Washabi

hey everyone, it looks like my 993 has all the symptoms of needing the top end rebuilt burning through tons of oil, lots of blue smoke on startup (sometimes), and a ton of chatter. The car is a 95' with 93k miles on it, and I'm not sure if it coincides with the bad valve guides, but the car idles at about 500rpm. The car has a 4.0L big bore kit that came with the car when purchased, not sure if it makes much of a difference for the head. Just trying to figure out what, if any, recommendations you guys had for a shop or person that could possibly rebuild the top end on my beloved 993 local to the Bay Area. Any and all input/help is appreciated

Dr. No

RMG

realmeangarage.com

os993

Jerry Woods in Campbell.

Do you know the history of the 4.0 job? Who did it and when? I don't know much about this upgrade, but how much of the envelope was pushed to go from 3.6L to 4.0L? The 3.8L is a Porsche OEM upgrade. Is the 4.0L?

Washabi

thanks, I'll check them out.

I have the receipts and everything from when the 4.0L was put in the car, I can't remember off the top of my head but IIRC it was installed back in 2005. It is a 4.0L big bore kit but I'm not even sure if the shop that performed the work is even still around.

Washabi

I'll hopefully be visiting Bob and the guys over at RMG tomorrow, thanks for the help!

dnmnm

For what it's worth, had a bad experience with RMG. I sent my girlfriend there based on a recommendation from Rennlist. When she got her car back she discovered they had swapped out the center caps on her Boxster with an old beat-up set. They denied it, but it was was obvious. Guess they thought she wouldn't notice. I felt bad for directing her there and bought her a new set. Might seem like a little thing, but makes you wonder about the integrity of the shop...

JPS

RMG (had awesome PPI there), Jerry Woods is famous, as is S-Car-Go just north of SF.

Dr. No

That's bizarre and very hard to believe.

JM993

Isn't S-Car-Go the shop that did the work on Alvin's yellow C4S turned turbo? If yes, I don't think I'd add them to the recommend list........

Dr. No

It is, but why not?

They did my PPI and were very thorough and know their 993s.

Harry L

I have been going to RMG for over 6 years, and have gotten to know those gentlemen very well. I am as demanding as they come.

The foregoing anecdote is extremely hard to believe.

RMG is stellar, and conducts their business with a degree of honesty and integrity rarely seen - anywhere.

JM993

I've heard from folks who IMHO are reliable sources that the car never ran right and he was charged an outrageous sum for the work. On top of that it took forever to finish. The way the car has bounced around seems to provide confirmation that it is less than the sum of it's parts.

For a ppi they might be fine, but I'd think twice about an engine rebuild.

If it were me, I'd proceed with caution.

CAHRERA

I would also recommend Don's Autowerks in Campbell. Don is close by Jerry Woods. In San Bruno is Gary at GDRacing. Tony Heyer at Heyer Performance in MTView.

rampfar

I had my top-end done at Don's autowerks in Campbell about 15,000 miles ago. Always quality work and a very nice guy. Roger

Dr. No

Fair enough, but you have to remember that that particular car had a pretty sordid history with its previous PO "adam"? (well documented here) and the spec was pretty outrageous too. I would not judge the shop on the basis of that one job - it was truly a one-off - but it's certainly a fair data point.