Changing Engine Mounts

[944 man]

Can anyone tell me how many hours labour I should expect to pay for, for a competent/experienced garage to swap a pair of engine mounts on a 944 Turbo?

Simon

 

[Catamax944]

Took me about 3 hours to do it by dropping the crossmember . It's not hard ,if you have the time do it yourself and save some money.

 

[scam75]

Write up in technical articles from Al.

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=527222

Might help you decide on an acceptable time frame. I would say no more than 3 hours though.

Stuart

 

[944 man]

Its a shame that Alasdair doesnt live within a practical travelling distance for me. Id presumed that an experienced garage, using a two post lift, would take less time though.

 

[edh]

I did one of mine a few years ago and spent hours on it...the hardest bit seemed to be getting the old one out - that is until I tried to get the new one in!

After that experience I would definitely concur with Alasdair's method on here, and remove lots more bits. Speak to Simon @ ph though, he seemed to think it was about an hour a side - Even 3 hours at ph sportscars labour rates isn't going to break the bank is it?

 

[944 man]

Youre probably right, but Id like to go into it knowing what it should be, having had a problem before.

 

[simdel1]

My father-in-law and I did it in less than 3 hours including tea breaks. There was the help of a two-post lift and his 35 years of experience though...

It would have been quicker if I hadn't done the first part of the job and it didn't help that neither of us had done this job on a 944 before. Next time I think it would easilly be a 2 hour job.

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: Catamax944

Took me about 3 hours to do it by dropping the crossmember . It's not hard ,if you have the time do it yourself and save some money.

Not bad going, but I suspect that a well-used Turbo will be far more difficult. They have a reputation for being, due to the heat (exhaust on the OS and turbo on the NS) and the reduced access.


Simon

 

[Ewan]

My turbo has been with JMG this week for a few bits and bobs, including new engine mounts. I should pick it up on Saturday, so when I get the bill I'll report back on what a 944 specialist charges (and how long they took).

From you chaps are saying, if they bill me more than 3 hours I should ask why. Let's wait and see!

 

[944 man]

4.5 hours Ewan - it was a pig to do! Ive asked Jon Mitchell how long on TIPEC and he used what I presume was your car as an example for a difficult and long job. Has yours had the steering UJ changed also?


Simon

 

[944 man]

This is what Jon had to say:

ORIGINAL: Jon Mitchell

Depends really..

Its one of those jobs which can take an hour and a half as Jim said, or it can take forever.

We did a late turbo the other day and it was a real headache, although we expected it to, the engine mounts were completely shot to bits, which often means that the long threaded stud that comes out of the engine mount just turns with the nut, and turns, and turns.. and guess what, on this particular car they did just that.

If you catch them early, which is on an 8v engine the lower distributor cap screw head being bellow the headlight bar, rather than level with or just above it, then it is not a bad job and can be done in 1.5 to 2 hours. If they have completely split, it can turn into a nightmare.

Make sure you get bolts with them, the new design has a shorter bolt than the factory original ones.

The one we did the other day took us a total of 4.5 hours and we had to cut the threaded section, we also changed the steering column UJ section at the same time, always a good idea if it has any play (rotational or side to side) on any of the joints.

Simon

 

[Ewan]

I've just read the bill in my inbox, and 4 hours of labour have been charged. And yes, I guess my car is the one referred to on Tipec. If you add the parts and Vat to that labour, the final cost of changing the engine mounts on my 951 has come to near £600[]

 

[robwright]

I have had my crossmember and and steering rack and all the other bits on and off a few times during the last few weeks as part of my engine rebuild. I would allow 3 hours for a turbo and 4 if everything is being a PITA, which it may well do.