996 blows up after 5 miles after getting it!

[matara]

Hi there froM Australia

Just bought a very mint 98 996 Carrera 2 at a car auction with 157k kms (99k miles) with full Porsche service history for a good price. Drove it up the road 8kms and temps hit 120c so pulled over. Checked oil, it was low and no coolant. Bit of blue smoke not a lot. Pulled the oil filler cap and mayo projectile vomited out the cap, nearly scalded me.

Got a lift back home with the wife, got some fresh oil and came back when it cooled down. Changed the oil and it was like a caramel milkshake so I guess the engine is toast. Started up fine with oil no coolant but after about 5 mins drive a huge puff of white smoke.

I reckon this is why it was for sale at the auction, meaning the dealer that sold it knew of the problem, shonky git. Anyway no recourse there as its sold as is. Luckily I got it cheap so I still have about $10-$15k to spend before I've lost money.

Fortunately I am handy with mechanics owning 2 Porsche 356's and 3 split screen buses, but they are simple in comparison. I have a workshop and a hoist.

I,m thinking of getting a 2nd hand engine from the US or UK, and just swapping it out. Read up about Hartech and Autofarm, but I,m just thinking the easiest way to get out of this is to just throw a working engine in and sell it, and drive my 356 instead.

Anyone got any leads on a 2nd hand 3.4 engine for trip tropic?

Cheers

Steve
Sydney, Australia

[S1MMA]

Check on ebay.co.uk - usually some engines floating about on there. You won't find much in terms of a guarantee, but they will be cheap.

[thegoose]

I'd guess at £3k for a used engine, and more like £4-5k for a Hartech rebuild (plus 2 way shipping) but you'll then have a car with an engine you can trust and enjoy, which is presumably why you bought it in the first place.

[hartech]

Your problem is a cracked cylinder head - the rest of the engine nay not be too bad - if you are hard up it might even rebuild without a full strip (although I wouldn't recommend it).

Baz

[DC5TEG]

Sadly its why many bang their Motors into the Auctions, cos its a lemon and would never sell elsewhere due to the problems with it!!

I'd never buy from an auction thinking i was gona get trouble free motoring from the outset. Thankfully you got the car cheap and will break even or in positive equity with it.
How's the rest of it. I'd think if the engine is tired, most other consumables will be tired too, bushes, box ect, or unless most things have been changed on the car.

If its mechanically sound elsewhere, get a decent engine, or rebuild, and you will have yourself a cheap reliable Porsche.

[matara]

Its a remarkably clean car with a good interior and hasn't had any accident damage. The body doesn't have any dings in it at all.

Rang Porsche Sydney this morning, AU$34,170 (23,000GBP) for a replacement engine. Won't be going that way!!

I'm working my 356 contacts to see if I can get a 2nd hand one out of the states. I can get a rebuilt one from LA dismantlers with a 12 mth warranty for US$10,500. I might go that way, or stick it back in the auction and move on.

If it were a definite keeper, I'd send the engine to Baz at Hartech, my sister only lives 5 mins away from them, but I'm loathed to ship it over there, pay for a teardown and be told its junk (which it probably is!). I'll give Hartech a call their morning tomorrow and see what they say.

I'll keep you all in the loop.

[Sunnysidebb]

http://www.porschebreaker.com/
http://www.douglasvalley.co.uk/

I have had a few engines from the above two breakers.

There are full cars for sale in the UK for around 9k , some 996's are bought in good working order just to break up for their part as they are worth much much more that way..

EBAY UK

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-996-Engine-Porsc...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Porsche-996-Engine-996-3...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-911-996-997-3-6-...

Just a few pointers.
Hope you sort something out.
If not strip it down and sell the parts and get your money back and buy another one......with a good engine.lol
Frank

Edited by Sunnysidebb on Monday 12th March 07:46

Edited by Sunnysidebb on Monday 12th March 07:56

[spyderman8]

Thing is if you have your engine reconditioned by Baz at Hartech it will be guaranteed to work - buy one from a breakers and I doubt you could be as confident. Additionally with your existing engine, you won't run into any incompatibility issues with the ECU.

[matara]

Spoke to Grant at Hartech this evening/morning. Couldn't of been a more helpful bloke. Suggested I pull the engine out and take the top end apart and gave me some tips on what to look for, and see if its worth sending the longblock over to them to work some magic on. As Grant said it will only cost my time, and at least I will know what the go is.

Looks like my 1960 356 will have to wait a bit longer to be put back together!

I'll keep you all posted.

Cheers

Steve