968-sjc

Can anyone recommend a machine shop in Orange County to rework the head of my 87 Turbo? I've heard there is a great guy in Anaheim but I can't seem to get contact info. I'm specifically looking for someone with prior 944 experience.

Thanks for any help...

V2Rocket

What kind of re-work are you talking about? Just clean up and rebuilt or some performance work?

Any shop can do a head rebuild. I have used Wayne's Engine in Riverside to do a few 944 heads as stock rebuilds and they clean it, mill it, clean up the seats, new stem seals and new guides for ~$220 in a day or two.

kev951

Motoworks in san Diego.

doabarrelroll

Foreign Machine Service in Pasadena is where I had all my engine work done. Jim is a great guy with about 40 years experience. He does all the work for Rusnak Porsche, Jaguar, BMW, etc.

He did an amazing job for me.

dual cams

Second that!!! Jim does great work

968-sjc

Excellent question...at the end of the second session at Streets last week, I lost power and started getting an intermittent tapping sound (scale is: injectors go tick, rods go clunk, this is a tap - if that makes sense). I took the cam tower and head off this weekend - nothing immediately obvious. First thought is bent valve stem/guide failure or some other contributor to stickiness; next is failed lifter; MAYBE bearings after that but really doesn't seem like it.

I'm scratching my head to recall if my autocross student rotated the drivetrain backwards and damaged a valve with his collossal spin the week before Willow - he panicked and didn't get the clutch in. Is that plausible?

However it happened, it's stock rebuild if my suspicions are correct. Since the source isn't jumping out at me, I'm also looking for some 944 engine experience wherever I take it to evaluate the situation first.

V2Rocket

any valve springs broken?

V2Rocket

Anybody have a phone number for this place?

Wheel Dynamics

Scientific Automotive Service
Owner: Jack
1727 E Walnut St
Pasadena, CA 91106

doabarrelroll

They aren't a machine shop. They do service work only and are actually down the street from Jim. If you gave them an engine they'd probably send it to Jim anyway, haha.

@V2

Foreign Machine Service
(626) 440-1409

Wheel Dynamics

Just trying to offer up some options is all... Good Luck to you.

968-sjc

Thanks for the recommendations. I rarely every post because I'm way behind the experience curve relative to you folks but I do recognize that I've received input from some of the top voices on the forum so, again, thank you.

I've spoken to a number of machine shops and was impressed with several. There is a large 944 contingent in San Diego so I believe the shops down there have enough stick time on these engines to do it right and San Diego is way more convenient, logistically.

kev951 - are you still offering wrench support to home mechanics over their heads on their 944 work? (I seem to remember you mentioning that in posts some time ago)

968-sjc

Just a follow up -

The weakness of the #2 rod bearing is well documented so logic would suggest that it should have ranked near the top of my suspicions rather than the bottom. The car only has 86k on the clock compared to one of our other cars with 130k. I suppose every car is different and the recent years have been A/X and DE for this one. We were meticulous with upgrades and repairs but apparently missed it on the rod bearings. Scored cylinders have tipped the scales against rebuilding the turbo engine. California restrictions and expense make the LS conversion unlikely. I'm sure I know what LART will say if he reads this post.

Thanks again for the help and for lending so much support to the 944 online community.

V2Rocket

CA smog laws don't say anything about cylinder sleeves.
they don't really say anything about oversize bores either. they just recommend "rebuilding the original engine with transmission".

an overbore will not make any difference on a smog inspection if the car would pass before.

kev951

Yes 968 , my offer(s) still stand