Simple Question

[2000SoCalBoxsterS]

Originally Posted by pompous

has nobody tried to rebuild the engine themselves? just curious...
for 5-6k I think it would cross my mind as a winter project or something.

Very good point. I would love to do my own engine rebuild when the time comes. I've got a ways to go though with only 38,005 miles on my 3.2L M96.21

[insite]

the problems are parts availability and cost. concensus is that it's as expensive to rebuild one as it is to replace one. see this thread:

http://boxcar-racing.com/forum/index.php?topic=424.0

[johne4]

A quick look through the ******************************************** parts catalog indicate that you can get everything you need to rebuild your motor. Adding up the cost of the soft parts such as bearings, seals, gasket, etc and even adding new pistons and rings comes to less then a grand. But for the hard parts thats a different story.........3k for a crank?.............

I guess the question is when is it worth rebuilding versus replacing.......

In my opinion if you are rebuilding your motor because it is worned out i.e. low compression, oil blow-by, low oil pressue and the motor is still running, then yes I would rebuild my motor.

Now, if you wait till it blows up damaging internals, you probably better off replacing the motor with a remanufacture or new one.

[alikhan78]

I would also factor in the cost of the various tools/equipment needed for the rebuild.

Originally Posted by johne4

A quick look through the ******************************************** parts catalog indicate that you can get everything you need to rebuild your motor. Adding up the cost of the soft parts such as bearings, seals, gasket, etc and even adding new pistons and rings comes to less then a grand. But for the hard parts thats a different story.........3k for a crank?.............

I guess the question is when is it worth rebuilding versus replacing.......

In my opinion if you are rebuilding your motor because it is worned out i.e. low compression, oil blow-by, low oil pressue and the motor is still running, then yes I would rebuild my motor.

Now, if you wait till it blows up damaging internals, you probably better off replacing the motor with a remanufacture or new one.

[FrayAdjacent]

IOW, as long as you don't need a new crank... it's probably worth rebuilding...

But in a blown engine scenario, you won't really know if your crank is damaged or not without a LOT of work (tearing down the engine).

So I agree with Johne4. Wear or loss of compression? Rebuild. Blown due to slipped sleeve or something else? Replace.

Originally Posted by johne4

A quick look through the ******************************************** parts catalog indicate that you can get everything you need to rebuild your motor. Adding up the cost of the soft parts such as bearings, seals, gasket, etc and even adding new pistons and rings comes to less then a grand. But for the hard parts thats a different story.........3k for a crank?.............

I guess the question is when is it worth rebuilding versus replacing.......

In my opinion if you are rebuilding your motor because it is worned out i.e. low compression, oil blow-by, low oil pressue and the motor is still running, then yes I would rebuild my motor.

Now, if you wait till it blows up damaging internals, you probably better off replacing the motor with a remanufacture or new one.

[johne4]

Quote:

"has nobody tried to rebuild the engine themselves? just curious...
for 5-6k I think it would cross my mind as a winter project or something."

Originally Posted by pompous

I'm game to rebuild one, but my engine is still going strong (70K, hope I didn't jinx myself) I looked around for a used one, all above $4K, what I'd like to do, is possibly purchase an engine that will be used as a core return.

So if anyone as a 2.7 that was going to be exchange for its core, I be willing to purchase it from you for the core charge.

Thanks

[Brucelee]

As I understand it, you don't buy a "rebuilt" engine from Porsche, you buy a remanufactured engine. This means that the core of the engine is new, the peripherals like the FI, exhaust are refurbed.

Now, if you are buying from someone else, I have no idea what you are getting and you likely don't either. As I understand it, Porsche makes it very hard to rebuild an engine, in that they don't regularly sell OEM internals to the rebuilders.

Hence, I think if you are buying from a rebuilder, he has to source the parts from the aftermarket.

I believe the above is correct.