#$@! Blew my engine today #&*#@!
12-01-2014, 07:42 PM
#77
Rennlist Member
I always said if mine went kablooie I would look at an LSx swap. I'd investigate that.
Also, remember there is no hurry to decide RIGHT NOW. when I destroyed my first car I rushed to put it behind me. In retrospect I wish I had found a roller and did an engine swap. Take some time and figure out what you want and then make that happen.
Also, remember there is no hurry to decide RIGHT NOW. when I destroyed my first car I rushed to put it behind me. In retrospect I wish I had found a roller and did an engine swap. Take some time and figure out what you want and then make that happen.
12-01-2014, 07:46 PM
#78
Rennlist Member
Mike - that stinks. Sorry to hear. Take a day or two and just let the dust settle and take your time to sort through your options. You've got other cars for your DD, so at least you don't have the pressure of being without wheels while you consider your options.
Without the ability/willingness to rebuild yourself, probably looking at selling it as a roller as your best option. If you kept the OEM exhaust system, then your Fabspeed stuff is probably worth swapping out and selling separately unless the buyer of the roller is willing to pay extra for it.
P.S. - If it makes you feel any better, last year one of the attorneys who works for me blew the engine in his circa 2008 VW Passat station wagon. He spent over $6,000 rebuilding the engine. At the end of the day, it was still a Passat station wagon. For not much more than that same $6,000, you can do the LSx swap.
Without the ability/willingness to rebuild yourself, probably looking at selling it as a roller as your best option. If you kept the OEM exhaust system, then your Fabspeed stuff is probably worth swapping out and selling separately unless the buyer of the roller is willing to pay extra for it.
P.S. - If it makes you feel any better, last year one of the attorneys who works for me blew the engine in his circa 2008 VW Passat station wagon. He spent over $6,000 rebuilding the engine. At the end of the day, it was still a Passat station wagon. For not much more than that same $6,000, you can do the LSx swap.
12-01-2014, 07:47 PM
#79
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Sorry to hear about this Cuda, you're certainly a passionate owner from your posts and mods, I hope this sorts itself out and you find an even better Porsche in the future.
12-01-2014, 07:53 PM
#80
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Mike,
The case itself could probably be repaired by welding. Other damage is unknown so who knows if it is worth the effort. Dwayne Dement at Vision Motorsports http://www.visionmotorsports.com/ in Laguna hills could help with advise as surely they have experienced this before. Might be worth a phone call.
Better luck, Paul
The case itself could probably be repaired by welding. Other damage is unknown so who knows if it is worth the effort. Dwayne Dement at Vision Motorsports http://www.visionmotorsports.com/ in Laguna hills could help with advise as surely they have experienced this before. Might be worth a phone call.
Better luck, Paul
12-01-2014, 07:55 PM
#81
Race Director
Getting an LS-swapped 911 registered in California is...well, I won't say impossible, but it's a job. Even upgrading a Corvette with a newer CARB-certified crate motor took a year. Every exhaust component must be CARB certified, and then you have to hope that you find a smog referee who (a) knows what he's doing, and (b) isn't an a-hole, as the entire process can be shut down if the referee you get is having a bad day.
12-01-2014, 08:09 PM
#82
Nordschleife Master
Well, as usual, looks like Macster got it right.
There's a hole through the case over the timing chain. I spoke to the guys at the shop, and they said it wasn't worth the expense of tearing down the motor to figure out exactly what failed, but their guess is that the cam timing chain broke or skipped, or the tensioners failed, thus causing the chain to break through the housing. Photo below of the hole, you can see the timing chain through the hole.
The shop says that there are no used 3.6 motors to be found.
I spoke to another guy who says that maybe he could find the case half and rebuild from there. Of course, there may be extensive collateral damage.
I have no idea what to do at this point. The rest of the car is in great shape.
Suggestions? And no, I really don't have the time or resources to part the car out.
Bummed big time.
Jay, good seeing you over at Tom's today. Thanks for the info.
.
There's a hole through the case over the timing chain. I spoke to the guys at the shop, and they said it wasn't worth the expense of tearing down the motor to figure out exactly what failed, but their guess is that the cam timing chain broke or skipped, or the tensioners failed, thus causing the chain to break through the housing. Photo below of the hole, you can see the timing chain through the hole.
The shop says that there are no used 3.6 motors to be found.
I spoke to another guy who says that maybe he could find the case half and rebuild from there. Of course, there may be extensive collateral damage.
I have no idea what to do at this point. The rest of the car is in great shape.
Suggestions? And no, I really don't have the time or resources to part the car out.
Bummed big time.
Jay, good seeing you over at Tom's today. Thanks for the info.
.
12-01-2014, 08:13 PM
#83
Race Director
One of the (few) nice things about living in California is that there are a crap-ton of indy Porsche shops, and several of them are very good. Hopefully Cuda can find the right one to help him get back on the road.
12-01-2014, 08:24 PM
#85
I would sell the roller and get a 997.2. Prices have come way down and you can find a nice one for around 48K - 58K.
12-01-2014, 08:28 PM
#87
Race Director
While I like to be right this is one time I wished I was wrong and it was something much less serious.
What to do now?
Right now nothing. Take some time to reflect on the situation.
My thoughts are the car is still a great car. If you haven't fallen out of love with it, think about getting it back on the road. Or not.
What options do you have open to you?
I like to lay them all out.
1) Factory replacement engine. You know the con: Expensive. (But price a factory replacement engine when you feel up to it just so you know). Pros: Drop in simple. Comes with some warranty. Car will be easy to move on when (if) the time comes. The car is not a Frankenstein.
2) Rebuild the existing engine. However, given the failure mode I'm going to go out on a limb and say the engine is probably not rebuildable. I'm not sure mixing cases with these engines is advisable, let alone possible. You can be facing some expense to tear the engine apart just to find it is not rebuildable.
However, you might want to consider consulting with a higher authority on this subject. Give Jake Raby a call and see what he has to say. I don't speak for him, obviously, but I have to offer be prepared for he may *not* be willing to discuss this over the phone. I could understand this position. He would have to make a very important decision based on just hearsay. If he says the engine's rebuildable and it proves to not be once it is in his shop then there's that to deal with. If he says it is not rebuildable and you find another shop who is willing to rebuild it, well that's the other side. But give JR a call and listen to what he has to say.
3) Salvage engine. There may not be any now but just wait. Cons: Getting a good engine. If the car shows up totaled from a front end collision the engine's probably good. Better if the car's equipped with a Tip. You want avoid a flood car (for obvious reasons), a recovered stolen car (for obvious reasons).
4) Frankenstein the car. Now maybe "Frankenstein" is painting this option a bit negatively unfairly. It is your car and your money and you have to make the choice that feels best to you. But a LS2 engine swap may be something to consider. I have not seem one up close and personal and I would have to in order to be able to better judge the quality of the job and ideally at least have a ride in one to judge the car's character. My opinion except for the number of cylinders and their layout this should look "factory". Any loose wiring, flopping hoses, just any signs of anything not bolted down, secured by proper straps, improperly routed, inexplicable CELs, vague references to overheating, or any other issues or troubles, keep looking.
5) Sell the car as is where is and move on. Give Oklahoma Foreign a call and talk to somewhere there about the circumstances and see what the offer is and how the transaction goes down. This might be financially a bit brutal but the break is clean and you can move on with your life. And while this might be brutal just have the wrong shop take on rebuilding the engine, or elect to install a V8 and pick the wrong shop. Those will be financially and emotionally brutal and then some. Remember, there is always another car.
Think about the above. Research what you can about the above. You want to learn enough about all your choices so when the time comes you make the best decision for you.
Best of luck.
What to do now?
Right now nothing. Take some time to reflect on the situation.
My thoughts are the car is still a great car. If you haven't fallen out of love with it, think about getting it back on the road. Or not.
What options do you have open to you?
I like to lay them all out.
1) Factory replacement engine. You know the con: Expensive. (But price a factory replacement engine when you feel up to it just so you know). Pros: Drop in simple. Comes with some warranty. Car will be easy to move on when (if) the time comes. The car is not a Frankenstein.
2) Rebuild the existing engine. However, given the failure mode I'm going to go out on a limb and say the engine is probably not rebuildable. I'm not sure mixing cases with these engines is advisable, let alone possible. You can be facing some expense to tear the engine apart just to find it is not rebuildable.
However, you might want to consider consulting with a higher authority on this subject. Give Jake Raby a call and see what he has to say. I don't speak for him, obviously, but I have to offer be prepared for he may *not* be willing to discuss this over the phone. I could understand this position. He would have to make a very important decision based on just hearsay. If he says the engine's rebuildable and it proves to not be once it is in his shop then there's that to deal with. If he says it is not rebuildable and you find another shop who is willing to rebuild it, well that's the other side. But give JR a call and listen to what he has to say.
3) Salvage engine. There may not be any now but just wait. Cons: Getting a good engine. If the car shows up totaled from a front end collision the engine's probably good. Better if the car's equipped with a Tip. You want avoid a flood car (for obvious reasons), a recovered stolen car (for obvious reasons).
4) Frankenstein the car. Now maybe "Frankenstein" is painting this option a bit negatively unfairly. It is your car and your money and you have to make the choice that feels best to you. But a LS2 engine swap may be something to consider. I have not seem one up close and personal and I would have to in order to be able to better judge the quality of the job and ideally at least have a ride in one to judge the car's character. My opinion except for the number of cylinders and their layout this should look "factory". Any loose wiring, flopping hoses, just any signs of anything not bolted down, secured by proper straps, improperly routed, inexplicable CELs, vague references to overheating, or any other issues or troubles, keep looking.
5) Sell the car as is where is and move on. Give Oklahoma Foreign a call and talk to somewhere there about the circumstances and see what the offer is and how the transaction goes down. This might be financially a bit brutal but the break is clean and you can move on with your life. And while this might be brutal just have the wrong shop take on rebuilding the engine, or elect to install a V8 and pick the wrong shop. Those will be financially and emotionally brutal and then some. Remember, there is always another car.
Think about the above. Research what you can about the above. You want to learn enough about all your choices so when the time comes you make the best decision for you.
Best of luck.
12-01-2014, 09:31 PM
#90
I would go the route of the guy with case half, I have done it with mine and there is no big deal, if it is only the cam chain it is really not too bad, maybe few bent valves in the mix, if the crank is ok, put on new bearings replace the timing chains and rails and tensioneers and job done
ok I haven't driven much yet but it works and runs like a champ now.
ok I haven't driven much yet but it works and runs like a champ now.