I'm looking into getting an updated diesel truck. It was pretty scary reading about the expense and frequency of repairs on some of the newer models. The complex tech that goes into newer vehicles for safety, emissions, and efficiency comes at a steep price. Maintaining the Boxsters is starting to look relatively cheap.

JFP, thanks a million! I'll be doing both soon. Nothing better than cheap upgrades that actually work.

Hello JFP in PA,

are we talking about number 5, 25, 26?

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1465409818.jpg

Thanks & regards, Markus

These are the parts I used. Parts are #25 & 26 in Marcus' drawing. The new piston with the bevel is the on right.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1465411547.jpg

There have been a lot of great ideas posted on this thread but there is another variable to be considered, and that is what jobs is my mechanic willing to do on this car.

I own and manage a couple of apartment buildings in the area here and I've learned that there are some contractors that will do some jobs and others that refuse to do these jobs.

In the automotive world a perfect example of this would be the job of swapping in a used engine. Some mechanics simply won't do it, they don't want to take on the liability of an unknown engine I guess. Or maybe they just think it's a bad idea or not a cost-effective solution. And I understand, there is a valid argument to be made there.

But honestly if I had my druthers a low mileage engine swap would probably be what I'd do but finding someone willing to do it might not be possible. I just have to talk to my mechanic see where his head is at on this car and decide where I should go from there.

I definitely think I need to get the chain rail pads and varicam pads replaced and I'm going to push for that. If the current mechanic won't do it I will try to find one that will.

JFP I wish you were here in my town I would go to your shop in a heartbeat

I find it odd to suggest driving a car into the ground over a set of $15 chain pads. I realize that to pay someone else to do the job will cost a ton of money, but it argues more towards a DIY task.

JFP pointed out early that if the pads were replaced and the deviations brought into line that it may well be a candidate for a permanent bearing replacement. If anything that should sound encouraging.

I think these cars have a long way to go down the path of Porsche hatred (along with the 914, 924, etc) before someone "discovers" what a ton of fun they are.

Yes, just be sure they are the updated part numbers.

Don't be afraid of getting the wear pads done, just about any competent Porsche equipped shop can do it, it is a common repair item, and typically brings the cam deviation values right down near zero.

Only problem with doing this DIY is that you need some special tooling (what else is new) and an understanding of how to reset the cams (ditto). Other than the tooling, it is not difficult, but it is time consuming and attention to detail is a necessity. Several people have done it and it has been written up on multiple websites, along with some real creative "homemade" alternatives to the factory tooling.

Hello,

thanks, JFP in PA and 911monty!

Edit: checked parts numbers. Only piston changed. But it makes sense also to change the spring.

Well, if you don't have access to special tools or you're not able to fabricate the needed tools yourself and have somebody to do the job, than i think you run into cost problems, because even independent Porsche workshops ask in general for a lot of money, just because it's a Porsche. And so it is quite expensive to maintain these cars if you need a workshop to do it.

I do all maintenance stuff myself and do also more advanced jobs on the car. To me it is fun to do things like that, because i can see results immediately - which i don't do in my job often. But it takes time and a lot of research to do it right. And sometimes i have to do things twice. Like my axle boots, where i put too much grease in it and at a longer ride on the German Autobahn at vmax one axle boot just "exploded". :D ;) But this time i know how to repair it and it will take less time than last time. Also now i have an Oetiker plier.

Regards, Markus

DIY is not an option for me. I don't have the time, tools, space or know- how to do that job.

JFP how many hours would you estimate to do chain pads both sides .I expect its only about $50 in parts. plus an oil change perhaps more is usually needed.

Obviously, that depends upon who is doing the work, but I would budget for 10-12 hours.

Thats a little less than I thought I was expecting 15-18. The local Porsche dealer charges $110 an hour so with parts it,s about a $1500 repair. then do the IMS bearing and a clutch then whole works probably less than but approaching 5k. I had the sense from earlier in the thread that the repairs would be more than the car was worth.

Is this Chris's German? Not sure where in the PNW you are...

I know Chris's German can do the cam tensioners/pads with the motor in the car, which saves $$ on labor.

I had them do the IMS/RMS/clutch/flywheel/AOS/GBOX 2nd gear popout kit/water pump/thermostat/serp belt/WTFBBQ on my '02 986S last summer. All of that work wasn't $7000.

No it's not Chris's. I'm in Portland. And I was probably guessing a little high in my estimates.

A good Porsche shop in Portland isn't cheap but there are a few good ones. I use Marque Motors on Macadam for this type of thing. They are an L&N certified installer.They did my IMS bearing last year and I am happy with the work. Probably could have gotten it done cheaper but you get what you pay for. A couple other shops I've heard good things about (but haven't used myself) are Matrix Integrated and Stuttgart Autotech. Are any of these shops the one you used?

Yeah it was Marque Motors. Definitely a higher level of service there than my old shop.

The other issue is are you absolutely sure the cam timing is out? The motor has to be hot, not idling in the garage until the temp guage goes to "normal" hot. It has to be taken out for an hour drive and caned hard hot. Ridden hard andput to bed wet hot.

Bank one timing on my car would easily vary 2 degrees from cold to hot.

No I'm not sure they are out that far. I am going off numbers provided by the previous shop I used, which I have stopped going to. I am sure they did not follow the correct warm up procedure.

But I do have about a half second of chain rattle on cold start which means I should probably look at the chain pads.