The joys of owning an old Porsche!

[Ollie.w]

Hi all...
So. Having thought my 944 needed a tappet replacing I sent it to the garage for that and an MOT. To find that it now has a rather more serious fault with the engine... one that could be hugely expensive to diagnose, and it also requires plenty of work to both sills. This is the point that most sane owners would do the sensible thing and give up on there old girl... I however I'm proposing to bite the bullet and get the work done. Ive grown so attached to it, its got a great history and apart from the DVD player is a very original car.

Im going to visit the garage on Monday to go through the work required on the sills, The body shop seems to be one I can trust. What should I expect to pay to get the work done. I've had a quote, but like I said would just like to visit the garage and go through whats required. Im guessing just a few of you have had the work done? A price based on worst case would be good? She seems solid everywhere but the sills. They seem to think patching is the best option, but it might also be worth considering replacement? Having had a quick look on the web i'd be looking at around £1,500 a side?

The engine should probably be less of a concern. Its a 2.7 so getting hold of a replacement will be harder but not impossible. I would however like an engine with a warrantee, so I don't pop it in only to find it runs as well as the one I removed. I was tempted to stick a 2.5 in, so I could remove and rebuild the 2.7 in my own time. Is it simply a case of removing the ECU and engine? Its an auto so I don't know if that makes any difference?... I know, I know, why buy an auto... Its for enjoying at the weekend and trips to the pub so it works for me. I also have every intention of taking it on some nice long driving holidays, so it will be perfect.

Help and opinions would be great! You might even have a 2.7 engine lying around?!

Ollie

 

[scam75]

Sorry to hear that Ollie. I am sure it will all be worth it in the end. I have just had the engine and turbo rebuilt on my car and I'm currently running it in, working through a few little issues, makes it all worthwhile.

By the way, 2.7 engines are hens teeth and don't lie about, they get snapped up for 3 litre turbo builds.

Good luck

Stuart

 

[alwigley]

Hate to have to ask, but why do you think engine replacement is the best option ? Do you have any idea what they think is actually wrong, and what are the symptoms....... There are plenty of chaps on here with a lot of experience of stripping engines down who may have a decent idea of what the problem could be.

JMG in Bournemouth will supply engines with a warranty, but they only appear to have 2.5 and 3.0l versions available at the moment per their website...... might be worth giving them a call []

 

[T3rra]

So your looking 2 drop about £4k on it? MIT be worth getting another, turbo or s2 your soon get attached 2 that 2. Plus there value can be slightly increased when looked after. Which seems what you want 2 do.

 

[TTM]

I know of a 2.7 engine coming out of a 2.7 auto with 57k miles. Would you be interested in it? The car is being taken apart because the owner cannot find a buyer...

 

[GlennS]

ORIGINAL: Ollie.w
This is the point that most sane owners would do the sensible thing and give up on there old girl... I however I'm proposing to bite the bullet and get the work done. Ive grown so attached to it, its got a great history and apart from the DVD player is a very original car.

Well done, sir!

ORIGINAL: T3rra
So your looking 2 drop about £4k on it? MIT be worth getting another, turbo or s2 your soon get attached 2 that 2. Plus there value can be slightly increased when looked after. Which seems what you want 2 do.

If you take that (sensible) approach to its logical conclusion there'll be no more 2.7 Luxs left on the road. At that point the world becomes a poorer place.

 

[Ollie.w]

Thanks guys.
There is every chance the engine is fixable. The garage suggested I replace the engine... Im sure they don't quite realise how hard it is to get hold of a 2.7. I asked before and had lots of help, its a knocking noise which I was sure was coming from the top of the engine. hence the reason I though it was tappets. The garage seem to think it is far deeper in the engine. This is why I decided it might be best to get the engine out and fix it in my own time, putting another engine in whilst working on it. It would be a real shame to remove the original engine for good.

TTM I would love to know what they want for it.

I know i'm being stupid and sentimental, but doing a little research this morning I also discovered that there are only 39 2.7 autos still on the road. That makes it quite a rare car, and one I'm very proud to own.

Ollie

 

[pauljmcnulty]

£1500 per side sounds quite a lot for the sills; for that I'd expect new, plus other work to wheelarches etc., and a lot of paint. Problem is that sills are not available at the moment, so they will be fabricating them anyway.

Personally, as you say it's a lot of work needed to the sills, and it's an MOT failure, I can't see patching them being worthwhile if the car's a keeper.

 

[Copperman05]

Ollie,

Its people like you that 944 buyers of the future will thank in time, glad to hear your going to restore the car, going the most cost effective route is not always the best option, especially when its as rare as it is and emotion is involved.

Re the engine swap can I suggest you talk to a reputable indie as i suspect most of then have done one at some point. £1000-£1500 a side sounds about right for the sills, but at £1500 a side I would be expecting replacement rather than patching, I'm not sure where you are based but Daytona Coachworx in Stevenage have done alot of 944 sills and have done a fair bit of work on my car, they come highly recommended too.


Edd

 

[bighead]

ORIGINAL: Ollie.w

Im going to visit the garage on Monday to go through the work required on the sills, The body shop seems to be one I can trust. What should I expect to pay to get the work done. I've had a quote, but like I said would just like to visit the garage and go through whats required. Im guessing just a few of you have had the work done? A price based on worst case would be good? She seems solid everywhere but the sills. They seem to think patching is the best option, but it might also be worth considering replacement? Having had a quick look on the web i'd be looking at around £1,500 a side?

I had the four corners of my sills repaired for under £700

 

[Elliot]

Ollie

i have two complete 2.7s in the workshop - one from a 82K Auto and one from a 101K manual - both complete engines.

Please let me know if you are interested

cheers Elliot

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I had the four corners of my sills repaired for under £700

Not trying to be critical, but we can all quote people who've had less severe corrosion repaired cheaper, had a bodge-job that might only last a year, kow a mate who'll do a cash-in-hjand job, that sort of thing.

A proper restoration of both sills (if it's needed) taking care to deal with any future problem with inner sills etc., and all the subsequent paintwork, has got to cost nearer £1K per side if you go to a proper bodyshop and pay full price plus VAT? Even when the properly-fitting sills were available they were £300 for the pair without any labour or paint. [8|]

 

[andy watson]

ORIGINAL: Ollie.w



I know i'm being stupid and sentimental.............. and one I'm very proud to own.

Ollie

Hi Ollie,

And that is exactly how I was when my engine gave way, could have brought a replacement car for the £2,650 it cost to replace (but that included a clutch)

I am now considering buying another engine now, having it re-conditioned with all new parts etc and then dropping it in

Mine is a keeper, 11 years, £14k spent including the purchase price of £3700 and I would spend whatever it took to keep her on the road, I think it is great you have been smitten and with the work you do to her she will repay you with miles of enjoyment.

There are loads of guys on here with bundles of knowledge and always willing to help a fellow enthuisast, also if you are planning on buying genuine parts for the old girl as I do, it may be worth you joining the club as 10% discount from OPC does come in very handy!!

Good luck with your project, keep us informed and pictures

 

[timmyturtle]

Ive only had mine 6 months,spent £700 so far,mostly brakes and tonneau cover. Did a bit of minor bodywork myself( luckily i have a shot blaster) . I have a noisy engine that is possibly tappets that i plan to tackle next month when she goes Sorn. The last 2drives have reminded me how much fun driving can be.

 

[Ollie.w]

Hi Guys,
Sorry I haven't been on to reply! In the process of moving house... away from a nice warm farm workshop and inspection pit unfortunately.

I have gone ahead with the work. Im paying £1,400 plus vat to fit new sills and patch rear quarters on both sides. The garage seem good, they've worked on 911s in the past and most of their work is on classic cars. I hope I've made the right decision! I will be getting them to take lots of photos for the history folder. I will be investing in a Carcoon and some cavity wax when it's all done I think.

Elliot I would love to know how much you want for each. I would probably be more interested in the engine from the 82k Auto.

Timmyturtle if you want to PM me I have two brand new tappets and a few of the relevant gaskets which may help with your engine? I hopefully wont be needing them any time soon.

I will certainly be joining the club once i've got the old girl running. It would be nice to come along to some of the meetings once the cars running and looking smart!

Pictures will be posted the moment she returns from the garage.

Ollie