Got a 986S; now getting a Vertex engine

[RandallNeighbour]

Glad the forum has been helpful to you. It was definitely my salvation in the first few years of ownership when I bought my 1997 in 2004.

My car had a brand new motor put in it prior to my purchasing the car, and since I didn't have a PPI on the car and the kid who sold it to me was using his dad's dealer license to flip cars out of the Miami auction, he didn't know it had been replaced either.

The problem with a brand new motor mated to an old transmission is that there's usually a sizable difference in torque between the old and new. In my case, my tranny developed a problem getting into 2nd gear. Replacing it with a used 5 speed with low miles was my remedy. I hope yours doesn't suffer due to the new motor.

You didn't mention if you were replacing the clutch and flywheel and rear main seal, but this would be the time to do that. Also, you should have the front motor mount replaced with a factory part (the aftermarket ones sold by Vertex and others have poly bushings that transfer a lot of vibration that is annoying).

The problem with repairing any old car is the slippery slope of "while we're in there and this old part is on the floor, let's put a new one in and save on the labor."

BTW, if you're not buying parts from Sunset Imports in Oregon you should check them out (providing your mechanic will take your parts or receive them if you can order them).

BTW, nice looking car!!! Be sure to drive it like you stole it each and every time you take it out. The new motor--after the break in period--should be taken to near-redline regularly. This gets oil into all the nooks and crannies and some studies have shown that if you wind up a Porsche motor regularly, it will be less problematic although it might shorten the motor's life a bit. It's a good trade off since you'll have a brand new motor.

... and I hope and pray my motor blows up on me soon. Very soon. I will be handing the keys to my friend who is anxious to put an LS1 in it!!!!

[AdamT]

Thanks for the welcome. I have told them to go ahead with the new engine mount while they're in, and I suggested replacing the clutch while everything's apart. I expect we'll end up doing that, but my shop is one of the good ones who want to actually see it -- could be 6 months old for all I know.

I will do the Porsche mount, as I value comfort. The car had some clunking (more of a clattering) going over bumps, which I figure is either the mount or a control arm. I've never had a car this old that didn't show a marked improvement with new motor mounts, so if it turns out not to fix the noise, I'll know to get into the suspension.

I see the numbers in your signature, and I'll probably end up right there with you. Although I don't think these cars are going to have a rise in value anytime soon, I do think that good ones from this vintage are about done depreciating. At least the money isn't just leaking out of them while they're parked in our garages.

[Porsche9]

Welcome to the forum.

Why did you decide on a Vertex engine over some of the other options out there? Be curious what you think of the motor once it get to drive it again.

Good luck!

[AdamT]

I chose Vertex because they had a complete product, and they seem to know their stuff. I won't lie, part of what motivated the choice was price. They were substantially cheaper than some other rebuilders. Although I don't want to be pennywise and pound foolish, I felt like they did a thorough job and offered a good warranty (1 year, no limit on miles). My car was a blast to drive on its original engine, so I didn't need to look for more power. I looked into RND, which looked like a high-quality option, but at more than twice the price of the Vertex engine. There were a couple of other options which looked similar to Vertex (in price and scope of remanufacturing). Vertex was very responsive and extremely prompt in getting the ball rolling, arranging shipping and offering advice, so I didn't move on to the next place.

I hope I'll be able to report on how the car drives within a few days -- the engine was delivered this afternoon, and I understand the shop is getting to work.

If this turns out well, I hope it will help the next person who needs to make the decision. If it doesn't, I will find out how well Vertex stands behind its product.