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Saving a Speed Yellow '03 Carrera - Main bearing failure
A few months back a Speed Yellow '03 Carrera popped up on the local PCA Facebook group for sale. The car was at the dealer being diagnosed with a then unknown engine issue. It seems there was a fair bit of interest in the car and the seller decided to keep the car and replace / rebuild the motor. Then just a couple weeks back an email comes in stating the car is going to be back up for sale, and the engine had a main bearing failure. Long story short, a good friend agreed to pick up the car in Raleigh NC and bring it down to Charlotte.
The failed M96 isn't ideal, but I think this is a car that needs to be saved. Between factory options, factory parts, and aftermarket parts I think the car has tons of potential.
- Speed Yellow paint - I am sure it isn't that rare, but in a sea of white / black / grey / silver cars I welcome the bright yellow car into the garage
- Sport Seats - Now with speed yellow backs
- Sport Exhaust - Now with cargraphic mufflers
- 2x sets of high flow cats, one in x pipe configuration
- MY02 Wheels - I also have Sport Design wheels sitting around
- Full Aerokit - Not original to the car, but factory parts
- Bilstein PSS-10 Suspension
- 997 GT-3 Shifter
- 997 3.8 Airbox
What direction to go? Replacement engine, rebuild, Audi 2.7T swap, LS swap, other? I'm not sure, but I figured I document things here as I have done with past p-car projects.
It’s a beautiful canvas to really go crazy with but by the time you change out motors to LS3 or Audi 2.7 it will probably cost as much as factory block
which will probably get you more money if you decide to sell
but the power the others offer are undeniable
Car is worth saving. How did they diagnose main bearing failure? Consider a factory short block, send the heads to Hoffman for a re-work, rebuild and drive it.
Looks to be in great condition. My vote is to do either the factory short block with Hoffman head work or go full monty with an enhanced rebuild of your M96.
Car is worth saving. How did they diagnose main bearing failure? Consider a factory short block, send the heads to Hoffman for a re-work, rebuild and drive it.
Diagnosis was done at Leith Porsche up in Raleigh many months back. According to the seller it was oil pump failure that wiped out the main bearings. I've seen the factory short block as a option, but those prices have gone way up in the last few years, still it is an option that is on the table.
Originally Posted by Porschetech3
What caused the bearing failure, got any pics??
Was the car Tracked ?
Beautiful car in a rare color !!
The car was indeed tracked, not a ton, but it did DEs for a few years.
Originally Posted by De Jeeper
I vote gt3 mezger . If u can find a donor car.
Now that seems like a brilliant idea, but I'm going to say I'm priced out of that option.
Considering the color, the condition and the factory aero parts I'd vote for an M96 rebuild/replace. I think that would keep the car's value the highest in the future. Factory correct parts are what seem to hold a car's value as they get older. I don't think these will ever be $100K cars but with the color and the aero kit, in another 10-15 years you could really have a gem.
If you want to turn it into a track beast or total custom job then another engine might be a great idea.
Just curious, noticed the comment about the oil pump failure killing the main bearings. How would you know if the oil pump goes out? Would there be a check engine light? I'm sure the coolant temp would spike but with the typical guage configuration would there be an oil pressure issue or would you have to hope the coolant temp spikes quickly before everything fails?
03-05-2024, 12:17 PM
Saving a Speed Yellow '03 Carrera - Main bearing failure
. If u can find a donor car.
