Hayk928

Cheers guys,

some of you might have followed my friends Schocki's thread about the endplay of my crank. Pragmatically, I got now several options how to deal with the traumata:

1. Major rebuilt of my old engine - really cool stuff (recently done by another friend of mine - it ended up with +25k $$$), but impossible to me that time.

2. Minor rebuilt (only possible if the case is still healthy) - that means at least changing all bearings and overhaul the crank. Therefore I'd need to know, which new TB I should use. I remember there were larger TB's used in early 32v's? What about aftermarket stuff?

3. Swapping complete engine - fastest job, IF(!) the replacing motor is in good condition. But who knows?

4. Swapping the whole car - it seriously hurts me to imagine saying her good bye, even if I'd get a nice GT. Otherwise I've got to confess, the TBF-stuff on Autos sucks... And I miss the dog-leg and the workout with my left leg. Another thing is, I don't have a garage where I can work - and due to my health I sadly cannot do everything practical that easy as I can do it theoretical. My friends are mostly living quite far so they can't help me easily.

But my Sharky is my Sharky and it took a long long struggle to bring her home...

You know, the problem on that decision is not so much that I dunna know what I'd like IF I'd have a buttload bucks... After fighting my colon cancer, I simply learned you have to work with what you have (or at least can get)

And it is that kinda never ending story you all probably know... As I picked her up last year just on Valentine, the H2o-pump decided to not play with me anymore. That shredded my t-belt. So I got everything around that restored. When passing new MOT, I'd to get a new windshield. Ok, done. Next thing that stopped its work was the ECU. Ok, its at least now under guarantee Finally, we overhauled the PSD, changed the diff-oil, I got the fuel-hoses and the PKLAMP from Roger... And lots of silly little things like interior lamps with LEDs and and and... I've been soo happy to end up soon and fulfill my promise to my wife and spend some happy days under the sun (we even never went on honeymoon until now). I'm afraid, Marianna's been right as she said, she know that she lost my attention again for the next few month till sharky's will be full recovered, too...

In conclusion my questions are:

1. Can I check the condition of the TB in any way before pulling the engine, cuz than in some case (if its already too much worn), I'd continue carefully driving while searching the replacing engine. Or even pull the engine immediately if it makes sense.

2. If I can recover my old block, which TBs would you suggest - probably from early 32v & over-sized or aftermarket?

3. Who knows a good engine/short block somewhere in Europe?

Sorry guys for the epic monologue... My apologies - the whole last week I feel like something heavy's been hitting my tummy...

But I always keep believing - and fighting...

Marc

Bill Ball

I think you are confusing TT (torque tube) with TB (thrust bearing). There are no larger early TBs.

As to which way to handle the worn TB, you won't know for sure if your engine is rebuildable until it's apart and checked for a spun TB and block cracks. You got lots of good advice in the first thread, part of which was to not drive this car at all. With your crank endplay you are at risk of spinning the bearing and wrecking the block.

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-critical.html

Hilton

Marc,

Depending on how determined you are to keep the car matching numbers, in your shoes I'd consider another alternative.

Namely, cutting open the oil filter or getting a used oil analysis to see whether the car is currently eating the bearing (its conceivable the crank end play was due to previous flex palte pressure and has since been relieved).

Then, given that the car isn't snowing any symptoms, I'd just put a pklamp on it and drive it until it dies and you need to pull the engine for a new block.

Vilhuer

Its very difficult to find short block which do not need anything. If you need to outsource entire engine rebuild work you are better off selling S4 and geting something else.

Hayk928

Hi Bill,

no, I'm not confusing. The car is '91 and have the 28mm TT, BUT if I decide to repair the engine and have to mill the crank, it would be interesting to know, whether it is possible to get bigger TB, like you can get pistons with larger bores. Again, I remember from my 'other life' at Porsche Stuttgart, there have been changes on the thrust bearing.

The car is my daily driver and keeping her in garage for some month means at least to purchase another car for getting to work (I'm self employed).

Again, sorry if you feel my questions stupid, but even if that is my 10th shark going back to '87, I've first time listened about the TBF-issue only 4 years ago. My first cars were all maintained at Max Moritz Porsche Center (they had their own semi-works racer '928 GTR' in '95), but they never talked about the flexplate. Same way Porsche Zuffenhausen itself.

Anyway, times have changed - I understand the cars getting old like myself.... Sadly, my financial circumstances have been developed anti-proportional to the required maintenance of my cars, so to me it might be better to asking twice and check all options before making a decision that affects the life of my family.

Best

Marc

Hayk928

Hi Hilton,

you understand me. Thought, that might be an option, if I can get a another good engine and my case is already worn... If it really would be only replacing the bearings, perhaps it would be better to keep my '91, where from I know, at least the heads and bores seem to be in good condition (recently checked the compression whilst doing the cambelt).

The silly thing is, if I'm pulling the engine now, I'll have to continue anyway NOW - no matter, if there's a good replacement engine...

Cheers

Marc

Kevin Johnson

Last week I took my Jeep to the wrecking yard. The local county forced the decision on me. I have had the Jeep for over 15 years and wanted to fix it someday -- an old "friend" and piece of my past.

Last Friday I spent a good portion of the day in the emergency room with Samantha -- she will be ok.

A car is just a thing. Your family is much more important.

jon928se

I think having followed your story here and on the email lists that the only sensible and economic option is to pull the engine and hopefull just inspect/replace the thrust bearing/ main bearings. At this point it would probably be wise to also replace the rod bearings - add in an Silicon Sump Gasket job done.

Hayk928

As someone who's coming from medicine, I fully agree with you. That makes the decision even more complicated...

Anyway, I'll contact my friends or search a garage that hopefully knows what they'll do...

Edit: Thanks god, my wife just remind me that Sharky's an important part of our family, too. Decision done. Sharky will stay its second life with us. Anyway.

Hayk928

Thought, it might be interesting also to other ones:

To answer my own previous question: You can get the thrust bearing undersize 0.50mm directly from Porsche. Ok, then lets now go on the trip to my best buddy Joe and pull the engine...

Next step is planning what else to do:

1. Motor mounts
2. Oil sump gasket (silicone)
3. rod bearings
4. timing chains
5. ...

Sorry, pls tell me if I'm annoying someone by talking too much about my project.

Marc

'91 S4

Shark_Week

marc
definetely not annoying. i can tell you that list will get much bigger and it would probably be smart to do all the wyait items.

Bill Ball

It's a good question as to whether those undersized thrust bearings are still available. PET does not show a price. The entire crank bearing set undersized is available.

Hayk928

You're right, Bill - its not in the PET... However, in any case it only makes sense to swap the entire set.

But I'm going to check that out when ordering and keep you updated

86'928S MeteorGrey

You are definitely going to need toeither replace your lifters or if your lucky, have the large stem style that can disassemble with compressed air to clean. The small stem style cannot be disassembled. If you try to ultrasonic clean them you will still never get all the metal out. I hope you have the large style... You'll probably want to have the heads done at that time too. Driving the car any more will only make it worse. Stop driving it. When you have the motor out, TT, and converter carrier bearings would be prudent. Also with the TT out inspect and replace the foam baffle around the gear selector. There are a million other items, but I believe these are critical...(except the foam).

Good luck with your shark!

Imo000

The early 32Vs have a larger face on the thrust bearing. I know one local owner that used them on his S4 when the engine was taken apart. The block re machines and the new TB (from an early 32V) was shimmed as a repair. It was a 100% sucess and a logical upgrade.