2003 boxster blown engine :( $6500 ca - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Gelbster · 03-01-2015, 01:16 PM

Tarek,
I share your pain. I had a similar situation and decided to rebuild the engine. You have a smarter approach! My conclusion after well over $5000 is parts,tools,materials and many ,many months of study,labor and determination is =bad idea. Yes it is fascinating for a geekish engineer. But it is financially foolish for the average diy Forum member.
For someone who has done all the study,has all the tools and experience, it may be very attractive.
To help your prospective buyer who will need to replace all the lifters - there have been several discussions on the usual Forums about using a BMW interchange part for the 24 lifters. The saving is huge.
You may be able to buy the cam cover and cams from local Forum members. That may make it easier to sell.
BTW I went to school in Ismalia-briefly !
ma'a as-salaama
I hope this helps.

JFP in PA · 03-01-2015, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gelbster

Tarek,
I share your pain. I had a similar situation and decided to rebuild the engine. You have a smarter approach! My conclusion after well over $5000 is parts,tools,materials and many ,many months of study,labor and determination is =bad idea. Yes it is fascinating for a geekish engineer. But it is financially foolish for the average diy Forum member.
For someone who has done all the study,has all the tools and experience, it may be very attractive.
To help your prospective buyer who will need to replace all the lifters - there have been several discussions on the usual Forums about using a BMW interchange part for the 24 lifters. The saving is huge.
You may be able to buy the cam cover and cams from local Forum members. That may make it easier to sell.
BTW I went to school in Ismalia-briefly !
ma'a as-salaama
I hope this helps.

Sorry, but the cam covers cannot be replaced. The camshaft bores are machined into the cylinder head and cover as an assembly, and have to stay together. If you switch covers, the bores will no longer align and the cams will not fit properly or turn.

He might be able to get the damaged cover fixed, depending upon where the damage it.

Tarek307 · 03-01-2015, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gelbster

Tarek,
I share your pain. I had a similar situation and decided to rebuild the engine. You have a smarter approach! My conclusion after well over $5000 is parts,tools,materials and many ,many months of study,labor and determination is =bad idea. Yes it is fascinating for a geekish engineer. But it is financially foolish for the average diy Forum member.
For someone who has done all the study,has all the tools and experience, it may be very attractive.
To help your prospective buyer who will need to replace all the lifters - there have been several discussions on the usual Forums about using a BMW interchange part for the 24 lifters. The saving is huge.
You may be able to buy the cam cover and cams from local Forum members. That may make it easier to sell.
BTW I went to school in Ismalia-briefly !
ma'a as-salaama
I hope this helps.

Thanks for the info man- i'm so disappointed, specially that whenever anyone would say a word about a boxster or a 911 regarding ims i would tell them the cars are bullet proof lol... i bought this one and had total peace of mind that the IMS was done in it- lol...then this happens-

i am now convinced these cars are POS.

ps: i 've never been to ismailia- i think not many people go there unless they are from there or army training - but i hear its beautiful

Gelbster · 03-01-2015, 01:41 PM

JFP,
Thanks for reminding me of that gotcha- I had forgotten it. This is not like a Miata is it?
Tarek,
We are the only two people here who even know about Ismalia and the sunrise over the Great Bitter Lake.

Jake Raby · 03-01-2015, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarek307

Thanks for the info man- i'm so disappointed, specially that whenever anyone would say a word about a boxster or a 911 regarding ims i would tell them the cars are bullet proof lol... i bought this one and had total peace of mind that the IMS was done in it- lol...then this happens-

i am now convinced these cars are POS.

ps: i 've never been to ismailia- i think not many people go there unless they are from there or army training - but i hear its beautiful

Your issue is NOT IMS related. You've lost a camshaft or lifter, and I'd bet on that. The car is an 03, which is the worst in regard to cam and lifter issues. These symptoms match a failed cam and lifter perfectly. I see about 30 a year.

Tarek307 · 03-01-2015, 04:00 PM

Ok guys so engine isn't "blown" but lost cam shaft - lifter- still an expensive repair

seningen · 03-01-2015, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Your issue is NOT IMS related. You've lost a camshaft or lifter, and I'd bet on that. The car is an 03, which is the worst in regard to cam and lifter issues. These symptoms match a failed cam and lifter perfectly. I see about 30 a year.

Did they change the lifter tray when they added the hydraulic variocam?

Did they change after 03?

Thx,

Mike

Xcellr8 · 03-02-2015, 06:29 AM

Back to the sale,
Yes, sorry to say, $6500 is too much. I've purchased a couple of these for 3-4.5K depending upon other condition issues. My bid to you would be in that neighborhood. You might be able to attract a bid close to $5000 from eBay, but be prepared for at least one high bidder to flake on you. If the bidder doesn't ask several questions before/while bidding, it is doubtful the bidder is real. I'm for real. Send me a PM if interested. Thanks, Joe

Jake Raby · 03-02-2015, 07:43 AM

I told him it was worth 3K as it is, guess he didn't believe me.

The 3 chain engine uses a completely different lifter carrier than the 5 chain, along with all other components of the head being altered as well. None of the parts are interchangeable.

This is why 03 and 04 models eat lifters and cams, usually bank 1, cylinder 1, outer intake valve.

KRAM36 · 03-02-2015, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

I told him it was worth 3K as it is, guess he didn't believe me.

The 3 chain engine uses a completely different lifter carrier than the 5 chain, along with all other components of the head being altered as well. None of the parts are interchangeable.

This is why 03 and 04 models eat lifters and cams, usually bank 1, cylinder 1, outer intake valve.

So how does one prevent this from happening?

Tarek307 · 03-02-2015, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

I told him it was worth 3K as it is, guess he didn't believe me.

The 3 chain engine uses a completely different lifter carrier than the 5 chain, along with all other components of the head being altered as well. None of the parts are interchangeable.

This is why 03 and 04 models eat lifters and cams, usually bank 1, cylinder 1, outer intake valve.

Jake i def believe you- i just dont want to throw it away for 3, would much rather buy another one thats wrecked maybe and swap engines- or see what it would take to just fix this one if i can stay around 4k max