Rennlist - Porsche Discussion Forums - 1986 951 Reconstruction Thread

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- - 1986 951 Reconstruction Thread (https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-944-951-968-forum/1214420-1986-951-reconstruction-thread.html)

Yes sir - my "to do" list is growing but head gasket and rod bearings have been added. I realize I am succumbing to the 'WYAIT' bug, but luckily the PPO had purchased a lot of the needed parts so I am only having to buy the WYAIT stuff...

Blasted a few of the brackets, etc. and primed for protection. I think I have a lead on a local place that will replate everything that needs it for a good price, but if not I may try the metallic silver - metallic gold - pink treatment for a faux finish.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...859314b60.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...167135397.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...45c77832d.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...73a520893.jpeg

If you are looking to save time, I would consider dry-ice blasting everything in-place. I just did this to a pair of my cars (a 930 and a 931) and the results were phenomenal and fast. The trick is finding someone local to you with the equipment.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...86aa6b5d0.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...8d075bdb4f.jpg

Micah -

that’s awesome! I may look into that. I have heard that steam works well also, but I don’t know who might have that either.

will look into it - thanks for sharing!

Have not found anyone yet with the dry ice equipment so still working by hand...this weekend involved more cleaning as well as removal of a couple of brackets. Also retrieved a bunch of already removed parts as well as new parts that the PPO had purchased to redo this motor.

Some cleaning pics...

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...beaa5f701.jpeg
Pass side after initial cleaning.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...49d326720.jpeg
Still a lot of nooks and crannies to go.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...e515f0d5b.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...c6a3addc8.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...9517a4de8.jpeg
PPO had already purchased O-rings and gasket for oil cooler mount so it is coming off and will be cleaned in the parts washer.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...2b933a61c.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...06379a9d2.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...78ed532bd.jpeg
Oil pan little cleaner now - but coming off anyway for bearings.

Does this look familiar to anyone?

Can't identify this - looks like a rebuild kit for...?

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...a8c12ac32.jpeg

Throttle body. Check arnnworx for the instructions.

Progress going slow but putting my new to me $10 homemade parts washer to work. Don't know how I have made it without one of these. Still have some stubborn dirt to remove but coming along nicely.

Here are some parts pics as they have been being cleaned.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...dfbcac930.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...8ae95017f.jpeg
Alternator bracket came out pretty good.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...a463f7207.jpeg
Still need to do more work on the oil cooler. Wish I could get the fittings back to the original finish by cleaning and not having to think about replating. We'll see what happens. Have not attempted the faux finish on anything yet.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...513fa7b59.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...b51856986.jpeg
PS pump came out ok.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...bdc2b8594.jpeg
Other bits pretty clean.

Experimentation with faux finish

So I wanted to experiment a bit with the faux technique I read about. I think it turned out ok - certainly better than the grungy stuff that was in there, but still not quite the look of yellow zinc or cad plating. I think it will look ok at a distance and be a nice contrast to the aluminum and black in the engine bay.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...5d8f15ec2.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...dd67444e6.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...107c6662e.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...3a873adac.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...c2ccae23b.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...6e1553bf7.jpeg
I may try a coat of gloss clear on top, but I think after curing we'll just leave it alone.

After a couple of weeks of work...

Well - I have continued working on the teardown of the 951 engine and have some updated photos below and some serious questions that I need advice on...my comments below the pics as usual.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...8f4e7e908.jpeg
Here is what was lurking behind the Oil Cooler body.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...1303e26a6.jpeg
And the water pump...apparently coolant or water was left in here for all too long.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...a50401f10.jpeg
I pulled the cam tower and was relieved to see no gunk at all, so I thought that pointed to oil cooler o-ring failure instead of head. Perhaps all the gunk was confined to the water passages?
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...a10e906cf.jpeg
Looking down into the head pre-removal...looks pretty clean in there.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...afddeddff.jpeg
Then I pulled the head and found this. I was able to vacuum a good bit of the scale, etc. up. The white powdery stuff in Cyl 4 was almost top to bottom in the water jacket. The gasket itself lifted off in one piece but has some issues.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...11246eea8.jpeg
After I got some of the scale and residue out with the shop vac. Pretty deep down in the jacket though.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...412b49b6c.jpeg
Looking from front to back across the bores. A little skeptical on the vertical marks - from what I understand that is bad.

So here is where the advice comes in. I believe I have two options: 1) continue pulling this engine apart and take the block to a machine shop and have the cylinders bored and wet sleeved. Option 2 would be to find a replacement block. With option 1 I know I would reuse everything (balance shafts, pistons, crank, etc.).

For option 1: Can I reuse everything with a different block? My understanding is I can use a N/A 944 block as this is a 1986 model. As long as I use the same crankshaft and balance shafts everything is ok?

FWIW this is the farthest into a 4 cycle engine I have been - so I am reading and learning as I go. Going farther is fine but we will have more questions (many more)!

Thanks for the input.

Productive long weekend

Well the long Thanksgiving break provided some time to get some major work done. Step one was to get the rest of the car in the garage. Here are a few pics of moving day. Step two was inventory. Lots o' parts all over the place!

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...4517483dd.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...f650010ad.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...6be2737e4.jpeg
Have to get a new left hand fog lens cover
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...e06801f72.jpeg
Complete set of turbo tele-dials (with one brand new) to go on when finished.

Some interior pics

The main reason for parking the car was leaking battery tray, so that will be cut out and replaced - then the interior can start to be reassembled. Have to get some parts, as some of the old was so moldy and mildewed it was just trashed (e.g. door cards).

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...fc51e97ea.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...23a21551a.jpeg
Heater box is about the only thing left in the interior. I have a spare but it needs to be
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...568ebd1f5.jpeg
May do some sort of rear seat delete in this one. Have not decided. I don't have any rear seats at this point anyway.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...72de0d59e.jpeg
Headliner is still intact.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...ea6defaca.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...ef4bfa3d7.jpeg
Do have a drivers' seat. I like the Porsche script material...wish it was not so expensive.

Still working on engine block disassembly and looking forward to getting block and head to machine shop. Thankfully PO had purchased most of the engine reassembly parts...I will have to get a few additional (e.g. rod bearings) that we did not have.

So ended getting a parts stash for about 1/2 price and a free car to go along with it. I'm excited!