troppo

Considering picking up a 968 and just curious on this prior to pulling the trigger...
thanks-

RajDatta

Depending on what the top end needs. Is it just a refresh or are there broken cams/valves?
It can get expensive very quickly.
Raj

Stephenwz968

Depends on how many vavles are bent, how much freshening is needed for the head, if you do the variocam pads and chain and belts. Low side, at a shop, around $4800 up to my PO spent $9k on the top end rebuild.

Steve

Lord_Galva

I wouldn't buy a car that needs a top end rebuild.

PorscheDude1

DYI under $1k

RajDatta

Without knowing what it needs, its impossible to predict. What if the cams are shot and guides are bad and it has bent valves...
It could be so many things. Just the gasket set is $200. $1000 would be the best case scenario.

Regards.
Raj

Dave in Chicago

I'll assume the head you are going to refurbish is in good shape (see my notes below) If so, then I don't know if it's the best pricing out there, but it appears to be skillfully done and I am pleased thus far:

- Labor $1300
- Machine shop $650
- Valve guides (all) $120
- Chain $38
- Rail guides $81
- Headgasket set $260

I had other stuff done at the same time, but suspect the $1300 portion is pretty much dedicated to the headgasket job. Chicago rates per hour in Porsche shops aren't cheap, so adjust accordingly for your local market.

That makes the job just under $2500. If you stand in front of the car and think the job through, it really is a fair amount of work.

You will add a few other items along the way perhaps... coolant, oil, misc. items, t-belts or w/p "while you're in there"... but that should just about cover it.

This was a fully-operating head with good leakdown in all cylinders, original at about 142k miles. Reason for the work was a stubborn and difficult to find oil leak. This turned out to be the headgasket. Nothing in the coolant, but the gasket sure was shot. My cams were just fine and showed no issues at all.

968workaholic

Another option is to buy a reconditioned head if there is a question about the integrity of the one on the car. A leak down test will provide good information as to the condition of the valves and the seats. Most 968's burn exaust valves, so you can hear air coming out of the tailpipe when you are doing the test. A basic reconditioned head is about $1,000. Here is one place that has a stock rebuild as well as upgrade options if you are interested. http://www.rsbarn.com/968cylinders.html

troppo

thanks for the input, thinking about buying a 968 for street track and one of the reasons I am considering it over a '95 993 is that a top-end rebuild on a 993 is approx 4k diy and a replacement engine is about 8k. BTW, do you guys think it would realistic to get a 968 down to 2700# and 270hp+?

thanks again

RajDatta

Rich Glickel is already making those numbers on his car. Hopefully he will chime in.
Raj

boost feen

John Manelis who has an ex Rothmans 944 turbo cup car also built a 968 turbo racer and he is at 2500LB's without driver and fuel. Lots of fiberglass, lexan windows, aluminum torque tube, AOR 951 S transaxle, manual mirrors, bare bones is the correct word!