Need a 'Great Mechanic' appreciate help
09-23-2009, 05:52 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
May want to edit the thread title to include "Toronto area" - I know there are a few 944/951 guys in the GTA and "toronto" will likely catch their eye
09-24-2009, 01:53 PM
#6
Captain Obvious
Super User
Super User
Marc,
Thanks for sending a PM, otherwise I would have never looked at this post. Another cheap S4…… I like the sound of that. I think the best would be if I come over and have a quick look at it for you. I’m not a great mechanic but I did sleep in my 928! Now all joking aside. Pulling the heads on and S4 is a lot easier than the early 32Vs (85-86 928s). The S4 don’t have studs so the heads just slide off the block. The early 32vs had studs and it was near impossible to pull the heads with the engine in the car. So you lucked out in that department.
Can you start the engine and does it run ok (besides that it’s using coolant)? When was the last time the timing belt and the water pump were changed? Is there anything else that needs attention, besides the head gasket?
Here’s the bad part: The head gasket set is around $350 for a quality aftermarket kit or over a grand from the dealer. Depending on how bad the heads are warped, it might only need a skimming or they could easily be cracked too. You can’t really tell until they are pulled and inspected.
I’ve pulled the heads off my ’85 twice and the only real difference between the two engines is the intake manifold. The rest are almost the same.
If you can, pull the spark plugs, the one that looks brand new or rusty, has the blown gasket. It’s possible that only one head gasket is blown or you could be really lucky and the leak is only in the transmission cooler (inside the radiator).
PM you number and I’ll call you to set something up.
Imre
Thanks for sending a PM, otherwise I would have never looked at this post. Another cheap S4…… I like the sound of that. I think the best would be if I come over and have a quick look at it for you. I’m not a great mechanic but I did sleep in my 928! Now all joking aside. Pulling the heads on and S4 is a lot easier than the early 32Vs (85-86 928s). The S4 don’t have studs so the heads just slide off the block. The early 32vs had studs and it was near impossible to pull the heads with the engine in the car. So you lucked out in that department.
Can you start the engine and does it run ok (besides that it’s using coolant)? When was the last time the timing belt and the water pump were changed? Is there anything else that needs attention, besides the head gasket?
Here’s the bad part: The head gasket set is around $350 for a quality aftermarket kit or over a grand from the dealer. Depending on how bad the heads are warped, it might only need a skimming or they could easily be cracked too. You can’t really tell until they are pulled and inspected.
I’ve pulled the heads off my ’85 twice and the only real difference between the two engines is the intake manifold. The rest are almost the same.
If you can, pull the spark plugs, the one that looks brand new or rusty, has the blown gasket. It’s possible that only one head gasket is blown or you could be really lucky and the leak is only in the transmission cooler (inside the radiator).
PM you number and I’ll call you to set something up.
Imre