4evrnyt

Was hoping to hear from someone who has paid a shop to rebuild their engine and what the total cost ended up being. I'm ok hearing about any year. Hopefully a more recent job is better for gauging pricing but anything within the last couple years should work.

TIA.

Bret.

linderpat

Need more info. Just heads? Re-doing the cylinders? Welding?

Jerry Feather

Greg Brown is our precision 928 motor rebuilder. Give him a shout out.

4evrnyt

I guess what I'm looking for is a full engine R&R. Machine the block and heads. Keeping everything stock. Minimal bore just to clean up the cylinders. Deck the block, stuff that I would consider standard engine rebuild machine work. If a valve angle job was done than fine but I would consider that extra. My overall goal would essentially to have a fresh motor in the car.

Im not really interested in the cost of putting in a different or newer motor, I want to keep the original motor with the vehicle.

Let me know if that's enough info. Thanks!

drkekar

I had my 86.5 done about 4 years ago. Carl from 928 Motorsports did it. I had the whole bottom end done on what you are talking about. Had the bores done and diamond cut, Forged pistons with ceramic coated tops, rod and main bearings, polished crank seals front and rear with a deck cut. That was around $6,500.00 at that time. I had my heads redone locally new stem seals, polished with deck surfacing. That was around $1,200.00.

Not sure 928 Motorsports is doing that now I believe Carl sold and moved on.

Hope that helps.
David

4evrnyt

Appreciated

Red Flash

I think if I were in your shoes, I would first have the heads done and while doing so take a look at the cylinders and pistons before deciding on a complete motor rebuild. (After carbon removal on the pistons and on close examination, the bores on my GT with ca. 90'000 miles looked almost new.)

The heads are the weak point here and could be anywhere between USD 2'000 and USD 4'500 depending on how bad they are. Consequently, the price mentioned by David above seems very low for a 928 rebuild actually.

The motors are quite robust and unless you suspect something, I bet the lower end is ok. Just my general risk assessment as a rookie.

Speedtoys

$8-20k depending what's wrong, not just a spit and polish. But full head job, full block and supporting actors refresh to new, and updated parts where things have been learned in the last 40yrs.

I just spend $2k on just a head full R&R, that required -no- grinding or welding to repair cooling system cancer (more common than not). What I -actually- spend was in the blast zone of $6k getting updated to 21st century knowledge.


No idea what year your car is, but some years have heads you probly should update, so they dont crack on reinstallation...but you gotta find some...


There are probly...3 (?) people in North America I would let fully and properly rebuild a 928 motor right now.

GregBBRD

What year and model?

Constantine

Hi Bret,

Cost is only one part of this journey. The main issue is to engage with someone who has the knowledge and capability to rebuild the 928 engine correctly through the whole process. I have been tangently involved in such projects and anyone who has done this will tell you, the 928 engine is unique and very difficult to rebuild correctly.

Do your homework on the shop you choose to engage with and listen carefully to advice being given on this thread. Also understand the minute you start wanting more power, your costs and potential problems start climbing exponentially.

Greg Brown, who just asked you a very important question, is one of the most knowledgeable 928 engine builders in the country. Answer his question posed which will help you get a good ball park answer.

Good luck with the project you have in mind.

GerritD

Bret, if the bores and pistons of the engine are still in good shape, rebuilding the engine is not that hard. Just stick to the WSM and do the procedures in the correct order following the correct numbers of tightening.
I did rebuilt my engine myself. Engine was a 4.7L Euro M28.12 of 1981.
I reused the pistons, valves and oil pump. I just put new rings, new gaskets, new valve seals, new bearings. There is an all in one kit with the seals/gaskets.
I also measured if my heads were straight and this was the case, otherwise let them redone by a shop.
I also reused the studs of the engine.
Counting the costs of the materials, it costed me about $ 2000 which is cheap for a 928 engine.
When you let this done by a professional Porsche shop in Europe, it will cost you between $6000 to $9000 since labor costs in Europa are quite high (about $120 / hour) and
the materials they are using are often orginal Porsche parts which cost twice the price.

Unfortunately I had some bad luck because there is a huge crack in the engine (from cilinder 1 to 4). It was probably already there when I bought the engine but not detectable by the eye.
And after a few years, heat/cold on the engine caused the hidden crack to emerge.

So now I bought another used short block of Euro 4.7 M28.12 of 1982 with good bores and pistons.
And I will be redoing the rebuilt again myself. But I will probably first let the short block check on any hidden cracks by a specialized shop.
To make sure it is in good shape.
Unfortunately here in Europe the early 928S engines in good shape are very hard to find, most of them a often damaged (scored bores)
Last time I had to search for such an engine it took me 3 years !
Last month I was lucky to find one again that quick, in Germany.

4evrnyt

We're still trying to find our car. Was trying to get an idea of the cost if I was to consider a car with higher miles.

For example one vehicle we're considering is an 88 S4 with 240,000 miles.

Thanks for your time

Gary Knox

if the car/engine have been well cared for, the bottom end of the engine could still be in good condition. Or, with poor care, it could be in very poor condition and rebuilding would not be worth the cost. I would certainly want to know about coolant changes over the past 34 years, as that could impact condition of the heads/top of block.

A Pre-Purchase Inspection by an expert 928 mechanic should be in order.

Shark Attack

I'm currently doing one myself. Being frugal as possible. I'm at 10k and I should have done a clutch and flywheel, but didn't. The motor is in the car but has a tick. I will be pulling it again in a few weeks after I take a break. I have something going on with the head/valves in cylinder 1 and 2.

Speedtoys

With "a very low labor cost in VERY experienced hands friends & family deal", including head machine work, new lightweight DLC coated lifters, reground cams, bearings, and tons of WYAIT, I was probly in for $12k..easy.

If I had to pay real labor rates, closer to 20.

I should note that we didnt do rings, as that's a whole nother ball of wax and $100/hr specialist dealer labor clock was starting to run short.