When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I trailered my 951 out of Canada last winter, and with it came some issues that I unfortunately couldn't identify before I purchased the car, including a problem with excessive oil use. After trying several different remedies, I took the car to Fairfield County Motorsports in Fairfield, CT where Don and Jim have done a terrific job. First they diagnosed that the cylinders were scored. And after breaking down the engine, they saw that the a stud had been repaired. Oil pump was also scored and shot. Turbonetics turbo didn't fit well and was leaking.
So the engine is coming back together now and I should get a few drives before the first snow. It's a very clean and careful rebuild that I thought you all might enjoy seeing. Here's a partial list:
Engine sleeved and pistons/rods balanced
Head decked and valve grind
New custom ARP studs
Evergreen Raptor Turbo rebuild
New front end pumps and belts, including oil pump Bad head stud Two scored cylinders New sleeves and custom ARP head studs Pistons were good -- whew! Bottom end was clean -- just new bearings Finished head All to spec New front end components and turbo Cleaned up cam tower and manifold took me weeks
The pistons were simply cleaned up and they polished the skirts. The factory pistons come plated and that's about as good a surface as you can get. With non-plated pistons they sometimes apply shed coatings but, in this case is unnecessary.
Nice save, looks great! That's good news that you could save your pistons. I guess it's just the rings that you have to worry about as far as compatibility with the new sleeves?
Compatibility is exactly what I'm asking about. I expect the ring selection to be straight forward based on the sleeve material. The factory piston plating is iron and is optimal for interface with the original Alusil bore. Is there data or experience that suggests an iron plated piston will be compatible with an iron or steel cylinder liner? What was the target piston to wall clearance?
I hope you will share the details of your success with this combination. I'm excited to think there could be a use for the dozens of good used, standard dimension, factory turbo pistons in my collection.
10-05-2020, 09:38 AM
Rebuild Project 1990 Turbo
