Tom R.

I just spoke to the shop working on my head. Turns out the head was off and they used a rolac disc (correct me please) on the head.

The machinist is steaming the head and will report how bad it is. We will replace the tensioner & chain, 3 angle grind, some hoses, belts, motor mounts etc. Now i am in Perry territory.

what gaskets have to be replaced so the motor wont leak with synthetic in it?

any other suggestions as to how to spend my daughters college fund?

Even with a PPI one can get screwed. But 25k for an $2 isnt that bad, is it?

Man I am pissed!

Robert D

Ouch. You could of had my S for far less then that.

Even with the high mileage, all it needs in another 70~80k is a lower-rebuild. The top-end has been done already with new cams, valves, guides, chain, etc.

AndyK

That does suck Tom! Was this all caused by that original over-heating situation you described? The Porsche dealer messing up the hoses, etc? Or was it just a bad motor to begin with?

I guess the milkshake syndrome isn't always a quick (inexpensive) fix via oil cooler seal re-do?

If my wife saw this post, I would NEVER be able to even look for another 944!

Tom R.

i think it was someone pulling the wool over the eyes of my mechanic and me.

glad i purposely looked for a low mileage car! looks like Z made the right decision buying a higher mileage car with all the work done already.

i gave a guy at work a lecture about planning to spend 20k on a house immediately after purchasing it. I should have planned on spending 10k on the car immediately after purchasing it.

but i did drive it almost 3 years.

Tom R.

I just cracked the code for porsches system of numbers.

The S stands for $, the 2 on the S2 should be above, not below the S because it is exponentially more expensive to maintain.

it is S squared or $$!

Tom Carson

if you have opened that much (engine that is) front seals would make sense

then if you are doing the motor mounts it's not much more to drop the pan and...hey you're right...this could be the next 'ill fated rebuild' project ;-)

AndyK

Ah Hah!! The S2 is more of a PITA to maintain than a regular 8-valve? I thought it was just a matter of tensioner replacement?

ERAU-944

It doesn't necessarily cost anymore to maintain an S2 than an 8v..it's just more expensive for things like timing belt failures..this problem could happen on an 8v just the same.

It's just usually cheaper to buy a whole 8v motor than do all this work to it..the S2 motor is another story...they're a lot more rare so it's not as easy to just get a new one, so more has to be spent fixing an existing one most of the time.

But as far as the power vs extra money you get on the S2, I think it's worth it There's definately a lot less to go wrong on these than on a turbo..but again its the hassle vs the extra thrill of boost..hmmm..

dave120

Woops forgot ERAU was still logged in on my computer!

Tom R.

I just told the shop to put in a new water pump (about 350 P&L) since we are doing belts, and things are open. he only uses new water pumps, and i agree with that one.

and, when he changes the motor mounts check the oil pan for seepage. if it is starting, which we know it will after 14 years, change the oil pan gasket and rod bearings (450 P&L), i think the total will be close to $4,000 and the increase in resale value will be $3.50!

Oh, did i mention that i love this car? i better after this expenditure.

those new seats i bought better be soft because i think i am getting a reaming here!

Robert D

You know, I spent a good 3800 on my top-end at around 175k miles. The car has always been expensive to maintain, but thats the story with almost any Porsche. My brother spent almost 7k on a rebuild for his 912E, of course it involved a hot cam and webber carbs.

I doubt anybody has a Porsche older then 1994 with under 8k invested on maintenance alone (with the car actually looking half-way decent). Its just a fact of P-Car life...to own you have to pay up. No matter if you do it initially, afterwards, or both...as in this case.

Sorry to hear this happened, but keep in mind your car should run great for a long time after the repairs!!!

Tom R.

i guess i shouldnt compare the car to my brothers 84. he bought it two years ago with 34k for 7500. other than a clutch master & slave and speakers everything else has been maintenance, belts, alternator, water pump, brakes. and the car has over 90k now.

i think he has a total of 11k in his car which includes ROH 17" rims and he drove it over 60k miles.

i have over 11k in maintenance alone and drove the car 16k miles.

As long as the wife and baby are healthy all the rest doesn't matter!

AndyK

I figure if you pay under $10k for a Porsche, you should also figure on paying another $5k in repairs. So, for $15k, you have a Porsche in great shape...a deal, IMHO.

You could spend $19k on a used Acura RSX-S...but you wind up with, well, an Acura!

If you don't get a kick out of seeing a Porsche crest in your driveway, buying an old 944 really doesn't make sense. If you DO love the cars, then there is no stopping the rationalization of repair costs!

Robert D

It would be interesting to break down the cost of maintenance over the number of miles the car has driven....NAAAH!

On second thought, I'll try to ignore how much I spend on the car and enjoy every second I occupy its driver's seat. Moving or not.

Owning a Porsche is not a status symbol, its a state of mind...basically, the state of mind where you would sell a kidney for a valve job.

Tom R.

paid 12,500 including tax for the car with 56600 miles. will have 24,000 into the car with 73200 miles. thats $13,500 for say 17000 miles, or .79 a mile. say 2,000 was maintenance. thats .68 a mile, and assumes i can get 12,500 for the car after the head is done.

A lease on a new 350Z, TLS, 325i is about 400 a month say 450 a month with 12k a year. thats 4800 a year for 12000 miles or .40 a mile, assuming it is driven the full 12000 miles a year.

A loaded sunbird will cost about 15000 out the door. after 4 years with 50k it will be worth 5k. thats 10000 for 50k or .20 a mile assuming nothing major in the fourth year.

I paid a bit under 19k with tax for my first acura. i rolled the insurance proceeds into another legend when the first was stolen. drove the cars a total of 75k. did a belt job, a radiator, and a door handle totaling less than 1k. so i had 20k into the car sold it for 7200 to a friend with 1k in bodywork needed.

cost me 13000 to drive the car 75000 miles or .17 a worry free fast great handling mile.

what was that they say about japanese cars?