Porsche 911 engine rebuild costs?
Porsche 911 engine rebuild costs?
Author
Discussion

Ant2000

Original Poster:

539 posts

199 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
I have found a rather nice 81, 911, SC with some white smoke issues. Now I know most 911s do smoke on startup, but this one keeps smoking the car is everything I want otherwise great colour and a 996 body kit.
Im guessing its probably worn piston rings, or crank seal as its done 150k but realisticly how much am I looking to get this fixed?. I dont want to buy somthing that will cost more to put right then its worth.

mollytherocker

14,469 posts

240 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
An SC with a 996 'bodykit'? Surely you are jesting? yikes

MTR

supersport

4,645 posts

258 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
I would expect a top end rebuild to start at £2-£3k depending on where you go and before you start replacing parts.

It is worth getting it done properly you don't want it doing again. I also wouldn't see this as a bad thing to have done in these cars, they can last for ever and since they hold their value it is not money down the pan.

It is of course worth making sure that the car is a good one to start with, you don't want to spend loads on the engine to find out it needs another £10k in body work, get it inspected these cars rust from the inside out, just because it is shiny it doesn't mean it's a good one.

I am sure you don't actually mean that it has a 996 body kit, if it does run, run as fast as you can. You need to make sure that the body kit isn't covering up anything nasty!

gsewell

724 posts

314 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
Surely white smoke is water (coolant) rather than oil.

anonymous-user

85 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
You are joking, right?

freedman

6,018 posts

238 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
gsewell said:
Surely white smoke is water (coolant) rather than oil.
jester

BertBert

21,330 posts

242 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
Are we just starting April?

stuttgartmetal

8,167 posts

247 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
gsewell said:
Surely white smoke is water (coolant) rather than oil.
Yep, definitely this.
Top up the radidator with good quality Porsche Approved coolant, and run the car for a few days, see how much the coolant has dropped.

I really love the Internet.
Its just jam packed with good quality sensible advice.


On a serious note, without looking at the car it could be a few things. You could probably pick up a good SC engine for four grand.
Body kit wise, anything not standard stuck on this car just makes the value drop.
Nice SC's are hard to find.
If you're thinking a 964 body kit, forget it, it'll always look jank, and worth little.
Save a little, borrow some, and go out and get a half decent carrera 2 964 if thats the look you want. By the time you've modded the SC, it'll owe you more thatn what a 964 would cost you, and be worth sweet fa.
Alternatively, if the SC is cheap, strip it out, and go for a racer look.
Engine rebuild can be anything from 3 gand upwards.
Nothings cheap on a Porsche.
Nothing.

Ant2000

Original Poster:

539 posts

199 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
stuttgartmetal said:
Yep, definitely this.
Top up the radidator with good quality Porsche Approved coolant, and run the car for a few days, see how much the coolant has dropped.

I really love the Internet.
Its just jam packed with good quality sensible advice.


On a serious note, without looking at the car it could be a few things. You could probably pick up a good SC engine for four grand.
Body kit wise, anything not standard stuck on this car just makes the value drop.
Nice SC's are hard to find.
If you're thinking a 964 body kit, forget it, it'll always look jank, and worth little.
Save a little, borrow some, and go out and get a half decent carrera 2 964 if thats the look you want. By the time you've modded the SC, it'll owe you more thatn what a 964 would cost you, and be worth sweet fa.
Alternatively, if the SC is cheap, strip it out, and go for a racer look.
Engine rebuild can be anything from 3 gand upwards.
Nothings cheap on a Porsche.
Nothing.
Come on lets be a bit sensible here I started a topic on a 81 911 and your saying its white smoke because of coolant?. When there air cooled as for rebuild costs yes I think that sounds about right.

BertBert

21,330 posts

242 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
My rule of thumb for air-cooled rebuilds is 4k-12k

mollytherocker

14,469 posts

240 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
stuttgartmetal said:
Yep, definitely this.
Top up the radidator with good quality Porsche Approved coolant, and run the car for a few days, see how much the coolant has dropped.

I really love the Internet.
Its just jam packed with good quality sensible advice.
Epic Fail of the year? It must be in with a shout surely?thumbup

MTR

MrCooke

796 posts

226 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
Got any pics of the car? I'd be very interested to see how that conversion works.

Sadly, it's as BertBert says, you just won't know the cost until it's apart. It'll be at least £4k, probably £6k and often more.

gsewell

724 posts

314 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
OK, so be kind to the newbie - I forgot that the antiques were air-cooled.

mollytherocker

14,469 posts

240 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
gsewell said:
OK, so be kind to the newbie - I forgot that the antiques were air-cooled.
What! And spoil all of the fun!

No way.tongue out

MTR

cragswinter

21,429 posts

227 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
BertBert said:
My rule of thumb for air-cooled rebuilds is 4k-12k
Sounds about right

thegoose

8,077 posts

241 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
If the car's local to you in Kent get Ian Gorham at County Classics to look it over for you and quote for the rebuild. 01892 730996. smile

If it's elsewhere, let us know and we'll provide suggestions for getting it checked out before you risk parting with your money.

Nurburgsingh

5,560 posts

269 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
BertBert said:
My rule of thumb for air-cooled rebuilds is 4k-12k
That's a big thumb!!!

911fan

438 posts

291 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
Nurburgsingh said:
That's a big thumb!!!
....i just like your name. Awesome.

anonymous-user

85 months

Thursday 8th December 2011
quotequote all
cragswinter said:
Sounds about right
And it can be even more (2.2 911s)! frown