Chris

It sounds like the engine has to come out no matter what, if you are doing your own wrenching then stripping the engine down and finding the culprit is not an issue. But, you are having a mechanic do the work, not sure what his rates are but it is not going to be cheap.

At some point think about getting a used engine and going that route, if you have spun a rod bearing chances are (unless you are lucky) there is more damage than just the bearing. With a thrust as Louie mentioned the fragments could just be the bearing you may have caught it just in time.

With metal particles moving around in the engine the whole system has to be flushed & cleaned, once those particles are in the sump they end up everywhere.

I'd talk to your mechanic about different options and costs, a used short block is pretty inexpensive.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Chris

Adam C

The best thing to do sometimes is to do nothing - if you've got that luxury. I was so sickened after my SC install at the way the car was running, and after all the dough I put into it. I put on a agrand total of about 2000 miles in one year of ownership. Granted I knowingly bought a car that had issues, which I resolved every single one, and introduced a few more with the SC.

I parked it for about four to five months. Just started it the other day and drove around and it seems like the trouble is minor. My perception made it much worse than it was.

Randy V

Jet - just to clarify - TBF = Thrust Bearing Failure (not Timing Belt Failure as you may be interpreting it).

Big Dave

All the thrust bearing failures I've heard about involved an engine that seized. It sounds like yours hasn't seized, so either you've caught it very early or something else (i.e., spun bearing) happened.

If you have access to an engine hoist, you can take your time over the winter and pull the engine out yourself. It's a long process, but the engine removal process is detailed with photos in the workshop manuals. Once the engine is out, you should have no trouble getting inside the crankcase to find out what's wrong.

Even if it is a failure that requires a new engine, you'll already have the old one disassembled and ready to sell whatever is usable (heads, cams, covers, etc.).

I went through the same decision last winter and figured it was better to fix it myself than sell a dead car at a massive loss.

jetrainor

Thanks all.....had a good yak with the mech this aft.....he feels it may well be thrust bearing failure but i wont know until we can pull the engine....he has 4 911 motors in various stages of rebuilds in front of him at this point so what i'm going to do is get the car home, stuff it in back of the garage and not do mucn until later this fall. I'll admit i'm tinkering with the idea of a small block chevy if the 5 liter is pooched....same great ride and handling without the niggling mechanical worries. Another local 928 (86) just siezed on the guy shortly after TB/Wp and a bunch of $....I believe it was a loose cam bolt. I know this is heresy but anyone familiar with a small block conversion kit so i could at least consider all my options?

thanks

FlyingDog

Rob Budd and Malibu310 have SBC powered Sharks. You're better off buying a used 928 engine.

OrionKhan

Just and FYI,Dave. My engine didn't seize after my TBF. But I think it was pretty darn close to it.

DANdeMAN

Mighty brave of you to admit that...Personaly, you car will be worth about 1/2 of what it would be with a Porsche engine. This is only if you want to sell it in the future. If this is the car that you will have till do us part, then it does not matter EXCEPT, when you'll open the hood what will greet you and the "viewers" will NOT be a supercar engine bay! Again, if the look of your engine bay does not matter to you, it's OK. I have an 84s with the Spyder intake, No way will a Chev engine compete with that or an 87 bay. Next, is the sound that you will get from INSIDE the cokpit, will not be the same sweet V8 Porsche sound that you are acostum to. Have you thought about this one? Most of your time will be spent inside the car not outside - if I'm correct. One option, is to "dump" a chev engine in while you rebuilt the other one over a long period and see how you feel about the chev engine...Just my two pence. Good luck

Gueedokillerpimp

Damn......it sucks what happened. Reading your post makes me nervous about putting a whole lot of money into mine. I guess everything is a gamble with these cars as old as they are. No shame in going with a different engine......if mine goes I may do the same thing. Good luck

DANdeMAN

Just had a flash. Before you go ahead with the chevy engine, consider the Mercedes Benz 6.3 or is it 6.9 engine (if it fits). These babies have 400+hp stock and they eat covettes alive on the drag strip with the 4 speed auto box. They look good & sound great to. Come to thing of it, if/when my engine blows (God forbid), I might consider that!
Let me see if I can find some pic and a video of it....

EDIT : Sorry, just 286hp and one wrote 375lbs torque.

DANdeMAN

This one will give you a good idea http://www.300sel.com/limo/600%20det...gine%20bay.jpg

Gueedokillerpimp

Big Dave

Actually, this isn't exactly true. The Chevy-powered 928 here in town has received offers for 3-4 times what it was worth before the conversion. There are people out there that will pay a premium for the cars who are fans of the Corvette engine. You may lose interest from Porsche fanatics, but Chevy fanatics will take their place.

aircooler

Hey Jetrainor,

Sorry to read of your misfortune.

You wrote about motors up here in La La land, well Frank at Porsche-a-part (Toronto) has 3 or 4 S4 motors on pallets. I know the last one was good as it was in a 87 Japan car with minor damage, and was running and driving very good. That was the second very good condition S4 I witnessed get the torch. I think a GT with minor engine fire also went to the racks. Frank is a Porsche butcher! You give him a 2005 997 with 10 miles on the clock, and he will have it cut, and on his racks in a day.

You may also want to try Randy at "Whale Tail" (Waterloo). He is more into newer stuff now, however he still may be able to hook you up. If he can't, he will probably know where you may look.

I don't have the #'s right now, but if you need them drop me a PM.

BTW, what jet are you training on?

Cheers,
Mike

DANdeMAN

WOW, that is impressive..I stand correct. I guess the world is flat after all.
Would that be 3-4 time when the Porsche engine is dead or with perfect engine? Those bowtie duds are crazy... So if one want to make a killing, he should covert before he sells...