Rubik

I wish you weren't in this situation. Seems like any decision you make has expense and turmoil hand in hand. Just remember this: If a problem can be solved by money, then it's not a problem.

spruden

Painful diagnosis for sure. Trust your gut and don't get beat up over the decision. Just reading this is painful.

Cars are somewhat disposable and most have a fixed shelf life.

Keep us posted on the next step!

aggravation

Sorry to hear about this.
My 2 cents, I'd want to use the situation to pull the engine myself just for the experience and to be able to get some professional assessment once I had it opened up to where the nature of the damage could be determined.

At least that wouldn't cost much to do and I'd have some time to think and cuss properly while I was busting knuckles getting it opened up...

5CHN3LL

While I'm always a fan of DIY...when you show up at the Porsche indy shop on a flatbed, and the front trunk, passenger footwell, and back seats are full of disassembled engine, the price just doubled.

Imo000

The engine would need to be openned up to see how bad the damage really is and only then can be determined if the engine is fixable. The chain bunched up and punched a hole so there will be more damage inside. If you don't want to spend any money on diagnosis then a replacement engine or selling it as is are the only two options left. A non running automatic 996 is worth less than a manual one. And even the manual non runners aren't worth much either....~$5K.

Fierofly

Sorry for your loss, and I hate to tell you that an LS in a Tip hasn't been done because of Engine control Units won't work together according to Renegade Hybrids.

gnat

Ouch that sucks

It won't make financial sense and it will sit for awhile until we can, but ours will get a new motor should this time come to us. She's owned it since day 1 though and there is a serious emotional attachment.

If Cuda wants a "new" car and had that kind of cash there is a nice looking silver/grey 03 Turbo on my dealers showroom floor right (or for a measly 100k more he could spring for their 14 GT3 with 3k on the clock ).

joe-1972

Damn... Sorry to see this... Take your time and think about this and research all options...
I see that http://www.mbmotorsportsrepair.com/items-for-sale.html has a 3.4 and a 3.6 listed for sale...
Ad in $1000 for R&R and figure out your costs... Also he might be able to rebuild what's left of your engine too...
Basic rebuild is in the $7000 range... Quick breakdown would be $1700-2200 in parts and the rest would be labor for a complete tear down and rebuild with all new gaskets, seals, chains, guides... Plus what is broke and needs repair from your current mishap... Blah... Blah... Blah!
JR job... Figure $20-25000 easy... But you would get an incredible strong and powerful motor... With a proven track record...

End thought... We are all sorry to see this... Take your time... Don't list to the chatter... Follow your heart and make sure your pocketbook can afford it!

Sneaky Pete

When my motor went phffft in April 2013 I didn't have a clue what to do. I flatbedded it to an Indy. They wanted a left ******** to fix it..new porsche motor, rebuilt or just used. The trust level was just not there so I moved it to another garage. This was my DD. I called both coasts looking for a solution and beware of the snake oil out there if you chose to keep it. I can say from experiance if you have a bond to the car there is no clear answer......I stumbled through it. Let the sting go away and decide what to do. The thing you have going for you is you have time to figure this out and when you make a move don't look back.

Best of luck

Cuda911

Thanks for all the ongoing comments, guys. Very much appreciated. It makes this a slight bit easier to deal with. Sort of a catharsis writing out the saga.

Here's my short-term plan:

1. Run down to the liquor store tonight and get some tequila. Drink heavily. Please ignore any of my posts after about 10 pm tonight.

2. Tomorrow have the car towed over to Mulligan Racing in Vista. He's the guy that is willing to look at it and see if maybe a case half can be replaced. Mike Mulligan is a great Porsche mechanic, very honest, practical, and willing to look deeper into mechanical possibilities than most others.

3. Since no shop wants a roller sitting around, I'll have to get it towed home. I'll move one of the 914's into the garage and put the 996 outside. Towing fees add up quickly, however, so I have to minimize moving it here, there, and everywhere. A roller is a PITA to deal with.

4. I called my insurance company this afternoon and am waiting for the adjustor to call me in a day or two. I seriously doubt it will be covered, but worth that long shot. At least I can entertain that fancy for a day or two until I hear from them.

5. Regarding LS swap: a) as far as I am aware, not possible with tip; b) CA smog stuff would make that a very dicey proposition; c) I want a Porsche with a Porsche engine. Not much into Frankenmobiles, no matter how fun they may be (Well, OK, if someone wants to throw an LS into my Hyundai, I'd be cool with that).

6. RL member Javier (Niche) called Autobahn (a local dismantler) for me. I guess they may pay about $5k for the car as a roller, based on preliminary info. I'd swap out my Fabspeed exhaust first, and replace it with my OEM one. I have all the OEM parts except the exhaust tips. Paid over $6 K for the Fabspeed stuff, and it has brand new cats, only a couple months old. Anyone here wanna make an offer?

7. Javier has been bugging me forever to sell him my wheels. They have Bridgestone Potenzas on them that I just put on in January, $1,400. What should I charge with a "friend's discount"?

8. Two people now have recommended that I call Vision Motorsports in Orange County and see what they say. I'll do that.

9. Regarding Jake R. - I truly believe he's a great 996 motor builder. But, from what I've seen, I think his prices will be more than I want to pay, and he has an extremely long waiting list. I just don't see dropping 25K+ into a Raby motor. Plus, I have no usable core. Jake, what say you? How about a deal if I give you one of my 914's towards the cost of a rebuild/motor replacement? I know you're a 914 guy too.

10. Regarding DIY rebuild... I work about a zillion and a half hours a week. I'm on RL a lot, but it's in little 5-10 minute bursts between projects. It's my version of a coffee/cigarette break. So, I really can't afford to take the time away from my work. Plus, I don't have a lift, and not really room to keep a half-disassembled motor. Besides, it would take me forever, and I am just too impatient.

11. Regarding cost/expense of a replacement car: I think I'd probably want to go to a 997.2 or maybe even a 996 TT. However, to drop that much cash would eat much more than I want into my emergency cash funds. Was just kidding about getting a Prius. I'd never do that. Never.

12. I'll keep checking here for suggestions. Any of you ever sell a roller? Not even sure how to do that other than Craig's list and Ebay (and have to waste all sorts of time with scammers, lookers, etc.). It just isn't my personality to deal with it that way. I hate selling stuff, a royal PITA. But, if anyone knows a shop, or individual, or legitimate business that buys these, the car is great (other than the one obvious flaw). Extremely well maintained. Even polished at least 3 times a week.

13. Crowd-sourcing maybe? If everyone on RL kicks in just a small amount, we can get a new motor into this in no time. After all, it's holiday season.

14. Did I mention yet? This sucks.

KrazyK

Really? At least I was part right.


Guess you didn't read my first post early on. Selling sounds like the best option.

Sneaky Pete

For selling a roller check withh these guys. No affilation.

http://stores.ebay.com/Quality-Porsche-Parts

Or Parts Heaven or Oklahoma Foreign

Cuda911

Yeah I did read it, and you are right, you also called it out. Macster got the diagnosis prize for being slightly more specific in the cause.

From the chunk of metal, I already figured that the crankcase was punctured. I just had no idea what the puncture cause was. It still amazes me that the chain went kablooey like that, with very little stress on the motor at the time it went.

Pete, yeah, I'll start making calls to the salvage places, but I want to wait a bit until other avenues have been explored/exhausted.

KrazyK

From the pic looks like its the chain on the IMS at the (rear of engine unless Im looking at it wrong). Its probably going to be a very expensive repair if it even can be. Either way this is very bad for you and we all are sorry this happened. May be with a teardown/inspection we can learn something from it.

JD ARTHUR

What makes the chain skip teeth? Or did it break and what makes that happen?