greatwhitekc

I just had an estimate of $3,200 +/- to replace the timing belt, water pump, and so forth on my 84. They said the water pump alone was $1,200 and the tensioner another $1,200 with the rest in assorted parts and labor. I'm assuming that this independent shop is using PORSHE parts only. Those amounts seem really high for a water pump and tensioner. One reputable internet vendor has a PORSCHE WP for $650 or so. I have done some searching on here for some price comparisons for this job with limited success. In live in the Kansas City metro area.

What are some prices that others have paid to get this job done? I'm not handy enough to even think about attempting a job like this. I have read that Oslo(sp?) makes a good WP, and are reasonably priced. The TB's are not really expensive.

Any thoughts that members have would be helpful as I just bought the car a couple of weeks ago. It's an auto, red interior, painted white. Hence, greatwhiteKC.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

andy-gts

welcome to kc,,,,928's….I live in lawrence WELCOME ! I have some names and numbers to send you of some that my favorite 928 mechanic gave me before he left for the west coast……

there is a porsche mechanic in lawrence , the dealer in kc, and a few good ones in wichita… I will dig them up and send to you shortly…..

syoo8

Laso makes a water pump that has a plastic impeller that many here on Rennlist use.

$3200 sounds awfully high to me. The tensioner is rebuilt in a timing belt job. I wonder if you are buying a $1200 new tensioner?

I defer to Greg Brown, Stan, Sean, Jim Corenman, and the other 928 luminaries...

Bmw635

Diy is not hard if you have time so that you can do other "while you're there parts" as needed since these old cars may need almost everything . Shop will only do what was paid , bypassing marginal parts. Porkentensioner will save you lots of time, $, and headache.

If you have space and beer , local folks may help you with the hard part if you're not able.

GlenL

They're quoting Porsche list prices for stuff that doesn't necessarily need to be replaced. The tensioner should be rebuilt but replacement is rare. The water pump is often done with the timing belt but really does not need to be replaced without cause.

Find a good mechanic and have them replace the belt and those parts that are worn.

Jim Devine

Have a look through this- it's incredibly detailed. If you think you can do it after reviewing this, you stand to save around $2k from your quote & probably get a better job. It's time consuming & you can't shortcut it, but it's doable.

http://dwaynesgarage.norcal928.org/1...0Procedure.htm

rnixon

That sounds very high. For a '91 S4, I was quoted ~2k for the belt, Laso WP and a new Porken tensioner, fitted. A Porsche WP added ~$650. I would have expected parts for an '84 to be cheaper, but I don't actually know. IIRC, it's a non-interference engine, which would make me less nervous about doing it myself.

Adk46

I was in the same boat as you. The only independent shop near me told me he would not guarantee his work unless new Porsche parts were used. We looked each other in the eye, and he never bothered to quote the job. I called Roger and my car is now up on stands getting a very slow TB/WP job by me, who has little experience beyond brake jobs and simple water pumps.

So far, so good. I should have it on the road for a month before it goes back in the garage for other needed work over the winter. Well, new CV boots before then.

Everybody's different, but it seems that the real sport of these cars is working on them yourself or, rather, with this wonderful community of 928 lovers. If you have the money to have someone else do it, that's OK. I have a newish Cayman - nice, but it does not present much of a challenge. I expect much more joy from the 928. There is sure to be some agony, but I'll try to leverage that into greater joy. It might defeat me, but that's the way it goes.

Perhaps the front-of-engine stuff is a little scary to start with if you have no wrench experience at all. Experienced mechanics have skills they are unaware they have. They know how to avoid trouble; they know tricks for getting out of trouble. They own the unusual tool needed to remove the unusual bolt. But you should pick something out to do yourself, and put yourself on the Path to Knowledge and 928 Joy. If you run into trouble, stop and consult the wizards on this forum.

jeff spahn

I would do it myself. With Dwayne's write up you will get the skill you need on paper. The only thing you have to be able to do is get out broken bolts that can happen on a job like this. It really isn't that hard. I have a pretty good mechanical sense about me but I had never tackled a job like this. It was the first job I did on my car. Everything went as Dwayne shows. I then used his write up to do my intake refresh. After that I used Rennlist knowledge to pull my engine, replace a piston and head gaskets.
You can do it, seriously. All you need is tools and time. It is just parts put together. They come apart (most of the time ) and go back together. As long as you aren't creating something new like the expert Greg Brown and his amazing shop in Anaheim you are merely doing a big lego build (albeit very greasy and the parts are more expensive). Call Roger at 928sRus and he will get you all you need as far as parts go.

MainePorsche

Yep.
I think half the fun of the car is planning and doing a project on it.
It is most rewarding to drive it after you have 'improved' it.

Mrmerlin

I think you should ask if you could supply some of the parts to the mechanic.
You can buy pretty much everything you need from one of the vendors here.

Roger has great prices and fast service, with very reasonable shipping charges.

NOTE as the replacement parts cost keep rising,
what was once a 2K job to swap out the belt run can easily go to 3.5K,

NOTE the new cam gear prices 400 each, 800
a new Laso WP 550.
belt and rollers 150,
new oil pump gear and drive sprocket 140
oil pump O rings and seals 40
Crank main seal 45
tensioner/pivot arm parts 75
power steering hose/ reservoir replacement 150
Fuel lines 120
ignition wires 375
caps and rotors 175
add in the labor from 1000/ 1500

Now I would suggest to shop around for the best prices on the parts,
as considerable cash can be saved.
The tensioner is normally refreshed, not replaced,
Unless your swapping a Porkensioner system.

posting questions here before you commit to spending any money is a great idea to assist in saving you more trouble and costs.

Imo000

$3200 sounds about right for all OE parts. This was the going rate 15 years ago when most of the 928 owners were not DIYers.

bogdann

I work in an office and have always regretted not doing a job with my hands, fixing or creating something so this car is my stress release. If it is really annoying me I put the tools down and leave it for a few days. As the previous guys have said planning and fixing it is a great part of owning this car. Hunting down parts or interesting memorabilia. As my sig says I have spent more on parts, tools and improvements then the car itself.
Apart from that a drive down a windy country road is also great.

z driver 88t

Parts cost will vary WIDELY depending on what needs to be replced. Cam gears along are $250 each +/- if they are worn, but if you search around you may be able to find a better price. Even the mail order price on a Porsche OEM water pump is almost $1000. Roger has the correct Lasso water pump that is about half that price. I am in the middle of a timing belt job on my '84. It is my first timing belt job and can look very daunting. Dwayne's write up is geared toward the 32V cars. You want the 16V book written by Doug B in Canada. It is THE 16V timing belt bible and is so complete with color pictures of every step it is almost impossible not to do it correctly. It also lists all the tools you will need to either borrow, rent, or buy. There aren't too many special tools but there are a few.

http://static.ibsrv.net/autocomm/Con...ber%202012.pdf

If your gears are good and do not have to be replaced, have them all coated with DFL. Many on the forum have used Finishline coatings (that's who did my oil pump gear and crank gear) for about $40 each. Your gears will be good for many years. I shopped around, happened to find an excellent price on new cam gears, and am replacing all seals (cam, oil pump, crank, water pump) and I think my parts cost has been about $1200 +/-.

The other good thing about doing it yourself is that you can take the time to thoroughly clean each part that comes off and know that when it all goes back together it will be the way it left the factory. No one will ever take care of your car the way you will.

If none of this sounds appealing and you still want to take it to a shop, my independent Porsche mechanic at least lets me order the parts. Labor alone would typically run $1000-$1200. I do this for any job too daunting to tackle myself - although that list is getting pretty short these days.

upstate bob

The nice thing about a hobby car as opposed to a DD is that you can take all the time you want. Have a well lighted workplace, a good supply of beer, good music playing, lots of tools. (a two post lift is good too) -now you can be a happy mechanic.