Oil in Coolant
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 7,750
Likes: 7,034
From: Alabama USA
Sorry to not be clear enough. I was asking for a "Guessimate" what YOU think it would have cost to put YOUR 1999 model 996 back on the road in the way YOU repaired it. Make sense? You think it would have cost $10k, $15K, or what??? I'm not talking about the original engine vs. core engine or this or that... I'm talking about the work that YOU completed to get the car running again. What do you think that would have cost if YOU were billing it out to someone else. Just a guesstimate. Not needing an act of congress or the army corp of engineers conference on the matter, just a guesstimate.
1. labor $2200 22hrs @100hr
2. $2200 used core engine with cracked head
3. $500 parts, head gaskets, misc gaskets, oil, fluids
4. $500 heads rebuild and crack repair @ $250 per head, generic head shop ( Cylinder Head Service LLC ) 50k mile heads, with no new springs or guides, just basic valve job and crack repair( didn't know Len Hoffman at that time )
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 228
Ok i got ya, just a rough estimate on what i would have charged in this particular repair at that time, just doing what was nessesary to get it back up and running with a 50k engine,would have been 5.4k ( with some calculated risk, a used 50k engine and an unproven head repair)
1. labor $2200 22hrs @100hr
2. $2200 used core engine with cracked head
3. $500 parts, head gaskets, misc gaskets, oil, fluids
4. $500 heads rebuild and crack repair @ $250 per head, generic head shop ( Cylinder Head Service LLC ) 50k mile heads, with no new springs or guides, just basic valve job and crack repair( didn't know Len Hoffman at that time )
1. labor $2200 22hrs @100hr
2. $2200 used core engine with cracked head
3. $500 parts, head gaskets, misc gaskets, oil, fluids
4. $500 heads rebuild and crack repair @ $250 per head, generic head shop ( Cylinder Head Service LLC ) 50k mile heads, with no new springs or guides, just basic valve job and crack repair( didn't know Len Hoffman at that time )
Are you for hire? 
And yes, I know you're retired.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, NV
Thank you for all the valuable input guys. I really appreciate it.
I'm going to take my time, and try to do my homework so I don't buy someone else's headache.
Just curious, does anyone think the folks that list on the PCA classifieds would be any more trustworthy than other online listings (Ebay, craigslist, etc.)?
Ideally, I would think someone who is a member of the PCA might be more attentive to the needs of their vehicle and more honest about it's history.
I'm going to take my time, and try to do my homework so I don't buy someone else's headache.
Just curious, does anyone think the folks that list on the PCA classifieds would be any more trustworthy than other online listings (Ebay, craigslist, etc.)?
Ideally, I would think someone who is a member of the PCA might be more attentive to the needs of their vehicle and more honest about it's history.
Last edited by 4sight; Sep 12, 2018 at 10:25 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 842
Likes: 70
From: Clemson, South Carolina
You can tell a lot about the owner and how well the car was maintained in the first 5 minutes talking to them. The key is that you need to have a decent knowledge level about the car to know what their knowledge level is and whether or not they are B.S.ing you. I spent 6 months learning the idiosyncrasies of these cars before I bought mine. This forum is a great place to start. If the owner is being honest with you, it will give you confidence that you are getting what you pay for.
I used to think I would never buy a car off Craigslist, but that is where I got mine. It had an electrical issue that was killing alternators and batteries. It turned out to be a bad ground, which I suspected when I bought it. I paid 11.5k plus another 600 for the correct rebuilt Bosch alternator. It had 89k miles and ran great after the repair. Since I am now tracking my car and it is over 20 years old (March 98 build), I have had to replace most of the suspension and do some of the preventative maintenance items and modifications, such as a deep sump. I am afraid to add up the receipts, but I have probably spent an additional 9k on it. Love the car though.
I used to think I would never buy a car off Craigslist, but that is where I got mine. It had an electrical issue that was killing alternators and batteries. It turned out to be a bad ground, which I suspected when I bought it. I paid 11.5k plus another 600 for the correct rebuilt Bosch alternator. It had 89k miles and ran great after the repair. Since I am now tracking my car and it is over 20 years old (March 98 build), I have had to replace most of the suspension and do some of the preventative maintenance items and modifications, such as a deep sump. I am afraid to add up the receipts, but I have probably spent an additional 9k on it. Love the car though.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, NV
I know folks here have said that higher mileage 996s are worth looking at, but is 150k too high?
I found a 1999 996 in my price range, that is apparently in good condition, supposed IMS replacement (no documentation), but has 150K on the clock.
I would of course get a PPI, but should I look elsewhere simply based on the mileage?
I found a 1999 996 in my price range, that is apparently in good condition, supposed IMS replacement (no documentation), but has 150K on the clock.
I would of course get a PPI, but should I look elsewhere simply based on the mileage?
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 8,050
Likes: 819
From: Kauai
I know folks here have said that higher mileage 996s are worth looking at, but is 150k too high?
I found a 1999 996 in my price range, that is apparently in good condition, supposed IMS replacement (no documentation), but has 150K on the clock.
I would of course get a PPI, but should I look elsewhere simply based on the mileage?
I found a 1999 996 in my price range, that is apparently in good condition, supposed IMS replacement (no documentation), but has 150K on the clock.
I would of course get a PPI, but should I look elsewhere simply based on the mileage?
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 5,845
Likes: 2,988
From: Richmond, TX
I lucked into it.
I ordered a windshield that was supposed to cost me a LOT more.(~$650)
It came in a week later and it had a deep scratch all the way across it.
Two weeks later they delivered the same exact windshield, which they denied was the same one.
The next week they delivered a cracked windshield.
Two weeks later they delivered one in good shape.
I asked if they could „help me a little with the price.
Since I didn’t throw a huge fit about it taking a month and a half to get my new windshield, they deeply discounted it.
I ordered a windshield that was supposed to cost me a LOT more.(~$650)
It came in a week later and it had a deep scratch all the way across it.
Two weeks later they delivered the same exact windshield, which they denied was the same one.
The next week they delivered a cracked windshield.
Two weeks later they delivered one in good shape.
I asked if they could „help me a little with the price.
Since I didn’t throw a huge fit about it taking a month and a half to get my new windshield, they deeply discounted it.
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Nordschleife Master
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 8,050
Likes: 819
From: Kauai
It's priced right (to start) depending on it's service history. A lot of parts should have been changed by now, unless it's been ignored. Definitely worth checking out in person.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 354
From: SF Bay Area
I lucked into it.
I ordered a windshield that was supposed to cost me a LOT more.(~$650)
It came in a week later and it had a deep scratch all the way across it.
Two weeks later they delivered the same exact windshield, which they denied was the same one.
The next week they delivered a cracked windshield.
Two weeks later they delivered one in good shape.
I asked if they could „help me a little with the price.
Since I didn’t throw a huge fit about it taking a month and a half to get my new windshield, they deeply discounted it.