986 Boxster S…the dreaded piston slap…dilemma

[stagmark]

Evening all
Really not the first post I wanted to be making on here…!
I bought a 2001 Boxster S earlier in the year. It had been well looked after mechanically, and I spent a couple of months sorting bodywork and a couple of minor bits out. It was also serviced by a specialist in May.
I was due to go to Silverstone festival in August in the Boxster, and I made it as far as my father in laws house…where on his road I got a distinctive ticking/knocking noise. I have only done a few hundred miles in total, if that.
It went into a local specialist (it took some time to get it in and seen), and the summary was…
- 3 bores with distinctive ring marks (piston ring issue?)
- 2 bores with noticeable oil passing (rings?)
- 1 bore showing signs of the start of scoring…suspected going oval causing the piston slap
So, long story short, the only fix suggested was an engine out rebuild.
I feel really torn on this…I would need to budget say £10k to £15k to do the work…though the car isn’t worth anywhere near that, and other than the engine the rest of the car would still be 20+ years old…
Though I really cannot bring myself to get rid as it is, for next to nothing.
I am therefore at a bit of a crossroad, and really unsure what to do…?!
- Someone shared a link to renagade hybrid who seem to sell LS engine conversion kits. Has anyone undertaken a swap successfully and have done it diy? It would likely cost something in the region of the fixing the existing engine, though at the end of it you would have a v8 boxster…so arguably a bit more interesting than just fixing it to as was…
- I guess the other option is whether I look to rebuild myself. Though again not going to be cheap as there seems to be a need for specialist tools, cost of parts, along with a form of lift to get the engine out…
- or do I just get rid and chalk it up.
Does anyone have any thoughts or experience of sorting this type of issue out please, or has indeed stood at these crossroads…?
Thanks in advance
Mark

 

[Greenman986S]

That seems a little high for an engine rebuild - which Indy quoted that?

 

[AndrewCS]

Worth a call to UK Porsche engine repair & conversion specialists - Hartech

Big American V8 Power In A Cheap Porsche 911!!! | PART 1 - YouTube in a 996, with info. on conversion kit suppliers (USA)

 

[stagmark]

That seems a little high for an engine rebuild - which Indy quoted that?

Not sure I want to say publically…

One Indy said they would send off to a well known engine builder for the rebuild (and for the price they would likely expect some upgrades etc, and would come with warranty)…likely budget £12-15k for the work.

Another Indy saw the car and did some initial investigation work (£1k+ later)…they said it would be about £3k to get the engine out and strip down…same again for rebuild and get it back in…plus whatever you need - likely £2k minimum for a couple of pistons and liners…and then who knows (and depends on whether you do clutch whilst in there/IMS/RMS etc etc…they mentioned they did one recently for £13k…

Also, pretty sure all numbers I have been told are plus VAT as well…!

Open to ideas though…?!

 

[Greenman986S]

I'd be asking a few more indies...such as Cotswold Porsche Specialists (cotswoldspecialists.co.uk)

 

[stagmark]

Thanks for the links and suggestions. Hartech was actually involved in one of those quotes above…!

Let me reach out to some others…

 

[Motorhead]

That’s really bad luck Mark. Hartech are a very well-established and reputable rebuilder for the water cooled F-6 Porsche engines and will do an excellent job, but it won’t be cheap … typically £10k+. Only you can judge whether or not it’s worth the expense, but it would be worth speaking to them for advice and the plus side will be that the engine will be better than the original!??

With the engine stripped I would have thought that replacing the IMS bearing and RMS would be done as a matter of course. Ditto the clutch and dual-mass flywheel, subject to inspection.

As mentioned there are other rebuilders around, although it’s difficult to say how reliable they are, and often they will replace/reline only the individual offending cylinders rather than replacing all six, which seems to me to be dubious practice on a high-mileage engine.

Whatever, you will be in for a substantial financial outlay which will only make sense if you plan to keep the car long-term, and it’s unlikely that you will ever recover the expense. It may be more sensible to put the money towards another car, and it will be worth something as scrap. Have a word with a specialist Porsche breaker to find out what it’s worth.

Jeff

 

[911hillclimber]

Above so true imho.
The converse might be another conversation, a similar spec engine from a breaker like Douglus Valley?
Any rebuild of this engine by different sources will involve the same hours as the work is the same to all, doubt you can escape the labour, but the rates will vary.
The book 101 projects for your Porsche Boxster gives a very good guide for a total rebuild in time and materials, not a quick job compared to an air cooled flat 6 and they can take 2 weeks to strip and rebuild.
many must have faced this dilemm, so you are nor alone, I hope you find a solution that is reasonably comfortable.
Should add a rebuild by a good name will enhance the resale value no end.

 

[stagmark]

Thanks - and I think you are on the button there. There is a load of hours and work involved in getting the engine out / stripping down / fixing it…whichever way you try and slice and dice it!
the breakers option could be a good one - I do wonder whether to cut my losses and get one with lower miles (and ideally get it bore scoped before buying it!)
thanks again for help on here

 

[Richard Wyndham]

That was really bad luck, and difficult to take the emotion out of the decision making situation, to make the "correct" decision.

I have a 1999 Boxster 2.5 that I bought new, still own, and often wonder what I would do if I needed major engine work. Assumed cost of this likely to be around £10K for a car (currently) worth a fraction of that! In my case the car has become part of my family, and my daughter and her husband, fellow petrol heads, are keen to take over ownership, when eventually I have to give up driving it. And perhaps my granddaughter might take it on after them! I do think the value of 986 Boxsters will rise, and could fetch decent money in the long term.

Given the above, I would probably be comfortable spending £10K on a car owned for the past 24 years, and very likely to remain in the wider family for another 10 - 20 years. In your case, if you are really sure it is a long term keeper, e.g. around 5 years, then, even with £10K spent, you will be driving a great car for a (total overall) reasonable price. If you are not really convinced you will keep it long term, then, sadly, cutting your losses and letting it go is really the sensible choice.

Let the forum know what you do!

 

[stagmark]

Thanks Richard. As you say it is difficult to work out whether the head or heart should be leading the decision…
My situation isn’t quite the same - though it is a friend who bought it from new and I said years ago that if they were ever to sell I would happily buy…! Not quite as connected, though have still known it for a long time!
I am still very much undecided about what to do - have had some really good pointers and suggestions, and have had a number of discussions with other specialists…
Going to mull this over some more before making any decision…
Thanks
Mark