Race Bred

Well with less than a week of owning my 944 the timing belt decided to let go yesterday. I was just pulling out into traffic and then a few bangs and the motor died . It is a 1983 N/A for the record. The point of this post is to see how much I am looking at for replacement (rough estimate). What makes me mad is the guy says the belt was replaced less than 2 years ago.
So if I do all the labor I’m looking at the price of a new timing belt head gasket set and balance shaftbelt? Also what about getting the (I’m assuming) bent valves fixed. Thanks for the help. Also what else to replace while im in there...

seb928s

Water pump,seals, and rollers. Looking at around 1k for the repairs.

iloveporsches

I paid $1300 to have my head "rebuilt" when I needed a headgasket replaced, so no valves ($$$) were replaced.

You should do the belts, waterpump, rollers, and front seals for sure while you have it all apart. Consider rebuilding the head also. The valves can be kinda pricey, IIRC.

xsboost90

youll need a headgasket, front seal kit, belts, waterpump, valves, might as well do some hoses and flush the fluids.

I MISS MY SUPRA!!!

seb928s

Where you at?

Race Bred

Tallahassee Florida.

xs boost: I thought your name looked familiar.

Thanks for the quick replies guys. I am almost wondering if it would be cheaper in the long run to go with a motor that I don’t have to live in fear of the timing belt.

seb928s

Well either way I would do the timing belt,seals,rollers, and water pump on a used motor if it hasn't been rebuilt right before you bought it. Might as well just fix your own and then you know the condition. I'm in St.Petersburg to far for me to travel.

Porsche-O-Phile

Not to mention valves (probably at least one bent, probably more), possible piston damage & cylinder scoring depending on whether anything fell in.

Sorry, but I'd say your BEST case is $1,000.00

Worst is new engine. Bummer. Gotta keep them belts tight & new on these engines.

Dsalillas

buy a used head with good valves(ebay, they sell for around $100 or less) and then get it freshened up. You'll save a whole lot of money instead of rebuilding the one you have if you have busted valves. This is just a suggestion so I'm sure someone will shoot it down but hey it's a cheaper solution.

RobbyK

I hope nothin happened to the pistons on the 83 they are forged compaired to the later cars.

Jim 944S

Race Bred...

The only way to know something is done right is to do it yourself... and even then its' a risk! One of the prices we all pay for not having to make "Real" car payments.

At least is an 8 valve and not an "S"... now there's a bank account shocker!!!

Dsallias ... Fix it!!! Don't part it out!!! Com'on Guy, misery loves company

Jim 1987 944S

FSAEracer03

Dsallias has the right idea IMO... if you can't find a head on eBay, also search through the Rennlist classifieds ad post a WANTED: thread! I'm sure you'll be able to find a good one from a member around here!

PorscheDoc

You can pretty much take the head to any machine shop, you don't need to go to an expensive "porsche" shop. Shouldnt be too much to clean the head up, replace the seals and guides, then plus whatever valves were smashed. I got away with only 1 bent valve when mine went, so it can vary. I think the total bill for the valves, seals, guides, and labor was around 300. Then you have the head gasket kit, get a widefire...150 bucks for all the gaskets. T belt + balance shaft belt is 50. Rollers will be around 100. Waterpump if you do it will be around 250-300. That should get you back up and running. Then you have to get someone to tension it.

seb928s

Cost me 80$ just to have new seals and valve guides put in with 4 new intake valves. They cleaned it up and did all that. They are a really well known place in town that do really good jobs on that kind of stuff. They didn't do to many Porsche cylinder heads but so for about 10k and still no problem.

slang

Wow! $1000 or so? Costs for this have really dropped.

A friend [still] has an '84 944. He broke the timing belt while sitting at a traffic light (engine idling). Towed it to a local (Houston) indy that he trusted. Cost $3500. This was probably 8-10 years ago.

Worse. He also [still] has an '86(?) 928. His wife was driving it down the highway about 6 years ago and the timing belt let loose. Cost . . .

. . . are you sitting down? . . .


$12,000!

The dealer wanted a lot more. The car was only worth about $16K at the time, but he is glad he had it fixed.

I drove it prior to the event - wonderful car! Not as much fun as the '44, but great to cruise the highway in.

Hopefully you didn't do much damage. An engine in good shape should be available for around $500, $1000 if freshly rebuilt. Maybe less. Maybe more.

Good luck! Hope you get 'er back on the road soon!