how much I should spend on one. Based on the cost of parts and machine costs I am guessing is should be around $5-6k to get a basic to-end done and increasing from there depending on each engines needs.

But I have looked at a bunch of places that are well known in my area, from Tre, redline, and more. Each one is asking for $8-12k to do a top end and replace my valve guides. One place told me it would be $5k and then when I was going to do it switched to $8k before they even started. Most of the places have are going to need the car for 1-3 months.

What should a top end cost? Does any one have a recommendation for reputable place that is not going to over charge.

Thank you for ny help and advise.

1986 Targa

Give Dutch Treat a call.

310-793-2300.

And, have a look at the Pelican forum.

Best,

Gerry

theiceman

I think you could easily double that

rstarga

6-8k for just a top end is about market rate. If your pistons, rings, cylinders have wear probably double.
You need to do a leak down to get a better idea of where the problem is.
Have you tried TLG, they are in the LA area.

Amber Gramps

Be very careful here in SoCal as MotorMeister reopened under a different name just one town over. You can kiss your engine good bye if you get tangled up in that web.

Kishme79

Thanks for all the comments. I just did not understand why some of the quotes were the amount they were when the parts were not that high.

I have done a leak down test, number 6 numbers aren't great. I have fouled 1 plug there. But the other thing is my car does not smoke really. It does when I start is up after it sits for a while but does not when it runs. Also smokes the morning after I top off oil. When it does smoke I get a puff of blue/white smoke and it's gone.

I would have thought I would be smoking a lot if I am burning oil.

Any ways thanks a lot guys I will call the places mentioned. Some one also mentioned RS enterprises in Ventura. Anybody hear anything about this shop?

Jimmerb

I bought an '88 in Ventura County 4 years ago. It was using about a qt every 300 miles. Had the top end done at MKS Performance, Inc. in Camarillo. The bill was in the 6-7K range. Very happy and satisfied. I'd give them a call. A qt every 600 miles doesn't sound that bad to me. Of course the cost of the rebuild will only go higher with time.

http://www.mksperformance.com

Amber Gramps

Just for a fun reference a set of 3,4 jugs and plugs can be picked up on Ebay for $1,800 from one manufacturer or for over $6,000 from another. Same specs, but are they both "the same"?

froggert

One quart every 6-700 miles doesn't sound bad to me.

gerry100

My top end w/ new studs/valve guides etc was $6k in upstate NY 10 yrs ago.

You should also consider a new clutch disc, 2nd gear synchro and related parts while the engine is out

oldskewel

I agree. It is high, but technically within the spec of 1 liter per 1000 km.

Kishme79

Here's my next question for you guys, would you do a full rebuild or just a top end? So I took my car to a place and they said since I am going to do a top end then I should do the bottom as well since I have my engine out. The car has 87k miles on it. They said the top end was going to roughly be $7k, and full rebuild would be $14k.

Does this sound right? Seems a little much.

GTgears

Have you even done leakdown and compression tests? Oil consumption alone is no reason to rebuild.

theiceman

oil is cheap compared to engine rebuilds. I would not rebuild on oil consumption alone. Now if you are oiling and fouling plugs it is definitely time or if your leak down failed miserably ( as then you are losing compression and power.
The car could run like that for another 10 years with no issues.

I have heard the bottom end on these is rock solid. I did my own top end and did not even hesitate about not spiltting the case. no reason to.

m42racer

The smoke you are seeing is typical from worn valve guide(s). I would hazard a guess its from exhaust guide(s). Does not require the btm end to be touched.