Building a Porsche engine: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Jan. 17, 2012 8:15 a.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

Think that rebuilding a Porsche engine is all about sexiness? Apparently there's also plenty of bead blasting involved: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/1984-porsche-911-carrera/super-fan/

On the plus side, the engine is quickly coming together.
Jan. 17, 2012 8:22 a.m. bravenrace SuperDork

Is this the engine in your 911? I didn't know it was in need of rebuilding. What's the story?
Jan. 17, 2012 8:25 a.m. Tom Heath Web Manager

There have been quite a few updates, but the rebuild story pretty much starts here-

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/1984-porsche-911-carrera/oh-snap/
Jan. 17, 2012 8:31 a.m. bravenrace SuperDork

Thanks. I sometimes don't keep up with the online articles.
Jan. 17, 2012 9:00 a.m. Tom Heath Web Manager

In reply to bravenrace:

That's the reason I love the internet...it's all still available for you. Enjoy!
Jan. 17, 2012 2:34 p.m. Nashco SuperDork

David S. Wallens wrote:

On the plus side, the engine is quickly coming together.

Ha, zing!

Wait, was that not supposed to be funny? Isn't this the same "Practical Porsche" engine that you've been rebuilding for 6 months? I'm genuinely curious to hear the final tally of time+dollars when you get it all sorted and back on the road, and of course if that changes your tune on the "practical" bit.

Bryce
Jan. 17, 2012 3:35 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

I need to total up the dollars, too, but the biggest expense was for the heads: $1800 total. In theory we could have replaced just the studs. Then it would have been studs and gaskets, but we figured we'd make everything nice and pretty, though.

The biggest thing has been the time, and unfortunately we had a slight work stoppage due to a hospital stay. Now that everyone is on the mend, the engine is back on the front burner.
Jan. 17, 2012 4:05 p.m. Woody SuperDork

I'm guessing that you still have less than the price of the cheapest possible new Civic into this car.

Plus...you have a Porsche.
Jan. 17, 2012 4:12 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

Yep. I'm looking at some receipts now, too. The car is still worth more than what we have in it.
Jan. 17, 2012 4:17 p.m. Maroon92 SuperDork

David S. Wallens wrote:

Yep. I'm looking at some receipts now, too. The car is still worth more than what we have in it.

That's always a bonus. My TR7 is worth FAR less than I have in it.
Jan. 17, 2012 4:38 p.m. Woody SuperDork

David S. Wallens wrote:

Yep. I'm looking at some receipts now, too. The car is still worth more than what we have in it.

That's the way to do it.
Jan. 17, 2012 4:55 p.m. Nashco SuperDork

David S. Wallens wrote:

Yep. I'm looking at some receipts now, too. The car is still worth more than what we have in it.

A bold claim for a Porsche that has an engine that's been torn apart and not yet tested! You must not be superstitious.

Bryce
Jan. 17, 2012 5:45 p.m. Woody SuperDork

Germans are logical, not superstitious.
Jan. 17, 2012 7:37 p.m. Curmudgeon SuperDork

David S. Wallens wrote:

The biggest thing has been the time, and unfortunately we had a slight work stoppage due to a hospital stay. Now that everyone is on the mend, the engine is back on the front burner.

Wait, what? The throat cancer thing didn't come back, did it?
Jan. 17, 2012 8:13 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

No, not me, but my builder/friend had a bit of a scare on his side. Family comes first, so the Porsche was parked for a bit.