LastMezger

Some of you have probably read the "A cautionary tale..." thread.

So I'm driving back from the mech who is about an hour from Toronto, Cruising at 100mph+ at times thinking to myself; "this car is too freakin' solid to part with".

I need decision making counseling or something. My wife says "Just make up your mind!"

I'm leaning towards a 3.8 conversion if we have to take the motor out and apart to do the valve guides anyway and it would sure look nice lowered on a set of those speedlines from the 964 Turbo 3.6.

Someone talk some insanity into me!

axl911

Hmmmm.... Just imagine the value of the car after the 3.8 conversion. You would have a great car, great mechanical, and a documented history of the engine. Also, imagine the immense enjoyment you would get out of the car after the 3.8 rebuild. Resell it later and it'll cost less overall than selling it now.

Am I helping?

axl911

Oh yeah, forgot the "you only live once, so...."

LastMezger

you really think it would be worth more? i'm well acquainted with the term "white elephant" i.e. the worlds most expensive 964 that nobody wants.

still...

ilko

The "white elephant" you refer to might be the white 964 with a 993 TT motor that was listed for sale recently It was listed for $60K+ IIRC.

Kidding aside, I saw a 1990 C4 w. 90K miles on it and a 3.8L conversion that was listed for $27K. It was sold within a month or so after listing and my thinking is that it sold for at least $25K. A similar car with stock engine would sell for around $18-20K. A car with a recently rebuilt engine would probably go for a couple grand more.

There is a market for those cars and there are people looking for 3.8 conversions. If the car has proper documented history I think it will command a premium over a stock 3.6.

Indycam

Your nuts .
Buy it and then sell at a large loss ?

3.8 upgrade for worn valve guides ?
Your nuts .
"Want a mod that makes your car faster? Fix the nut behind the wheel."

Go back to the people who did the ppi and ask if they have insurance to cover malfeasance.

LastMezger

so i take it your more along the lines of just fixing and enjoying it.

PorscheZen

I would say this: What do you want? Ask without thinking of selling it.
Thinking of selling it is just creating some kind of way out of committing to the Full Monty. Do you want to drive a 3.8 or sell a 3.8?

Bearclaw

I still have some problems with what these shops were telling you, regardless of their credentials. You didn't know you had a problem until they told you, and I'm thinking that job is a major money-maker for them. If a valve isn't sealing and you end up roasting it and the seat somewhere down the road, I'm thinking the worst that happens is you do a top-end job, which is what you're looking at anyway. I think this whole turn of events is a sign that screams, "Keep It!".

My wife says "Just make up your mind!"

See, she's not saying "You said you were going to sell it!!".
Women admire decisiveness. Step up. Tell her you're keeping that beautiful car, and that's that.
My two cents.

DarrylH

I believe Auguste to be entirely honest, if he says you've got worn guides, I'd trust him...however, I'm kinda with Barry here. You're burning very little oil, the car obviously runs well, if you hadn't been going to sell you'd still be a happy guy...

I'd be loath to spend a lot of dough for some possible future sale...

Indycam

"so i take it your more along the lines of just fixing and enjoying it"
No thats not what I am saying !

"I'm obviously insane"
Yes you are . Thats what I was getting at .
You were going to sell to get money for a house
and now you are going to spend house money on replaceing the good unbroken pistons and cylinders .
You are nuts .
Donate your car to me and go live in a cardboard box , thats my advice .
Sign over everything , other than the car ,to the wife first , OK .

Or go to a car mag and pitch the idea of a car repair story and see if they will pick up the costs ?
Now I'm nuts ?

Or , pull the motor apart and fix it yourself , if it really needs fixing .

DarrylH

Oh, and two times ago after I left Auguste's place, I got a significant ticket in a radar trap on the QEW. Just sayin'.

Marc Shaw

You are nuts.

If you are so sure it pulls strongly and burns almost no oil then, if I were you, I'd go get a second compression test done elsewhere for a second opinion.

Marc

axl911

Another option is to drive the car just the way it is. What exactly is the problem with your leakdown test? It may be that you can still drive your car for a while until you have the funds and/or time to really decide what you want to do.

LastMezger

can still buy the house...just a slightly cheaper one;-)

I'm grateful for everyone's advice.

The buyer just sent me the Canadian equivalent of a Carfax and the car had an $8200 insurance claim for body repairs (unspecified) in 2003. http://reports.carproof.net/view_rep...d=CA1695A82CA7

When the Calgary dealer did the PPI they told me there was some minor repaint but that all the stickers were in the right places and whatever repairs were done were done properly.

I'm not going any lower and I'm leaning towards just driving it until it becomes a major problem.

As for specifics...most cylinders are OK but 3 is 24-40% down and 4 is up to 90% down. Auguste was saying that the valves were seating just by rocking the engine and thus giving an almost perfect result as well.

This was the second leak-down and the results were almost identical to the first.